Leucothoe lycopodioides Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 78: 450.
1959. Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Serra de Ibitipoca,
11 Aug 1896, Schwacke 12360 (holotype, P; photo of holotype, S).
Leucothoe acicularis Sleumer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 78: 451. 1959.
Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Without definite locality, 1816-1821,
St.-Hilaire, Cat. B1, n. 2986 (holotype, P; isotype, P).
Erect shrub to ca. 0.5(?) m tall; twigs with or without
scattered gland-headed hairs, otherwise glabrous to densely pubescent,
with nonchambered pith; buds to ca. 0.5 mm long, leaves revolute.
Leaves coriaceous, narrowly ovate to nearly linear, 0.4-1.2 x 0.1-0.25
cm, base slightly cordate to truncate, apex minutely acuminate, margin
entire (to appearing serrulate/ciliate due to presence of many gland-headed
hairs), strongly revolute, adaxial surface with or without gland-headed
hairs on extreme basal portion of midvein, otherwise glabrous to very sparsely
pubescent on basal portion of midvein, abaxial surface with or without
gland-headed hairs along midvein, otherwise glabrous to very sparsely pubescent
on extreme basal portion of midvein, lacking or with few very inconspicuous
glandular dots along midvein; petiole 0.5-1.5 mm long. Inflorescences
axillary racemes to 1.5-3 cm long; rachis with or without scattered gland-headed
hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; pedicels 3.5-11 mm long, with or without
gland-headed hairs, otherwise densely pubescent; bracteoles 2, alternate
to opposite, from within lower 1/4 to near middle of pedicel, narrowly
triangular to ovate, to ca. 3 mm long; floral bracts to ca. 3.5 mm long.
Flowers with narrowly triangular calyx lobes, with long-acuminate apices,
3-6 x 0.4-0.7 mm, abaxial surface with or without conspicuous gland-headed
hairs, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent; corolla cylindrical, pink
to red, 8-9.5 x 3.5-4 mm, glabrous; filaments ca. 5.7-6 mm long; anthers
ca. 1.5 mm long; ovary densely pubescent. Capsules short-ovoid, 3.5-4.5
x 4-5 mm, placentae ± central; seeds 0.7-1.2 mm long.
Distribution. Endemic to SE Brazil (Minas Gerais)
and known only from the type collections.