Three new species of Rudgea Salisb. (Palicoureeae, Rubiaceae) from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, a diversity center for the genus

Ongoing studies in the genus Rudgea (Rubiaceae, Palicoureeae) lead to the discovery of three new species from the ombrophilous forests of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. Rudgea bauensis Marcon & Bruniera was recently collected in Campos dos Goytacazes, being distinct by its subsessile inflorescence, stipules covered with appendages, glabrous leaves attenuate at the base, and the presence of domatia. Rudgea mendax Marcon & Bruniera and R. pachyramea M.Gomes & Bruniera were often misidentified as R. interrupta in herbaria, mainly because they share inflorescences with short lateral branches and are distributed in Rio de Janeiro. However, R. mendax can be characterized by its inflorescences with ca. 50 flowers and infundibuliform, 13–18 mm long corollas with tomentose throat. Finally, R. pachyramea is distinct by its stout and longitudinally striate branches, leaf blade reaching 30 cm long, petioles up to 5 cm long, and the infundibuliform, 8–13 mm long corollas. Rudgea mendax and R. pachyramea are here preliminarily assessed as Endangered, while R. bauensis is Data Deficient.