Three new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) with yellow corollas from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Background and aims – The genus Microlicia consists of 286 taxa, 82 of which are found in Bahia, Brazil. This genus features pentamerous flowers, occasionally hexamerous to decamerous; a hypanthium with or without bristles, isomorphic to dimorphic androecium; tetrasporangiate or polysporangiate anthers; and pedoconnective prolonged below the theca with a ventral appendage. The ovary has a glabrous apex, and the fruit is capsular with either basipetal or acropetal dehiscence and a columella that can be persistent or deciduous. In this study, we describe three new species of Microlicia found in Bahia, Brazil, and provide a checklist of Microlicia species with yellow corollas. Material and methods – The morphological descriptions are based on examinations of the Microlicia collections housed in six herbaria. Along with the descriptions, we provide comparisons with morphologically similar species, a distribution map, conservation status assessments, and illustrations. Key results – We describe Microlicia aequalis , Microlicia eimeariana from Catolés, and Microlicia xanthopetala from Mucugê, Bahia, Brazil. We have preliminarily assigned these three species as Data Deficient (DD) according to IUCN Red List criteria.