Velloziaceae in honorem appellatae

Abstract

Four new species of Vellozia are described and named after people linked to Velloziaceae and Brazilian botany. Vellozia everaldoi, V. giuliettiae, V. semirii and V. strangii are endemic to the Diamantina Plateau in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Vellozia giuliettiae and V. semirii are small species that share characteristics that would assign them to Vellozia sect. Xerophytoides, which include an ericoid habit with no leaf furrows and six stamens. Vellozia everaldoi, although a small, ericoid species, could not be placed in that section because it has conspicuous furrows, although it is considered closely related to species of that section. The fourth species, V. strangii, is a relative large species closely related to V. hatschbachii. Descriptions and illustrations of the species are followed by a discussion of their characteristics and putative relationships.