Lantana delicata (Verbenaceae), a New Species From Brazil, and Additional Updates Within the Genus

In this study, we present some novelties in Lantana , a taxonomically complex genus of Verbenaceae. These include (1) the description of L. delicata , a new species from Brazil; (2) the lectotypification of the name L. magnibracteata ; and (3) the recognition of L. fucata f. albiflora , previously regarded as a synonym of L. fucata , as a synonym of L. tilcarensis . Although collected since the 20th century, the new species has been frequently misidentified in herbaria and literature as L. caatingensis , L. canescens , and L. fucata . It presumably belongs to L. sect. Callioreas and its diagnostic traits include the presence of one inflorescence per leaf axil, pauciflorous spikes, bracts closely imbricate, heteromorphic, two basal ones (0.6–)0.7–1.2 × 0.5–1 cm, subquadrate or wide‐ovate, internal bracts 0.5–0.8 × 0.25–0.6 cm, ovate or lanceolate, membranaceous, and white or light lilac corollas, with tubes 0.4–0.75 cm long, not exceeding or slightly exceeding the subtending bracts in length. We provide an illustration and photographs of L. delicata , a geographic distribution map, a preliminary assessment of its conservation status, and morphological comparisons with similar species.