Couepia ovalifolia (Schott) Benth. ex Hook.f.

Barros, Natália, Menezes, Luis Fernando Tavares de, Sothers, Cynthia & Peixoto, Ariane Luna, 2025, Flora of Espírito Santo: Chrysobalanaceae, Rodriguesia (e 00872024) 76, pp. 1-39 : 9-11

2.4. Couepia ovalifolia (Schott) Benth. ex Hook.f. , Fl. bras . (Martius) 14(2): 48. 1867.

Basionym: Chrysobalanus ovalifolius Schott , in Spreng., Syst. Veg. 4(2): 406. 1827. Figs. 3; 4 a-b

Shrub to tree, up to 5 m tall, DBH 2.5 cm, stem up to 2 m tall, branches glabrous, lenticellate.Leaves oblong, 6–11.3 × 2.6–4.3 cm, coriaceous, discolorous, base obtuse or subcordate, apex acuminate, acumen 3–5 mm long, adaxially glabrous (sometimes lustrous), abaxially pubescent to arachnoid, midrib prominulous adaxially, glabrous, prominent abaxially, glabrous, primary veins (8)10–16 pairs; petiole 3–5 mm, glabrous to pubescent, canaliculate, sometimes with glands; stipules ca. 2 mm long, lanceolate, chartaceous, pubescent, caducous. Inflorescence terminal to subterminal, paniculate, pubescent; bracts 2, lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, pubescent, eglandular, caducous; bracteoles 2, triangular to lanceolate, 3 mm long, pubescent. Flowers ca. 1.2 cm long, puberulent, pedicel 1–3 mm; receptacle subcampanulate, 5–7 mm, glabrous, except at throat; sepals with apex rounded to acute, 3–4 mm long, pubescent, reflexed, eglandular; petals caducous (not seen); stamens ca. 16, in a semicircle, filaments 0.9–1.3 cm long, bended, some partially bent, giving the impression of being smaller, glabrous, free; ovary 1–1.5 mm, tomentulose, style 0.7–1.3 cm long, 3/4

tomentulose. Drupe ellipsoid, sessile, 2.6–3 × 2.9–3.1 cm, epicarp rugose, glabrous.

Selected material examined: Conceição da Barra , área 157 da Aracruz Celulose S.A., 25.X.1993, fl., O.J. Pereira 5142 ( RB) . Itaguaçu, Alto Limoeiro , 12.V.1946, A.C. Brade 18344 ( RB) . Guarapari, Parque Estadual de Setiba , 4.X.1988, fl., O.J. Pereira 1836 ( VIES) ; Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha , 7.X.2017, fl., R.H. Mota 32 ( VIES) . Jaguaré, Restinga pleistocênica, 7.XI.2023, fr., O.J. Pereira 10559 ( SAMES) . Linhares, Reserva Natural Vale, Muçununga na Estrada do Flamengo (X1), 19.IX.1987, fl., C. Farney 1678 ( CEPEC, CVRD, K, RB) ; Aceiro Parajú , 18.X.2019, fl., G. Felitto 1252 ( CVRD, RB) . Pinheiros, Rebio Córrego do Veado , estrada próxima a sede da Rebio, 13.II.2022, fr., L.F.T. Menezes 2788 ( SAMES) . São Mateus, Pedra D’água, vegetação de restinga próxima ao hospital Roberto Silvares , 21.IX.2006, fl., L.F.T. Menezes 1554 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) ; Bairro Quadrado, mata seca sobre restinga Pleistocênica , 16.I.2008, fr., R.F.A. Martins 146 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) . Vila Velha , 21.XI.1983, fl., P.C. Vinha ( VIES261 ) ; Reserva Estadual de Jacarenema , 15.VII.2004, fl., G.G.K. Lube 146 ( VIES) . Vitória, Camburi , 23.XII.1998, fr., A.M. Assis 687 ( VIES) .

Couepia ovalifolia is similar to C. belemii (see comments under this species). The taxon is also similar to C. schottii , as both form the “ C. ovalifolia species group”, and are distinguished by only a few morphological characters such as the lamina shape, size, the number of primary veins and petiole length ( Prance 1972). Couepia ovalifolia usually has smaller leaves, a lower number of primary veins and shorter petiole, but these characters overlap with C. schottii in some of the analyzed material. To better delimit these taxa, further studies on other characters is necessary. Collected with flowers from August to November and fruits from November to January.

Couepia ovalifolia is endemic to Atlantic Forest and has been recorded in Bahia, EspÍrito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states ( Sothers & Prance 2023b). In EspÍrito Santo it occurs in Restinga, Mussununga and Mata de Tabuleiro, in Conceição da Barra , Guarapari, Itaguaçu, Linhares, Jaguaré, Pinheiros, São Mateus, Vila Velha and Vitória .

This species is well represented in collections and occurs in some protected areas (e.g., Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha, Reserva Natural Vale, Reserva Biológica Córrego do Veado, Reserva Estadual de Jacarenema ), which indicates it is not threatened for the state .

The common names for this species are oitido-nativo (D. Araujo 8114, G. Felitto et al.1252,) and oiti-da-areia (D.A. Folli 4655).