Four new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Microlicia D. Don (Melastomataceae) has about 120 species concentrated in central Brazil. During the inventory of Microlicieae of Mucuge, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil we have found four new species of Microlicia, all endemic to Chapada Diamantina. Microlicia hirta Pataro & R. Romero is found in the Lencois and Mucuge municipalities, while M. intercalycina Pataro & R. Romero, M. macropetala Pataro & R. Romero and M. pulchra Pataro & R. Romero are endemic to Mucuge. In M. pulchra the columella is persistent, a character described for the first time for the genus. The four new species are here described, discussed and illustrated. Conservation assessments based on IUCN criteria are also given.