Leuenbergeria aureiflora

Leaves, flowers and seeds

The shrub or small tree grows to 6 m. Leaves on vigorous shoots and in sheltered places may be broader, while those on exposed branches are narrower and fleshier. On short shoots, they usually reach 4–10 cm long and 1.5–5 cm wide. This variation limits the usefulness of a single leaf for distinguishing species. [Leuenberger 1986, Pereskia aureiflora description]

Yellow flowers, about 4 cm in diameter, are borne singly on pedicels 3–13 mm long. This trait distinguishes them from the similarly coloured flowers of Leuenbergeria guamacho. Fruits are usually 12–15 mm in diameter, reddish green to brown, and contain only 1–3 relatively large seeds, 5–5.5 mm long. A small number of large seeds is useful when comparing fruiting material. [Leuenberger 1986, Pereskia aureiflora description]

Distribution and relatedness

The range of Leuenbergeria aureiflora is separate from the main northern area occupied by many members of the genus. POWO lists Bahia and Minas Gerais in eastern Brazil and the seasonally dry tropical biome. This location distinguishes it from the yellow-flowered Leuenbergeria guamacho of the northern part of the continent. [2-WWW]

In Butterworth and Wallace's plastid DNA analysis, the two yellow-flowered species formed a closely related pair. Similar flower colour agrees here with the molecular finding, but colour alone is not evidence of relatedness. The study concerned former Pereskia and preceded formal introduction of the name Leuenbergeria. [Butterworth and Wallace 2005]

The monograph documents sites at about 300–700 m, in the transition zone between dry caatinga and cerrado, also in transformed communities and fences. Flowering was recorded in October and November and fruits from March to April. These are dates observed in Brazil, linked to local seasonality. [Leuenberger 1986, Pereskia aureiflora description]

Historia poznania

Friedrich Ritter described the species from fieldwork in eastern Brazil. In a later account, Leuenberger highlighted its yellow flowers and difficulty locating the type material. Preserved seed samples and the origin of cultivated specimens mattered for interpreting the name. A nomenclatural type documents application of a name, and locating it is a separate question from assessing variation in living populations. [Leuenberger 2008]