Aside from Ruellia pohlii, Ruellia lucindae was, at least at this very moment, my second favorite find in Brazil. Recently described by Ulisses Gonçalves and a few others of us to honor Lucinda McDade, neither species has been placed phylogenetically.

But – little we see in nature that is ours. Try as I might to bring the world of Ruellia into the public eye, most will avoid it.

Note the miniscule growth form of this species and, like R. pohlii the lucid quality of its leaf veins. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two were related.

We found Ruellia lucindae among open white sands in Parque Nacional Chapada dos Viadeiros. I am grateful to Cíntia for taking us in and around this remarkable place on Earth.

Wild collected, Brazil, Erin Tripp #5930 w/ Nico Medina, Cíntia Kameyama (COLO); Photos by Erin Tripp