Tibouchina araguaiensis

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Tibouchina araguaiensis is a flowering shrub in the Melastomataceae family, native to northern Brazil. It was first described in 2014 by Paulo J.F. Guimarães.

The plant is very similar to Tibouchina papyrus, but it can be told apart by its triangular hypanthial scales that cover the entire hypanthium and by the undersides of its leaves, which have only sparse ciliate scales (in contrast, Tibouchina papyrus has scales covering most of the lower leaf surface).

Distribution and habitat:
Tibouchina araguaiensis has been found only in Araguaia National Park in Tocantins, Brazil. It grows in the transition zone between forest and meadows at about 200 meters elevation, in sandy soil.

Tibouchina papyrus, by comparison, occurs at higher elevations in campos rupestres across southeast Tocantins and western Goiás.