Carina Kozera

A new species of Tibouchina Aubl. (Melastomataceae), endemic of Paraná, Brazil.

Tibouchina goldenbergii F. S. Mey., P. J. F. Guim. & Kozera belongs to Tibouchina sect. Pleroma, and resembles Tibouchina martialis (Cham.) Cogn., Tibouchina frigidula (Schrank & Mart. ex DC.) Cogn. and Tibouchina serrana P. J. F. Guim. & A. B. Martins. It differs from these species by the sericeous hypanthium, 7 nerved leaves and longer calyx lobes. Tibouchina goldenbergii has been collected only in one locality, Ponte dos Arcos, at Balsa Nova, state of Parana, Brazil, in natural grasslands, and can be regarded as a critically endangered species, following the IUCN criteria.

Vascular grassland plants of Tibagi River Spring, Ponta Grossa, Brazil

A systematic survey was carried out on wet grasslands found over Histosols at Upper Tibagi River basin, between Ponta Grossa and Palmeira municipalities, in the state of Parana, Brazil, place of high importance because of soil water retention capability and soil carbon pool composition. We provide a checklist containing 146 species, 96 genera and 42 plant families for the area. Families with higher species richness were Asteraceae (27 species; 21 genera), Poaceae (24; 16) and Cyperaceae (18; 6). Four species were classified as endangered or rare, and one as exotic. The specific richness in wet grassland environments at the state of Parana underlines the need for conservation efforts encompassing these formations.