Taciana Barbosa Cavalcanti

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the countrys biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazils unique and diverse flora.

New Chromosome Counts in the Lythraceae and a Review of Chromosome Numbers in the Family

Abstract Eighty-eight chromosome number counts representing 62 species in nine genera of the Lythraceae are presented based primarily on meiotic figures from pollen mother cells. Included are first reports for 47 species and the first count for the monotypic genus Koehneria. Numbers for 40 species of Cuphea from Brazil and Bolivia are reported, significantly increasing representation of chromosome number data for South American sections of the genus. Comparisons of the new counts are made to previously published numbers for each genus. Basic numbers for 24 of the 31 genera are provided. Eight genera retain the apparent original diploid number of x = 8; 12 are functional diploids of paleopolyploid origin with secondary basic numbers of x = 15, 16, 24, 28, or 32. Polyploid events are hypothesized to have occurred early in the evolution of the family so that the majority of monotypic or ditypic genera, which today constitute 65% of the family, are relictual polyploids. The most chromosomally diverse and actively speciating genera are the herbaceous perennials Ammannia, Nesaea, Cuphea, and Lythrum. In contrast, the woody genera Diplusodon, Ginoria, and Lafoensia, are species-rich but speciation has not involved chromosome number changes. Further understanding of chromosomal evolution in Lythraceae will depend on production of well-supported phylogenies for the family and cytological investigations in the genera where many different chromosome numbers occur. Communicating Editor: John V. Freudenstein

Flavonoids of Diplusodon (Lythraceae)

Abstract Flavonoids of 27 species of Diplusodon were identified. O-Mono- and diglycosides of apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin were found. Different glycosidic patterns were observed and they seem to be consistent as taxonomic characters at the species level. Aglycone structures may also be taxonomically relevant, since two main groups of species are sharply discerned by a mutual exclusiveness of flavone and flavonol glycosides. Flavonoid chemistry does not reflect the systems of classifications of the genus and supports the assumption that the foliar pinnately veined pattern is plesiomorphic in Diplusodon.

A New Species of Polygala (Polygalaceae) from Brazil

ABSTRACT One new species for Polygalaceae from Brazil is described, illustrated, and compared with related species of Polygala L. subg. Hebeclada (Chodat) S. F. Blake. Polygala marquesiana J. F. B. Pastore & T. B. Cavalcanti is an attractive caespitose subshrub from the state of Goiás, occurring in the high-altitude areas of Serra Geral do Paranã in the central part of the Brazilian savannas.

Morfologia floral de Aspidosperma Mart. & Zucc. (Apocynaceae)

The morphologic study of Aspidosperma flowers was performed through the exam of 234 exsiccates, 67 of which originated from own collections. Through the analysis of dried material, flowers preserved in ethanol 70% and field observations, the morphological parameters of nine species was presented: A. cylindrocarpon Mull. Arg., A. discolor A. DC., A. macrocarpon Mart., A. nobile Mull. Arg., A. parvifolium A. DC., A. pyrifolium Mart., A. spruceanum Benth. ex Mull. Arg., A. subincanum Mart. e A. tomentosum Mart. et Zucc. The importance of several floral characters was verified, such as indument type, corolla consistency and floral tube and lobes aspects in anthesis flowers. The relationship between callosity and ring presence in the corolla fauce was investigated. New characters were identified, standing out the disposition of ovules inside the ovary as of taxonomical value to species level.

The yellow-flowered species of Cuphea (Lythraceae), including three new taxa

Among the predominantly purple- and red-flowered species of the genusCuphea, only seven yellow floral tube and/or yellow-petaled members in three sections were known. We add here two new species and one new variety.Cuphea congesta from Venezuela andC. splendida var.viridiflava from Bolivia are new to sect.Melvilla.Cuphea xanthopetala from Brazil is described in sect.Euandra and expands the presence of this feature to a fourth section of the genus. A key is provided to allCuphea with yellow floral tubes and/or yellow petals to expedite determinations when these exceptional character states are present.

Vascular Flora of the Tocantins River Middle Basin, Brazil

This study provides a checklist of the phanerogams and pteridophytes of the Tocantins river middle basin, in northern Goias state and southern Tocantins state, Brazil. Herbarium samples were collected from 2000 to 2009 and this floristic survey recorded 1572 species from 135 families. The most species-rich families were Fabaceae (217), Poaceae (116), Asteraceae (88), Euphorbiaceae (65), Orchidaceae (58) and Malpighiaceae (56). Furthermore, 14 endangered species and 31 rare species were recorded, mainly associated with the campos rupestres in the Veadeiros Plateau region. The flora mainly from the phytophyisiognomies cerrado stricto sensu , campo rupestre (“rocky fields”), mata de galeria (“gallery forest”), mata ciliar (“riverine forest”) and semi-deciduous seasonal forest comprised typical species of the mid-western Cerrado floristic province, such as the most widely known woody plants Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (popular name angico ), Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. ex A. DC. ( guatambu ), Astronium fraxinifolium Schott ex Spreng. ( goncalo-alves ), Callisthene fasciculata Mart. ( pau-jacare ), Dipteryx alata Vogel ( baru ), Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. ( mutamba ) and Magonia pubescens A. St.-Hil. ( tingui ). This study is the first to record a wide floristic list of this important region of central Brazil.

Novas espécies de Diplusodon Pohl (Lythraceae) do Planalto Central e Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

(New species of Diplusodon Pohl (Lythraceae) from Central Brazil and Minas Gerais State). Four new species are described and illustrated for the genus Diplusodon. These are added to the already high number of species registered for the Brazilian Cerrado, more precisely in the chain of mountains that form the Serra Geral do Parana or Serra Geral de Goias, confirming this region as the primary center of genetic diversity of the genus. The following species are described: Diplusodon capitalensis, from the Distrito Federal and Goias, D. chapadensis and D. grahamae from Goias, and D. rupestris, from Minas Gerais.

Novas espécies de Manihot (Euphorbiaceae) do Brasil Central

Studies in herbaria and intensive field work focused on modern taxonomic approaches and phylogeny of the genus Manihot in the Brazilian cerrado enabled the discovery of five new species occurring in cerrado areas from Brazlândia (Distrito Federal) and Padre Bernardo, Agua Fria de Goias, Sao Joao D’Alianca and Niquelândia (Goias). Manihot brasiliana, M. congesta, M. incisa, M. pinatiloba and M. porphyrantha are here described and illustrated. Morphological characteristics of these new taxa, relationships with closely related species, as well as comments on ecological aspects and natural distribution for each species, are provided.

A Remarkable New Species of Pleurophora (Lythraceae) from Caatinga of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract A new species, Pleurophora pulchra, is described, illustrated, and compared with the two other species of Pleurophora occurring in Brazil. Pleurophora pulchra was found on the mountain ranges Serra do Livramento, Serra do Bendó, and Serrote in Negreiros National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil, and is the second species of the genus from the Caatinga region. It differs from other Pleurophora by a combination of a sterile ventral ovary locule, an unusually enlarged floral tube, and conspicuous, relatively large red petals. A key to the species of subgenus Anisotes to which P. pulchra belongs is provided.