Clarifying the nomenclatural history of Tovomitopsis, a Brazilian endemic genus of Clusiaceae.

Tovomitopsis Planch. & Triana is a Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic genus composed of two species: T.paniculata (Spreng.) Planch. & Triana and T.saldanhae Engl. An investigation was conducted to clarify the nomenclatural history of Tovomitopsis. We report the results of this investigation, provide an updated description of the genus, and propose lectotypes for T.paniculata and its synonyms: Tovomitafoliosa C.Presl and Tovomitapaniculata Cambess. We also propose lectotypes for T.saldanhae and for the new synonym Clusiaangustifolia Engl.

Tovomita nebulosa (Clusiaceae), a new species from Cerro de la Neblina, Venezuela

Although the number of recently described Tovomita species is relatively high, much more remains to be done, given that each new survey of representative Amazonian collections reveals many potentially undescribed taxa. In the treatment for Tovomita published in Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana, at least six distinct morphotypes did not match any previously described species. Here we recognize morphotype "D" as a new endemic species from Cerro de la Neblina. Additionally, we provide an identification key to the Tovomita species in Venezuela. (AU)

Plastomes resolve generic limits within tribe Clusieae (Clusiaceae) and reveal the new genus Arawakia.

Clusieae is an exclusively Neotropical tribe in the family Clusiaceae sensu stricto. Although tribes within Clusiaceae are morphologically and phylogenetically well-delimited, resolution among genera within these tribes remains elusive. The tribe Clusieae includes an estimated ∼500 species distributed among five genera: Chrysochlamys, Clusia, Dystovomita, Tovomita, and Tovomitopsis. In this study, we used nearly complete plastid genomes from 30 exemplar Clusieae species representing all genera recognized, plus two outgroups to infer the phylogeny of the tribe using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. For comparison, we also inferred a phylogeny from the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region using the same methods. Our study corroborates earlier findings that Clusia is monophyletic while Tovomita is not. It also provides additional support to the hypothesis that Chrysochlamys and Tovomitopsis are not closely related despite gross morphological similarity. Tovomita is divided into three distantly related clades: (i) core Tovomita (including the type T. guianensis), (ii) T. croatii, and (iii) the T. weddelliana species complex. Members of the T. weddelliana complex are isolated from the core Tovomita, and placed in a well-supported clade that is sister to a clade composed of Chrysochlamys plus Clusia. Tovomita croatii is nested within Chrysochlamys. We propose taxonomic revisions to accommodate our phylogenetic findings, including the description of the new genus Arawakia, which includes the 18 species formerly recognized in the T. weddelliana species complex. Lectotypes are also designated for nine species (i.e., Arawakia angustata, A. lanceolata, A. lingulata, A. longicuneata, A. macrocarpa, A. oblanceolata, A. pithecobia, A. rhizophoroides, and A. weddelliana), and a taxonomic key for the identification of the six genera of Clusieae recognized is presented.

Endemic angiosperms in Bahia Coastal Forests, Brazil: an update using a newly delimited area / Angiospermas endêmicas da Floresta Costeira da Bahia, Brasil: uma atualização utilizando uma nova delimitação de área

Abstract: The forest along the coast of Bahia state, in northeastern Brazil, has been acknowledged as an area of endemism for several groups of organisms. The first study concerning endemic angiosperm species in this region, through which 395 taxa were registered, was conducted 15 years ago. However, this number is probably underrated. In this article, we present an updated checklist of angiosperm taxa in Bahia Coastal Forests (BCF) based on geographic distribution data available from the Brazilian Plant List (Flora do Brasil 2020). The records were checked in herbaria, recent taxonomic literature, and, when necessary, reviewed by experts. The final checklist consists of 547 taxa endemic to BCF, distributed in 69 families, with seven endemic genera: Bahiella (Apocynaceae), Santosia (Asteraceae), Harleyodendron (Fabaceae), Cubitanthus (Linderniaceae), Anomochloa and Parianella (Poaceae), and Andreadoxa (Rutaceae). The families with highest richness in endemic taxa were Bromeliaceae (108 spp.), Fabaceae (41 spp.) and Myrtaceae (32 spp.). This updated checklist shares only 143 taxa with a previous list published about 15 years ago. Those two lists differ mostly due to slightly different area limits, and to the large number of additional endemic species described since then. We hope our list will be used as a resource in future studies and contributes to the conservation of the highly diverse Bahia Coastal Forest.

Resumo: A floresta costeira do estado da Bahia, no nordeste do Brasil, tem sido apontada como área de endemismo para diversos grupos de organismos. O primeiro levantamento de espécies de angiospermas endêmicas dessa região foi realizado há cerca de 15 anos e revelou a ocorrência de 395 táxons. Entretanto, esse número provavelmente está subestimado. Neste trabalho apresentamos uma lista atualizada de táxons de angiospermas endêmicas da Floresta Costeira da Bahia (FCB), tendo como base as informações de distribuição geográfica disponíveis na lista da Flora do Brasil. Estas informações foram posteriormente checadas em registros de herbários, estudos taxonômicos recentes e, quando necessário, revisadas por especialistas. A lista final de espécies é constituída por 547 táxons endêmicos da Floresta Costeira da Bahia, distribuídos em 69 famílias e incluindo sete gêneros endêmicos: Bahiella (Apocynaceae), Santosia (Asteraceae), Harleyodendron (Fabaceae), Cubitanthus (Linderniaceae), Anomochloa e Parianella (Poaceae), and Andreadoxa (Rutaceae). As famílias mais ricas em táxons endêmicos são Bromeliaceae (108 spp.), Fabaceae (41 spp.) e Myrtaceae (32 spp.). Apenas 143 táxons são compartilhados por esta lista atualizada e uma lista preliminar publicada há cerca de 15 anos. As duas listas diferem especialmente por ligeiras diferenças nos limites da área de estudo e também pelo acréscimo de novas espécies endêmicas descritas desde então. Espera-se que a lista seja usada como ferramenta para estudos futuros e para a conservação da rica flora costeira da Bahia.

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list.

Recent debates on the number of plant species in the vast lowland rain forests of the Amazon have been based largely on model estimates, neglecting published checklists based on verified voucher data. Here we collate taxonomically verified checklists to present a list of seed plant species from lowland Amazon rain forests. Our list comprises 14,003 species, of which 6,727 are trees. These figures are similar to estimates derived from nonparametric ecological models, but they contrast strongly with predictions of much higher tree diversity derived from parametric models. Based on the known proportion of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest communities as measured in complete plot censuses, and on overall estimates of seed plant diversity in Brazil and in the neotropics in general, it is more likely that tree diversity in the Amazon is closer to the lower estimates derived from nonparametric models. Much remains unknown about Amazonian plant diversity, but this taxonomically verified dataset provides a valid starting point for macroecological and evolutionary studies aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and ecology of the exceptional biodiversity of Amazonian forests.

Angiospermas em remanescentes de floresta montana no sul da Bahia, Brasil / Angiosperms of Montane Forest areas in southern Bahia, Brazil

Foi realizado um levantamento florístico de três remanescentes de floresta montana localizados na Mata Atlântica do sul da Bahia. Durante os anos de 2004 a 2008 foram feitas coletas periódicas de material botânico, principalmente ao longo de trilhas no interior dos fragmentos das áreas: Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada - SPL, Reserva Serra das Lontras - SLO e Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra Bonita - SBO. A riqueza florística em cada área foi comparada entre si e com outras áreas de Mata Atlântica na Bahia e no Sudeste do Brasil. Foi registrado um total de 1.129 espécies em 467 gêneros e 124 famílias. O hábito arbóreo representou 46,9 por cento das espécies, seguido de herbáceas (20,1 por cento), epífitas (19,5 por cento) e trepadeiras (13,5 por cento). As famílias Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae e Solanaceae apresentaram a maior riqueza florística nas três áreas em conjunto. O gênero Psychotria (Rubiaceae) apresentou o maior número de espécies em todas as áreas (21 spp.), destacando-se também Miconia (20 spp.), Solanum (20 spp.), Piper (19 spp.), Ocotea (16 spp.), Leandra (16 spp.), Peperomia (15 spp.) e Myrcia (14 spp.). Os resultados confirmam a elevada riqueza de angiospermas no sul da Bahia e evidenciam, pela primeira vez, a ocorrência de espécies características de regiões montanhosas da Mata Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil nessa região.

A floristic study of three areas of montane Atlantic forest in southern Bahia, Brazil, was carried out. From 2004 to 2008 regular botanical collections were made, principally along trails in the interior of the forest fragments at: the Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada (SPL), the Reserva Serra das Lontras (SLO) and the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra Bonita (SBO). The species richness of each area was compared to that of the other two, and together to other areas of Atlantic coastal forest in Bahia and southeastern Brazil. For all three areas, a total of 1129 species in 467 genera and 124 families were found. Trees represented 46.9 percent of the species, followed by herbs (20.1 percent), epiphytes (19.5 percent), and vines and lianas (13.5 percent). The families Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae showed the highest species richness for the three areas together. The genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) had the highest number of species for all three areas (21 spp.), followed by Miconia (20 spp.), Solanum (20 spp.), Piper (19 spp.), Ocotea (16 spp.), Leandra (16 spp.), Peperomia (15 spp.), and Myrcia (14 spp.). The results confirm the high species diversity of angiosperms in southern Bahia and demonstrate for the first time the presence of species characteristic of montane regions of southeastern Brazil in this region.