Floristic survey of vascular plants of a poorly known area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Flona do Rio Preto, Espírito Santo).

BACKGROUND: The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. Despite that, this biome still includes many areas that are poorly known floristically, including several protected areas, such as the "Floresta Nacional do Rio Preto" ("Flona do Rio Preto"), located in the Brazilian State of Espírito Santo. This study used a published vascular plant species list for this protected area from the "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil" as the basis to synthesise the species richness, endemism, conservation and new species occurrences found in the "Flona do Rio Preto". NEW INFORMATION: The published list of vascular plants was based on field expeditions conducted between 2018 and 2020 and data obtained from herbarium collections available in online databases. Overall, 722 species were documented for the "Flona do Rio Preto", 711 of which are native to Brazil and 349 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. In addition, 60 species are geographically disjunct between the Atlantic and the Amazon Forests. Most of the documented species are woody and more than 50% of these are trees. Twenty-three species are threatened (CR, EN and VU), while five are Data Deficient (DD). Thirty-two species are new records for the State of Espírito Santo. Our results expand the knowledge of the flora of the Atlantic Forest and provide support for the development of new conservation policies for this protected area.

Phylogenetics and historical biogeography of Solanum section Brevantherum (Solanaceae).

Patterns of diversification in Neotropical plants have been studied intensively over the past decades. Most studies have focused on groups that migrated to and radiated into the Neotropics, however, with little focus on understanding diversification patterns in indigenous Neotropical groups. This study focuses on Solanum section Brevantherum Seithe (Solanaceae), a group of Neotropical nightshade shrubs or treelets defined mostly by terminal inflorescences with long peduncles, plurifoliate sympodial units and porrect-stellate, dendritic-echinoid, or lepidote trichomes. We generated sequences from two nuclear (ITS, waxy) and one plastid marker (trnT-F) to infer phylogenetic relationships under Bayesian and Maximum likelihood approaches. We reconstructed a time-calibrated tree to estimate both the ages of main splits and the ancestral ranges of the lineages. Finally, we carried out a biogeographic stochastic mapping (BSM) analysis to determine the main processes driving current distributions of the group. Results show the non-monophyly of the section as previously recognized and the homoplasy of morphological characters traditionally used to circumscribe it. Two main clades that encompass most species formerly recognized in section Brevantherum are recovered and named as the Erianthum and Abutiloides clades. Divergence time estimates suggest that the Erianthum and Abutiloides clades split around 5.7 Mya in the upper Miocene. Two main dispersal events from the Atlantic rainforest are supported in the Erianthum clade: one dispersal to Mesoamerica and a second dispersal to the Northern Andes. Within the Abutiloides clade, cladogenetic events were restricted to the Andean region. Our BSM analysis suggests within-area speciation and range expansion as the main processes shaping the extant distribution of species of both clades. As no putative morphological synapomorphies can yet be assigned to what could correspond to a new circumscription of Solanum section Brevantherum (with the exclusion of Solanum bullatum Vell. and inclusion of S. inelegans Rusby and four species described since the group last revision) we discourage the continued use of what would be an ambiguous sectional nomenclature.

Using online databases to produce comprehensive accounts of the vascular plants from the Brazilian protected areas: The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia as a case study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with about 37,000 species of land plants. Part of this biodiversity is within protected areas. The development of online databases in the last years greatly improved the available biodiversity data. However, the existing databases do not provide information about the protected areas in which individual plant species occur. The lack of such information is a crucial gap for conservation actions. This study aimed to show how the information captured from online databases, cleaned by a protocol and verified by taxonomists allowed us to obtain a comprehensive list of the vascular plant species from the "Parque Nacional do Itatiaia", the first national park founded in Brazil. All existing records in the online database JABOT (15,100 vouchers) were downloaded, resulting in 11,783 vouchers identified at the species level. Overall, we documented 2,316 species belonging to 176 families and 837 genera of vascular plants in the "Parque Nacional do Itatiaia". Considering the whole vascular flora, 2,238 species are native and 78 are non-native. NEW INFORMATION: The "Parque Nacional do Itatiaia" houses 13% of the angiosperm and 37% of the fern species known from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Amongst these species, 82 have been cited as threatened, following IUCN categories (CR, EN or VU), seven are data deficient (DD) and 15 have been classified as a conservation priority, because they are only known from a single specimen collected before 1969.

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area.

BACKGROUND: Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of "Parque Nacional do Caparaó" (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states. NEW INFORMATION: "Parque Nacional do Caparaó" houses 8% of the land plant species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including 6% of its angiosperms, 31% of its lycophytes and ferns and 14% of its avascular plants. Twelve percent of the threatened species listed for the State of Espírito Santo and 7% listed for the State of Minas Gerais are also protected by PNC. Surprisingly, 79% of the collections analysed here were carried out in Minas Gerais, which represents just 21% of the total extension of the Park. The compiled data uncover a huge botanical collection gap in this federally-protected area.

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.

New species, additions and a key to the Brazilian species of the Geminata clade of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in Brazil.

Two additions and four new species are described from Brazil for the large Geminata clade (Solanum: Solanaceae) bringing the total diversity in the group to 149 species, with 44 of these occurring in Brazil. New species are described from Brazil: Solanumamorimii S.Knapp & Giacomin, sp. nov. from Bahia and adjacent Minas Gerais states, Solanumfilirhachis Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov. from Espirito Santo, Solanumpsilophyllum Stehmann & Giacomin, sp. nov. from Minas Gerais and Solanumverticillatum S.Knapp & Stehmann, sp. nov. from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Modern character-rich descriptions and lectotypifications are provided for Solanumapiahyense Witasek and Solanumlacteum Vell. All are illustrated, mapped and assessed for conservation status. We also provide a brief analysis of the diversity and endemism of the Geminata clade in Brazil and a key to all 44 Brazilian species.

AbstractDuas novas adições e quatro novas espécies ocorrentes no Brasil são apresentadas para o clado Geminata (Solanum: Solanaceae), aumentando a diversidade conhecida para grupo para 149 espécies, das quais 44 ocorrem no Brasil. Táxons novos são descritos: Solanumamorimii S.Knapp & Giacomin, sp. nov., conhecido para os estados da Bahia e Espírito Santo, Solanumfilirhachis Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov. conhecido para o Espirito Santo, Solanumpsilophyllum Stehmann & Giacomin, sp. nov. conhecido para Minas Gerais e Solanumverticillatum S.Knapp & Stehmann, sp. nov. conhecido para São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Descrições detalhadas e lectotipificações são apresentadas para Solanumlacteum Vell. e Solanumapiahyense Witasek. Para todos os táxons são apresentados imagens, mapas e categorias de ameaça. É também apresentada uma breve análise de diversidade e endemismo do clado Geminata no Brasil, além de uma chave dicotômica para as 44 espécies ocorrentes no país.

Listado anotado de Solanum L. (Solanaceae) en el Perú

SolanumL. es uno de los géneros que posee una alta riqueza de especies dentro de la flora peruana y dentro de los Andes tropicales en general. Presentamos una lista revisada de 276 especies de Solanum para el Perú, de estas 253 son nativas, mientras que 23 son introducidas y/o cultivadas. Un total de 74 especies de Solanum (29% de las especies nativas) son endémicas de Perú. Además 58 especies se encuentran solamente en pequeñas poblaciones fuera del Perú, y estas especies están designadas aquí como casi endémicas para destacar el rol importante del Perú en la futura protección de estas especies. El pico de diversidad de especies es observado entre 2500 - 3000 m de elevación, pero la diversidad de especies endémicas es más alta entre 3000 - 3500 m. Cajamarca tiene el más alto número de especies (130 spp.) y de especies endémicas (29 spp.), incluso si se considera el efecto del área. Centros de diversidad de especies endémicas se localizan en las provincias de Cajamarca (Cajamarca), Huaraz y Carhuaz (Ancash), Canta y Huarochirí (Lima). Centros de endemismos secundarios con una alta concentración tanto de especies endémicas y de casi endémicas se encuentran en San Ignacio y Cutervo (Cajamarca), Santiago de Chuco (La Libertad), Oxapampa (Pasco), y Cusco (Cusco): Los actuales patrones de diversidad están altamente correlacionados con la densidad de colecciones, por lo que es necesario una mayor colecta en todas las regiones, especialmente en Arequipa, Ayacucho, Puno, Ancash, Huánuco, Amazonas y Cajamarca, donde se indican altos niveles de diversidad y endemismo de especies, pero de las cuales existen pocas colecciones.

The genus Solanumis among the most species-rich genera both of the Peruvian flora and of the tropical Andes in general. The present revised checklist treats 276 species of SolanumL., of which 253 are native, while 23 are introduced and/or cultivated. A total of 74 Solanumspecies (29% of native species) are endemic to Peru. Additional 58 species occur only in small number of populations outside Peru, and these species are here labelled as near-endemics to highlight the role Peru playes in their future protection. Species diversity is observed to peak between 2500 - 3000 m elevation, but endemic species diversity is highest between 3000 - 3500 m elevation. Cajamarca has the highest number of endemic (29 spp.) and total species (130 spp.), even when considering the effect of area. Centers of endemic species diversity are observed in provinces of Cajamarca(Cajamarca),Huaraz and Carhuaz (Ancash), and Canta and Huarochirí (Lima). Secondary centres of endemism with high concentrations of both endemics and near-endemics are found in San Ignacio and Cutervo (Cajamarca), Santiago de Chuco (La Libertad), Oxapampa (Pasco), and Cusco (Cusco). Current diversity patterns are highly correlated with collection densities, and further collecting is needed across all areas, especially from Arequipa, Ayacucho, Puno, Ancash, Huánuco, Amazonas and Cajamarca, where high levels of species diversity and endemism are indicated but only a few collections of many species are known.

Three new species of Solanum (Brevantherum Clade) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Three new Brazilian species of the Brevantherum clade of Solanum (Solanaceae) are described, all closely related to the poorly known Solanum inornatum Witasek. Solanum bradei Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., and Solanum kriegeri Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., differ from S. inornatum in having very small deltate calyx lobes that are not accrescent in fruit. Solanum bradei is a shrub up to 1.8 m with generally pedunculate inflorescences and tiny translucent fruits, whereas Solanum kriegeri is a dwarf glabrescent plant growing on sandy soils in cloud forests, with larger fruits and sessile to subsessile inflorescence. Solanum friburgense Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., has linear calyx lobes like S. inornatum, and is characterized by its 2-foliate sympodia and leaf pubescence, with trichomes concentrated on leaf veins. The species here described and illustrated are restricted to the mountain ranges of Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar in the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil and are all of considerable conservation concern.

ResumoTrês novas espécies pertencentes ao clado Brevantherum do gênero Solanum (Solanaceae) são descritas, todas proximamente relacionadas a Solanum inornatum Witasek. Solanum bradei Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., e Solanum kriegeri Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., diferem de S. inornatum por apresentarem lobos do cálice deltoides, muito pequenos, não acrescentes no fruto, mas a primeira se destaca por apresentar um porte marcadamente maior, chegando a formar arbustos de até 1.8 m, com inflorescências geralmente pedunculadas e frutos diminutos translúcidos, enquanto Solanum kriegeri é uma forma anã e glabrescente que habita matas nebulares associadas a solos arenosos. Solanum friburgense Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov., apresenta lobos do cálice lineares, como em S. inornatum, mas se diferencia pelo simpódio 2-foliado e indumento das folhas, com tricomas concentrados nas nervuras. As espécies aqui descritas e ilustradas são restritas às Serras da Mantiqueira e do Mar no domínio Atlântico do sudeste brasileiro e são indicadas como ameaçadas de extinção.

A new heterandrous species of Solanum section Gonatotrichum Bitter (Solanaceae) from Bahia, Brazil.

A new species of Solanum from Brazil is described. Solanum evolvuloides Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov. belongs to section Gonatotrichum, a small group assigned to the Brevantherum Clade of the genus Solanum. It resembles Solanum turneroides Chodat, sharing with it heterandry, and Solanum parcistrigosum Bitter, with which it shares a similar habit and pubescence. Despite these similarities, the species can be recognized by its ovate-elliptic to cordiform leaf shape and more membranaceous leaf texture than the other species in the section, and stem, inflorescence axes, and calyx vestiture mainly composed of glandular hairs. Solanum evolvuloides is known to occur only in southeastern of Bahia state, Brazil, and in a preliminary assessment of the IUCN criteria can be considered a threatened species.ResumoUma nova espécie de Solanum é descrita para o Brasil. Solanum evolvuloides Giacomin & Stehmann, sp. nov. é componente da seção Gonatotrichum, um pequeno grupo associado ao Clado Brevantherum. A espécie é similar a Solanum turneroides, com a qual compartilha a heterandria, e Solanum parcistrigosum, que por sua vez apresenta um hábito e indumento foliar semelhante. Apesar da similaridade, a espécie pode ser facilmente reconhecida pela forma da folha ovada-elíptica a cordiforme e pela texura mais membranácea que as outras espécies da seção, além do indumento do caule, eixo da inflorescência e cálice, constituído em sua maioria por tricomas glandulares pedicelados. Solanum evolvuloides tem sua distribuição conhecida somente para o sudeste do estado da Bahia, Brasil, e é indicada como uma espécie ameaçada de extinção.