Areas of biological interest in the Brasilian Amazon are cited for the purpose of conservation management.These areas are: 1. Pará-leste, 2. Ilha Mexiana, 3. Amapá-sul, 4. Monte Tipac, 5. Óbidos/Alenquer/Santarém, 6. Parintins, 7. Serra de Tepequem, 8. Amazonas-central, 9-Upper Rio Negro, 10. Solimões, 11. Acre/Amazonas, 12. Rondônia/Amazonas. The areas were selected based on taxonomic variation and geographic distribution of 33 liana species of the genus Bauhinia (sections Schnella and Caulotretus) found in Brazil. Based on herbarium material, the distribution of each species was mapped and the following distribution patterns recorded: extra-amazonian (9 species), wide distribution intra- and extra-Amazonian 3 species), and strictly intra-Amazonian (21 species). The species which occur only within Amazonia are discussed as regards endemisms and disjunctions, as well as the occurrence of the 24 species in each sector. The distributions of 23 species of section Caulotretus are mapped. A map is given of the 12 areas of biological interest and the selection of each area is justified.
Bauhinia; lianas; geographical patterns; Brazilian Amazonia