Dalechampia seccoi (Euphorbiaceae), a threatened new species from Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Dalechampia seccoi is a new endemic species of Euphorbiaceae from the Atlantic Forest domain, southeastern Brazil. Here we describe and illustrate the new species. Collections of botanical material, and standard herbarium practices were applied. The new species is vegetatively similar to D. alata, D. erythrostyla, D. pentaphylla, D. violacea, and D. purpurata, however it is distinguished by exclusive characters such as involucral bracts 4‒5-lobed, pinkish, staminate sepals vinaceous, resin darkish and stigma yellow lobed to crateriform. The new species is restricted to Seasonal Semideciduous Forest with altitudes of ca. 700 m from Caparaó, south of the state of Espírito Santo. In addition, we provide field photographs, preliminary conservation status assessments using IUCN Red List guidelines, as well as a checklist and key for morphological correlated species.

Keywords: Acalyphoideae; Caparaó; endemism; Espírito Santo; Seasonal Semideciduous Forest; taxonomy