Tree and shrub Rubiaceae Juss. family species along Tibagi river basin, Paraná State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Tree and shrub flora of the family Rubiaceae Juss. in the Tibagy river basin, Paraná State, Brazil. Rubiaceae, the fourth largest family of angiosperms in number of species in the world, is renowned by the opposite leaves, interpetiolar stipules, gamopetalous corolla and inferior ovary. Although well represented in the herbaria collections, it has not yet been fully studied in Paraná State. The Tibagy river basin is located in the center-eastern region of the Paraná State and is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Tibagy, covering 13% of the State's total surface. A number of exsiccates from both the Paraná herbaria collections and the field samplings conducted in the municipalities of the basin were collected, 1053 of which were analyzed. In this study, 18 genera and 35 species were recorded. Among those, Psychotria is the genus with greater species richness. The species Psychotria subtriflora, Psychotria tenuifolia, and Simira corumbensis were identified as new occurrence records for Paraná State and Psychotria fractistipula as a new citation for the State. This survey broadens the taxonomic knowledge of the Rubiaceae family and its role in the flora of the Tibagy basin and in the State of Paraná.

Keywords:
Asterids; diversity; floristic; Gentianales