Abstract
Matayba contains around 50 species of shrubs or trees, distributed from Mexico to northern Argentina and it is divided into four sections. In Brazil there are 30 species, 17 of them endemic. Matayba sect. Matayba is the largest section of the genus in number of species and occurs only in South America. In Brazil, this section is mainly found outside the Amazon region, with the exception of M. guianensis wich is widely distributed throughout South America. The present taxonomic revision of Matayba sect. Matayba includes descriptions, nomenclatural and classification reassessment, taxa delimitation, identification keys and illustrations. The main diagnostic characters for this section are the number and shape of the leaflets, the venation patterns and the prominence and position of the domatia. In the flowers, the most useful features are the indument on sepals, petals and filaments, both of diagnostic and taxonomic importance. A total of 17 species are recognized in this section. One species was excluded, 20 lectotypes and one neotype are designated, two species names and 10 forms and subforms are placed in synonymy, and new distributional records for several species in Brazil are registered.
Key words:
Matayba sect. Matayba; Sapindaceae; Cupanieae; taxonomic revision
