Among the plant families that occur in the campos rupestres, Eriocaulaceae stands out as one of the most representative, in the number of species, and also in the number of endemic species. Currently the family is composed of 10 genera. Paepalanthus Mart. comprises ca. 400 species grouped in many infrageneric taxa, among them, Paepalanthus subgen. Xeractis Koern., subgenus endemic of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais State. Our study presents information about species of Paepalanthus subgen. Xeractis that occur in the central Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, the main diversity centre of Paepalanthus. Ten species and two varieties were found: Paepalanthus argenteus (Bong.) Koern. var. argenteus, P. calvulus (Ruhland) Hensold, P. chrysolepis Silveira, P. comans Silveira, P. dianthoides Mart., P. homomallus (Bong.) Mart., P. latifolius Koern., P. mollis var. itambeensis Hensold, P. nigrescens Silveira, P. plumosus (Bong.) Koern., P. revolutus Hensold, and P. superbus (Silveira) Hensold. We present identification keys for the subgenera of Paepalanthus and for species of P. subgen. Xeractis, and also descriptions and comments about morphology, geographical distribution and conservation of the species.
"campos rupestres"; flora; taxonomy
