Eriocaulaceae from Serra do Caraça, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The Serra do Caraça, located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, hosts a remarkable biological diversity, comprising rare and endemic plant species. Several naturalists have visited the area since the XIX century and made important botanical collections, many of these established as type specimens to describe different taxa, including Eriocaulaceae (Poales) species and varieties. This work provides a floristic treatment of Eriocaulaceae from Serra do Caraça, presenting species descriptions, distribution map, photographs, identification key, and notes on phenology and distribution. Thirty-three species were recorded in five genera, and Paepalanthus is the most numerous with 21 species, followed by Leiothrix (6 spp.), Syngonanthus (3 spp.), Comanthera (2 spp.), and Eriocaulon (1 sp.). Notable, among those are four species endemic to the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, one micro-endemic to the Serra do Caraça, and 16 endemic to Minas Gerais state. Five new synonyms are proposed. Eighteen taxa have type materials described to Serra do Caraça, corresponding to 12 species, five varieties, and one forma.

Key words:
Brazilian flora; campo rupestre; conservation; Poales; taxonomy