Deciphering the Heteropterys pannosa species complex (Malpighiaceae)

André M Amorim; Lucas C Marinho; Augusto Francener

doi:10.7717/peerj.12937

Deciphering the Heteropterys pannosa species complex (Malpighiaceae)

PeerJ. 2022 Feb 17:10:e12937. doi: 10.7717/peerj.12937. eCollection 2022.

Authors

André M Amorim^{1

2}, Lucas C Marinho³, Augusto Francener⁴

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
² Herbário CEPEC, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
³ Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
⁴ Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Goiana, Goiana, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Abstract

We describe three new species of Malpighiaceae that are endemic to central Brazil and related to the Heteropterys pannosa complex, a group of xylopodiferous, unbranched subshrubs with fruit in mericarps that have a strongly reduced or no dorsal wing. Heteropterys tocantinensis is more common in eastern Tocantins State and on the border with Bahia State, and there are a few records from Mato Grosso State. Heteropterys veadeirensis is restricted to northern Goiás State and H. walteri has a wider distribution, occurring in some municipalities in northern Goiás and southern Tocantins. Additionally, we also provide detailed redescriptions of H. pannosa and H. rosmarinifolia, the two previously known species in this complex. All species are considered Endangered (EN) based on IUCN criteria, especially due to the low area of occupancy. Illustrations, distribution maps, and information about phenology and habitat are also provided for all taxa.

Keywords: Brazilian savannas; Endemism; Malpighiales; Parabanisteria; Taxonomy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Brazil
Ecosystem
Malpighiaceae*

Grants and funding

André M. Amorim received a Research Productivity Fellowship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq (#312404/2018-2) and laboratory work was supported by CNPq (Edital Universal, #436283/2018-2). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.