Poaceae in the “Seridó” Ecological Station, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Trata-se do primeiro levantamento florístico das espécies de Poaceae da Estação Ecológica do Seridó. A família apresenta grande valor econômico e ecológico. A região denominada Seridó apresenta uma Caatinga aberta com estrato herbáceo contínuo, onde os representantes da família constituem um dos principais componentes, principalmente na estação chuvosa. Foi registrada a ocorrência de 57 espécies distribuídas em 34 gêneros, das quais 41 são nativas e 16 exóticas. O trabalho consta de chaves analíticas para tribos, gêneros e espécies, descrições, discussão sobre a delimitação de algumas espécies, distribuição dos táxons na Estação e ilustrações botânicas. Eragrostis cilianensis (Bellardi) Vignolo ex Janch., Mesosetum annuum Swallen e Cenchrus ciliaris L. são citadas pela primeira vez para o Rio Grande do Norte. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis is the first floristic survey of grass species undertaken in Rio Grande do Norte. The family has great economic and ecological value. In the Seridó area, where the “caatinga vegetation” is open and shows a continuous herbaceous stratum, representatives of the family constitute the main component of the vegetation in the raining season. We documented the occurrence of 57 species of Poaceae, distributed in 34 genera, in the Seridó Ecological Station. Of those species, 41 are native to the area and 16 are exotic. The paper includes analytical keys for the grass tribes genera and species descriptions, a discussion about the delimitation of some species, the distribution of the species in the Station, and botanical illustrations. Eragrostis cilianensis (Bellardi) Vignolo ex Janch., Mesosetum annuum Swallen and Cenchrus ciliaris L. are recorded for the first time for the Flora of Rio Grande do Norte

Erythroxylaceae no Nordeste Brasileiro

Simpósio - Flora fanerogâmica nordestina: diversidade,distribuição e potencial econômic

<p class="Default">Maria Iracema Bezerra Loiola (2013) A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) from the Brazilian semiarid region. Phytotaxa 150(1): 61–64.

Loiola, Maria Iracema Bezerra (2013): &lt;p class="Default"&gt;Maria Iracema Bezerra Loiola (2013) A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) from the Brazilian semiarid region. Phytotaxa 150(1): 61–64. Phytotaxa 153 (1): 60, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.153.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.153.1.5&lt;/p&gt

Erythroxylum angelicae Loiola 2013, sp. nov.

Erythroxylum angelicae Loiola, sp. nov. (Fig. 1A–G) A new species characterized by persistent cataphylls, non-striated, long-triangular, palleaceous; stipules non-striated, 3– setulose; flowers subsessile, calyx lobes triangular, and styles free. Type:— BRAZIL. Ceará: Novo Oriente, Baixa Fria, Planalto da Ibiapaba, 760 m, 8 November 1990, (fl), F. S . Araújo 209 (holotype EAC 19335 A, isotypes EAC 19335 B, RB). Shrubs. Branches ascending, relatively short and straight, 1–2.5 mm diam., grayish to dark brown (when young), longitudinally finely striate, without distinct lenticels. Short shoots absent. Cataphylls alternate or congested along the shoots (in number of 5-7, the inferior shorter than superior), persistent, long-triangular, 2– 6 mm long, non-striated, palleaceous. Foliar stipules persistent, narrowly triangular, 1.7–4 mm long, rounded apex, non-striated, membranaceous, 3–setulose, keels sub-alate, margin entire; setae deciduous, 1–1.5 mm long,presenting colleters. Leaves persistent, short-petiolate; petioles subterete, 1–1.5 mm long, narrowly canaliculate adaxially; leaf blades ovate, 2.3–5.2 × 0.9–2.1 cm, acuminate to acute at apex, acute at base, margin entire, membranaceous, discolorous, adaxially dark green, abaxially pale green; the midrib impressed adaxially, prominent abaxially, 8–10 secondary nerves on each side, the veinlets reticulate, conspicuous on both surfaces. Buds rounded, 2–2.2 × 1.7–2 mm. Pedicels inconspicuous, less than 1 mm long. Flowers 1–3 per node, in axils of leaves or cataphylls, 2–2.5 mm long. Bracteoles 1, ca. 1 mm long, 1–setulose, keel subalate, non-striated, triangular, concave, margin entire. Calyx divided half its length, with triangular lobes, 1– 1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm, longer than the staminal cup. Petals oblong, 1.8–2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, concave, rounded at apex, bilobate. Staminal cup 0.5–0.7 mm long, the margin 10-denticulate. Brachystylous flowers not seen. Dolichostylous flowers: antesepalous filaments 0.5–0.6 mm long, antepetalous filaments 0.8–1 mm long, anthers oblong, ca. 0.5 × 0.5 mm; ovary obovoid to oblong, 0.8–1 × 0.7–0.8 mm, styles free, 1–1.4 mm long, stigmas depressed-capitate. Drupe not seen. Etymology:— Erythroxylum angelicae honours Professor Maria Angélica Figueiredo (1939-2012) of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, for her valuable studies of the flora and phytogeography of Ceará. Additional specimen examined (paratype):— BRAZIL. Ceará, Novo Oriente, Estrondo, Planalto da Ibiapaba, 8 November 1990 (fl), F . S. Araújo 208 (EAC). Distribution:— This species has so far been observed only on the Ibiapaba plateau, in the municipality of Novo Oriente (approx. 5º 32' 04" S, 40º 46' 26" W), Ceará state, northeastern Brazil. It deserves mentioning that field trips were conducted in this area some time ago (ca. 3 years ago), but the species was not found. Recently, there were no field trips in that area and, therefore, few samples of this species were analyzed. Habitat and ecology:— Grows in “Carrasco” vegetation type, at 760 m elevation. According to Araújo et al. (1999), the “Carrasco” is a dense, shruby and deciduous type of vegetation, covering quartz-sandy soils, between altitudes of 700 and 900 m, on the Ibiapaba and Araripe plateaus, in the Brazilian semiarid domain. The two collections, both with flowers, were gathered in November. The characteristics of fruits (drupes) are unknown. Conservation status:— Considering that only two samples collected in the area during the study of the “Carrasco” vegetation (Araújo et al. 1999) and few individuals of Erythroxylum angelicae have been observed at the site, this species was considered rare. However, based on IUCN (2001) criteria, the conservation status of this species is Data Deficient (DD). Discussion:— In a preliminary list of Erythroxylum species form Ceará state, I identified both specimens of this new species as Erythroxylum laetevierens O.E. Schulz (1907: 42) of section Rhabdophyllum, due to the general aspect of the branches, leaf morphology, and geographical distribution (both species are sympatric). However, closed observations of this collections show that Erythroxylum angelicae belongs to section Archerythroxylum, based on its non-striate stipules and triangular calyx lobes. Erythroxylum angelicae superficially resembles several other species encountered in northeastern Brazil, such as Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius (1840: 387), also of sect. Archerythroxylum; differing by the length of setae (1-1.5 mm long in E. angelicae vs. 0.6-0.8 mm in E. vaccinifolium), length of pedicels (inconspicuous, less 1 mm long vs. 2-5mm) and shape of calyx lobes (triangular vs. lanceolate). The new species is also similar, in general branching appearance and leaf morphology, to E. tenue Plowman (1987: 35) of sect. Rhabdophhylum; however, this last species have striated stipules. Other characters that distinguish E. angelicae from these morphologically related species are presented in Table 1. Erytroxylum angelicae and the similar species discussed here are not found in sympatry. E. vacciniifolium is reported from savanna formations (cerrado) and savanna-steppe vegetation (caatinga) in the west-portion of Brazil (Loiola 2013) and E. tenue is recorded from the coastal forest in southern Bahia (Plowman 1987).Published as part of Loiola, Maria Iracema Bezerra, 2013, A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) from the Brazilian semiarid region, pp. 61-64 in Phytotaxa 150 (1) on pages 61-64, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.150.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/510053

USO POPULAR DE PLANTAS MEDICINAIS NO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, NORDESTE DO BRASIL

A survey was made of the plant species used in popular medicine in the coastal city of Natal, and the rural city of Santa Cruz, both in the northeastern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. Information on the medicinal properties of the plants was obtained from interviews with local residents performed between February and August, 2005 and between September and December, 2007. In each area, 100 inhabitants filled out standard forms, for a total of 300 interviews. Data was collected on the plant (popular name, part of the plant used, form of use and function) and on the population (age group, sex and schooling). We recorded 57 species distributed into 54 genuses and 34 botanical families. Regardless of schooling level, more than 50% of the respondents reported using plant species for curing a wide assortment of ailments. The most used families in terms of number of species were: Lamiaceae (seven), Euphorbiaceae (four), Myrtaceae (four), Zingiberaceae (three) and Lauraceae (three). Around 49% of the species were common to the three areas studied. The most used plant parts for preparing remedies, which are used mainly for treating respiratory diseases, were the leaves, fruits and roots. Teas are the most common form of dispensing the medicine. A table is presented containing information, especially on the use and function of the species, as described in the interviews

Percepção ambiental das artesãs que usam as folhas de carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera H.E.Moore, Arecaceae) na Área de Proteção Ambiental Delta do Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil / Environmental perception of the artisans that work with leaves of carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera H.E.Moore, Arecaceae) in Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, Piauí, Brazil

This study investigated the socioeconomic aspects and environmental perception of artisans that subsists making handicrafts of the leaves of carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera H. E. Moore) in the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, located in Paranaíba municipality, Piauí state. We interviewed 36 artisans belonging to communities Fazendinha, Vazantinha and Pedra do Sal, using semi-structured questionnaires. In parallel, the plant management was followed. The crafts are made by women with age ranging from 20 to 60 years and low education. They live deprived of basic sanitation, schools and public health of quality. The perception about the plant is attributed to carnauba utilitarian features. In the three communities damage to plant involves estate speculation. The artisans of Fazendinha and Vazantinha did not express a conservationist conscience, prevailing capitalist perception. In the community of Pedra do Sal, the artisans promote an environmental conservation. They contact environmental agencies and protest against the devastation of carnauba forest. It was observed that although artisans share the same activity, they have different perceptions of the environment and resource explored. Especially in the Fazendinha community is necessary construction of environmental education to promote a sustainable extraction

Flora do Ceará, Brasil: Erythroxylaceae

Resumo Este trabalho objetivou realizar o levantamento florístico e identificar o padrão de distribuição dos representantes de Erythroxylaceae, como parte do projeto Flora do Ceará. As identificações e descrições foram baseadas na análise morfológica de amostras obtidas em campo e de herbários (CEPEC, EAC, F, HCDL, HST, HUEFS, HVASF, IPA, MBM, NY, RB, TEPB, UFP, UFRN), imagens digitais de coleções-tipos disponíveis nos sítios dos Herbários F, K e NY, Reflora - Herbário Virtual, speciesLink e bibliografias. Para o Ceará foram registradas 24 espécies de Erythroxylum ocorrendo preferencialmente em climas estacionalmente secos, como Savana Estépica (Carrasco) e Floresta Estacional Decidual (mata seca). Quanto à área de distribuição, sete espécies ocorrem extra Brasil, 17 são restritas ao território brasileiro, dez à região Nordeste e uma ao Ceará (E. angelicae). Um total de 20 espécies foi registrado em Unidades de Conservação do estado: Parque Nacional de Ubajara (7), Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra das Almas (7), Floresta Nacional do Araripe (6) e Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba (4). Erythroxylum bezerrae e E. tianguanum estão ameaçadas de extinção