An interactive key (Lucid) for the identifying of the genera of seed plants from the Ducke Reserve, Manaus, AM, Brazil

The identification of Amazonian plants is still difficult for many reasons, one being the lack of collections over large areas of the region. As a consequence of the poor knowledge on the Amazonian flora, many taxonomic publications (revisions and floristic treatments) become out of date within a few years. In this context, the on-line publication of taxonomic treatises has been suggested, since it allows constant data updates; and this type of publication should therefore be more valued by the scientific community. An excellent field guide for the Ducke Reserve (Manaus, central Amazonian Brazil) was published, based exclusively on vegetative characters. However, the presence of reproductive structures in the collected material does not facilitate identification with this type of field guide. Furthermore, as in any printed key, the text cannot be updated, except through a new edition. As an example of a way to facilitate the identification of Amazonian plants, an interactive, multiple-entry key to the seed plant genera that occur in the Ducke Reserve was created using the program Lucid 3.5. The key includes vegetative and reproductive characters and many illustrations, and is available on-line. We discuss here the peculiarities and advantages of this type of electronic publication

Checklist of Spermatophyta of the São Paulo State, Brazil

The Phanerogamic Flora of São Paulo State project has been dedicated to create an inventory of the flora for 20 years. More than 200 collaborators are involved, mostly from the State of São Paulo, with the contributions of researchers from other states and from abroad. Since 2001, seven books with monographs of 151 families were published, dealing with 3,237 species within 722 genera. This project was the starting-point of the gathering of information about the diversity of spermatophytes of the State of São Paulo. The current checklist, at this point, presents an updated and virtually complete list of species, all certified by specialists. It also contains references to scientific collections for most of the taxa (vouchers) or to bibliography referring to the natural or subspontaneous occurrence of the species in the State. The list now contains 7,305 species distributed in 1,776 genera and in 197 spermatophyte families (according to Cronquist 1981) or 195 (according to APG III). 23% of the 31,728 species of spermatophytes listed in the Flora of Brazil occur in São Paulo State. The most representative families are Orchidaceae (797 species), Asteraceae (676 species), Fabaceae (513 species), Poaceae (500 species), Myrtaceae (304), Rubiaceae (265 species) and Melastomataceae (253 species), which, altogether, accumulate 3,308 species and constitute 45% of total species of spermatophytes in the state. The wealth of the Brazilian plant diversity, partially expressed in São Paulo, shows how important is the continuity of floristic studies in a country that is very likely to hold the largest plant diversity in the planet.O projeto Flora Fanerogâmica do Estado de São Paulo tem se dedicado a inventariar a flora paulistana há quase 20 anos. Conta com a atuação de mais de 200 colaboradores, a maioria do próprio estado, além de pesquisadores de outros estados e do exterior. Desde 2001, foram publicados sete volumes com as monografias de 151 famílias, contendo 3.237 espécies em 722 gêneros. Este projeto foi o ponto de partida para o conhecimento da diversidade das espécies de espermatófitas do estado de São Paulo. A apresentação do checklist neste momento é oportuna por constituir a produção de uma listagem das espécies com identificações certificadas pelos especialistas, além de conter a referência de uma coleção de herbário para a maior parte dos táxons (material-testemunho) ou referência à bibliografia em que a espécie é citada como ocorrente, de forma nativa ou subespontânea, no estado. Dessa forma, é aqui apresentada a listagem das espermatófitas do estado de São Paulo, com 7.305 espécies, distribuídas em 1.776 gêneros e em 197 famílias (segundo Cronquist 1981) ou então 195 (segundo o APG III). Em relação à flora do Brasil, com 31.728 espécies de espermatófitas, o estado São Paulo compartilha de 23% dessas espécies. As famílias mais representativas são Orchidaceae (797 espécies), Asteraceae (676 espécies), Fabaceae (513 espécies), Poaceae (500 espécies), Myrtaceae (304), Rubiaceae (265 espécies) e Melastomataceae (253 espécies) que, juntas, somam 3.308 espécies e constituem mais de 45% do total de espécies de espermatófitas do estado. Considerando a grande diversidade vegetal brasileira, parcialmente expressa em um estado, depreende-se a grande importância da continuidade dos estudos florísticos no Brasil, país provavelmente detentor da maior diversidade vegetal do planeta.19138

Transference of function in the pollination system of the Ochnaceae

Most members of the Ochnaceae possess poricidal anthers that are emptied by pollen collecting bees performing vibrational foraging. In several genera, such as Tyleria, Adenarake, and various species of Sauvagesia, however, pollen is released by vibration from the anthers through the porus of a novel structure formed by staminodia. These envelop the androecium and gynoecium. Anthers enclosed in this envelope are often longicidal. © 1991 Springer-Verlag

Flora da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais: Commelinaceae

This study is a contribution to the project"Flora da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil". The family is represented in the area by three species: Commelina obliqua Vahl, Dichorisandra hexandra (Aubl.) Kuntze ex Hand.-Mazz. and Floscopa glabrata (Kunth) Hassk. Key to the species, descriptions and illustrations, as well as comments on the phenology and on the habitats are presented for all species.O presente estudo é uma contribuição ao projeto"Flora da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil". A família é representada na área por três espécies: Commelina obliqua Vahl, Dichorisandra hexandra (Aubl.) Kuntze ex Hand.-Mazz. e Floscopa glabrata (Kunth) Hassk. Chave para as espécies, descrições, ilustrações e comentários sobre a fenologia e os habitats são aqui apresentados para todas as espécies

Two new species and one new record of Caraipa (calophyllaceae) from Colombia

Two new species of Caraipa from Colombia are described and illustrated: Caraipa antioquensis , endemic to Antioquia in the Andes and the only species of Caraipa occurring in this area, and Caraipa tumescens, endemic to Vaupés. Caraipa ferruginea is reported from Colombia for the first time. We also present an identification key and distribution maps for the 14 species of Caraipa in Colombia. © Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists.Two new species of Caraipa from Colombia are described and illustrated: Caraipa antioquensis , endemic to Antioquia in the Andes and the only species of Caraipa occurring in this area, and Caraipa tumescens, endemic to Vaupés. Caraipa ferruginea is report412348353FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNQP - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR2012/51781-0562299/2010-6482988/2013-4457/2010This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (project grant n. 2012/51781-0), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (project grants Protax 562299/2010-6n. 482988/2013-4, and a productivity grant to M.C.E.A

Four new species of Caraipa (calophyllaceae) from the Amazon basin And the Guiana shield

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Four new species of Caraipa (Calophyllaceae) are described and illustrated: Caraipa balbinensis, endemic to Balbina (Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil), C. caespitosa growing in savannah and white-sand vegetation in Roraima and Amazonas (Brazil), Guainia (Colombia) and Amazonas (Venezuela), C. davilae, an endemic species of Loreto (Peru), and C. macrocarpa, an endemic species to Guyana. Morphological comparisons with the similar taxa are provided for each new species: C. balbinensis can be distinguished from C. heterocarpa by its longer leaves and petioles, and its slightly rugulose fruit surface; C. caespitosa can be separated from C. grandifolia and C. longipedicellata by its distinguished habit, and its smaller leaves and inflorescences; C. davilae differs from C. balbinensis and C. grandifolia by its dense indument on the abaxial leaf surface, and its rugulose and concave fruit valves; and C. macrocarpa can be distinguished from C. punctulata by its large, glabrous and rugulose fruits.Four new species of Caraipa (Calophyllaceae) are described and illustrated: Caraipa balbinensis, endemic to Balbina (Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil), C. caespitosa growing in savannah and white-sand vegetation in Roraima and Amazonas (Brazil), Gu2864245255FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNQP - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIORFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)2012/51781-0562299/2010-6482988/2013-4457/2010Quatro novas espécies de Caraipa (Calophyllaceae) são descritas e ilustradas: Caraipa balbinensis, endêmica de Balbina (Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brasil), Caraipa caespitosa, espécie que ocorre apenas nas campinas e campinaranas dos estados de RoraThis work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (project grant n. 2012/51781-0), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (project grants Protax 562299/2010-6n. 482988/2013-4, and a productivity grant to M.C.E.A

Pollination biology of Ternstroemia laevigata and T. dentata (Theaceae)

The flowers of two species of Ternstroemia from Central Amazonia were observed to be pollinated by female bees performing vibrational foraging. The anthers of these flowers are longitudinally dehiscent. They are completely included in a petal tube, which opens by a small pore at the apex. Pollen is expelled out of this pore when the bees vibrate the flower while curling over the apex of the petal tube. The much elongated connectives probably transmit the vibrations from the petals to the anthers. The possible occurrence of this mode of pollination in other species of Ternstroemia is briefly discussed. © 1993 Springer-Verlag

Phylogeographic studies of Brazilian “campo-rupestre” species: Wunderlichia mirabilis Riedel ex Baker (Asteraceae)

Wunderlichia mirabilis Riedel ex Baker, a Brazilian wind-dispersed tree species, has a disjunct pattern of geographical distribution. This species occurs in ‘campo rupestre’ locations of the Espinhaço Range, and Goiás Mountains, Brazil. The phylogeography of W. mirabilis was reconstructed on the basis of the genetic variability and phylogeny of the nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (trnL) non-coding spacer regions. AMOVA and Mantel analysis revealed for both markers that genetic variability is high within populations and moderate-to-high among populations. Rates of seed flow are higher than those of pollen flow, and there is a non-significant genetic x geographic correlation. The spread of Wunderlichia mirabilis probably occurred from Serra do Cabral through other serras in the Espinhaço Range of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, in an easterly direction, and through Goiás Mountains, Serra da Canastra in Minas Gerais and São Paulo in a westerly movement from the Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais