Genus Paspalum L. (Poaceae) at Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

No presente estudo foi realizado o levantamento das espécies de Paspalum ocorrentes na região setentrional da Cadeia do Espinhaço, a região da Chapada Diamantina, localizada no centro do estado da Bahia, com base em coletas próprias e materiais depositados nos principais herbários do Brasil. Foram encontradas 40 espécies, duas delas representando novos registros para a Bahia (P. erianthum Nees ex Trin. e P. robustum (Hitchc. & Chase) S. Denham) e três são novos registros para o Nordeste (P. mandiocanum var. subaequiglume Barreto, P. plenum Chase e P. trichostomum Hack.). Uma chave de identificação para as espécies de Paspalum encontradas na área, descrições e ilustrações são fornecidas.A floristic survey of the species of Paspalum from the Chapada Diamantina, Northern portion of the Espinhaço Range, in the central region of the state of Bahia, was carried out, based on our collections, as well as specimens housed in the main Brazilian herbaria. Forty species were found, including two new records for Bahia (P. erianthum and P. robustum) and three new records for Northeastern Brazil (P. mandiocanum var. subaequiglume, P. plenum and P. trichostomum). An identification key to the species of Paspalum found in the area, descriptions, and illustrations are provided.Fil: Pimenta, Karena M.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Rua, Gabriel Hugo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Oliveira, Reyjane P.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Brasi

A new species of Parianella (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Olyreae) marks the southernmost distribution of the genus in Brazil

Background and aims – Parianella is a relatively recently described genus of the subtribe Parianinae (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Olyreae) that includes two species, and it is supposedly endemic to the Bahian Coastal Forests in the central region of Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Herein, we describe and illustrate a new species of the genus, comparing it with the other species of Parianella. We also provide an updated distribution map of the genus and the conservation status of the new taxon. Material and methods – This study was based on the analysis of herbarium specimens and a literature review. The conservation assessment is based on field observations and spatial analyses, following IUCN guidelines and criteria. Key results – During a review of the Poaceae collection of the MBML Herbarium, two Parianinae specimens with interesting features were found. A detailed morphological analysis revealed that these specimens belong to a new species of Parianella. The new taxon was collected in two localities in the southern portion of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, one in the municipality of Santa Leopoldina and the other in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve, municipality of Cariacica. Both localities are situated in the Krenák-Waitaká Forests, one of the three subregions of the central Atlantic Forest region, and an area of great floristic diversity, including bamboo species. Conclusion – Parianella capixaba represents the southernmost distribution of the genus known to date. With the description of this new species, the total number of bamboos in Espírito Santo state rises to 52 species in 18 genera

Developmental Morphology of a Dimorphic Grass Inflorescence: The Brazilian Bamboo Eremitis (Poaceae)

Premise of research.The highly specialized grass inflorescence varies with respect to phyllotaxis, with the reproductive meristem forming primary lateral branches that are either spirally arranged or distichous. The Brazilian bamboo Eremitis is highly unusual in that it has a dimorphic inflorescence, typically composed of an apical gynecandrous whorl of both male and female spikelets and basal whorls of male spikelets. Although not closely related to them, Eremitis shares some structural similarities with some early-divergent grasses.Methodology.We use SEM and LM to describe the development of the reproductive structures of Eremitis to clarify our understanding of the highly specialized grass inflorescence and flower.Pivotal results.Developmental studies show that the inflorescence of Eremitis is actually partially whorled and partially distichous. The apical whorl is abortive. The female spikelet is not terminal on the axis, in contrast with the majority of grasses. All the male spikelets are distichously attached to the inflorescence axis and separated into groups. There is a hollow style with two vascular bundles.Conclusions.The strong morphological similarities between Eremitis and some early-divergent grasses are here supplemented by several anatomical similarities, perhaps due to a shared pollination syndrome

Paspalum giuliettiae (Poaceae, Panicoideae), a New Grass from 'Campos Rupestres' of the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

A new grass species from Brazil, Paspalum giuliettiae, is herein described, illustrated, and compared with some congeners. This new species shares inflorescences with subconjugate primary branches and solitary glabrous spikelets with P. pumilum, but it differs in macromorphological characters and in leaf anatomy. Paspalum giuliettiae has been collected in the Chapada Diamantina, which is the northern portion of the Espinhaço Range, in the central region of the State of Bahia, Brazil. This new Paspalum grows in humid or swampy places in the ‘campos rupestres’ vegetation, above 1,000 m, and seems to be endemic to this region.Fil: Pimenta, Karena M.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Departamento de Ciencias Biologica, Herbario; BrasilFil: Rua, Gabriel Hugo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Leite, Kelly R. B.. Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Botânica; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Reyjane P.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Departamento de Ciencias Biologica, Herbario; Brasi

Notes on leaf micromorphology of the rare herbaceous bamboo Buergersiochloa bambusoides Pilg. (Olyreae, Poaceae) from New Guinea and its taxonomic implications

We present notes on the leaf micromorphology of Buergersiochloa bambusoides, a rare species from New Guinea and included in Buergersiochloinae, one of three subtribes of the herbaceous bamboos (tribe Olyreae). We used scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to analyze the microcharacters of both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Within the Olyreae, saddle-shaped silica bodies in both the costal and intercostal zones are considered unique to Buergersiochloinae. Simple, circular and very small papillae are observed on the adaxial surface, and for the first time, branched papillae on the abaxial surface are observed in B. bambusoides. On the abaxial surface, there are papillae on long cells associated with the stomatal complexes. Bicellular microhairs are the only trichomes present and they are found almost exclusively on the abaxial surface. The saddle-shaped silica bodies are the most taxonomically important among the microcharacters observed on the leaf surface of B. bambusoides

FIGURE 3 in Chusquea calderoniae (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species of C. subg. Chusquea endemic to the Espinhaço Range, Brazil

FIGURE 3. Geographic distribution of Chusquea calderoniae and C. attenuata in Brazil.Published as part of Vidal, Kaio Vinicius De A., Souza, Murilo José O., Dorneles Welker, Cassiano A., Oliveira, Iasmin Laiane C., Clark, Lynn G. & Oliveira, Reyjane P., 2023, Chusquea calderoniae (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species of C. subg. Chusquea endemic to the Espinhaço Range, Brazil, pp. 255-266 in Phytotaxa 579 (4) on page 263, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.579.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/756394

Coalescent-Based Species Delimitation in Herbaceous Bamboos (Bambusoideae, Olyreae) from Eastern Brazil: Implications for Taxonomy and Conservation in a Group with Weak Morphological Divergence Coupled with Low Genetic Diversity

Species delimitation in herbaceous bamboos has been complex and, in some genera, a great part of its diversity has been confirmed only based on genetic information, as is the case of the genus Raddia. It includes nine species, all occurring in Brazil, but only R. portoi predominates in dry forests of the Northeast associated with the Caatinga phytogeographic domain. This species is morphologically close to R. angustifolia, which is known for a single location in the Atlantic Forest in Southern Bahia, and is considered to be threatened by extinction. Besides problems with taxonomic focus, actions for its conservation are complicated because it is not certain if it must be considered an independent species or included in the more widespread R. portoi. In this study, we used coalescent multispecies (MSC) theory approaches combined with genetic structure analyses in an attempt to delimit these two species. Different analyses were congruent and the species delimitation using MSC inferred distinct lineages supporting their recognition as two species. These results solved the taxonomic doubts and also showed the power of these approaches to delimit species as lineages, even in groups with weak morphological divergence and low genetic variability, and also impacting our knowledge for conservation purposes

A New Allopolyploid Species of Saccharum (Poaceae ‐ Andropogoneae) from South America, with Notes on its Cytogenetics

Allopolyploidy is a major mode of speciation in flowering plants and particularly in the grass tribe Andropogoneae, which includessugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and relatives. A new species of Saccharum from South America (S. intermedium) is described here, supported bymorphological, molecular and cytogenetic evidence. Previous molecular analyses indicated an allopolyploid origin of the new species throughinterspecific hybridization between S. angustifolium and S. villosum. The new taxon has intermediate morphology between the two parental species.Cytogenetic analyses of the three species were performed, including chromosome counts, meiotic regularity, and pollen viability and morphology.The new taxon is hexaploid (2n = 60), while the parental species are triploids (2n = 30), confirming the ploidy level suggested by the number ofparalogues in phylogenetic trees based on low-copy nuclear genes. This represents the first chromosome count for S. intermedium and a new cytotypefor S. villosum. Although both parental species are triploids, they surprisingly exhibited regular meiosis and high pollen viability, indicating they aremale-fertile, as is the hexaploid new species. Data on geographic distribution and phenology is also presented, aswell as a key for the South Americanspecies of Saccharum.Fil: Welker, Cassiano A. D.. Universidade Federal de Uberlandia; BrasilFil: Souza Chies, Tatiana T.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Peichoto, Myriam Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Oliveira, Reyjane P.. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Luana C.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Muccillo, Victória B. S.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Kellogg, Elizabeth Anne. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; Estados UnidosFil: Kaltchuk-Santos, Eliane. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi