ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

First record of Mansoa minensis M.M.Silva-Castro (Bignoniaceae, Bignonieae) in Espírito Santo, Brazil

Mansoa minensis M.M.Silva-Castro is reported for the first time for the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. We provide an updated description, comparisons with closely related species, and suggest a revised conservation status for this species. We also present an identification key for all species of Mansoa that occur in Espírito Santo

Simira robusta (Rubiaceae, Condamineeae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of south-eastern Brazil

International audienceSimira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo state, south-eastern Brazil, is here described and illustrated, and compared with similar species. It most resembles S. grazielae, from which it differs by the larger inflorescences, antrorse pubescent flowers and fruits, and by its larger fruits. Its habitat and conservation status are discussed. A key to the species of Simira from Espírito Santo state is provided

Cyperus prophyllatus: An endangered aquatic new species of Cyperus L. (Cyperaceae) with a exceptional spikelet disarticulation pattern among about 950 species, including molecular phylogenetic, anatomical and (micro)morphological data.

Cyperus prophyllatus, an endangered new species of Cyperus (Cyperaceae) from an aquatic ecosystem of the Atlantic Forest, Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The spikelet morphology of Cyperus prophyllatus is unique among the c. 950 species of Cyperus in having both a conspicuous spikelet prophyll and a corky rachilla articulation, which remain persistent at the base of the spikelet after disarticulation. Our molecular phylogenetic data support the placement of C. prophyllatus in the C3 Cyperus Grade and more precisely in the clade representing Cyperus sect. Oxycaryum, which also includes C. blepharoleptos and C. gardneri. Anatomical and (micro)morphological analyses corroborate the phylogenetic results, provide a better understanding of ecology and taxonomy, as well as reveal compatibility of structures with survival and dispersion in aquatic environments. A distribution map, table with distinctive characters of allied species, and conservation status are made available