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ResumoOrchidaceae foi citada recentemente como a família mais representativa na Floresta Atlântica. Considerando essa representatividade, a fragmentação com perda de diversidade e a carência de informações para a área, este trabalho inventariou a flora orquidológica em remanescentes florestais na Usina São José (USJ), Pernambuco, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em seis fragmentos na mata Norte Pernambucana, localizados no município de Igarassu. Foram realizadas expedições mensais de dezembro de 2008 a março de 2010. As amostras foram depositadas no herbário UFP. Orchidaceae está representada na área por 27 espécies e 19 gêneros, cujos mais representativos foram Epidendrum (4 spp.) e Scaphyglottis (3 spp.). Incrementa-se 20 spp. àquelas citadas para a USJ em lista anterior. Três espécies foram citadas pela primeira vez para a Floresta Atlântica, sendo uma um novo registro para flora nordestina. Cattleya granulosa Lindl. e Zygostates bradei (Schltr.) Garay estão incluídas em listas de espécies ameaçadas de extinção na categoria de vulneráveis. O fragmento Piedade merece destaque por apresentar 26 spp., sendo este uma RPPN. Os dados reforçam a importância da área para conservação da biodiversidade no estado. AbstractOrchidaceae was recently pointed as the most representative family in Atlantic forest. Based on the lack of data and the fragmentation with lost of diversity, this paper provides a checklist of the orchids in some fragments of Atlantic Rainforest in Usina São José (USJ), Pernambuco, Brazil. The study area includes six forest fragments in Igarassu, Pernambuco. Fieldwork was carried out from December/2008 to March/2010. The vouchers were deposited at UFP herbarium. Orchidaceae is represented by 27 species and 19 genera which Epidendrum L. (4 spp.) and Scaphyglottis Poepp. & Endl.(3 spp.) were the richest in number of species. This work increases 20 spp. to that recorded for USJ in previous checklist. Three species are recorded here for the first time for the Atlantic rainflorest, and one is a new record to Northeastern Brazil. Cattleya granulosa Lindl. and Zygostates bradei (Schltr.) Garay are considered threatened. The Piedade remain is noteworthy for having 26 spp., which is a RPPN. The data shows the importance of the area to conservation of the biodiversity in the State.

Species delimitation remains a central problem in systematic, taxonomic and evolutionary studies. However, the precise delimitation of species depends on the criteria used to identify lineages and the specific species concept that is applied. Recently, multidisciplinary studies using different data sources have significantly improved the delimitation of species within complex taxonomic groups, leading to an integrative taxonomy. To investigate the species delimitation within the Atlantic clade of Epidendrum (subg. Amphyglottium), four different species criteria were examined (phenetic differentiation, mono–phyly, diagnosability, absence of genetic intermediates). Morphometrics, plastid DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers were used to explore the agreement between patterns recovered and species criteria tested. The conflicts among species criteria are discussed in light of pollination ecology, patterns of gene flow, reproductive isolation mechanisms and selective pressures currently acting in deceptive orchid species. Four currently recognized species from the Atlantic clade could be delimitated, including one newly described species, Epidendrum flammeus. Three out of five species satisfied the monophyly criterion, and few diagnostic flower characters were found among species. In contrast, nuclear microsatellite data correctly assigned individuals to their respective species, even in the presence of weak reproductive isolation and extensive hybridization events reported in the literature. One important implication of this finding is that phylogenetic studies in Epidendrum spp. should make use of single– or low–copy nuclear loci instead of plastid markers, which may be true for other plant groups. The results also indicate that the generalized pollination syndrome found among species of the Atlantic clade, the different levels of gene flow observed between nuclear and plastid markers, and hybridization events are commonly observed as the main evolutionary forces within this orchid group. Finally, we discuss evolutionary processes and taxonomic limits among these species, and we highlight the need to increase the inter–disciplinary approach to investigate species limits in complex plant groups.

The shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora.

ResumoEm Pernambuco, além da Floresta Atlântica costeira, e dos Brejos de Altitude, as encostas orientais do Planalto da Borborema também são regiões ricas em espécies de Orchidaceae. Os afloramentos rochosos são comuns e têm sido indicados com uma das áreas mais representativas para a família no Nordeste do Brasil. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo inventariar a flora de orquídeas da área. Excursões foram realizadas entre 2005 e 2013, contemplando afloramentos rochosos de 13 áreas. Foram encontradas 29 spp. pertencentes a 18 gêneros, sendo Habenaria (seis spp.) e Epidendrum (quatro spp.) os mais representativos. Entre as espécies catalogadas destacam-se Acianthera prolifera e Octomeria alexandri como novos registros para Pernambuco, e Phragmipedium sargentianum que consta na lista de espécies ameaçadas de extinção no Brasil. As espécies são amplamente distribuídas a restritas na sua distribuição, dentre as quais, nove são endêmicas do Brasil. Este estudo corrobora informações anteriores sobre a elevada riqueza e abundância de Orchidaceae nas formações vegetais dos afloramentos rochosos, incluindo muitas espécies endêmicas. Apesar disto, poucas unidades de conservação no estado de Pernambuco englobam esse ecossistema tão importante. Palavras-chave: Caatinga, ecossistemas montanhosos, flora, Floresta Atlântica, inselbergs. AbstractBesides the Atlantic Coastal Forest and the Brejos de Altitude in the state of Pernambuco, the eastern slopes of the Borborema plateau are also rich in species of Orchidaceae. Rocky outcrops are common and have been cited as one of the most representative sites for the family in Northeast Brazil. This study did a survey of the orchid flora on rocky outcrops in this state. Fieldwork was conducted from 2005 to 2013, and rocky outcrops from 13 different areas were visited. A total of 29 species and 18 genera were found. Habenaria (6 spp.) and Epidendrum (4 spp.) are the most representative genera. Of species recorded here, Acianthera prolifera and Octomeria alexandri are highlighted as new records for Pernambuco, and also Phragmipedium sargentianum which is on Brazil's endangered species list. The species are either widely distributed or have a restricted distribution; nine of these species are endemic to Brazil. This study confirms previous data on the great diversity and abundance of Orchidaceae in rocky habitats, including several endemic species. However, very few conservation units in Northeast Brazil contain this important ecosystem.

BackgroundNectar gain and loss are important flower transitions observed in angiosperms, and are particularly common in orchids. To understand such transitions, the availability of detailed anatomical data and species-level phylogenies are crucial. We investigated the evolution of food deception in Epidendrum, one of the largest orchid genera, using genus phylogeny to map transitions between nectar gain and loss among different clades. Associations between anatomical and histochemical changes and nectar gain and loss were examined using fresh material available from 27 species. The evolution of nectar presence/absence in Epidendrum species was investigated in a phylogenetic framework of 47 species, using one nuclear and five plastid DNA regions available from GenBank and sequenced in this study.ResultsThe presence or absence of nectar was strongly associated with changes in the inner epidermal tissues of nectaries. Nectar-secreting species have unornamented epidermal tissue, in contrast to the unicellular trichomes found on the epidermis of food deceptive species. Bayesian tests confirmed that transitions occurred preferentially from nectar presence to nectar absence across the Epidendrum phylogeny. In addition, independent nectar loss events were found across the phylogeny, suggesting a lack of constraint for these transitions.ConclusionsOrnamented nectaries may play an important role in the deceptive pollination strategy by secreting volatile organic compounds and providing tactile stimuli to pollinators. The recurrent and apparently irreversible pattern of nectar loss in Epidendrum suggests that food deception may constitute an alternative evolutionarily stable strategy, as observed in other orchid groups.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-018-1398-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Premise: The Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte in Brazil preserves an exceptionally rich assemblage of plant macrofossils from the Early Cretaceous (late Aptian), including rare early angiosperm fossils related to Nymphaeales, monocots, and magnoliids, and a variety of angiosperms of uncertain affinities. Macrofossils of eudicot angiosperms have not been described previously, despite the presence of tricolpate pollen. We describe a fossil leaf with morphology characteristic of eudicot angiosperms. Methods: The fossil was collected from a quarry in the Lower Cretaceous (late Aptian) Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil in the state of Ceará. We compared the leaf architecture with that of ferns, gymnosperms, and similar living and fossil angiosperms.Results: The leaf of Baderadea pinnatissecta gen. et sp. nov. is simple and petiolate, with leaf architecture similar to that of some herbaceous Ranunculales. The blade is 5 cm long and the margin is untoothed and twice pinnately lobed with narrow lobes (pinnatisect). The primary vein framework is pinnate and there are multiple orders of reticulate venation. Conclusions: The combination of characters preserved in the fossil supports the interpretation that B. pinnatissecta was an herbaceous eudicot similar to some members of Ranunculales and distinguished from other lobate Aptian angiosperms by leaf shape, presence of multiple orders of reticulate venation, and the absence of glandular teeth. The presence of eudicots in the flora of the Crato was already supported by pollen; the discovery of macrofossils like these provides additional information about their morphology and ecological role in low-latitude Early Cretaceous plant communities.

This study reviews the leafless species of Campylocentrum, which belong to section Dendrophylopsis. Thirteen species are recognized. While the section has a wide distribution in the Neotropics, a majority of the species are known only from the type specimens or a few additional collections, suggesting a restricted distribution range. Members of Dendrophylopsis are easily distinguished but determination to species level is complicated by the low number of vegetative characters and similarity of the flowers, as well as the lack of a taxonomic revision of the group. These circumstances result in frequent misidentifications. This study provides typifications, complete synonymies, conservation statuses, complete descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps and an identification key to the species in question.