The small genus Allagoptera (Arecaceae) includes six South American species. Their leaves have several anatomical characters that remain unexplored. We provide a detailed description of the leaf anatomy of Allagoptera, using 128 characters, and an identification key. Given the gradual size variation in the mesophyll cells in some species, a new classification of 'gradual dorsiventral mesophyll' is proposed here. We report for the first time 'subsidiary ledges' in the stomatal complex of Arecaceae. We propose using 'bulliform cell' for the swelling cells along the midvein in Arecaceae.

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive infusion with a large pharmacological application normally prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains the monoamine oxidase inhibitors β-carbolines, and Psichotria virids, which contains the serotonin receptor agonist N,N dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The objectives of this study were to investigate the chemical profile of B. caapi and of ayahuasca collected in various Brazilian regions. In total, 176 plant lianas, of which 159 B. caapi and 33 ayahuasca samples were analyzed. Dried liana samples were powdered, extracted with methanol, diluted, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Ayahuasca samples were diluted and analyzed. Mean concentrations in B. caapi were 4.79 mg/g harmine, 0.451 mg/g harmaline, and 2.18 mg/g tetrahydroharmine (THH), with a high variability among the samples (RSD from 78.9 to 170%). Native B. caapi samples showed significantly higher harmine concentrations than cultivated ones, and samples from the Federal District/Goiás had higher THH content than those collected in the State of Acre. The other Malpighiaceae samples did not contain β-carbolines, except for one D. pubipetala sample. Concentrations in ayahuasca samples ranged from 0.109 to 7.11 mg/mL harmine, 0.012 to 0.945 mg/mL harmaline, 0.09 to 3.05 mg/mL THH, and 0.10 to 3.12 mg/mL DMT. The analysis of paired ayahuasca/B. caapi confirmed that harmine is reduced to harmaline and to THH during the brew preparation. This is the largest study conducted with Malpighiaceae samples and showed a large variability in the main β-carbolines present in B. caapi. This biodiversity is a challenge for standardization of the material used in ethnopharmacological studies of B. caapi and ayahuasca.

Eleven species of native or naturalized grasses were found hosting spittlebug nymphs in the natural grassland areas around Brasília in the Fe-deral District of Brazil. A large number of nymphs were found on the species Axonopus marginatus (Trin.) Chase. Out of a total of 224 observed nymphs, 85.7% were found feeding on A. marginatus. Apparently the presence of the spittlebug nymphs in the cerrado vegetation, the Brazilian savanna, was associated with any form of disturbance, such as cattle grazing and partial deforestation. Nymphs were found only in disturbed areas of the "cerrado campo sujo" and in the cerrado sensu strictu. The densities of spittlebug nymphs in the cerrado were lower than the density found in the cultivated pasture. The nymphal density in the cerrado sensu strictu was approximately 105 times lower than the densities in Brachiaria ruziziensis Germain & Evrard area. In two sites of "campo sujo" form of cerrado the densities were, approximately, 2,273 and 1,212 times lower than the densities in B. ruziziensis areas. The distribution and density of the spittlebug in the natural vegetation were influenced by the presence of adjacent infested areas of cultivated pasture. This fact indicates that areas of Brachiaria are the source of infestation for other host plants.

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.

-(Taxonomy of Paspalum L., Linearia group (Gramineae -Paniceae) from Brazil). A systematic treatment of the Brazilian species of Paspalum tradicionally included in the informal group Linearia is provided, including the critical analysis of each species and of their synonymy, as well as considerations on the consistency of the group and its relationships with the adjacent Notata group. An analytical key is presented to diferentiate the taxa under treatment, including very similar species of the Notata group. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic and ecological data, and chromosome numbers are provided. Seven species are treated in detail: Paspalum approximatum, P. crispulum, P. dedeccae, P. ellipticum, P. filifolium, P. lineare and P. pallens. Paspalum ellipticum and P. pallens are not considered as very typical members of the Linearia alliance.RESUMO -(Taxonomia de Paspalum L., grupo Linearia (Gramineae -Paniceae) do Brasil). Apresenta-se um tratamento sistemático das espécies brasileiras de Paspalum L., grupo Linearia e discute-se a naturalidade do mesmo. O tratamento engloba sete espécies, P. approximatum, P. crispulum, P. dedeccae, P. ellipticum, P. filifolium, P. lineare e P. pallens, incluindo chave analítica para os táxons do grupo e espécies afins, descrições detalhadas, sinonímia, ilustrações, dados sobre ecologia, números cromossômicos e distribuição geográfica, além de discussões sobre a delimitação do grupo. Paspalum ellipticum e P. pallens não são considerados como membros típicos do grupo Linearia.

Cyperus is a Pantropical genus and the second richest in species in Cyperaceae. It encompasses about 550 species worldwide, with about 100 of these occurring in Brazil. Studies on the taxonomy of this genus are scarce and punctual in Brazil. In this study, the occurrence of species was surveyed through 27 collecting expeditions across different regions in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and analyzis of specimens of several herbaria. Twenty four species of Cyperus were identified, including six new occurrences and one new species, here described, but that will be properly published in other work. This study includes a dichotomous key for the identification of the species, as well as illustrations, descriptions, taxonomic comments and geographical distribution.

No abstract

-(Poaceae in the "Seridó" Ecological Station, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil). This 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. Key words: Caatinga, Gramineae, herbaceous plants RESUMO -(Poaceae da Estação Ecológica do Seridó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil). 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. Palavras-chave: Caatinga, Gramíneas, plantas herbáceas