Our study on granitic and gneissic rock outcrops on Pedra dos Pontões in Espírito Santo state contributes to the knowledge of the vascular flora of inselbergs in southeastern Brazil. We registered 211 species distributed among 51 families and 130 genera. Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae and Polypodiaceae were the most representative families. Concerning vegetative habit, herbs were predominant and about the preference for substrates, holorupicolous species and epiphytes were most speciose. The richest rocky habitat type was woody thicket, with 122 exclusive species. In total, 27 of the species registered in our study are cited on official lists of endangered plant species from Espírito Santo state and Brazil. In addition, two new records of angiosperms for Espírito Santo flora and two new species were recorded for the area. Our data demonstrates the importance of the area for conservation of unique biodiversity that serves as a sanctuary for a rich rupicolous flora composed of endemic and endangered species, some of which are new to science.

This study presents a list of angiosperm species in an Atlantic Forest fragment in the southern portion of Espírito Santo state, Brazil, a region that represents a collection gap within the Atlantic Forest. The studied site is a relatively small fragment of 144 ha located within a conservation unit, the Mata das Flores State Park. The site belongs to a conservation priority area for the Atlantic Forest in Espírito Santo, and is under strong anthropic pressure. Of the 239 species listed here, 21 are new records for the state, eight are endemic, and 20 figure either in the country’s or the state’s Red Lists of endangered species. Rubiaceae and Piperaceae were the families with the highest number of species. We show that small fragments that were never inventoried before can reveal a relatively large number of threatened species and that collection gaps need to be filled in order to refine our understanding about conservation priorities within the Atlantic Forest Biome.

In this study, we evaluated the floristic composition of vascular epiphytes in seasonal semideciduous forest fragments of the Itapemirim River basin, Southern State of Espírito Santo, in order to verify its similarity to other semideciduous forests studied in Brazil. Excursions were conducted every fortnight between June 2008 and May 2009, and epiphytes were collected and recorded (55 species, 34 genera and six families). Orchidaceae (21 species) was the richest family, whereas the genera presenting the greatest richness were Tillandsia (seven), Rhipsalis (four), Aechmea, Epidendrum and Peperomia (three species each). The category the most representative was characteristics holoepiphytes (84%). The riparian forests were the most important environments for the epiphytic flora. Similarity analysis and PCA supported four groups, where the study area appears disjointed from the others, supporting the hypothesis that geographical proximity, elevation and climate have a strong effect on the floristic composition, conditioning the formation of distinct floras. Detailed surveys on the floristic composition and structure of this community are important for the elaboration of studies on coherent environmental impacts, since epiphytes are typical in tropical rainforests, and they are an important floristic, structural and functional component of these ecosystems.

Bromeliaceae is one of the most relevant taxonomic groups of the Atlantic Forest, where the Brazilian southeastern region stands out as a center of diversity and endemism for many taxa of the family. We present a checklist of the 12 genera and 44 species of Bromeliaceae from the Pedra dos Pontões, in Mimoso do Sul municipality, Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil. The Bromelioideae (22 species) was the subfamily with most taxonomic diversity, followed by Tillandsioideae (18 species) and Pitcairnioideae (four species). We also report the first occurrence of four species (A. squarrosa , N. antoineanum , V. pseudoatra and V. pardalina ) for the Espírito Santo state. Almost half of the taxa surveyed inhabit exclusively the vegetation associated to the rocky outcrops, what points out the importance of this kind of environment in the maintenance of the diversity for many species of bromeliads. We also highlight that the documentation and study of the flora of Espírito Santo, which is considered a gap in the knowledge of the plant diversity along the entire Brazilian Atlantic Forest, assumes a relevant aspect in view of the high levels of degradation of the natural ecosystems observed in the state. Resumo: Bromeliaceae é um dos grupos taxonômicos mais relevantes da Floresta Atlântica, onde o sudeste do Brasil se destaca como um centro de diversidade e endemismo de muitos táxons da família. Nós apresentamos uma lista de 12 gêneros e 44 espécies de Bromeliaceae da Pedra dos Pontões, no município de Mimoso do Sul, estado do Espírito Santo, sudeste do Brasil. Bromelioideae (22 espécies) foi a subfamília com maior diversidade taxonômica, seguida por Tillandsioideae (18 espécies) e Pitcairnioideae (quatro espécies). Nós também reportamos a primeira ocorrência de quatro espécies (A. squarrosa , N. antoineanum , V. pseudoatra e V. pardalina ) para o estado do Espírito Santo. Quase a metade dos táxons levantados habita exclusivamente a vegetação associada ao afloramento rochoso, o que ressalta a importância deste tipo de ambiente na manutenção da diversidade de muitas espécies de bromélias. Destacamos também que a documentação e estudo da flora do Espírito Santo, considerada uma lacuna no conhecimento da diversidade de plantas ao longo da Floresta Atlântica, assume um aspecto relevante tendo em vista os altos níveis de degradação dos ecossistemas naturais observados no estado.

During the taxonomic revision of the genus Stigmatodon, we found an unknown epilithic mat-forming species, morphologically close to S. belloi, on vertical granitic surfaces on inselbergs in southern Espírito Santo state, Brazil. We described and illustrated the new species, including a comparative analysis of characters that distinguish it from similar species. We also provide data on habitat, ecology, geographical distribution and evaluation about its threat of extinction according to the criteria of the IUCN.

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Stigmatodon Leme, G. K. Br. & Barfuss is an exclusively Brazilian genus of Bromeliaceae that occurs mainly on large vertical granite surfaces of inselbergs in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. A new species found in cliff ecosystems on inselbergs in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro is described and illustrated. Data are provided on its habitat, ecology, and geographical distribution, together with an evaluation of its conservation status according to IUCN criteria.