Endemic plants from the Southern Brazilian Highland Grasslands

Abstract

The flora of the subtropical highland grasslands in Southern Brazil, locally known as Campos de Cima da Serra, is within the Atlantic Forest hotspot, and has being highlighted by its richness, having around 25% of endemic plants. Those formations require specific studies to estimate its species richness and to protect its natural resources. This study aimed to map and to analyze the distribution of endemic taxa from these grasslands based on available herbarium collections databases as sources for highlighting important taxonomic groups for future studies. We verified how much of those endemic taxa are inside protected areas, and recognized the most important taxa and areas for future studies. All the data about each endemic taxon was obtained through visiting herbaria, online databases, collecting expeditions and published references. Distribution maps for endemic species were prepared. As the main result, we describe and map the distribution of the endemic flora of this species rich vegetation formation and highlight the threatened taxa as priority for future taxonomic and conservation studies. Our results also point out the central-west of Santa Catarina and central Paraná states as priority areas for future studies considering its high diversity of taxa.

Xyris serrana (Xyridaceae), a new species endemic to the Campos de Cima da Serra, southern Brazil

“…As Iganci et al (2011) stated, the eastern boarder of the plateau (i.e., from Campos dos Padres and Serra do Corvo Branco, in the State of Santa Catarina, to Serra da Rocinha and Cambará do Sul, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul), presents high rate of diversity of endemic flowering plants, which was observed by Külkamp et al (2018). During our studies of Xyridaceae from the Campos de Cima da Serra region, a new species, Xyris serrana, was discovered and is here described and illustrated.…”

“…3), one in the São Joaquim National Park, and another in a private area in the Campo dos Padres region. According to Külkamp et al (2018), the São Joaquim National Park is the Conservation Unit with the most significant number of endemic species (35) in the Campos de Cima da Serra. The presence of the X. serrana reinforce the importance of this unit for species conservation.…”

Acordando de um sono de cem anos: uma nova espécie de Nothoscordum (Amaryllidaceae, Allioideae) da Floresta Atlântica brasileira

“…Nothoscordum itapetinga pode ser distinto de N. aparadense (de acordo com a sua descrição original; até o momento não existem outros materiais disponíveis para estudo; Sassone et al, 2023) pelo comprimento do escapo e espessura da folha, além de características da flor (estilete de comprimento semelhante aos estames e 2-4 óvulos por lóculo em N. itapetinga vs. estilete mais longo que os estames e dois óvulos por lóculo em N. aparadense). Além disso, N. aparadense é uma espécie que aparentemente ocorre em áreas úmidas dos campos de altitude (descritas em seu protólogo como "damp lawns on the top of the mountain ridge"), que são geralmente caracterizados pela formação de um estrato herbáceo contínuo com predomínio de gramíneas, sendo particularmente abundantes nos Aparados da Serra (Gomes, 2009;Dalmolim, 2013), uma das regiões mais ricas em endemismos do Sul do país (Iganci et al, 2011;Külkamp et al, 2018). Por sua vez, N. itapetinga é uma espécie com ocorrência confirmada apenas para a Serra do Itapetinga, que ocorre exclusivamente em afloramentos graníticos, preferencialmente na borda de ilhas de vegetação sobre a matriz rochosa.…”

Four highland species of Galianthe (Rubiaceae: Spermacoceae) with restricted distribution in South America: conservation assessment and complete descriptions

“…IUCN Assessment: LC (Least concern). In a recent study by Külkamp et al (2018) that described and mapped the distribution of the endemic flora of the subtropical highland grasslands (SHG), G. reitzii and its conservation status, were based on nine records, and was assessed for the first time. In the present study, we reassessed its conservation status, expanding the number of records to 20.…”