Floristic survey of Rubiaceae in the largest remnant of Cerrado in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

We present a floristic survey of the family Rubiaceae in Juquery State Park, a conservation unit that harbors the largest Cerrado area in the metropolitan region of São Paulo and is a refuge within the Atlantic Forest domain. The work was conducted using conventional methods in plant taxonomy, including fieldwork between 2020 and 2023, a literature survey, visits to herbaria, and requests for specimen loans. Previous articles revealed the high diversity of the family in the park, but no specific treatment had been published. In the present study, 35 species distributed in 15 genera were recorded in different phytophysiognomies, and Borreria (7 spp.), Palicourea (5 spp.), Coccocypselum (4 spp.), Psychotria (4 spp.), and Galianthe (3 spp.) are the richest. Four genera (Cordiera, Hexasepalum, Malanea and Mitracarpus) and 21 species are new records for this conservation unit. A dichotomous identification key and photos of the species are also provided. The diversity of Rubiaceae species in the study area is greater than previously recorded in broader surveys, and the mosaic formed by open and forest phytophysiognomies in the park probably contributes to this high level of diversity.