A new species of Chresta (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) endemic to the Mata Atlântica Domain, Brazil<br />

Abstract

Chresta filicifolia is described and illustrated. It is a perennial herb known only from open vegetation on top of small rock outcrops at the Rio Doce Valley in Eastern Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. This is the first record of a species of Chresta endemic to a phytogeographic domain other than the Cerrado and Caatinga, since those outcrops are included in the Mata Atlântica Domain (Atlantic Forest). The new species is closely related to C. harleyi and C. hatschbachii, but differs from these by its leaves, which are larger and more deeply lobed than those of the other two species, and also by its florets and cypselae, which are both larger in Chresta filicifolia. Moreover, the two other species are allopatric from C. filicifolia, being restricted to the Caatinga Domain. The southernmost distribution of C. harleyi lies more than 500 km away from the locality where the new species is found, making this discovery unexpected, and raising interesting biogeographical questions, which are briefly addressed here.

PHENOLOGY, REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF Chresta scapigera (LESS.) Gardner (ASTERACEAE)

“…Chresta is a small genus of Asteraceae from the Vernonieae tribe, of which most species are endemic to Brazil (Siniscalchi et al 2016). In the Brazilian territory this genus accounts for 14 species, encompassing herbs, subshrubs and shrubs, and is distributed throughout the Northeast, Center-West and Southeast regions, where it is mostly restricted to the Caatinga and Cerrado, but does also occur in the Atlantic Forest ecosystem (Roque et al 2008, Keeley et al 2009, Moreira & Teles 2014.…”

Land of the Giants. Remarkable botanical findings highlight a new area for conservation in Brazil

“…The phytophysiognomy of these mountains is similar to that of the Espinhaço Range and, like many Campo Rupestre sites, they are home to their share of endemics and rarities. Among others, Alcantarea nana Leme (Leme et al 2014 The implications for the biogeography of the Campo Rupestre biota are noteworthy (Siniscalchi et al 2016) because, unlike most Campo Rupestre mountains, which are found either within Caatinga and Cerrado Domains, or in the boundaries of the Mata Atlântica and Cerrado, these mountains lie completely within the Mata Atlântica Domain, in a region dominated by granitc inselbergs (Nalini Jr. et al 2005) and "mar de morros" in the Doce River valley. Its basin was once covered by lush vegetation (Wied-Neuwied 1820; Saint-Hilaire 1830), now almost completely destroyed.…”

Sistemática de Hyptidinae (Lamiaceae) com ênfase em Hyptidendron Harley

“…Yet, hypotheses about long-distance dispersal or vicariant events are in debate for the isolation of floristic elements of the campos rupestres within these eastern disjunct areas (e.g. Siniscalchi et al 2016). Further phylogenetic and biogeographical studies using these groups with similar distribution patterns may contribute to the understanding of the events that led to this isolation and diversification.…”

“…The Serra do Padre Ângelo and other areas of campos rupestres in eastern Minas Gerais (e.g. Kollmann 2013;Leme et al 2014;Leme 2015;Campacci 2014Campacci , 2015Gonella et al 2015;Siniscalchi et al 2016;Loeuille et al 2019;Leme et al 2020;Kollmann 2020), highlighting the urgency of inventory studies and the need for conservation of these areas.…”

“…These ranges, namely the Serra do Padre Ângelo, the Pico da Aliança and the Sete Salões State Park, present quatzitic and sandstone outcrops with floristic elements typical of the campos rupestres, including some disjunct distributions of groups of taxa previously only known to the Espinhaço Range (e.g. Gonella et al 2015;Lopes et al 2016;Siniscalchi et al 2016;Mello-Silva 2018;Andrino & Gonella in prep. ;Troncoso et al in prep.).…”