Commelina catharinensis (Commelinaceae): a narrow endemic and endangered new species from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil

Abstract

This contribution presents and describes Commelina catharinensis, a new, narrow endemic species only known from two very restricted areas of coastal vegetation in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. Both localities where this species has been collected are currently highly threatened by both legal and illegal urban advance. The new species classifies as endangered (EN) according to the IUCN criteria. We also provide here the first identification key to the species of Commelina that occur in Santa Catarina.

Nicotiana azambujae (Solanaceae): A wild tobacco presumably extinct rediscovered after 73 years

“…The discovery of the population of a supposedly extinct species in Santa Catarina state reinforces the need for field expeditions more systematically, covering the great gaps in knowledge about biodiversity. Although Santa Catarina is a state with a relatively well-known flora, dozens of new species were described in the last years (Hassemer et al 2016;Funez et al 2019;Sobral et al 2019), even in areas where Acta Botanica Brasilica, 2023, 37: e20220152 historically there are already many studies (e.g. Florianópolis and Blumenau municipalities).…”

The correct typification of Tradescantia crassula (Commelinaceae)

“…Funez et al 2016; Hassemer et al 2016b; Hassemer 2017)”. Here, we must highlight that their critiques are completely unrelated to the content of their own article, since, with the exception of Funez et al (2016), all works criticised (Hassemer et al 2016a, 2016b; Hassemer 2017) dealt with the genus Commelina L., and not Tradescantia L. Therefore, these critiques can be regarded as gratuitous attacks, which are certainly not an example to be followed. Taxonomy advances best and fastest when taxonomists behave ethically, and collaborate, among themselves and with scientists of other fields.…”

“…On a final remark, PFS (p. 28) affirm that “many recent studies of Brazilian Commelinaceae have been narrowly focused, and proposed new species and several typifications (Funez et al 2016; Hassemer et al 2016a, 2016b; Hassemer 2017)” and that “perhaps the most unfortunate result of such studies is the potential for incorrect typification and application of names (e.g. Funez et al 2016; Hassemer et al 2016b; Hassemer 2017)”.…”

Yet another new species from one of the best-studied neotropical areas:Plantago humboldtiana(Plantaginaceae), an extremely narrow endemic new species from a waterfall in southern Brazil

“…Ferreira et al ( Ferreira, Venturi & Trevisan, 2015 ), Campylocentrum insulare C.E. Siqueira & E.M. Pessoa ( De Siqueira et al, 2015 ) and Commelina catharinensis Hassemer et al ( Hassemer et al, 2016 ). All of these new species are narrow endemics, having been assessed as endangered (EN) or critically endangered (CR), according to IUCN (2012) and IUCN (2014) criteria.…”