Lycophytes of the Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

The floristic-taxonomic treatment of lycophytes from the Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaiba (PNNRP), a protected area in the northern portion of the Brazilian Cerrado, within the boundaries of the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia, is presented. The Park is considered the largest full protection area of the Cerrado and is located in a region that is rapidly losing its native coverage due to the expansion of agribusiness. Despite this, the area has no studies focusing on plant diversity. This treatment includes keys for the identification of genera and species, descriptions, comments on diagnostic and ecological characteristics, geographical distribution of the species and illustrations. Eight species were recorded in the study area, distributed in four genera: Lycopodiella, Palhinhaea, Pseudolycopodiella and Selaginella. Lycopodiella longipes, Pseudolycopodiella carnosa and Pseudolycopodiella paradoxa are new records for the state of Piauí.