Rapateaceae in the state of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

Rapateaceae comprises approximately 19 genera and 131 species distributed in the Neotropics, with the exception of Maschalocephalus, which is endemic to West Africa. In Brazil, there are nine genera and 38 species. Th e present paper is based on a taxonomic study of the species of Rapateaceae that occur in the state of Pará. Botanical specimens from seven herbaria were analyzed and the occurrence of fi ve genera and eight species was confi rmed for the state. An identifi cation key to the genera and species, descriptions, illustrations and selected specimens are provided.

Generic additions to the Rapateaceae of Rondônia, Brazil

“…The specimen analyzed from Rondônia has inflorescences with numerous spikelets, whose external bracteoles are acuminate and the internal ones setose and clavate at the apex. This description agrees with the traits observed in Cephalostemon gracilis (Maguire 1958;Praia et al 2016). In Rondônia, this species occurred in sandy and periodically wet savannas with scattered palms and shrubs, but it has been found elsewhere in seasonally flooded white-sand savannas (Praia et al 2016).…”

“…Distribution: Brazil (Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Mato Grosso) (Maguire 1958;BFG 2015;Praia et al 2016). Description: Terrestrial herbs.…”

“…Distribution: Venezuela (Amazonas), Colombia (Guainía), and Brazil (Amazonas, Pará, Roraima) (Maguire 1958;1982;Berry 2004;2008;BFG 2015, Praia et al 2016 Gleason (Gleason 1931). Figures 1B, 2E-F.…”

“…Mota & D. Coêlho 190) whose identifications need to be further confirmed. Species delimitation in Cephalostemon is intricate, as four species are morphologically very similar and possibly diagnosed by variable characters (Pirani and Giulietti 1989;Berry 2004;Praia et al 2016). Cephalostemon gracilis is the older name in the genus and is probably conspecific with C. affinis Körn.…”

“…However, even though floristic works for Rapateaceae are available for Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas (Maguire 1958;1965;1982;Boom 1997;Berry 2004;2008;Funk et al 2007;Aymard and Arellano-Peña 2016;Rodrigues and Flores 2017), studies in adjacent areas in Brazil are relatively scarce (Maguire 1979;Forzza and Costa 2005;Rodrigues and Flores 2010;Rodrigues 2015;Barbosa-Silva et al 2016;Praia et al 2016). The knowledge about the biodiversity of the state of Rondônia is still incomplete (Carleial and Bigio 2014), including its rapateacean flora.…”