Rediscovery, considerations about type locality and conservation of Rhipsalis agudoensis (Cactaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Cactaceae Juss. is a family comprising 124 genera and about 1438 species which are distributed from Canada to Patagonia, with the largest diversity in tropical and subtropical America (see e.g., Hunt et al. 2006). The flora of Brazil include 39 Cactaceae genera and 261 species, of which 14 genera and 54 species can be found at Rio de Janeiro state, so showing its importance for the biodiversity of cacti (BFG 2015).

Patterns of richness and distribution of Cactaceae in the Serra da Mantiqueira, Southeast Brazil, and implications for its conservation

“…Despite the aforementioned studies, Stehmann & Sobral (2009) emphasize that it is important that more surveys be performed in SM, as recent new records for Cactaceae reinforce -Lepismium lumbricoides (Gonzaga et al 2016b), Rhipsalis agudoensis (Gonzaga et al 2016a), R. crispata (unpublished data), and R. oblonga (Gonzaga et al 2015). This is especially true for less studied areas, as evidenced by the lack or scarcity of records for Cactaceae in grid squares of the Southern Plateau of SM.…”

“…Rhipsalis agudoensis is also noteworthy. This taxon was categorized as 'data deficient' by Goettsch et al (2015), but later revised as 'endangered' by Gonzaga et al (2016a) based on two records in Maciço do Itatiaia, state of Rio de Janeiro (Southern Plateau of SM). The occurrence of this taxon was later extended to Bananal (state of São Paulo), Sossego do Imbé and Três Rios (state of Rio de Janeiro), and outside the limits of the SM (Taylor & Hofacker 2017) based on field observations, although no vouchers were indicated.…”

“…Two of these taxa are cited among the rare plants of Brazil (Machado 2009), while 11 are considered to be in some category of threat (Goettsch et al 2015). Taylor & Zappi (2004) provided descriptions and comments on the geographic distribution and conservation of taxa of Cactaceae for eastern Brazil, while other studies have focused specifically on Serra da Mantiqueira, such as those by Gonzaga et al (2014a;2016a;, which provided additional knowledge about the distribution of several taxa. Nonetheless, a thorough study dealing with the distribution and conservation of Cactaceae in Serra da Mantiqueira is yet to be realized, even though knowledge of the distribution of organisms is very important for implementing conservation efforts.…”

Cactaceae na Serra da Mantiqueira, Brasil

“…Dentre os táxons registrados para a SM, apenas sete não foram recoletados no presente estudo, Figura 1 -Mapa de localização da área de estudo com os registros de Cactaceae. Além disso, Rhipsalis agudoensis N.P.Taylor se destacou por ser uma nova ocorrência para a SM, considerada anteriormente como "Deficiente de Dados" segundo Goettsch et al (2015), teve sua categoria proposta como "Criticamente em Perigo" por Gonzaga et al (2016a). Entretanto Taylor & Hofacker (2017) sugeriram que a categoria desse táxon fosse reavaliada diante de novas ocorrências encontradas.…”

“…Os dados relativos ao habitat, substrato, coloração, possíveis ameaças e outros considerados relevantes foram anotados. As plantas foram fotografadas e foi construído um banco de imagens que possibilitou a elaboração de guia de campo (Rapid Color Guide) pelo "The Field Museum of Chicago" (Gonzaga et al 2015a). Foram analisadas as coleções dos herbários brasileiros BHCB, CESJ, GUA, HB, HUEMG, MBML, R, RB, SP, SPF, UEC, VIC e VIES (acrônimos segundo Thiers, continuamente atualizado) e imagens de exsicatas incluindo tipos nomenclaturais quando disponíveis online.…”