Tovomita cornuta (Clusiaceae): a new and threatened species from the Amazonian campinaranas revealed by ecological field research

Abstract

High species diversity, large area, and taxonomically under-studied groups are some of the explanations for the frequent discovery of new species of plants during ecological field campaigns in the Amazon region. Some of these new species are already being threatened from unplanned urban expansion associated with deforestation and habitat loss. Here we describe Tovomita cornuta, a new species discovered during ecological studies in the whitesand campinaranas of the Amazon, which is also threatened. The species is endemic to the state of Amazonas, Brazil, where it occurs in the understory of forested campinaranas physiognomies and is easily recognized by its narrowly obovoid fruits with dilated free styles. We provide a description, taxonomic and ecological comments, assessment of conservation status, geographic distribution, phenology, and illustrations for the new species.

The specialized white-sand flora of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve, central Amazon, Brazil

“…The USDR is the type locality for the recently described Tovomita cornuta Demarchi & L.Marinho (Clusiaceae), which has only four known populations (Demarchi et al 2021; longicaudata Ducke (Elaeocarpaceae), and Sterigmapetalum plumbeum (Rhizophoraceae), which all have fewer than 10 specimens in herbaria worldwide.…”

“…Among the white-sand specialist species, USDR comprises the only non-threatened population of Tovomita cornuta (Clusiaceae), a rare species with only four known populations, three of them severely threat ened by human activities leading to this species' sta tus of Critically Endangered (Demarchi et al 2021). The USDR also harbors the third known population of Acmanthera mini ma, the only species of the genus to inhabit exclusively campinarana habitats (Farroñay et al 2019).…”