Two new species of Mikania Willd. (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

Mikania is a pantropical genus of Asteraceae with ca. 450 species distributed mainly in South America. Although most of its species occur in forested phytophysiognomies, significant richness is found in the mountaintop grasslands known as campos rupestres in Brazil. Recent botanical exploration of campos rupestres areas outside their core distribution, namely Serra do Padre Ângelo, Pico da Aliança, and Sete Salões State Park, all located in the eastern part of the state of Minas Gerais and within the Atlantic Forest phytogeographic domain, led to the description of several new plant species. After fieldwork and study of herbarium specimens, we recognize two new species of Mikania endemic to Pico da Aliança and Serra do Padre Ângelo. Mikania semirii is related to Mikania phaeoclados and differs by leaf indumentum, subinvolucral bract shape and size and position on the peduncle. Mikania funkiae is related to Mikania glauca and Mikania obtusata, and differs by the petiole length, leaf shape, texture, and margins. We provide full descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, composite color figures, preliminary conservation status assessments, and comments on the taxonomy and ecology of these two species. These findings highlight the continued importance of floristic and taxonomic work on the rich eastern Brazilian flora.