Verbenaceae no Espírito Santo, Brasil: taxonomia, biogeografia e conservação

Abstract

Verbenaceae is represented in Brazil by 15 genera and ca. 290 species, with most of its richness in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains. The State of Espírito Santo has an area of 46,184.1 km2 , wholly embedded in the Atlantic Forest. Nonetheless, due to the intense environmental degradation in the state, only 10.5% of its original vegetation remains. The present study is part of the “Flora do Estado do Espírito Santo” project and aims to provide a taxonomic treatment to Verbenaceae, as well as to analyze their distribution patterns, and provide conservation assessments for each species. Collections deposited at CEPEC, CESJ, CVRD, ESA, HUEFS, HUEMG, K, MBM, MBML, MO, NY, R, RB, SAMES, SPF, UEC e VIES herbaria were examined and field expeditions were performed. Distribution maps were made for each species using QGIS 3.8.1, while the conservation assessments followed the criteria proposed by the IUCN. Verbenaceae is represented in the State of Espírito Santo by 31 species arranged in 11 genera: Aloysia (2 spp.), Bouchea (1 sp.). Casselia (1 sp.), Citharexylum (1 sp.), Glandularia (1 sp.), Lantana (10 spp.), Lippia (4 spp.), Petrea (1 sp.), Priva (2 spp.), Stachytarpheta (6 spp.) and Verbena (2 spp.). Three new species were described based on the present study (Lantana caudata, Lippia diversifolia and Stachytarpheta tomentosa). Eight species occurring in Espírito Santo are threatened with extinction. Five new records are verified, including species of Lantana and Verbena. The dense rainforest, which covers most of the state’s territory, presents the most significant number of species (20 spp.), followed by pioneer vegetations (12 spp.), semideciduous seasonal forests (11 spp.), inselbergs (8 spp.), and ecological refuges (2 spp.). The main richness centers for Verbenaceae in the state of Espírito Santo are the municipalities of Linhares, Santa Teresa, Vitória, Vila Velha, and Guarapari in this order. In contrast, the family is noticeably little represented in the northern region of the State, as well as near its borders, where the forest remnants are highly fragmented and scattered. The current results contribute to the taxonomic and biogeographic knowledge of Verbenaceae, to the creation of conservation strategies for threatened species in the state of Espírito Santo, and reinforce the need of fieldwork in several areas of the state.