Passifloraceae juss. sensu stricto no Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

The Passifloraceae sensu stricto, current subfamily Passifloraceae, is distributed throughout the tropics, especially in Latin America. In Brazil, their representatives occur in all states and phytogeographic domains. The State Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB) is inserted in the Serra da Mantiqueira, and it is a remnant of the Atlantic Forest of extreme importance for conservation. The aims of this work were to expand knowledge about the taxonomic diversity of this family in PESB, investigate ecological aspects of the species related to their conservation status, distribution in different areas, physiognomy and altitude classes of the studied area, and a similarity study in order to compare the Passifloraceae family composition with areas of the Atlantic Forest. The studied area is composed of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, Dense Ombrophilous Forest, campos de altitude, campos higrófilos and initial regeneration area. Monthly scientific expeditions were carried out from July 2014 to June 2015, the fertile botanical material was collected, herborized and deposited in the Herbarium CESJ. The species were analyzed, described and illustrated. Occurrence data of species were plotted on maps and graphics using the software’s DIVA-GIS 7.4.0, ArcView GIS 3.2 and Past 2.1 and the conservation status, area of occurrence (AOO), extent of occurrence (EOO) and altitude classes were analyzed. In the study of similarity the clustering method by non-weighted averages (UPGMA) and Jaccard index were used, and different areas of southeastern Atlantic domain were compared. Eleven species of the genus Passiflora L. were identified: P. alata Curtis, P. amethystina J.C. Mikan, P. capsularis L., P. edulis Sims, P. filamentosa Cav., P. mediterranea Vell., P. miersii Mart., P. porophylla Vell., P. rhamnifolia Mast., P. sidiifolia M. Roem., P. speciosa Gardner, and four new occurrence for PESB are recorded (P. alata, P. capsularis, P. filamentosa and P. rhamnifolia). The most representative species were P. mediterranea and P. speciosa, with wide distribution (north to south) and greater AOO and EOO. Most species are framed in regional extinction threat category, except for P. filamentosa and P. miersii with “Data Deficient” and P. speciosa and P. mediterranea considered “Least Concern”. Passiflora alata and P. rhamnifolia attained the highest altitude in the studied area occurring in campos de altitude (1700 – 1800 m). In the similarity analysis the PESB is close to the the Caparaó National Park (PNC), being two with similar environmental conditions and physiognomies. The PESB presents am expressive diversity of Passifloraceae, considering other areas already studied, emphasizing the importance of conservation studies of their species.