A NEW ENDEMIC SPECIES OF Galianthe (RUBIACEAE) FROM SERRA GERAL, AND UPDATED TAXONOMY OF THE GENUS FROM RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRASIL

CABRAL, ELSA L; NUÑEZ FLORENTIN MARIELA; FLORENTÍN, JAVIER E.

Vitoria Espiritu Santo

Congreso; 67º CONGRESSO NACIONAL DE BOTÂNICA, XXXVI ERBOT e 8ª JORNADA CAPIXABA DE BOTÂNICA; 2016

Sociedad Botanica Brasilera

Galianthe Griseb. belongs to the family Rubiaceae. It is the fourth most important family of angiosperms in number of species; currently has about 650 genera and 13.000 species. Recent studies of molecular phylogeny, show that Galianthe is a monophyletic genus and is positioned within the Spermacoce clade. The present study is an update of the taxonomy of the genus Galianthe for the state of Rio Grande do Sul. A brief description of the species is included, diagnostic characters are illustrated and the distribution of the species is discussed taking into account the biogeographic regionalization of the state. The species were analyzed by classical taxonomy techniques and georeferencing. Previous studies cited between 7-10 species for the state while we registered 12 species. They are distributed in 7 biomes, one of which concentrates all taxa, Subtropical Seasonal Forest. In addition, a new endemic species of Galianthe is described and illustrated, differentiated from the remaining species by the 3-4 verticillate leaves and long-bifid style. This species inhabits in the geographic center of the state on an ecotonal region composed of hillsides with basaltic rocky fields and seasonal forest. Keywords: Spermacoce, biomes, distribution, taxonomy.