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Type: Article
Published: 2015-03-06
Page range: 15–25
Abstract views: 29
PDF downloaded: 1

Taxonomic notes on Chiococca and Salzmannia (Rubiaceae, Chiococceae) in northeastern Brazil, with a new combination and a new species

Departamento de Botânica, Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Caixa Postal 1524, 59072-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299 USA
Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Caixa Postal 5065, 58051-970 Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Profº. Moraes Rego s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Northeastern Brazil Atlantic Forest Cinchonoideae Erithalis Taxonomy

Abstract

Chiococca and Salzmannia are similar and related, but have not been well studied. A review of their morphology clarified their separation and found that some variation documented in Chiococca has been overlooked, and the corolla lobes of Salzmannia are narrowly imbricated, not valvate in bud, and its flowers are protandrous and homostylous, with the style markedly elongated after anthesis. Chiococca is represented in northeastern Brazil by four species, and their distinctions are clarified. The problematic species Erithalis insularis, of Fernando de Noronha Island, better agrees morphologically and biogeographically with Chiococca, and is here transferred to this genus with the new combination Chiococca insularis; Erithalis is therefore restricted to the Caribbean basin. Salzmannia is endemic to coastal eastern and northeastern Brazil, and comprises two species; S. arborea, described here, is found along the coast of Bahia and notable in its tree habit and dimorphic vegetative and reproductive stems.