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Issue: Vol. 690 No. 1: 26 Feb. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-02-26
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.1.9
Page range: 107-115
Abstract views: 219
PDF downloaded: 10

Lantana calcicola: a new and threatened Verbenaceae species from Lajedão, a limestone outcrop in northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Escola Nacional de Botânica Tropical, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, R. Pacheco Leão 2040, 22460-036, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, 44036-900, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais. Campus Avançado Piumhi, R. Severo Veloso, 1880 - Bairro Bela Vista, 37925-000, Piumhi, MG, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Herbário Leopoldo Krieger, Campus Universitário, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, 44036-900, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil
Brazilian flora karst environments Lajedão Environmental Protection Area Eudicots

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of Lantaneae specimens from Brazil has unveiled a new species with fleshy fruits, belonging to Lantana (a non-monophyletic genus). Named Lantana calcicola, this species was discovered in northern Minas Gerais state, within the Caatinga domain, growing on an open karst formation in the municipality of Matias Cardoso, locally referred to as Lajedão. The new species is a subshrub, with unarmed branches, conspicuously petiolate leaves, narrowly lanceolate to linear bracts, white corollas, and conspicuous fleshy fruits. A detailed description, illustrations, comparisons with morphologically similar and sympatric species, plus a geographic distribution map are provided. Based on the IUCN criteria, this species can be currently assessed as Critically Endangered (CR). Notably, this is the second Verbenaceae species recently described from Lajedão, highlighting the critical importance of conserving this unique and floristically important ecosystem.

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How to Cite

Cardoso, P.H., Silva, G.B.D., Melo, P.H.A.D., Salimena, F.R.G. & Silva, T.R.D.S. (2025) Lantana calcicola: a new and threatened Verbenaceae species from Lajedão, a limestone outcrop in northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Phytotaxa 690 (1): 107–115. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.1.9