Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2025-09-23
Page range: 216-226
Abstract views: 363
PDF downloaded: 12

Notes on the taxonomy, anatomy and conservation of Phyllanthus sect. Almadenses (Phyllanthaceae), an endemic taxon from the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil

Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171–900, Recife, PE, Brazil
Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, 18618–689, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, 74001–970, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171–900, Recife, PE, Brazil
Bahia endemism flora morphology P. subg. Phyllanthus Eudicots

Abstract

Phyllanthus sect. Almadenses includes only P. almadensis, a rare and endemic species from the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil. Previously known from only two historical collections (1819 and 1980), the species was recollected after 45 years. Here, we present an amended description, expand and map the geographic distribution, infer the conservation status, and provide the first detailed illustration for the species, the first photographs in its habitat, as well as notes on the anatomy of its stem and leaves.

References

  1. Awomukwu, D.A., Nyananyo, B.L., Uka, C.J. & Okeke, C.U. (2015) Identification of the genus Phyllanthus (family Phyllanthaceae) in southern Nigeria using comparative systematic morphological and anatomical studies of the vegetative organs. Journal of Plant Sciences 3: 137–149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20150303.15
  2. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., De La Torre, J. & Scott, J. (2011) Supporting red list threat assessments with GeoCAT: Geospatial conservation assessment tool. ZooKeys 150: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  3. Baillon, H.E. (1858) Étude générale du groupe des Euphorbiacées. Librairie de Victor Masson, Paris, 684 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.50439
  4. Baillon, H.E. (1865) Euphorbiacées Australiennes. Adansonia 6: 282–344.
  5. Bouman, R.W., Keβler, P.J.A., Telford, I.R.H., Bruhl, J.J., Strijk, J.S., Saunders, R.M.K., Esser, H.J., Falcon-Hidalgo, V. & van Welzen, P.C. (2022) A revised phylogenetic classification of tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae). Phytotaxa 540: 1–100. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.540.1.1
  6. Conceição, L.O., Aoyama, E.M., Furlan, M.R. & Hering-Rinnert, C. (2020) Anatomia e histoquímica do caule de espécies conhecidas como quebra-pedra das famílias Euphorbiaceae e Phyllanthaceae. Acta Biológica Catarinense 7: 65–80. https://doi.org/10.21726/abc.v7i4.22
  7. Croizat, L.C.M. (1943) Notes on American Euphorbiaceae, with descriptions of eleven new species. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 33: 11–20.
  8. Evert, R.F. (2006) Esau’s Plant Anatomy. Meristems, Cells, and Tissues of the Plant Body – Their Structure, Function, and Development. 3rd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470047380
  9. Garcia, C.M., Zanett, G.D., Zago, A.M., Bittencourt, C.F. & Heinzmann, B.M. (2004) Estudo morfo-anatômico de Phyllanthus niruri L. e Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. Acta Farmaceutica Bonaerense 23: 67–70.
  10. IUCN (2022) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, version 15.1. IUCN Red List Unit, Cambridge U.K. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ (accessed 30 April 2025)
  11. Johansen, D.A. (1940) Plant microtechnique. McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc., New York, 523 pp.
  12. JSTOR (2025 [continuously updated]) JSTOR Global Plants. Available from: https://plants.jstor.org/ (accessed 20 May 2025)
  13. Kuntze, O. (1891) Revisio generum plantarum 2. A. Felix, Leipzig, pp. 377–1011.
  14. Lima, V.R.S., Maciel, J.R., Torres, A.M. & Athiê-Souza, S.M. (2025) Distribution patterns, richness, endemism and conservation of Phyllanthaceae in the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 97: e20240912. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202520240912
  15. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm, 1200 pp.
  16. Merrill, E.D. (1917) An interpretation of Rumphius’s Herbarium amboinense. Bureau of Printing, Manilla, 595 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.79163
  17. Metcalfe, C.R. & Chalk, L. (1979) Anatomy of the Dicotyledons: Systematic Anatomy of the Leaf and Stem. Vol. 1, 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  18. Metcalfe, C.R. & Chalk, L. (1983) Anatomy of the Dicotyledons. Vol. 2, 2nd Ed. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
  19. Mittermeier, R.A., Gil, P.R., Hoffmann, M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, J., Mittermeier, C.G., Lamourux, J. & Fonseca, G.A.B. (2004) Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions. Washington, DC: Cemex, pp. 1–390.
  20. Müller Argoviensis, J. (1863) Euphorbiaceae. Vorläufige Mitteilungen aus dem für De Candolle’s Prodromus bestimmten Manuscript über diese Familie. Linnaea 32: 1–126.
  21. Müller Argoviensis, J. (1873) Euphorbiaceae. In: Martius, C.F.P. von & Eichler, A.W. (Eds.) Flora Brasiliensis 11 (2). R. Oldenbourg, Munich & Leipzig, pp. 1–292.
  22. Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., Fonseca, G.A.B. & Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403: 853–858. https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
  23. Okanume, O.E., Ahmad, M.Z. & Agaba, O.A. (2019) Morphological and leaf epidermal features of some Phyllanthus species in Jos, Nigeria. Annals of West University of Timişoara 22: 47–56.
  24. Orlandini, P., Torres, A.M., Mendes, J.C.R. & Silva, M.J. (2025) Phyllanthus. In: Flora e Funga do Brasil. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Available from: https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB24160 (accessed 25 May 2025)
  25. Poiret, J.L.M. (1804) Phyllanthus reticulatus. In: Lamarck, J.B.A.P.M (Ed.) Encyclopédie méthodique. Botanique 5. Panckoucke, Paris & Plomteux, Liège, pp. 1–748.
  26. QGIS Development Team (2015) QGIS Geographic Information System version 2.8.2- Wien. Open Source Geospatial Foundation Project. [http://www.qgis.org/]
  27. Richard, L.C.M. (1792) Catalogus Plantarum ad Societatem, ineunte anno 1792, e Cayenna missarum à Domino le Blond. Actes de la Société d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris 1: 105–114.
  28. Santiago, L.J.M., Louro, R.P. & Emmerich, M. (2008) Phylloclade anatomy in Phyllanthus section Choretropsis (Phyllanthaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00780.x
  29. Silva, M.J. & Sales, M.F. (2007) Phyllanthus L. (Phyllanthaceae) em Pernambuco, Brasil. Acta Botanica Brasilica 21: 79–98. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062007000100008
  30. Silva, M.J., Alonso, A.A. & Santos, I.S. (2022) A new Critically Endangered species of stone breaker (Phyllanthus, Phyllanthaceae) from Central Brazil, with notes on its leaf and stem anatomy. Phytotaxa 530: 53–64. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.530.1.4
  31. Thiers, B. (2025 [continuously updated]) Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium, New York. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/ih/ (accessed 28 March 2025)
  32. Torres, A.M., Silva, M.J., Cordeiro, W.P.F.S., Athiê-Souza, S.M. & Sales, M.F. (2020) Two new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Phytotaxa 458: 173–181. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.458.2.5
  33. Torres, A.M., Cordeiro, W.P.F.S., Athiê-Souza, S.M. & Sales, M.F. (2022) Phyllanthaceae in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotropica 22: e20211246. https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2021-1246
  34. Torres, A.M. & Silva, M.J. (2023) Anatomical and macromorphological data support a new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) from Southeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa 601: 185–196. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.601.2.5
  35. Torres, A.M. & Silva, M.J. (2025) Molecular phylogeny of Phyllanthus L. sect. Phyllanthus (Phyllantheae: Phyllanthaceae) reveals the need for a reclassification of Phyllanthus subg. Phyllanthus. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 208: 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boaf037
  36. Urban, I. (1914) Sertum antillanum I. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 13: 444–459. https://doi.org/10.1002/fedr.19140132708
  37. Urban, I. (1928) Plantae Haitienses et Domingenses novae vel rariores V a cl. E. L. Ekman 1924–1927 lectae. Arkiv för Botanik 22: 1–106.
  38. Yenny, G., García, M.G., Rojas, G.D. & Arrúa, R.D. (2016) Morfología y anatomía de Phyllanthus orbiculatus (Phyllanthaceae) comercializada como «para para’í» en Paraguay y sus posibles sustituyentes. Lilloa 53: 217–228.
  39. Webster, G.L. (1955) Studies of the Euphorbiaceae, Phyllanthoideae I. Taxonomic notes on the West Indian species of Phyllanthus. Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University 176: 45–63.
  40. Webster, G.L. (1956) A monographic study of the West Indian species of Phyllanthus. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 37: 340–357. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.324651
  41. Webster, G.L. (1967) The genera of Euphorbiaceae in the southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 48: 363–430. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.185727
  42. Webster, G.L. (2002) A synopsis of the Brazilian taxa of Phyllanthus section Phyllanthus. Lundelia 5: 1–26. https://doi.org/10.25224/1097-993X-5.1.1
  43. Webster, G.L. & Carpenter, K.J. (2002) Pollen morphology and phylogenetic relationships in neotropical Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 138: 325–338. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00009.x

How to Cite

Torres, A.M., Santos, I.S.D., Silva, M.J.D. & Athiê-Souza, S.M. (2025) Notes on the taxonomy, anatomy and conservation of Phyllanthus sect. Almadenses (Phyllanthaceae), an endemic taxon from the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa 718 (3): 216–226. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.3.5