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Issue: Vol. 730 No. 2: 19 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-19
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.730.2.6
Page range: 189-198
Abstract views: 316
PDF downloaded: 9

A new Wittmackia species (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) from a hotpoint within a hotspot in Brazil

Instituto de Pesquisa Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Research Associate, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, USA
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, CPBio/Herbário UESC, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia 45622-900, Brazil
Instituto de Pesquisa Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Instituto de Pesquisa Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora - CNCFlora, Rua Pacheco Leal, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Instituto de Pesquisa Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora - CNCFlora, Rua Pacheco Leal, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Atlantic Forest Critically Endangered morphology taxonomy Monocots

Abstract

The authors describe and illustrate one new species of Wittmackia, W. aurantiolilacina, endemic to the Atlantic Forest of the region of Alto Cariri, on the border of the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brazil, with a restricted geographical range, being considered Critically Endangered (CR) mainly due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing frequency in fire events. The new taxon, collected during an expedition conducted as part of the Conservation Action Plan for Threatened Trees of Hiléia Baiana, a highly biodiverse region with significant gaps in botanical knowledge, is herein compared with its closely morphological relative, W. altocaririensis. The main differences of W. aurantiolilacina are the shape of its leaves with broader blades and green or reddish apex, the shape of the floral bracts, the longer flowers, the shape of the longer but narrower sepals, which are orange, and the longer ovary of orange color. It is also compared to other species of Wittmackia presenting similar stature and color pattern. The addition of this new species of Wittmackia brings the number of members of the “Brazilian clade” to 30.

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How to Cite

Leme, E.M.C., Amorim, A.M., Silva, B.R., Ferreira, G.C. & Fernandez, E.P. (2025) A new Wittmackia species (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) from a hotpoint within a hotspot in Brazil. Phytotaxa 730 (2): 189–198. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.730.2.6