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Issue: Vol. 778 No. 1: 6 Oct. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-06
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.778.1.1
Page range: 1-23
Abstract views: 65
PDF downloaded: 9

Three new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from Atlantic Forest inselbergs, southeastern Brazil

Universidade Federal do Paraná; Programa de pós-graduação em Botânica; Curitiba; Paraná; Brazil; Museu Botânico Municipal de Curitiba; MBM Herbarium Section; Curitiba; Paraná; Brazil
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Herbário VIES; Vitória; Espírito Santo; Brazil; Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica (INMA); Santa Teresa; Espírito Santo; Brazil
Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica (INMA); Santa Teresa; Espírito Santo; Brazil
Universidade Federal do Paraná; Departamento de Botânica; Curitiba; Paraná; Brazil
Eudicots Espírito Santo Mata Atlântica Melastomateae Minas Gerais Taxonomy Tibouchina s.l

Abstract

We describe three new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from granitic–gneissic inselbergs in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The new taxa—P. latisepalum, P. leucotrichum, and P. squamipilosum—were discovered during recent field expeditions and further document the remarkable diversification of Pleroma in Atlantic Forest inselbergs. Among them, P. latisepalum is part of the P. heteromallum complex, a morphologically intricate group that includes several narrowly distributed species restricted to rocky habitats. All three taxa are known from only a few collections and may represent regional endemics. Of the three taxa, only two are considered threatened, with P. latisepalum assessed as Vulnerable [VU: D2] and P. leucotrichum as Endangered [EN: B2ab(iii)], while P. squamipilosum is treated as Data Deficient (DD) due to insufficient material and uncertainties regarding its true distribution. These findings reinforce the significance of southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest inselbergs as hotspots for endemism and morphological diversification within Pleroma, underscoring the need for continued taxonomic study and conservation efforts in these highly threatened environments.

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How to Cite

Meyer, F.S., Couto, D.R., Kollmann, L.J. & Goldenberg, R. (2026) Three new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from Atlantic Forest inselbergs, southeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa 778 (1): 1–23. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.778.1.1