Abstract We present here new discoveries in Blechnaceae (Polypodiopsida). There are new records in Austroblechnum, Blechnum, Cranfillia, and Parablechnum for different political units and areas of the Neotropics. These (and other) records are reported here, alongside with two new necessary combinations in Parablechnum and an updated key to the Brazilian species of the genus. Also, an update of Blechnum description was made.

Resumo São apresentadas novas descobertas em Blechnaceae (Polypodiopsida). Há novos registros em Austroblechnum, Blechnum, Cranfillia e Parablechnum para diferentes unidades políticas e áreas do Neotrópico. Esses (e outros) registros são reportados aqui, juntamente com duas novas combinações em Parablechnum e uma chave atualizada para as espécies brasileiras do gênero. Além disso, foi feita uma atualização da descrição de Blechnum.

ABSTRACT Nicotiana azambujae is an endemic species from Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, that was described in 1964 and has not been seen since then. During fieldwork, we found a population in Alto Matador, about 70 km from the presumable type collection, after 73 years of its last known collection. Thus, we bring the first in vivo pictures of this species, assess its conservation status, update the morphologic description and discuss its habitat preferences. Also, we discuss a possible mistake in the type of voucher label from the originally collected locality.

Abstract Fern spores play a vital role in dispersal. The unique features of spores, such as size, thickness, and ornamentation can aid in taxonomic decisions and division of groups. Moreover, certain species of ferns possess green spores containing chlorophyll, an uncommon feature that can reinforce the evidence of relatedness within a specific group. Lomaria spannagelii is a Neotropical species endemic to Brazil, and, even though green spores have been reported in its sister species, Lomaria nuda and Lomaria discolor, the presence of these spores has not yet been investigated in L. spannagelii. In this study, we investigated the morphology of L. spannagelii spores and sporangia, and, additionally, we determined the chromosome count of the species. Our results showed that the analyzed species has green spores, a characteristic shared with L. nuda and L. discolor, and has 2n = 64 chromosomes. This discovery provides new insights into this fern genus and emphasizes the importance of spore color and chromosome count in systematic and evolutionary studies of ferns.

Resumo Os esporos de samambaias desempenham um papel vital na dispersão. As características únicas dos esporos, como tamanho, espessura e ornamentação, podem auxiliar nas decisões taxonômicas e na divisão dos grupos. Além disso, certas espécies de samambaias possuem esporos verdes contendo clorofila, característica rara que pode reforçar a evidência de parentesco dentro de um grupo específico. Lomaria spannagelii é uma espécie Neotropical endêmica do Brasil e, embora esporos verdes tenham sido relatados em suas espécies irmãs, Lomaria nuda e Lomaria discolor, a presença desses esporos ainda não foi investigada em L. spannagelii. Neste estudo, investigamos a morfologia dos esporos e esporos de L. spannagelii e, adicionalmente, determinamos a contagem cromossômica da espécie. Nossos resultados mostraram que a espécie analisada possui esporos verdes, característica compartilhada com L. nuda e L. discolor, e possui 2n = 64 cromossomos. Esta descoberta fornece novos insights sobre o gênero e enfatiza a importância da cor dos esporos e contagem de cromossomos em estudos taxonômicos e evolutivos de samambaias.

Abstract Ferns and lycophytes are plants often overlooked in most floristic inventories, leading to considerable gaps in the knowledge of their diversity and geographic distribution. To address this issue, we conducted a study aimed at reducing these gaps for the restingas of Santa Catarina, south Brazil. This involved conducting a series of field works in strategic sites within the municipality of Laguna, representing all three main restingas phytophysiognomies (herbaceous/subshrubby, shrubby, and arboreal), across different abiotic conditions and conservation degrees. Two species of lycophytes (one family) and 31 ferns (14 families) were recorded in the restingas of Laguna, almost three-quarters of the diversity reported for the restingas of the state of Santa Catarina. Besides, 11 of these species are mentioned here for the first time for Santa Catarina restingas. These numbers were obtained through extensive field surveys, but considering the area of restinga remnants, some of which are still relatively unexplored, it is plausible that the diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Laguna may be even greater. These findings reinforce the need to carry out floristic surveys aimed at ferns and lycophytes in the different phytophysiognomies of the restinga, because only with an increase of sampling effort, considering the environmental heterogeneity, it will be possible to better estimate the diversity of these and other plant groups. This study also provides important data for the management and conservation of the restingas, which are among the ecosystems historically most impacted by human activities.

Resumo Samambaias e licófitas geralmente são negligenciadas na maioria dos inventários florísticos. Consequentemente existem lacunas consideráveis no conhecimento sobre a diversidade e distribuição geográfica desses grupos. Neste artigo são apresentados os resultados de um estudo realizado com o objetivo de ajudar a reduzir as lacunas de conhecimento sobre esses grupos nas restingas de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil. Para tal, foram realizadas coletas em áreas específicas do município de Laguna que representam as três principais fitofisionomias de restinga (herbácea/subarbustiva, arbustiva e arbórea) em variadas condições abióticas e graus de conservação. Foram registradas duas espécies de licófitas (uma família) e 31 samambaias (14 famílias) nas restingas de Laguna, englobando quase 75% da diversidade conhecida para as restingas de Santa Catarina. Além disso, 11 espécies são aqui citadas pela primeira vez para as restingas do estado. Esses resultados são produtos de um extensivo esforço de coleta, porém, considerando a área dos remanescentes de restingas, alguns ainda escassamente explorados, é plausível que a diversidade de licófitas e samambaias em Laguna pode ser ainda maior. Esses dados reforçam a importância de inventários florísticos com enfoque em samambaias e licófitas nas diferentes fitofisionomias das restingas, pois somente com um aumento do esforço de amostragem, considerando a heterogeneidade ambiental, será possível estimar mais acuradamente a diversidade para este e outros grupos de plantas. Este estudo também fornece dados para o manejo e a conservação das restingas, que estão entre os ambientes historicamente mais impactados por atividades humanas.

Abstract The current study aimed to evaluate the seed bank diversity and composition found in the Municipal Natural Park São Francisco de Assis (PSFA), Santa Catarina, Brazil, located within the subtropical Atlantic Forest. Samplings were carried out within four different locations (n = 20 sample plots per location). All samples were kept in suspended beds for germination, growth, and subsequent species identification. We were able to identify 85 morphospecies (1,016 individuals). Most of them were categorized as pioneers. Pioneers were also the ecological category that had more individuals (73.12%). The predominant dispersion syndrome was zoochoric, with 58 taxa included. Our results indicate that the seeds are being provided by species that occur around the park, in some cases favored by recent landslides in the area.

ABSTRACT We describe a new species of Blechnum from Mato Grosso, Brazil: Blechnum rivulorum sp. nov. This new species was discovered as a result of visits to the herbaria BM, K, P, PR, and S, as part of the Reflora Project, by the first author. We also indicate its position in a new Blechnum phylogeny. Additionally, we confirm the occurrence of Blechnum meridense Klotzsch in Brazil and provide an updated key to all species of Blechnum in the country.

ABSTRACT The digital era provides new opportunities for taxonomists, as well as for everyone that studies biodiversity. Many herbaria have been able to digitize their collections, a process that started with the typing of label data, moving more recently towards the digitization of each sample with the simultaneous acquisition of high-resolution images. Here we discuss some of the challenges we faced in digitizing samples and provide a series of suggestions to avoid common mistakes for herbaria that have yet to start the process. We used a professional camera, database management software, and a barcode scanner to digitize the collections of herbaria CRI, ECT, FURB, LUSC, and UFRN. Pre-revision of samples with prior restoration when needed, barcode fixation, and a good database allowed faster digitization of samples. Good database software and the formation of a network among small herbaria accelerated digitization and increased the number of images available of Brazilian biodiversity. Thus far, our joint efforts made 118,000 specimen images available online with the purpose of accelerating botanical research.

ABSTRACT In Santa Catarina State, forest classification in successional stages is supported by the National Council of the Environment (CONAMA) Resolution. However, this classification presents several inconsistencies. This study aimed to evaluate the classification accuracy of three classifications schemes of successional stages proposed for the Subtropical Atlantic Evergreen Rainforest of the Santa Catarina State. All schemes are based on threshold values of mean height, mean diameter at breast height, and basal area to distinguish between stages. We used structural and diversity data from 207 sample plots within the Santa Catarina’s State Subtropical Rainforest region to classify the respective stands according to the schemes. The classification accuracy of each scheme was evaluated through the application of linear discriminant analysis (LDA). We constructed a predictive equation using the results of the LDA, from the scheme that presented highest classification accuracy. The current classification (CONAMA Resolution) showed an average of 81.87% of classification accuracy, while Scenario A presented 83.73% and Scenario B 78.67%. From Scenario A, we created a predictive equation based on structural and diversity variables. This equation may be used to classify other forest sites, constituting a new proposal for the secondary vegetation classification in Santa Catarina’s State Subtropical Rainforest.

ABSTRACT Herbaria represent irreplaceable repositories of biodiversity and are used to answer questions about conservation, ecology, systematics, and other sciences. In this sense, we characterize the infrastructure, human resources, and idiosyncrasies of Brazilian herbaria. To achieve this goal, curators were sent a structured and standardized questionnaire to gather information about herbaria. The Brazilian Herbaria Network listed 216 active herbaria in the year 2018, of which 139 answered the questionnaire. These herbaria hold 6,741,469 samples in their collections and more than 39,000 type samples. Most herbaria are in federal universities (40.28 %). Only 24 % of the curators considered that their herbarium is valued by their institutions and 52 % indicated inadequate storage areas. Only nine collections have smoke sensors. Our analysis showed that if an herbarium has an institutional policy the curator is 78 % more likely to consider its herbarium valued. Therefore, it is important for all herbaria to institute their policy. These numbers reflect the difficulty in maintaining herbaria, in many cases cared for only by its curator without institutional recognition and support. Despite recent losses in Brazilian natural history collections, herbaria are still threatened by a lack of basic infrastructure.

ABSTRACT Tree ferns are important elements of tropical forests, mainly because they are common and provide microhabitats for epiphytic plants. Due to their ecological importance, the aim of this study was to evaluate population structure, distribution, and influence of environmental variables on tree ferns in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. All tree ferns with a diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm on 418 sampling units (SUs) systematically distributed throughout the study area were measured (total sampled area of 153.4 ha). Population structure was evaluated through classical phytosociological parameters and the relationships among dominance and environmental variables were evaluated through multiple linear regression models. Dicksonia sellowiana presented the greatest importance value among all species (IV = 13.19 %), followed by Alsophila setosa (IV = 4.37 %) and Cyathea phalerata (IV = 2.71 %). Altitude and mean rainfall of the driest quarter were significantly related to the dominance of D. sellowiana in most of the SUs. The mean temperature of the driest quarter and aspect were significantly related to the dominance of Cyatheaceae. Our study demonstrates that tree ferns are important elements of forest communities in the state of Santa Catarina.

ABSTRACT: A key issue in large-area inventories is defining a suitable sampling design and the effort required to obtain reliable estimates of species richness and forest attributes, especially in species-diverse forests. To address this issue, data from 418 systematically distributed 0.4 ha plots were collected. Estimators of nonparametric species richness were employed to assess the floristic representativeness of data collected in three forest types in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The sampling sufficiency of forest attributes was evaluated as a function of sample size. Altogether, 831 tree/shrub species were recorded. The data acquired through the systematic sampling design were representative of both species richness and basal area. The confidence intervals’ length would not substantially decrease by using more than 70 % of the reference sample (n = 364), thereby reaching a length of ∼5 % of the sample mean. Nevertheless, reliable estimates of species richness for diverse forests demand a thorough sampling approach far more exacting so as to achieve acceptable population estimates of forest attributes. Though the study area is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot, the forest stands showed diminished species richness, basal area, stem volume and biomass when compared to old-growth stands. As regards species richness, the data provided evidence of contrasting great γ-diversity (at the forest type level) and small α-diversity (at the forest stand level). Amongst anthropic impacts, illegal logging and extensive cattle grazing within stands are undoubtedly key factors that threaten forest conservation in the study area.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Subtropical Rainforest covers a huge area of Santa Catarina state, starting on the coast and going through the Serra Geral. Along its distribution, the vegetation changes according to altitude, geomorphology, and soil. In the attempt to evaluate vegetation variations related to different soil types in an Atlantic Forest remnant, 43 plots of 200 m2 were sampled. All the individuals with DBH ≥ 5.0 cm were measured. We have found consistent floristic and structural variations, which separated sample plots with Litholic Neosol and Rogosol situated in slopes from those with Yellow-Red Ultisol and Haplic Cambisol, as well as plots with Fluvic Neosol from Haplic Gleisol in plateaus. Species richness increased according to water availability and soil depth, with the plateaus’ soils being the richest. Each area was characterized by a range of indicator species and the results indicated that soil attributes are important drivers of vegetation variation.

Abstract Studies about dispersal syndromes and spatial distribution can provide information about species ecology. However, few studies analyze these ecological patterns in different vegetation layers. In this work, we verified the relationship between the dispersion syndromes and the spatial distribution in different layers in Araucaria Forest. We sampled 180 plots with size and inclusion criteria that changed according to the vegetative layer. We sampled 15,545 individuals in 103 tree species. We found significant differences between the number of species in the dispersion syndromes (χ2 = 11.52; P ≤ 0.05) and spatial distribution patterns (χ2 = 10.94; P ≤ 0.05), being zoochoric and tends to clustering the most predominant. We also found a significant interaction between the dispersion syndromes and spatial distribution patterns in the analyzed layers (F = 1,044; P < 0.0001), with anemochoric species characterized by random distribution, autochoric in the cluster distribution and zoochoric in the tends to clustering. The results demonstrate that the tree species of the different layers are related to the type of dispersion and the aggregation pattern.

Resumo Neste estudo foram analisadas a distribuição e o status de conservação das palmeiras arbustivas no estado brasileiro de Santa Catarina utilizando os dados coletados pelo Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina (IFFSC). As palmeiras arbustivas foram amostradas sistematicamente em Unidades Amostrais (UA) distribuídas sobre o estado em parcelas de 10 × 10 km. Dentre todas as 206 UA levantadas pelo IFFSC na Floresta Pluvial e Litorânea, 86% (n= 177 UA) tiveram a presença de palmeiras arbustivas, totalizando 1738 indivíduos das seguintes espécies: Bactris setosa, Geonoma elegans, G. gamiova e G. schottiana. Para investigar o status de conservação das palmeiras arbustivas de Santa Catarina foi sobreposto o mapa das áreas prioritárias para conservação com os dados de distribuição das palmeiras arbustivas coletados pelas equipes do IFFSC. Os níveis de prioridade de conservação definidos pelo Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA) foram classificados como Extremamente Alto, Muito Alto, Alto e Insuficientemente Conhecido. Noventa e quatro por cento das UA contendo palmeiras arbustivas sobrepuseram áreas prioritárias para conservação, destacando a importância das palmeiras arbustivas na conservação da biodiversidade. Apesar da ampla distribuição das comunidades de palmeiras arbustivas em Santa Catarina, são necessárias pesquisas minuciosas nos remanescentes florestais tendo em vista a sensibilidade à perturbação ambiental, de forma a garantir a manutenção das populações de palmeiras arbustivas e seus serviços ecossistêmicos.

Abstract In this study, we examined the distribution and conservation status of understory palms in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina using data collected by the Floristic and Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina (IFFSC). Understory palms were systematically sampled within sampling units (SU) distributed over a state-wide 10 × 10 km grid. Among the 206 total SU monitored by IFFSC within Pluvial and Coastal Forest, 86% (n=177 SU) contained understory palms, comprising 1738 individuals from the following species: Bactris setosa, Geonoma elegans, G. gamiova, and G. schottiana. To explore the conservation status of understory palm populations in Santa Catarina, we overlaid a map of federal priority conservation areas on top of IFFSC distribution data for understory palms. Conservation priority levels defined by the Brazilian Environmental Agency (MMA) are rated Extremely High, Very High, High and Insufficiently Known. Ninety-four percent of the SU containing understory palms overlapped priority conservation areas, highlighting the centrality of understory palms in biodiversity conservation. Despite the wide distribution of understory palm communities in Santa Catarina, intense scrutiny of forest remnants is necessary in view of sensitivity to environmental disturbance, so as to guarantee the maintenance of understory palm populations and their ecosystem services.

RESUMO As espécies raras são particularmente importantes do ponto de vista da conservação, ecologia e biologia evolutiva, além de ser frequentemente o foco para decisões políticas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a raridade de Lauraceae amostradas pelo Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina na Floresta Estacional Decidual e na Floresta Ombrófila Mista. Coletaram-se dados em 234 unidades amostrais com 0,40 ha cada, registrando-se árvores com diâmetro na altura de 1,30m ≥ 10 cm. Foi utilizada a metodologia Rabinowitz para segregar as espécies em raras ou comuns, considerando três variáveis: distribuição geográfica, especificidade por habitat e tamanho populacional. Das 37 espécies, 59,46% apresentaram raridade e 40,54% foram comuns. Classificou-se 56,76% das espécies como euritópica e 59,46% eurioica. Das espécies, 2,70% foram exclusivas da Floresta Estacional Decidual, 67,57% exclusivas da Floresta Ombrófila Mista e 29,73% ocorreram em ambas. Esta análise colaborou para a compreensão da raridade das espécies da região estudada e pode contribuir para ações de conservação dessa família no planalto catarinense, uma vez que a maior parte das espécies é de alguma forma rara e o cenário atual é de intenso processo de fragmentação florestal.

ABSTRACT The rare species are particularly important from the point of view of conservation ecology and evolutionary biology, and often become the focus for policy decisions. The objective was to evaluate the Lauraceae rarity sampled by the Floristic Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina in Deciduous Forest (DF) and Araucaria Forest (AF). Data were collected in 234 sampling units of 0.40 ha each, recording trees with diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm. We used Rabinowitzʼs methodology to segregate rare and common species, considering three variables: geographic distribution, habitat specificity, and population size. Of the 37 species, 59.46% were rare and 40.54% were common. 56.76% of the species were eurytopic and 59.46% euryecious. 2.70% of the species were exclusive of DF, 67.57% exclusive of AF, and 29.73% occurred in both. This analysis contributed to the understanding of the rarity of the species in the studied region and it can also contribute to conservation actions for this family on Santa Catarina plateau, since most species are somewhat rare and intense forest fragmentation is the current scenario.