Three new species of Marsdenia (Apocynaceae) from Brazil

ABSTRACT

Three new species of Marsdenia (Apocynaceae) are described from Brazil: M. paganuccii, known from two disjunct populations, one in the Caatinga of Bahia and other in the Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo; M. paraibana, restricted to the Restinga of Cabedelo National Forest in the Atlantic Forest of Paraíba; and M. trisegmentata, known from two populations in Caatinga, one in Bahia and other in Ceará. Illustrations, a geographic distribution map and comparisons with morphologically similar species are also presented for each species.

Keywords:
Apocynaceae; Asclepiadoideae; Atlantic Forest; Brazil; Caatinga; conservation; Marsdenia; Neotropics; taxonomy; threatened species