ABSTRACT
This work consists of the taxonomic treatment of the Acanthaceae Juss. in Marambaia, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and their distribution in the different local plant communities. Five genera and nine species were found in mangrove, sand coastal plains (restingas), rain forest, and in urban areas. Thunbergia alata is introduced and widely naturalized throughout Brazil, and Ruellia blechum is a neotropical species also naturalized; the other species are native: Avicennia schaueriana, Aphelandra longiflora, Justicia brasiliana, J. cydoniifolia, J. plumbaginifolia, Ruellia solitaria, and Schaueria litoralis. Keys to species, descriptions, illustrations, comments on taxonomy, and their distribution in the local plant communities, in other restingas in Rio de Janeiro State, and in Brazil are provided. The species of Acanthaceae in Marambaia are important resources for different groups of pollinators and include typical (Justicia brasiliana, J. cydoniifolia) and exclusive (Schaueria litoralis) species of the restinga; these species plus Avicennia schaueriana are threatened in Rio de Janeiro State.
Keywords:
Atlantic forest; mangrove; sand coastal plains; taxonomy; threatened species
