Taxonomic study of Marsypianthes Mart. ex Benth. (Hyptidinae, Lamiaceae) in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Marsypianthes is a Neotropical plant genus distributed from southern Mexico to northeastern Argentina. It is composed of six species - M. arenosa, M. burchellii, M. chamaedrys, M. foliolosa, M. hassleri, M. montana - with all occurring in Brazil except for M. arenosa, which occurs in Mexico. Marsypianthes burchellii, M. foliolosa and M. montana are endemic to Brazil, while M. hassleri also occurs in Argentina and Paraguay and M. chamaedrys is widely distributed from southern Mexico to Argentina. Species of Marsypianthes are found in all the biomes of Brazil - Amazonia, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Pampa and Pantanal. Goiás is the Brazilian state with the greatest species richness of Marsypianthes, with four of the five species that occur in the country. According to IUCN criteria, three of the species are classified as Least Concern, one as Data Deficient and one as Vulnerable. The present study provides descriptions, an identification key, illustrations, geographic distribution data and information on the conservation status for all the taxa of Marsypianthes in Brazil.

Keywords:
Cerrado; Labiatae; Nepetoideae; Ocimeae; taxonomy.