What is being published on floristics? an overview of floristic studies carried out in the Espinhaço Range

ABSTRACT

The campo rupestre in the Espinhaço Range is subject of many floristic studies due to its high rates of species diversity and endemism. These studies are made up of critical, easily accessible data about local richness and biodiversity, which are essential for subsidizing new studies in the fields of conservation, ecology, and systematics. This study describes the results of a survey of floristic studies carried out in the Espinhaço Range and provides a checklist of the plant species listed in them. We found that 294 floristic studies were conducted in the Espinhaço Range, but they were focused only on a few areas. Likewise, we detected sampling gaps in some areas. The Floras studied provide information on 3,191 plants or 6,3% Brazilian flora, of which 2,879 are angiosperms, 247 bryophytes, and 65 lycophytes and ferns. Finally, we observed a lack of standardization regarding the habits reported for angiosperms shrubs and subshrubs which is more problematic for Espinhaço’s flora because of its grasslands or shrublands vegetation. Thereby, we reaffirm the importance and need to encourage new floristic studies in the Espinhaço Range as a means to train new taxonomists and to provide new studies and projects.

Keywords:
Bahia; Checklist; Conservation; Flora; Minas Gerais and Iron Quadrangle