Flora of the Usina São José, Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brazil: Bixaceae and Malvaceae

ABSTRACT

Malvales is cosmopolitan and composed by ten families, characterized especially by generally stellate trichomes, a calyx with valvate aestivation, usually numerous stamens and by the presence of mucilage cells. In Brazil, this order is represented by five families with the Northeastern region housing Bixaceae, Malvaceae and Thymelaeaceae. The objective of this work was to carry out a taxonomic study of Malvales for the Atlantic Forest remnants of Usina São José (USJ), Igarassu, Estado de Pernambuco, Brazil. Collections between 2017 and 2019 were carried out in the study area, with the samples herborized and incorporated into the UFP herbarium. The descriptions were made based on the material collected, complemented with samples from the study area deposited in different herbaria. Bixaceae is represented in the USJ by Cochlospermum regium, and Malvaceae by 20 species. For the Malvaceae, Sida was the most representative genus (six spp.), with S. britonii and S. pernambucencis new records for the area, and with the latter representing the second collection ever made, previously known only from the type material. Wissadula amplissima is also a new record for the area. It is concluded that the higher diversity of Malvaceae was already expected based on than previous data, while in Brazil Bixaceae is a small family, and Malvaceae is considered one of the ten largest family in the country.

Keywords:
Atlantic Forest; Cochlospermum; Malvales; new records; Sida