Phoradendron is a Neotropical genus with c. 230 species. In Brazil c. 60 species occur, distributed in all major phytogeographic domains. The aim of this work was the taxonomic study of Phoradendron in southern Brazil. Twenty-one species were confirmed, namely P. argentinum, P. bathyoryctum, P. berteroanum, P. burkartii, P. chrysocladon, P. coriaceum, P. craspedophyllum, P. crassifolium, P. dipterum, P. ensifolium, P. habrostachyum, P. hexastichum, P. holoxanthum, P. inaequidentatum, P. mucronatum, P. obtusissimum, P. pellucidullum, P. perrottetii, P. piperoides, P. quadrangulare and P. undulatum. One name is reestablished (P. burkartii) and nine are proposed as synonyms (P. affine, P. falcifrons, P. interruptum, P. liga, P. lindemanii, P. linearifolium, P. pachyneuron, P. paraguari and P. reductum). The lectotype of P. reductum is designated. An identification key to the southern Brazilian species is provided, as well as morphological descriptions, taxonomic comments, information on geographic distribution, hosts and phenology, and illustrations for each species.
Santalales; parasitic plants; new synonyms; geographic distribution
