Erythroxylaceae has a pantropical distribution and presents about 240 species in four genera. Erythroxylum is the only genus in the Neotropics and in Brazil 123 species are recorded, with the highest diversity in the Atlantic Forest, especially in the Northeastern region of the country. The Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil is considered the most threatened part of the biome, however this is the area with the highest diversity of species of Erythroxylum, although, the region still requires floristic and taxonomic studies. Thus, this study aimed to inventory the species of Erythroxylaceae from forest fragments at Usina São José (Igarassu, state of Pernambuco), and it is part of the survey of the flora of this area. The study was based on morphological analysis of specimen deposited the collections of the main Brazilian herbaria and also in the analysis of specimen collected in the field. Eight species were recorded: Erythroxylum citrifolium, E. mikanii, E. mucronatum, E. nitidum, E. rhodappendiculatum, E. rimosum, E. squamatum, and E. subrotundum. Among them, three species are first recorded to the state. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations, and comments on habitat, and geographic distribution of the taxa are presented.
Erythroxylum ; Brazilian Atlantic Forest; floristic inventories; Northeastern Brazil; new records
