Myrtaceae are one of the richest families in the Brazilian restinga vegetation (open savannas or low forests over sand near the coast). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the species richness and present a taxonomic treatment of all Myrtaceae species occurring in restinga remnants near the border of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte at the northern limit of the Atlantic coastal forest. We identified 23 species of Myrtaceae, 11 in subtribe Eugeniinae, 8 in Myrciinae, and 4 in Myrtinae. A key to species, descriptions, illustrations, as well as phenological and geographic distribution data are provided.
Myrtaceae; Atlantic coastal forest; restinga; northeastern Brazil