Flora of Ceará state, Brazil: Evolvulus (Cresseae, Convolvulaceae)

Abstract

We present the taxonomic treatment of Evolvulus in the state of Ceará, as part of the project “Flora do Ceará: Knowing to conserve”. The study was based on the floristic-morphological analysis of specimens deposited in the ASE, CEN, EAC, ESA, HCDAL, HST, HUEFS, HUVA, HVASF, IPA, PEUFR, and UFP herbaria, specialized bibliography, typus collections available on on-line platforms, collections and field observations. In Ceará, we registered 13 species of Evolvulus: E. anagalloides, E. cardiophyllus, E. eleaegnifolius, E. ericifolius, E. filipes, E. glomeratus, E. gypsophiloides, E. linoides, E. nummularius, E. ovatus, E. phyllanthoides, E. pterocaulon, and E. sericeus. Of these, ten occur in protected areas from Ceara state. The greatest species richness for the genus (10) was registered in the open crystalline caatinga. Additionally, we present an identification key, morphological descriptions, geographic distribution, taxonomic and ecological comments, phenology and illustrations of the diagnostic characters of the species.

Key words:
biodiversity; Brazilian flora; Caatinga; Solanales; taxonomy