Microlicia D. Don (Microlicieae, Melastomataceae) in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Goiás State, Brazil

Abstract

Microlicia D. Don comprises 170 species, of which 150 occur in Brazil, being 149 endemic. The taxonomic knowledge about this genus in the Brazilian Midwest region is insufficient. For this reason, the taxonomic treatment of Microlicia in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, in Goiás State, Brazil, is presented. The collections were conducted for 24 months between 2014 and 2016, and the expeditions lasted from three to five days each. Eighteen species were recorded, four of which described during this study (M. chrysoglandulosa R. Romero, Versiane, Fontelas & D.O. Diniz-Neres, M. veadeirana D.O. Diniz-Neres & M. J. Silva, M. latifolia D.O. Diniz & M.J. Silva and M. stenodonoides D.O. Diniz-Neres & M.J. Silva). Microlicia scoparia DC. was recorded for the first time from the Goiás State. Microlicia crebropunctata Pilg. and M. melanostagma Pilg. are considered rare species. The other species were considered common in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais. It is provided an identification key, descriptions, comments on distribution, phenology and morphological relationships, as well as illustrations and photographs for most of the recorded species. With this study, the number of species recorded for the state of Goiás rises from 19 to 24.