Commelinaceae Mirb. no estado da Paraíba: diversidade taxonômica e inferências preliminares sobre os status de conservação

Abstract

Commelinaceae Mirb. comprises 42 genera and approximately 720 species, distributed throughout the world; with several representatives presenting ornamental, pharmacological and ecological importance. For Brazil, 15 genera and 120 species were recorded, of which 63 are endemic. This work consists of a taxonomic survey of Commelinaceae in the State of Paraíba, Brazil, aiming to understand the richness, distribution and infer the preliminary conservation status of its species. From March/2022 to June/2023, raids were carried out to obtain fertile specimens and observations of natural populations. The comparative morphological analyzes were based on collections from the herbaria of Paraíba (CSTR, EAN, HACAM, HCES, and JPB) and Pernambuco (IPA), in addition to our own collections. For taxonomic identification, specialized literature and consultations of nomenclatural types and original works were used. The taxonomic treatment consists of a key to the species, taxonomic descriptions, list of material examined, geographic distribution data, habitats and flowering and/or fruiting, images and comments on the taxonomic affinities of the species based on morphological characters. The geographic distribution of the species was based on information from the labels of the material examined, on the virtual platforms Virtual Herbarium of Flora and Fungi (REFLORA) and SpeciesLink. Eighteen species were recorded in nine genera: Aneilema brasiliense C. B. Clarke, Callisia filiformis (M. Martens & Galeotti) D. R. Hunt, C. repens (Jacq.) L., Commelina benghalensis L., C. diffusa Burm f., C. erecta L., C. obliqua Vahl, Dichorisandra hexandra (Aubl.) C.B. Clarke, D. perforans C.B. Clarke, D. thyrsiflora J.C. Mikan, Floscopa glabrata (Kunth) Hassk., Gibasis geniculata (Jacq.) Rohweder, Murdannia nudiflora (L.) L. Brennan, Tinantia sprucei C.B. Clarke, Tradescantia ambigua Mart., T. pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt, T. spathacea Sw., T. zebrina Heynh. ex Bosse, and Tripogandra diuretica (Mart.) Handlos. The species D. perforans C.B. Clarke and D. thyrsiflora J.C. Mikan constitute new occurrences for Paraíba State, expanding the geographical distribution of these species.