Abstract The present study is part of the Flora of Espírito Santo project and aimed to survey and describe the morphological diversity of species of Bixaceae from Espírito Santo state, Brazil, as well as to provide data on geographical distribution, biology, and habitat of these species. To do so, fieldwork was carried out in several areas of Espírito Santo and the most important herbaria collections in the state were examined. Bixaceae in Espírito Santo is represented by the genus Bixa, with two species. Bixa atlantica, recently described and repeatedly misidentified as Bixa arborea, is a forest tree up to 20 m tall (rarely appearing as treelet or shrub in savannah-like vegetation), with spine fruits and lacking nectaries in the pedicel apex. Bixa orellana, on the other hand, is recognized as a shrub or treelet up to 5-6 m tall, with conspicuous nectaries in the pedicel apex. The species origin is uncertain, though it occurs sub-spontaneously in Espírito Santo state, where it is widely cultivated due to its value as a spice. In this paper we provide taxonomic descriptions, an identification key, geographic distribution maps, photographic plates and comments on the ecology, conservation, and recognition of both species.

Resumo O presente trabalho é parte do projeto Flora do Espírito Santo e objetivou levantar e descrever a diversidade morfológica das espécies de Bixaceae deste estado, assim como prover dados da distribuição geográfica e comentários sobre a biologia e o habitat das espécies. Diversas expedições de coleta foram conduzidas no Espírito Santo e os herbários com as coleções mais importantes do estado foram examinados. Bixaceae no Espírito Santo é representada pelo gênero Bixa com duas espécies. Bixa atlantica, recentemente descrita e repetidamente identificada incorretamente como Bixa arborea, é uma árvore de floresta com até 20 m de altura (raramente arvoreta ou arbusto em vegetação savanoide), com frutos espinescentes e nectários no ápice do pedicelo ausentes. Bixa orellana é reconhecida por ser um arbusto ou arvoreta com 5-6 m de altura, com nectários conspícuos no ápice do pedicelo. A espécie é amplamente cultivada por seu uso como condimento e possui origem incerta, mas ocorre espontaneamente no estado do Espírito Santo. Aqui, fornecemos descrições taxonômicas, uma chave de identificação, mapas de distribuição geográfica, pranchas fotográficas e comentários sobre a ecologia, conservação e reconhecimento para ambas as espécies.

ABSTRACT The campo rupestre in the Espinhaço Range is subject of many floristic studies due to its high rates of species diversity and endemism. These studies are made up of critical, easily accessible data about local richness and biodiversity, which are essential for subsidizing new studies in the fields of conservation, ecology, and systematics. This study describes the results of a survey of floristic studies carried out in the Espinhaço Range and provides a checklist of the plant species listed in them. We found that 294 floristic studies were conducted in the Espinhaço Range, but they were focused only on a few areas. Likewise, we detected sampling gaps in some areas. The Floras studied provide information on 3,191 plants or 6,3% Brazilian flora, of which 2,879 are angiosperms, 247 bryophytes, and 65 lycophytes and ferns. Finally, we observed a lack of standardization regarding the habits reported for angiosperms shrubs and subshrubs which is more problematic for Espinhaço’s flora because of its grasslands or shrublands vegetation. Thereby, we reaffirm the importance and need to encourage new floristic studies in the Espinhaço Range as a means to train new taxonomists and to provide new studies and projects.