Abstract Climate change has already altered global biodiversity, causing the migration of species and changes in habitat distribution. To implement a sustainable conservation strategy, it is necessary to understand the impacts of climate change on species. Lessingianthus is a South American genus that includes numerous endangered species, some of which grow in the Brazilian Cerrado, a Neotropical savanna considered a world’s biodiversity hotspot. However, the impact of global climate change on these species has still not been estimated. We evaluate the effect of climate change on the habitat of 10 threatened Lessingianthus species and on their potential distribution, and assess the effectiveness of current protected areas (PAs) using ecological niche models. Based on the maximum entropy algorithm (Maxent), we first modeled the potential distribution of these species under current climatic conditions and then projected the distribution for two future scenarios of climate change (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) and two time periods (2050 and 2070). We predicted current habitat suitability and identified suitable bioclimatic variables for these species. Our findings suggest that the area comprising the south and southeast of Cerrado is irreplaceable and the most biotically stable region for these endangered species; therefore, it should be considered a conservation priority area.

The genera Lepidaploa (Cass.) Cass. and Lessingianthus H. Rob. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) were established to separate taxa initially placed in Vernonia Schreb. sect. Lepidaploa (Cass.) DC. subsect. Axilliflorae Benth. & Hook. and Vernonia sect. Lepidaploa subsect. Macrocephalae Benth. & Hook., respectively. As presently delimited, Lepidaploa is comprised of about 150 species widely distributed in South America, while Lessingianthus presents 120 species having a concentration in southeastern Brazil. It is estimated that a large amount of several species still included in Vernonia have not been examined and consequently their taxonomic position remains uncertain. We analyzed pollen morphology and floral microcharacters of several Vernonia species, which allowed the transfer of six taxa previously placed in this genus to Lessingianthus and other two species of the Vernonia to Lepidaploa.

Los géneros Lepidaploa (Cass.) Cass. y Lessingianthus H. Rob. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) fueron establecidos para separar a las especies inicialmente ubicadas en Vernonia Schreb. sect. Lepidaploa (Cass.) DC. subsect. Axilliflorae Benth. & Hook. y Vernonia sect. Lepidaploa subsect. Macrocephalae Benth. & Hook., respectivamente. Tal como se delimitan actualmente, Lepidaploa está compuesto por alrededor de 150 especies ampliamente distribuidas en Sudamérica, mientras que Lessingianthus presenta 120 especies con una gran concentración en el sudeste de Brasil. Se estima que gran cantidad de especies todavía incluidas en Vernonia no han sido estudiadas apropiadamente y en consecuencia su posición y estatus taxonómicos permanecen inciertos. En este trabajo se analizó la morfología de los granos de polen y de algunos microcaracteres florales para aportar datos que permitieron transferir seis taxones de Vernonia al género Lessingianthus y otras dos especies del mismo género a Lepidaploa.

Resumo Duas novas espécies de Lessingianthus (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) são descritas e ilustradas. Uma dessas espécies, L. foliosus Dematt., apresenta semelhança com L. vepretorum, mas diferencia-se dela pelas folhas lineares, lanosas na face abaxial e pelos entrenós mais curtos. A outra espécie, L. lapinhensis Dematt., pode ser distinguida facilmente de L. brevifolius e outros táxons do gênero pela combinação de caule 8-18 cm compr., folhas lineares, glabras e invólucro campanulado. Outros treze táxons descritos como Vernonia são transferidos para o gênero Lessingianthus e dois lectótipos são aqui designados.

Abstract Two new species of Lessingianthus (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) are described and illustrated. One of these, L. foliosus Dematt., bears a resemblance to L. vepretorum, but can be separated from it by its linear leaves, that are lanate on the abaxial surface, and by its shorter internodes. The other new species, L. lapinhensis Dematt., can be easily separated from L. brevifolius and other taxa of the genus by the combination of stems 8-18 cm tall, glabrous linear leaves and campanulate involucres. Thirteen other taxa previously described as Vernonia are transferred to the genus Lessingianthus and two lectotypes are designated here.

Vernonia setososquamosa (Asteraceae, Vernonieae) has been considered by several authors as a synonym of V. remotiflora, as a variety of this taxon or a quite different, independent species. We analyzed chromosome and pollen morphology of both entities looking for information to clarify the status of V. setososquamosa. The latter taxon showed a somatic chromosome number of 2n=2x=30 with the karyotype composed of 22m + 6sm + 2st, while on the other hand V. remotiflora presented 2n=2x=28 and a karyotype formula having 22m + 4sm + 2st. The pollen of both entities was tricolporate, echinolophate, with lacunae disposed in a regular pattern; however, V. setososquamosa presented polar lacunae, whereas V. remotiflora did not. The results support the treatment of V. setososquamosa and V. remotiflora as different species.

Vernonia setososquamosa (Asteraceae, Vernonieae) ha sido considerada por diferentes autores como un sinónimo de V. remotiflora, como una variedad de este taxón o como una especie diferente. En este trabajo se analizó la morfología de los cromosomas y el polen de ambas entidades en busca de datos que permitan determinar el estatus de V. setososquamosa. Este último taxón mostró un número de cromosomas somáticos de 2n=2x=30, con el cariotipo compuesto por 22m + 6sm + 2st, mientras que V. remotiflora presentó 2n=2x=28 y una fórmula cariotípica con 22m + 4sm + 2st. El polen de estas entidades es tricolporado, equinolofado, con lagunas dispuestas en un patrón regular, pero los granos de V. setososquamosa presentaron lagunas polares, que resultaron ausentes en V. remotiflora. Los resultados apoyan el tratamiento de V. setososquamosa y V. remotiflora como especies diferentes.