Abstract During the Neotropical review of Celtis, a new species (Celtis atlantica) endemic and endangered to southeastern Brazil was discovered. A morphological description, a distribution map, conservation status, taxonomic notes, illustrations, and an identification key of the Celtis from the Southern Cone and Brazil are provided.

ABSTRACT Aristolochia hypoglauca and A. paulistana (Aristolochiaceae) are two species that inhabit the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. They highly resemble each other especially on the size and overall shape of the caudate perianth, which causes confusion in herbaria determinations. We applied geometric morphometrics (GM) to overcome this taxonomic uncertainty. GM was based on the landmark method applied to leaves of all specimens available mostly in Brazilian herbaria. The GM results supported the recognition of the two species, as the two principal components were responsible for 94.97% of the variation assessed through the principal component analysis (PCA). The Discriminant Function and the Cross-validation tests resulted in the maximum percentage of correctly classified cases (100%). The Procrustes distance (0.2252; p< 0.0001), and the Mahalanobis Distance (8.4473; p< 0.0001) provide statistical support for leaf shape differences with taxonomic significance. Thus, we revisit the taxonomy and comparative morphology of both species, and compare them with other Aristolochia species with caudate floral limb native to Brazil, and commented the phenology, distribution and habitat, and conservation status. Additionally, we proposed the epitypification of A. hypoglauca, given that the holotype does not fulfill the purpose of precise application of the name.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2NP) pretreatment on seeds of different safflower cultivars (Balci, Dinçer) under salt and heat stresses. The apparent effects on stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical (O2 •⁻) content), as well as changes in germination and physiological parameters (radicle and plumula weight and length measurements), were investigated. TiO2NP pretreatment caused an increase in radicle length and plumula fresh weight for the Balci cultivar under salinity. Furthermore, plumula dry weight was alleviated with TiO2NP pretreatment for both cultivars. TiO2NP pretreatment improved plumula dry and fresh weights for both cultivars under heat stress. In addition, MDA content decreased for both cultivars under heat stress but only for Balci under salt stress. The amount of O2 •⁻ radicals positively affected only the radicle for both cultivars under heat stress. This study is the first to document the alleviation of salt stress damage for the Balci safflower cultivar, and protection for both Balci and Dinçer cultivars under heat stress, using 200 ppm TiO2NP pretreatment.

ABSTRACT The use of native trees is necessary for land restoration and the sequestration of carbon that is stored in forest biomass production in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the biomass prediction model used for native tropical lowland trees of Indonesia is limited to only specific locations and focuses on aboveground biomass (AGB). This study aimed to select and evaluate potential native tree species for high biomass and to develop the best allometric model for estimating tree biomass production (AGB, belowground/BGB, and total/TB) in lowland ecosystems in Indonesia. Trees were selected using the following five criteria: nativeness, ecosystem type, morphological appearance, multipropagation ability, and economic value. Biomass content was quantified for 102 sample trees (56 trees aged 4 years and 46 trees aged 8 years), using the destructive method. Effective growth biomass and species ecological data indicated five species as potential trees for land restoration in tropical lowlands of Indonesia: Litsea garciae, Terminalia bellirica, Pterospermum javanicum, Anisoptera marginata, and Cananga odorata. The best allometric model of this study is highly recommended for implementation with native trees of tropical lowlands in Indonesia, especially those in early stages (less than 8 years).

ABSTRACT Casselia, a small South American genus of Verbenaceae found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, has often been misidentified within other angiosperm families. Based on a careful review of herbarium specimens plus fieldwork, the present study provides taxonomic, nomenclatural, and geographical distribution alignments in Casselia, while also shedding light on the reasons why it is a poorly known and overlooked genus. The novelties encompass the redefinition of the boundaries of C. confertiflora, recognition of C. confertiflora var. laciniata at specific level, reestablishment of C. zelota as an accepted species with an epitype designation, as well as geographic distribution readjustment of the C. integrifolia and C. serrata. Consequently, Casselia comprises eight species, occurring along the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga domains. The only species with a narrow distribution is C. serrata. However, the genus is still poorly collected, and the species populations are not abundant. Furthermore, to aid in the recognition of Casselia and prevent misidentifications, a detailed description of the genus accompanied by plant photographs and an updated identification key are also provided.

ABSTRACT Lectins are proteins that recognize and bind to carbohydrates in a reversible and specific manner. In this work, a lectin from Crotalaria incana L. seeds was purified by Sephadex G-50 affinity chromatography. The purified lectin was named CiL and presented affinity towards D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, α-methyl-D-mannoside and derivatives. CiL was stable over a wide range of temperatures and pH values, and it was divalent cation-dependent. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that CiL is composed of two subunits with apparent masses of 29 and 30 kDa. The amino acid sequence of five tryptic peptides was obtained through mass spectrometry. Partial primary structure data indicated the similarity between CiL and lectins from Phaseolus vulgaris, Cladrastis kentukea, Lens culinaris, Pisum sativum, Crotalaria pallida and C. juncea. CiL showed no toxicity to Artemia salina nauplii at the concentration of 2 mg/mL, thus reinforcing the potential of this protein for further studies in other biological models and elucidation of possible effects.

ABSTRACT The Serra da Bodoquena National Park is an important protected area that promotes the conservation of a threatened ecosystem, the Dry Forest. It comprises two major fragments of predominantly Seasonally Dry Forest vegetation. The two fragments are under different protection schemes because they are considered different biomes. The southern fragment is considered part of the Atlantic Forest biome, and is thus protected by the Atlantic Forest Law, while the northern one is considered part of the Cerrado biome and is protected by the Native Vegetation Protection Law of Brazil (2012). This difference affects management and threatens the conservation of the National Park. The Native Vegetation Protection Law is more permissive, thus increasing the conflicts between the park and surroundings in the northern fragment. We used floristic composition to provide a more accurate definition for the two fragments with regard to their phytogeographical domain. Our results identified high floristic similarity between the fragments, indicating the same vegetation type for both. Among the 202 plant species identified in this study, 76% belong to the Atlantic Forest biome. This relatively high proportion indicates that the predominant vegetation and species composition of the National Park is typical of the Atlantic Forest. The occurrence of fragments of the Atlantic Forest, with a representative number of species of its flora outside the area of application of the law of the Atlantic Forest, defined by Decree No. 6.660 / 2008, indicates the need to elaborate or adapt the law to protect these fragments.

ABSTRACT As part of the systematic study of the tribes Ditaxeae and Adelieae (Acalyphoideae-Euphorbiaceae), here we compile and present a taxonomic synopsis for the South American taxa of Argythamnia, Chiropetalum, and Philyra. We recognize 22 species for Argythamnia, including one herein described as a new species, 20 species and one variety for Chiropetalum, and a single species for Philyra. We also designate 22 lectotypes, a new synonymization and a status novum, in addition to keys for each genus, distribution maps for all taxa, analysis of collection density in South America for each genus, and taxonomic and ecological comments for all taxa.

ABSTRACT Manihot includes about 150 species with a Neotropical distribution. Wild species of Manihot constitute a plant genetic heritage that can be used in breeding programs for the cultivable species Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava). However, wild populations, especially endemic ones, are under constant threat due to habitat destruction and climate change. The objective of this manuscript was to elaborate a taxonomic treatment of the endemic species of Manihot recorded in Northeast Brazil; determine the geographical distribution of species, richness, their conservation status, and solve typification problems. The study was based on the analysis of specimens deposited in national and international herbaria, as well as on field observations. Fifteen endemic species of Manihot were found, we propose lectotypes for five of them and one neotype. Most species are distributed in the state of Bahia, growing in Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest environments. Only M. breviloba was found in the states of Sergipe and Alagoas. The richest area was found in the Chapada Diamantina of the Espinhaço Range. In terms of conservation status, 80% of endemic species are in some threatened category, 13% are in the near threatened category and only 7% are in the least concern category.

ABSTRACT This was the first study conducted on the diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species and quantification of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) fractions, as well as on their relationship with environmental and soil chemical and physical properties along an elevation gradient above 1000 m in a Brazilian Atlantic cloud forest. AMF diversity was assessed by examining spores extracted from soil samples collected near the roots of the 18 most common plant species in permanent plots established in the field at altitudes of 1500, 1700, 1900, and 2100 meters above sea level. Fifteen AMF species were found, most of them belonging to the families Acaulosporaceae, Glomeraeceae, and Gigasporaceae. Compositions of the AMF community varied among the altitudes; Acaulospora was the predominant genus, with six species. The total Bradford-reactive soil protein (BRSP) and the easily extractable BRSP (EE-BRSP) soil glomalin were the highest at the altitude of 2100 m (5.7 and 3.8 mg.g soil-1, respectively). Altitude and environment and soil characteristics affected the composition and diversity (Shannon index) of the AMF communities. However, the effect of altitude on AMF diversity can be estimated, indirectly, through its effect on plant diversity.

Abstract During a taxonomic investigation of the names classified under Scleria subgenus Scleria section Hymenolytrum, it was necessary to replace the lectotype of S. macrogyne, as the specimen does not agree with the original description. In addition, we propose S. ramosa as a new synonym of S. macrogyne and discuss the reestablishment of S. cyperinoides as an accepted name.

Abstract Sambucus australis (Viburnaceae) is a wild and native species from South America used in traditional medicine. The objective of this review is to collect information on geographic distribution, systematics and phylogeny, morphological and anatomical characteristics, biochemical composition, and biological and ethnobotanical activity for its valorization as a wild food plant with edible and medicinal properties. S. australis grows naturally in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina. It is a shrub or small dioecious tree. Leaves are imparipinnate, generally with 11 opposite leaflets. Flowers with a 1-cm diameter are presented in inflorescences as terminal corymbs, with an inferior, pentacarpellate and pentalocular ovary. Leaves and flowers have a high content of total phenols. The following secondary metabolites were found: quercetin, isoquercetrin, quercetin, Kaempferol, hyperoside, rutin, and di-O-caffeoylquinic, chlorogenic, gallic, caffeic, and ellagic acids. Its biological activity was described as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, allelopathic, antiproliferative, antigenotoxic, antiparasitic, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, antibacterial and synergizing. Ethnobotanical studies have shown that its flowers, leaves, fruits, bark and roots are used to treat asthma, colds, flu, diabetes, measles, etc. Knowledge about the characteristics, properties, and uses of S. australis is an important contribution for its valorization, conservation, sustainable use and domestication

ABSTRACT In ecotonal Cerrado areas, the addition of Amazonian and Atlantic Forest species mainly occurs through connections between forest areas and forest physiognomies. In this context, the biome is a unique region for research on the influence of geographical and historical factors on its biota. In tropical ecotonal regions, integrated communities can exist on soils that present variations in fertility, physical properties and depth, which results in heterogeneity of physiognomies. It was tested the hypothesis that edaphic conditions related to calcium availability are significantly related to species composition and structural parameters in two physiognomies. The study was conducted in the Cerrado of the Chapada das Mesas National Park (CMNP) in the city of Carolina, Northeast Brazil, and the sample universe consisted of 18 areas in two physiognomies. The initial hypothesis was confirmed. The results and inferences about the vegetation structure and physical-chemical parameters of the soil, suggest that the management for conservation of the CMNP must consider the particularities of the Cerrado physiognomies and the vegetation responses to environmental filters, such as edaphic conditions and associations with other organisms.

ABSTRACT The growth in the number of molecular sequences produced in recent years has provided valuable contributions to the knowledge diversity of red algae (Rhodophyta) in Brazil. However, many works indicate that there is still much to be studied. Here, we highlight the importance of compiling all these data to evidence possible taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps in red algae through molecular data. So, this study presents a scientometric analysis of the molecular studies carried out on red algae in Brazil, based on the analysis of DNA sequences available in the public database GenBank. Our results demonstrated an increase in published papers from 1994 to 2020, corresponding to 165 studies analyzed. A huge disparity in the production of knowledge was observed, with the southeastern region concentrating the researchers responsible for most of the published studies, with emphasis on those in the University of São Paulo (USP). Bahia and São Paulo states stand out with the highest observed taxonomic richness, respectively. We also could identify the taxonomic groups with more molecular data generated, the sequence number deposited per institution since 1994, the main markers used, the regions that require a greater collection effort, and where the researchers who study red algae in the country are.

ABSTRACT The Chromolaena congesta complex (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae) presents a difficult challenge for biodiversity researchers due to the intertwined connections of its species and the difficulty of establishing morphological boundaries. In this study, we aimed to use morphometric analyses to evaluate the delimitation of the taxa belonging to the C. congesta complex, identify informative morphological traits and to understand the identity of several “atypical” specimens morphologically related to the complex. To achieve this, we used cluster and principal component analysis to evaluate 50 morphological traits from a total of 210 specimens throughout the geographic distribution of the species complex. We found support for the recognition of at least six species - Chromolaena ascendens, C. gentianoides, C. hirsuta, C. latisquamulosa, C. rhinanthacea and C. squarrulosa - according to a phenetic species concept and to corroborate the restoration of three species from synonymy. Furthermore, our results provide a morphological recircumscription of C. congesta and C. elliptica and indicate two taxonomic novelties, including a new combination and a new species. Despite the answers provided by morphology, many taxonomic issues remain to be solved, and further studies with other types of evidence should be carried to contribute towards a more stable classification.