Diversidade de Evolvulus L. (Convolvulaceae juss.) no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

Evolvulus L. (Convolvulaceae) includes about 100 species distributed predominantly in the Americas, with only two species considered pantropical, Evolvulus alsinoides and E. nummularius. The genus is monophyletic and easily recognized by following diagnostic characters: the presence of two styles free or partially attached, each one with two filiform stigmatic lobes, malpighiaceus trichomes and seeds glabrous. Despite its remarkable richness in Brazil (70% of the species occur in the country), especially in theNortheast region, in which 53 species are know, studies of revisional or floristic are still little expressive in this region. The present study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of Evolvulus diversity in Pernambuco. For this, we analyzed samples collected in 17 field trips and about 500 exsicates from 26 herbaria. The identifications were made through consult to the classic work of the genus, analysis of images of the typus collections and protologues of each species.The results are presented in two manuscripts. The first one entitled “Evolvulus L. (Convolvulaceae Juss.) in Pernambuco, Brazil”, which addresses the taxonomic treatment of 17 species. Of these, 14 has erect or decumbent habit and three are prostrate. Most of recorded species are widely distributed in Brazil, and occur in most phytogeographic domains, except for E. elaegnifolius that is restricted to the caatinga. Evolulus daphnoides is endemic from Northeast region. The characters used for delimitate species were: leaf form and indument, morphological pattern of the inflorescence, corolla lobes and presence or absence of pedicel and/or peduncle. The second manuscript is entitled “Hidden into the rocks: a new species of Evolvulus (Convolvulaceae Juss.) revealed by anatomy” which addresses the description of a new species of Evolvulus for Pernambuco. The new species was revealed through the anatomical study of six morphotypes of E. glomeratus in order to investigate the occurrence of anatomical characters consistent for their recognition. Thus, anatomical character states were restricted and consistent in only one morphotype. Then, we analyze the morphology of the same one, comparing it with that the other morphotypes. The analyzis showed that the new taxon presents infundibuliform corolla and anthers without epidermal vesicles, and the other morphotypes include hipocrateriform corolla and epidermal vesicles in the anthers.With this, we decided to delimit the specimen as representative of a new taxon specific for the Evolvulus.