Flora rupestre das cangas da serra dos carajás, Pará, Brasil: cyperaceae

Abstract

Common in many regions of the world, the Cyperaceae family has mostly a pantropical distribution, but can also occur in subtropical and temperate regions. All Cyperaceae species occupy terrestrial environments and particulary wet areas. This taxonomic treatment is focusing on the species of Cyperaceae occurring in the areas of cangas da Serra dos Carajás, located in the southeastern region of Pará (Brazil). This location is dominated by the Amazon rainforest, which displays a complex of mountains, ranging from 600 to 800 m high, with banded iron rock formations, called "cangas" with a high degree of endemism. Based on herbarium specimens and field surveys. In the study area, we found 43 species belonging to 11 genera, Rhynchospora Vahl (11 species), Cyperus L. (9), Eleocharis R. Br. (7) Scleria PJ Bergius (4), Bulbostylis Kunth (4), Fimbristylis Vahl. (2) Kyllinga Rottb. (2) Hypolytrum Rich. (1) Lagenocarpus Nees (1), Lipocarpha R. Br. (1) and Pycreus P. Beauv. (1). Identification keys are provided at genera and species levels, as well as morphological descriptions, illustrations of species, and taxonomic comments, geographical distribution and preferred habitats of the studied taxa. These results are reported in Chapter 2 “Flora Rupestre das cangas da Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil: Cyperaceae”. Two new species of Bulbostylis and Eleocharis genera were characterized in the study area. They are described and illustrated in Chapters 3 “Eleocharis pedrovianae, a new species of Cyperaceae from Northern Brazil (Serra dos Carajás, Pará State)” and Chapter 4 “Uma nova espécie de Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) do Norte do Brasil (Serra dos Carajás, Pará)”.