Flora das cangas da Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil: Euphorbiaceae

Abstract

The Serra dos Carajás in southeastem Pará state, Brazil, is noted for rocky outcrops that host a highly endemic flora (rupestrial vegetation). Euphorbiaceae A. Juss. is a component of this flora and is considered the largest family in the Malpighiales, with more than 246 genera and about 6,300 species, with a pantropical distribution and of special importance to the Neotropics. A taxonomic treatment of genera and species is proposed for the taxa from this special flora, as a contribution to knowledge of the flora of Pará and of the Brazilian Amazon, as part of the project "Flora Rupestre da Serra dos Carajás Revisitada". Samples collected in the field were analyzed, as were others from herbariums in the Amazon and overseas. Methods were consistent with traditional taxonomic botany and with practices for the Carajás flora. In the study area Euphorbiaceae is represented by nine species and one subspecies belonging to Alchornea Poeppig (1 sp.), Astraea (1 sp.), Croton L. (3 spp.), Mabea Aubl. (1sp.), Manihot Miller (2 spp., 1 subsp.) and Sapium Jacq. (1 sp.). One new species and three new occurrences are registered for Carajás. Descriptions, illustrations, keys to species, and taxonomic comments are given, as well as data on the geographic distributions of treated taxa.