Abstract
Eriocaulonis an aquatic and cosmopolitan genus with 478 species. It is characterized by diplostemonous flowers and free petals with a black gland at the apex. There are few taxonomists studying Eriocaulon from Brazil. The species of this genus remain barely delimited, with inconsistent descriptions, and nomenclatural types not assigned or located. The analysis of nomenclatural types, specimens in scientific collections, and protologues enabled the recognition of 53 species of Eriocaulonfrom Brazil. Thirteen new synonyms and the elevation of five varietes to species level are proposed. Comments on taxonomy, geographic distribution, habitat, life form, and conservation category are provided.
Highlights
Eriocaulon is an aquatic and cosmopolitan genus with 478 species (Giulietti & Hensold 1990; Govaerts 2006) distributed mainly in the tropics
Eriocaulon from Brazil was first mentioned in the Flora Fluminensis, where Vellozo (1827) described Eriocaulon ligulatum as Dupatya ligulata
We propose the synonymization of eight species and five varieties: Eriocaulon candidum Moldenke has been considered a synonym of E. modestum Kunth, E. cipoense Silveira a synonym of E. aquatile Körn., E. damazianum Beauverd a synonym of E. cinereum R
Summary
Eriocaulon is an aquatic and cosmopolitan genus with 478 species (Giulietti & Hensold 1990; Govaerts 2006) distributed mainly in the tropics. Bongard (1831) subsequently provided brief descriptions of 80 species of Eriocaulon from Brazil, but only E. crassiscapum and E. elichrysoides remained in this genus. Giulietti (1978a; 1978b) studied members of Eriocaulon from the Serra do Cipó and provided new circumscriptions for E. melanocephalum and E. aquatile. 57 species and 13 varieties of Eriocaulon from Brazil are accepted (Giulietti et al 2013). Geographic distribution, habitat, life form, and conservation category are provided
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