Floristic inventory of Melastomataceae of the Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Melastomataceae is one of the richest families in Brazil, with 1,436 species, 158 occurring in the state of Paraná. Many of the species are pioneers and zoochoric, essential for regeneration and floristic composition of the Atlantic Forest, which is the phytogeographic domain covering the Iguaçu National Park (ParNa Iguaçu). We present the floristic inventory of Melastomataceae of ParNa Iguaçu. Three areas in the park were sampled from May 2019 to March 2020, where two are covered with Seasonal Semideciduous Forest (SSF), and the other in a transition between SSF and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (MOF). Seventeen species of Melastomataceae in four genera were recorded: Miconia (14 spp.), Acisanthera, Chaetogastra, and Pleroma (with only one species each). Seven species occur in the two vegetation types in ParNa Iguaçu, while six occur only in MOF and four only in SSF. Of the 17 species, six are endemic to Brazil, four of which occur only in the south and southeast regions of the country. This study registers nine new records for the ParNa Iguaçu. Furthermore, the Miconia leaeichleri was collected for the first time in the western region of Paraná, which suggests the necessity for more collection efforts in the western region of the state.