<I>Monnina goiana</I> (Polygalaceae), a Well-known but Misidentified Brazilian Species

Abstract

A new species, Monnina goiana, is described based on a re-interpretation of the name M. martiana, and a key for the Brazilian species of Monnina is presented. The identity of M. martiana is discussed. Keywords—Brazil, Distrito Federal, Extra-floral nectaries, Goias, Monnina, Polygalaceae, Sellow. As a result of ongoing taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Neotropical Polygalaceae we describe here a new species of a Brazilian Monnina Ruiz & Pav., and discuss the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of the name M. martiana Klotzsch ex A. W. Benn., traditionally applied to the new species. The genus Monnina, with about 400 names (Freire-Fierro 2011) and approximately 150 species, is distributed primarily in disturbed areas throughout the Neotropical highlands. In Brazil, Monnina comprises 13 species (Pastore et al. 2010). One of them, endemic to Goias and Distrito Federal has tra- ditionally been misidentified as Monnina martiana. However, the diagnostic morphological characteristics originally attrib- uted to M. martiana (Bennett 1874) do not match with those from the species described here as new. Additionally, the protologue cited only a collection made by Sellow, who never collected in the region where the proposed new species is distributed. Monnina goiana may be distinguished from all other extra- Andean species by its habit, as it can reach up to five m (Irwin et al. 9347) and by having the branches aggregated towards the apex of the stem. These two vegetative characteristics, although absent in southern Andean and extra-Andean South American species, are common in the northern Andean and Central American species (Freire-Fierro pers. obs.).