Four new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Microlicia D. Don (Melastomataceae) has about 120 species concentrated in central Brazil. During the inventory of Microlicieae of Mucugê, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil we have found four new species of Microlicia, all endemic to Chapada Diamantina. Microlicia hirta Pataro & R. Romero is found in the Lençóis and Mucugê municipalities, while M. intercalycina Pataro & R. Romero, M. macropetala Pataro & R. Romero and M. pulchra Pataro & R. Romero are endemic to Mucugê. In M. pulchra the columella is persistent, a character described for the first time for the genus. The four new species are here described, discussed and illustrated. Conservation assessments based on IUCN criteria are also given.