Rediscovering two Isoetes species in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado after 167 years

By

Pereira, Jovani
Giulietti, Ana Maria
Pott, Vali
T. C. Watanabe, Maurício

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

135

Pages

105--117

Subjects

Aquatic plants , Conservation status , endemic species , fieldworks , Isoetaceae , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.135.46624

 

Abstract

Isoetes amazonica and I. gardneriana were the first two species of the genus to be collected from Brazil. Isoetes amazonica was gathered by Richard Spruce in the Amazon basin near Santarém in the state of Pará in 1850. Isoetes gardneriana was collected by George Gardner in the current Dianópolis in Tocantins State in 1843. Despite being known for a long time by botanists, these species have not been recollected since then, which raised questions about their taxonomic recognition, current distribution ranges and conservation status. Fieldwork efforts led to the rediscovery of I. amazonica and I. gardneriana after 167 years. These collections enrich our understanding of their habitats and morphologies. We provide here re-descriptions for these species. Based on IUCN criteria, Isoetes amazonica and I. gardneriana should be assigned as data deficient (DD) and endangered (EN), respectively. The rediscovery of these species raises hopes that other areas in Amazon and Cerrado biomes harbour I. amazonica and I. gardneriana, respectively. This study will serve as a basis towards the conservation of these species.