FOUR NEW SPECIES OF PLEROMA (MELASTOMATACEAE) FROM CAMPOS RUPESTRES AND VEGETATION ON GRANITIC INSELBERGS IN EASTERN MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Abstract

Eastern Minas Gerais has been historically neglected regarding biodiversity sampling effort. However, recent botanical explorations have revealed several new taxa for its flora, especially from disjunct fragments of campos rupestres vegetation, which form a mosaic with granitic inselbergs in the region. In this article, we add four new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) to the growing list of new taxa: P. brevicomosum, P. caetanoi, P. miconiifolium and P. petrophylax. We provide descriptions, detailed photographs, taxonomic comparisons, a distribution map and conservation status assessments for these new taxa. All four species are assessed under a category of threat, highlighting the need for conservation actions in these biodiverse albeit still poorly known areas.