Comolia abaetensis, an endemic new species from the Abaeté and Itapuã sand dunes, Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. Additionally, field images and a geographic distribution map of the new species are provided, together with morphological and leaf anatomy comparisons among the most similar congeners, and a dichotomous key to the species that occur in Brazil. Comolia abaetensis is morphologically similar to C. ovalifolia, but differs from the latter by the following combination of characteristics: glabrous (rarely with sparse trichomes)internodes and hirsute nodes, glabrous leaf blades or rarely with sparse eglandular trichomes, abaxial surface predominantly red with green nuances, glabrous pedicels, cupuliform hypanthium, and filaments of the antesepalous stamens that are 5–6 mm long. Specimens of C. abaetensis have been confused with and/or tentatively determined as C. berberifolia. However, these two species are readily distinguished by the size of the leaves, the length of the trichomes and filaments, and the color of the abaxial foliar surfaces. Comparisons between the leaf anatomy ofC. abaetensis and C. ovalifolia are provided and the occurrence of emergences and hydathodes are here reported for the genus for the first time. Finally, we informally recommend a conservation status of Critically Endangered [CR B1ab (iv) + 2ab (iv)] for C. abaetensis.

A new species of Maranta (Marantaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon is described and illustrated. This species belongs to Maranta subg. Maranta and has close affinities with M. linearis, from which it differs in its caulescent habit, absent petiole, pulvinus with deciduous tufts of erect trichomes on the adaxial side, very long inflorescence with many florescences, and longitudinally ridged ovary and capsule.

We describe a new species of Maranta from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The new species is similar to Maranta divaricata, from which it differs mainly in its shorter peduncles of synflorescences, florescences and cymules, being covered by hirsute bracts, and in its dense hairiness covering the aerial shoot in its entire extension. We characterize the new species in its external morphology, describe the anatomy of its leaves and presented an SEM scanning of its hairiness. Maranta pilosissima is also assessed in its preliminary conservation status and its distribution is mapped.

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