Bacopa egensis (Poepp.) Pennell (Plantaginaceae): new records from Northeast Brazil and the Cerrado domain

Abstract

We report the first records of Bacopa egensis (Poepp.) Pennell from the Brazilian Northeast and the Cerrado domain. This species was collected in the municipality of Chapadinha, in eastern Maranhão state. Photographs, a map of occurrences in Brazil, a description, and comments on the morphology and taxonomy of B. egensis are provided, as well as an identification key to the Bacopa species of Maranhão. These new records are important due to the scarcity of collections of B. egensis from Brazil. The new data expand the longitudinal distribution of this species in the country and are an especially important contribution to the flora of Maranhão.