Taxonomic Study of the Species of Maranta Plum ex. L. (Marantaceae) from Northeastern Brazil: A Neglected Diversity Center for the Genus with Five New Species

Abstract

This study summarizes the taxonomy of the species of Maranta from northeastern Brazil. While 20 names have been proposed in the region, only 13 are accepted. We provide two new records, M. rugosa and M. polystachya, and five new species are described, of which M. bahiensis and M. villosovaginata are endemic to Bahia, M. chrysogina to Cear&#225, M. vieirae to Maranh&#227o, and M. lorifolia occurs in Bahia and Esp&#237rito Santo. Maranta noctiflora, M. parvifolia, M. phrynioides, and M. rupicola L. have distributions outside of the study area, while M. anderssoniana and M. hatschbachiana are synonymized. Our final checklist includes 21 species, which represent more than half of the species in the genus, highlighting northeastern Brazil as a center of diversity for Maranta. Among the species listed, M. lorifolia, M. tuberculata, and M. zingiberina are thought to be endangered (EN), while M. gigantea is likely critically endangered (CR). Finally, this study provides informal conservation statuses, descriptions, distribution maps, and an identification key to the species. Typifications for M. subterranea and M. polystachyaare also provided.

Maranta bambusa: an endangered new species of Maranta (Marantaceae)

“…His impression was confirmed by the most recent phylogenetic analyses, which pointed out the polyphyletism of Maranta (Fernandes et al 2023). While comprehensive revisional studies are still missing, several new species have been described over the past years (Vieira and Souza 2008, Luna et al 2018, Yoshida‐Arns et al 2019, Fraga and Braga 2020, Luna et al 2021, Fraga et al 2022).…”