Florística e distribuição dos representantes de Polygala L. (Polygalaceae) no Ceará

Abstract

The present study aimed to carry out the floristic survey of Polygala genus representatives in the state of Ceará, as part of the "Flora do Ceará" project, designed to increase knowledge of the plant species occurring in this state. The study was based on the comparative analysis of vegetative and floral morphological structures of specimens collected in the field and deposited in herbaria EAC - Federal University of Ceará, HST - Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, HVASF - University Vale do São Francisco, RB - Botanical Garden Rio de Janeiro and UFP – Federal University of Pernambuco. The identifications were made with the assistance of specialized bibliographies, supplemented by analysis of reference collections. For the state of Ceará, nine species of the genus polygala were recorded: Polygala appendiculata Vell., Polygala boliviensis A.W. Benn., Polygala celosioides Mart. ex A.W. Benn., Polygala glochidiata Kunth, Polygala gracilis Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth, Polygala longicaulis Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth, Polygala paniculata L., Polygala sedoides A.W. Benn. e Polygala trichosperma Jacq. The species were recorded in different types of vegetation, but occur preferentially in the savanna-steppe (caatinga) and savannah (cerrado). The Polygala celosioides Mart species.ex A. W. Benn. is a new record for the state of Ceará.