Galipeinae (Rutaceae) in the flora of Espírito Santo State: taxonomy of the subtribe and of the Dryades cyrtantha (Kallunki) Groppo & Kallunki complex

• Grant number: 22/01172-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: José Rubens Pirani
• Grantee: Guilherme de Ornellas Paschoalini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The floristic richness in the state of Espírito Santo (ES) is underestimated: many regions are at the beginning of scientific documentation. Since monographs, floras and taxonomic revisions are key resources for the design of conservation and management projects, the "Flora of Espírito Santo" was stablished as a research program which is underway. In the family Rutaceae (order Sapindales), easily diagnosed by the presence of oil cavities in leaves and floral organs, the richest group in Espírito Santo is the subtribe Galipeinae, mostly represented in the Atlantic Forest. We aim to produce a complete survey and floristic treatment of that subtribe, according to the general guidelines of the Flora series, including fieldwork, laboratory and herbaria activities. We intend to adopt current taxonomic circumscriptions of the Galipeinae species, but critical evaluation of data may help to clarify some delimitations that remain problematic. Dryades cyrtantha is a species complex, recently dissociated from the genus Conchocarpus, which probably groups cryptic species. Hence, a second goal of this project is to elaborate a taxonomic reassessment of the D. cyrtantha complex using morphological and morphometric methods. Morphological study will be conducted using physical and digitalized collections, and with the aid of a stereomicroscope, preparing diagrams, photographs and consultations to the specialized literature. For the morphometrics, we will collect mature leaves from four different populations of D. cyrtantha, which will be scanned. Morphological markers and groups of points will be outlined for quantification of shape and size. We will use Descriptive Statistics (such as variances and graphs) and Statistical Inference (as analysis of main components) in the samples obtained. At least two manuscripts of the project will be presented as [1] the floristic treatment of Galipeinae for the Flora of ES, and [2] on the taxonomic reevaluation of the D. cyrtantha complex. (AU)