Pentaphylacaceae in focus: two new species of Ternstroemia Mutis ex L.f from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Abstract

Pentaphylacaceae (Ericales) comprises 14 genera and ca. 520 species distributed worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. In Brazil, the family is represented by two genera, Freziera (two species) and Ternstroemia (25 species, including two new species described here). Here, we propose two new species of Ternstroemia from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: T. ombrophicola J.A.Vieira & D.Sampaio sp. nov., from Wenceslau Guimarães, state of Bahia, and T. serratifolia J.A.Vieira & D.Sampaio sp. nov., from Caratinga, state of Minas Gerais, both rare, each with only one population known. Morphological descriptions are presented, as well as comments on habitat, distribution, conservation, phenology and taxonomic affinity. Images in vivo, line drawings, and distribution maps are also provided. An identification key to the extra-Amazonian Brazilian species of Ternstroemia is also provided.