Caesalpinioideae

Bastos, Maria Da Conceição De C., Marinho, Lucas C., Zappi, Daniela Cristina, Queiroz, Rubens Teixeira & Fernandes, Rozijane Santos, 2025, Leguminosae Juss. from Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba National Park, Brazilian Cerrado, Phytotaxa 693 (3), pp. 183-204 : 188-192

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae

1. Chamaecrista coradinii H.S. Irwin & Barneby (1992: 227)

Material examined:— BRASIL. Piauí: Barreiras do Piauí, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Cachoeira do Pintado , 10°11’26” S, 45°51’8” W, 13 December 2022, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 56 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Tocantins: São Félix, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Cachoeira do Prata , 10°12’22” S, 46°28’35” W, 16 Março 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 80 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Pastos bons, 9°53’32” S, 45°58’18” W, 20 July 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 166 ( CCAA!) .

Geographical distribution: It is endemic to Brazil, with records for the Cerrado in the states of Bahia and Tocantins (Barneby 1992, BFG 2015, Rando et al. 2020, Flora e Funga do Brasil 2024). In PNNRP, the species was collected for the first time in the states of Maranhão and Piauí, growing in areas of shrubby grassland and cerrado stricto sensu ( Fig. 2 A ).

Note: Chamaecrista coradinii ( Fig. 4 A ) has leaves with two or three pairs of shiny, leathery leaflets with a perimarginal vein surrounding the leaflet. The adaxial surface of the leaf is light green, and it has short panicles, with nonglandular trichomes or bulbous, stellate trichomes.

2. Chamaecrista dalbergiifolia (Benth.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (1982: 653) .

Material examined: — BRASIL. Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Pastos bons, 09º51’36” S, 46º03’50” W, 20 July 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 168 ( CCAA!).

Geographical distribution: It is endemic to Brazil and occurs in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District ( Flora and Funga do Brasil 2024). In both states, it is distributed in the Cerrado and Pantanal regions ( BFG 2021, Rando et al. 2020). In PNNRP, the species occurs in Cerrado stricto sensu areas ( Fig. 2A ), in sandy soils, with a shrubby growth habit. In the present study, it was recorded for the first time in the state of Maranhão, representing the first record for the northeastern region of Brazil.

Note: Chamaecrista dalbergiifolia ( Fig. 4 B ) can be recognized by its shrubby habit, erect branches densely covered with blackened trichomes, leaflets with 9 to 16 pairs, accompanied by persistent, erect, subulate stipules, the absence of extrafloral nectaries, terminal and axillary racemose inflorescences consisting of 8 to 16 flowers, lanceolate bracts and bracteoles, ten stamens, a densely yellow-setulose ovary, and typical oblong legume fruit.

3. Chamaecrista hispidula (Vahl) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (1982: 661) .

Material examined:— BRASIL. Tocantins: São Félix, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Cachoeira do Prata, 10°12’22” S, 46°28’35” W, 16 March 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 86 ( CCAA, UB!).

Geographical distribution: Chamaecrista hispidula is endemic to Brazil. It occurs in the states of Alagoas, Amapá, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, and Sergipe ( Rando et al. 2020). Chamaecrista hispidula is found in almost all phytogeographic domains, except for Pampa and Pantanal ( BFG 2020; Rando et al. 2020). In PNNRP, Chamaecrista hispidula was cataloged in a shrubby grassland with shrubby and subshrubby strata along the margin of a river. This is the first record for the state of Tocantins.

Note: Chamaecrista hispidula ( Fig. 4 C ) is recognized by its decumbent subshrub habit, two pairs of elliptical leaflets, hispid glandular trichomes primarily on vegetative (stems and branches) and reproductive structures (peduncles, pedicels, and sepals), distinctly long pedicels measuring between 14 to 20 mm in length, and terminal racemose inflorescences.

4. Chamaecrista linearis (H.S. Irwin) Afr.Fern. & E.P. Nunes (2005: 42) .

Material examined:— BRASIL. Piauí: Barreiras do Piauí, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba , Cachoeira do Sussuapara , 10°08’46’’ S, 45°53’40’’ W, 15 December 2022, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 69 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Idem , 10°08’46’’ S, 45°53’40’’ W 15 December 2022, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 71 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Piauí: Barreiras do Piauí, vereda do Curiola , 10°08’46’’ S, 45°53’40’’ W, 29 November 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 74 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Tocantins: São Félix, Cachoeira do Prata ,16 Março 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 83 ( CCAA, UB!) ; Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba , 9°51’18” S, 46°16’33” W, 19 July 2023 ; M. C. C. Bastos et al. 132 ( CCAA!) ; Piauí: Gilbués , 9°41’48” S, 45°48’00” W, 30 November 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 245 ( CCAA!) .

Geographical distribution: Chamaecrista linearis is a species endemic to Brazil, recorded in the states of Bahia, Ceará, Tocantins, Pernambuco, and Piauí, occurring in the Cerrado and Caatinga domains ( Rando et al. 2020). Chamaecrista linearis was collected in rocky cerrado areas ( Fig. 2 E ) on stony soil near a river and in palm swamps ( Fig. 2 C ) with many grasses on flooded soil. In the present study, the species is being recorded as a new occurrence for Maranhão.

Note: Chamaecrista linearis ( Fig. 4 D ) can be recognized by its two pairs of narrow, linear leaflets, oval-lanceolate stipules, ciliate margins with filiform glandular trichomes, and sessile nectaries located on the petiole.

5. Chamaecrista lundii (Benth.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (1982: 655) .

Material examined:— BRASIL. Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Várzea Grande, 9°58’3” S, 46°18’46” W, 18 March 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 111 ( CCAA, UB!).

Geographical distribution: Chamaecrista lundii is an endemic species of Brazil. It occurs in the states of Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District, within the Cerrado and Caatinga regions ( Rando et al. 2020). Chamaecrista lundii was collected in areas of Cerrado stricto sensu ( Fig. 2 A ), with shrubs and grasses. In this study, the species is cited for the first time in Maranhão.

Note: Chamaecrista lundii ( Fig. 5 A ) is recognized by its shrubby habit, septate linear stipules, 5 to 10 pairs of suborbicular leaflets, short petiole, and evident blackened trichomes on the pedicels as well as on the external surface of the sepals and fruits.

6. Calliandra dysantha Benth. (1840:138) .

Material examined:— BRASIL. Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Pastos Bons, 9°50’31”S 46°15’55”W, 20 July 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al.158 ( CCAA!).

Geographical distribution: Calliandra dysantha occurs in Paraguay and Brazil ( POWO 2024). In Brazil, it is recorded in Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Piauí, São Paulo, Tocantins, and the Federal District ( Flora e Funga do Brasil 2024). In these states, it is found in the Cerrado and Caatinga regions ( Souza 2015, Flora e Funga do Brasil 2024). In the present study, it was collected for the first time in areas of the Cerrado stricto sensu ( Fig. 2 A ) on sandy soil in the state of Maranhão.

Note: Calliandra dysantha ( Fig. 5 B ) can be recognized by its subshrubby habit, unarmed branches, four pairs of oblong leaflets with rounded apices, entire and ciliated margins, truncated bases, glabrous adaxial and abaxial surfaces, lanceolate foliaceous stipules, homomorphic flowers with bracteate peduncles, an androecium composed of 44 to 106 red stamens, and tomentose legumes with woody valves and marginal striations.

7. Jupunba cochleata (Willd.) M.V.B. Soares (1996) : M. P.Morim & Iganci (2021: 470)

Material examined:— BRASIL. Maranhão:Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Riozinho, Cachoeira do seu Merval, 9°49’13” S, 46°16’19” W, 18 July 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 118 ( CCAA!).

Geographical distribution: Jupunba cochleata is endemic to Brazil. It is recorded in the states of Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Pará ( POWO 2024). In the present study, the species was collected in a rapid’s environment in riparian forest ( Fig. 2 F ), with rocky outcrops near the riverbed. Previously, this species was exclusive to the Amazonian phytogeographic domain ( Morim et al. 2020), and it is now being recorded as a new occurrence for the Brazilian Cerrado.

Note: Jupunba cochleata ( Fig. 5 C ) can be identified by its cylindrical, glabrous branches, bipinnate compound leaves with three pairs of ovate to elliptical leaflets, a sessile nectary between the pairs of leaflets, and terminal and axillary capituliform inflorescences.

8. Mimosa burchellii Benth. (1875: 432) .

Material examined:— BRASIL: Maranhão: Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, Alto da Subida da Galiléia, 10°3’21”S, 46°25’40’ W, 17 March 2022, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 99 ( CCAA, UB!).

Geographical distribution: Mimosa burchellii is endemic to Brazil. It has been recorded in the states of Bahia and Goiás and occurs exclusively in the Cerrado domain ( BFG 2018, Flora e Funga do Brasil 2024). The species was collected in a rocky cerrado area ( Fig. 2 E ) with sandstone outcrops. In the present study, it was identified for the first time in the state of Maranhão.

Note: Mimosa burchellii ( Fig. 5 D ) has a herbaceous habit with simple, branched stems, unarmed, smooth, and striated branches, linear stipules, and axillary globose inflorescences with pink filaments. The broad linear craspedium has 9 to 10 articles, thick texture, and brown discoloration on the leaves.

9. Mimosa dolens Vell. (1831: 34) .

Material examined:— BRASIL: Maranhão:Alto Parnaíba, Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, 9°50’38”S, 46°16’04” W, 19 julho 2023, M. C. C. Bastos et al. 149 ( CCAA!).

Geographical distribution: Mimosa dolens is distributed in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil ( POWO 2024). In Brazil, it is recorded in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and the Federal District. In these states, it occurs in almost all domains except the Amazon and Caatinga ( Dutra et al. 2020; Flora e Funga do Brasil 2024). In the present study, it is being recorded for the first time in the state of Maranhão and, consequently, for the Northeast region of Brazil, being collected with flowers in the Cerrado stricto sensu ( Fig. 2 A ).

Note: Mimosa dolens ( Fig. 6 A ) is identified by its branches covered in hispid indumentum, bipinnate compound leaves, pink globose inflorescences, and fruits covered in grayish indumentum.

Figures

FIGURE 2: Plant physiognomies of Nascentes do Rio Paraníba National Park, Brazil. A: cerrado stricto sensu; B: cerradão; C: palm swamps; D: gallery forest; E: rocky cerrado; F: riparian forest. Photo credits: A, C, E—provided by Leticia Alves and Dennis Hyde, creators of the entreparquesbr project (website: https://entreparquesbr.com.br/); B, D, F—provided by the authors of this study.

FIGURE 4. New records of legumes in PNNRP, Brazil. A: Chamaecrista coradinii, new record for the states of Maranhão and Piauí; B: Chamaecrista dalbergiifolia, new record for the Northeast region. C: Chamaecrista hispidula, new record for the state of Tocantins.; D: Chamaecrista linearis, new record for the state of Maranhão. Photo credits: M.C.C. Bastos (A, B, D); D. C. Zappi (C).

FIGURE 5. New records of legumes in PNNRP, Brazil. A: Chamaecrista lundii, new record for the state of Maranhão; B: Calliandra dysantha, new record for the state of Maranhão; C: Jupunba cochleata, new record for the Cerrado; D: Mimosa burchellii, new record for the state of Maranhão. Photo credits: D. C. Zappi (A, D) and M. C.C.Bastos (B, C).

FIGURE 6. New records of legumes in PNNRP, Brazil. A: Mimosa dolens, new record for Maranhão and the Northeast of Brazil; B: Bauhinia gardneri and B. marginata, new records for the Northeast region; C–D: Bauhinia marginata, new records for the Northeast region. Photo credits: M.C.C. Bastos (A) and D. C. Zappi (B,C).