Estudos taxonômicos do gênero Garcinia L. (Clusiaceae) na Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

This study presents a taxonomic review of Garcinia L. from the Brazilian Amazon. Garcinia is a Pantropical genus (~240 species) and, together with the African genus Allanblackia Oliv., compose the tribe Garcinieae. Only 5% of the diversity of the genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with greater representation in Central America, followed by South America. In Brazil, Garcinia occurs in humid forests with greater incidence in the states of Amazonas and Pará. The species belonging to the genus are trees, rarely shrubs, without prop roots. The leaves are simple, opposite, without stipules, and with presence of yellow exudate. The flowers are unisexual with 4 white to yellowish petals, thin stamens arranged around the ovary, in pistillate flowers, or around the central nectariferous disc, in staminate flowers. The fruits are berries and present relevant characters to the identification of the species, such as the texture of the epicarp and the presence/absence of the rostrum. The last revision proposed for Garcinia in Brazil was carried out more than 40 years ago (still under the name Rheedia L.) indicating the need for a new look. Specimens of Garcinia from the Brazilian Amazon were analyzed about the morphological aspects, distribution and habitat, culminating in the proposal of three new species for science, a species reestablishment, a new combination and three lectotypifications, in addition to a taxonomic treatment consisting of morphological descriptions, photograph plates, distribution maps, habitat, conservation status and taxonomic comments of the ten species accepted for the Brazilian Amazon.