Flora of Pernambuco, Brazil: Tabebuia alliance and tribe Jacarandeae (Bignoniaceae)

Abstract

Abstract: Bignoniaceae is a Pantropical plant family that includes 82 genera and 830 species of trees, lianas, and shrubs. The Tabebuia alliance (14 genera and 147 species) and tribe Jacarandeae (2 genera and 50 species) are both Neotropical and represent the largest clades of trees and shrubs in the family. Here, we present a taxonomic treatment for these two clades for the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Overall, we documented 23 species distributed in seven genera, i.e., Cybistax Mart. ex Meisn., Godmania Hemsl., Jacaranda Juss., Handroanthus Mattos, Sparattosperma Mart. ex Meisner, Tabebuia Gomes ex DC., and Zeyheria Mart. Six taxa are new records for the state, i.e., Cybistax antisyphilitica (Mart.) Mart., Handroanthus capitatus (Bureau & K. Schum) Mattos, Handroanthus umbellatus (Sond.) Mattos, Jacaranda cuspidifolia Mart., Sparattosperma catingae A.H. Gentry, and Tabebuia stenocalyx Sprague & Stapf. Furthermore, S. catingae, previously thought to be endemic to the Caatinga of Bahia, was documented for the first time in the Atlantic Forest domain. We present identification keys and taxonomic descriptions for all genera and species, as well as provide illustrations and information on the geographic distribution, habitat, and phenology for all species.