Expanding knowledge of the flora of Maranhão: richness and distribution of Capparaceae

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to elaborate the flora of Capparaceae in Maranhão, describing its composition and diversity. The research was based on the analysis of material collected in the state and herbarium specimens. Morphological analyses, taxonomic identification, mapping of species geographic distribution, and floristic similarity analyses with other Brazilian states were conducted. Six species of Capparaceae were recorded in Maranhão, including Cynophalla hastata as a new record for the state. Cynophalla was the most representative genus, with species adapted to anthropized areas. The species recorded in this study occur in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. The results indicate greater similarity among areas of the Caatinga in Northeast, including Maranhão, which also exhibits Amazonian influence. These patterns are associated with vegetation characteristics and the number of recorded species. The paucity of studies in the Amazon leads to gaps and potential biases, underscoring the importance of expanding botanical collections and research in Brazil’s Northern region, which remains underexplored.