Vegetative characterization and key of Myrtaceae species from a remnant of Araucaria Rainforest, Curitiba, Paraná

Abstract

Abstract Myrtaceae is a plant family with outstanding diversity in the neotropics, which species are of difficult identification. Thus, for the differentiation between species to be possible, targeted inventories and detailed descriptions are necessary, to develop accessible and reliable identification tools. The goal of this research is to quantify the species richness and describe vegetative characters of Myrtaceae species from a Araucaria Rainforest remnant, through identification of patterns and the elaboration of an dendrological key. For the characterization of trunk and bark, up to five healthy adult individuals of each species were selected, and for branches and leaves, up to three individuals. The voucher material was deposited at the Herbarium EFC. The vegetative morphology of each species was described and an identification key was prepared. 29 species, belonging to 11 genera, were documented: Blepharocalyx (1), Campomanesia (3), Eugenia (5), Myrceugenia (5), Myrcia (8), Myrcianthes (1), Myrciaria (1), Myrrhinium (1), Pimenta (1), Plinia (1) and Psidium (2). The main dendrological characteristics used for the species differentiation were: rhytidome aspect, appearance and colour of the internal bark, venation, punctuations, indumentum and dimensions of the leaf blade. Differentiation was possible using vegetative characters, with greater difficulty for two very similar species of Campomanesia.