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Societal Impact Statement Given the current unprecedented concerns for global biodiversity loss, it is critical to identify best practices for describing new species more efficiently so we can complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora and implement appropriate conservation strategies in a timely manner. This study aims to answer the question of how long it takes to describe a new species of tree in the Neotropics by calculating the time elapsed from collection of the first specimen to the publication of a new species. It demonstrates that enhancing international collaboration and promoting taxonomy training may be the most efficient ways to accelerate species descriptions. Summary One of the main aspects of taxonomic research is the description of new species. Identifying how to describe new species more efficiently is key to completing the inventory of the Neotropical flora in an era of massive biodiversity loss. Here, we calculate the interval between first specimen collection and publication of new species for a group of 2123 Neotropical trees, and discuss the historical context surrounding specimen collection and new species publication events. Our results reveal that on average, it takes almost 16 years from specimen collection to publication of a new Neotropical tree species, which is considerably shorter than previous estimates for other tropical groups. Peru had the longest average time lags by country, while Haiti had the shortest. The average time lags increased until the early 1900s, when a decrease was observed, with the shortest lags between 1941 and 1960. We found that the majority of the species described more rapidly are from plants collected by a field botanist and described by a herbarium‐based researcher as part of ad hoc collaboration, and the ones collected and described by the same researcher. We demonstrate how political instability and conflict can delay or impede the completion of taxonomic research initiatives in the region. We argue that enhancing international collaboration and training opportunities in Latin American countries, as well as ensuring safe plant collection campaigns, are critical to complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora.

Se informa sobre los nombres y la utilidad de tres especies de Solanum L. (Solanaceae) de Misiones, Argentina que pertenecen al subgénero Bassovia, sección Pachyphylla. Dos de ellas, S. corymbiflorum y S. sciadostylis, crecen espontáneamente en la provincia y son ampliamente conocidas y utilizadas por los guaraníes para fines medicinales, mágicos y alimenticios. Solanum betaceumes una especie del centro y nordeste de Argentina que ha sido incorporada como incipiente cultivo en Misiones

Resumo Na Amazônia, na região do rio Negro, os solos de areia branca dispersos com sua vegetação associada, conhecida como campina amazônica, podem ter influência considerável sobre a ecologia total dos sistemas de rios de água preta. Este trabalho apresenta uma descrição da vegetação lenhosa de uma campina amazônica e de sua campinarana associada. Para que essa vegetação seja melhor interpretada, os autores opinam em considerá-la dividida em dois tipos: campina e campinarana. A campinarana, por sua vez, é subdividida em dois subtipos: campina aberta e campina sombreada. A estrutura e a composição da vegetação de cada tipo ou subtipo foram estudadas com detalhes. Com base no testemunho de sua vegetação, os autores concluem que a campinarana representa uma vegetação em clímax.

Resumo Ao longo de um trecho de 2.174 km do rio Solimões, partindo de Iquitos. Peru, a Manaus, Brasil, foi realizado um estudo eletroforético para determinação da quantidade de variação genética em três taxa de leguminosas (Aeschynomene sensitiva Sw. var. amazonica Rudd, Papilionoideae; Mimosa Pigra L., Mimosoideae). A variabilidade genética foi expressa em termos de: 1) grau de polimorfismo enzimático (P'), e 2) heterozigosidade populacional média (H'). Foram examinados cinco sistemas enzimáticos: leucina-aminopeptidase (LAP), glutamato-dehidrogenase (GDH). fosfoglucomutase (PGM), fosfoglucoisomerase (PGI), e fosfatase ácida (AcPH). Os taxa ribeirinhos apresentam condições excepcionais para estudos experimentais sobre biologia de população e evolução. A origem, perpetuação e dinâmica de variação gênica intra e interpopulacional são usadas como indicadores de mudança evolutiva. O fluxo gênico entre essas leguminosas entomolfílicas e dispersas na água é unidirecional e linear, com fluxo regressivo mínimo por vetores de pólen. Entre as enzimas examinadas, LAP foi um monômero para todos os três taxa, com valores polimórficos baixos. AcPH, outro monômero codominante, não apresentou fração isoenzimática detectável, situação semelhante à encontrada em sistemas PGM. PGI é um sistema muito complexo controlado por diversos loci. GDH é monomórfico, com uma faixa detectável. O polimorfismo médio para os dois taxa de Aeschynomene é 21.3% (P' = 0.213). e para Mimosa é 24.% (P' = 0.245). A heterozigosidade populacional média (estatística Nei H') variou entre 0.10 e 0.43 para Aeschynomene Esse valor foi significativamente maior para Mimosa, variando entre 0.33 e 0.50. Os índices de heterozigosidade e de similaridade genética, os padrões demográficos e a biologia, indicam uma estreita correlação entre a variabilidade genética e a estratégia adaptativa. As populações com alta probabilidade de extinção são mais homozigóticas do que aquelas com maior probabilidade de sobrevivência. A homozigosidade é favorecida em populações que sofrem perturbações ao longo do rio Solimões.

Resumo Estudo das Rhizophoraceas da Amazônia abrangendo 5 gêneros: Rhizophora, Cassipourea, Sterigmapetalum, Polygonanthus e Anisophyllea. Doze espécies dos referidos gêneros são estudadas e descritas. Novos taxa não foram encontrados, porém, diversos nomes foram colocados em sinonímia. Apresentada a descrição do pólen de algumas espécies.

Resumo Os autores apresentam uma relação de espécies coletadas na região de Aripuanã (Mato Grosso), cuja finalidade é tão somente contribuir para o conhecimento da flora local. Foram incluídas no trabalho somente as plantas em processo de floração e/ou frutificação durante o período de coleta.

Abstract In recent years it has generally been accepted that Amazonia was subject to long dry periods in the late Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene which induced forest cover to a few limited areas or refuges. It has been proposed that the subsequent genetic isolation into separate populations is a mnjor factor in the evolution of the species diversity within the lowland forest of Amazonia. Most of the previous evidence for this theory is based on studies of animals, for example: lizards, butterflies, and birds. Here data are presented to confirm the theory of forest refuges using evidence from phytogeography. Distribution patterns of the lowland species of the woody plant families Caryocaraceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Dichapetalaceae and Lecythidaceae are discussed and concur with the possibility of forest refuges. A map is given of the refuge areas that seem most likely, based on evidence from species distribution of the above plant families. The refuges proposed here correspond closely with the refuge areas proposed by Haffer and Brown rather than the extremely reduced areas proposed by Vanzolini.

Abstract Four new species of Licania and two of Hirtella are described and additional notes are given on three other little known species of Chrysobalanaceae. All the new species have been collected recently since 1972 when the author monographed the neotropical Chrysobalanaceae. Three of the new species are from Amazonia, two from Panama, and one from Pacific coastal Colombia confirming that these three areas still have many undescribed species and are in need of further exploration.

Resumo Há muita confusão na literatura botânica sobre a terminologia empregada para os tipos de mata inundada temporária ou permanentemente. É necessário criar uma terminologia mais correta em termos de cobertura vegetacional, tipo de água e duração da alagação. No Brasil, os termos várzea e igapó e Tahuampa, no Peru, têm sido atribuídos a tipos muito diferentes de mata pelos ecologistas e cientistas de outras disciplinas e até agora não têm definição correta. Neste trabalho, é tentado classificar as categorias principais de vegetação inundável.

Abstract This paper is the third in a series of additional publications on the plant family Chrysobalanaceae. The new species Couepia marlenei Prance, and subspecies Licania octandra (Hoffmgg. ex Roem. & Schult.) Kuntze subsp. grandifolia are described. Notes on additional collections of five other species are given. Two of these were previously known only from the types. Licania affnis Fritsch, a species well-known in the Guianas and eastern Amazonia is shown to have a disjunct distribution, since it has now been collected in Panama.

Resumo Feito um inventário de um hectare de mata de terra firme no latossolo. A área estudada está situada no km 30 da estrada Manaus-Itacoatiara e constitui uma parte de um estudo ecológico, considerada "mata testemunha", de uma área experimental de 12 hectares. Esta mesma área, está também sendo estudada por diversos biólogos do INPA. A mata apresenta uma altura média, e uma cubagem de madeira baixa. É muito interessante devido à diversidade florística, tendo 179 diferentes espécies de indíviduos de 15 cm de diâmetro ou mais, e mais 56 espécies de 5 a 14,9 cm de diâmetro. O total de espécies lenhosas é de 235, em um hectare. A espécie mais freqüente é Eschweilera odora (Poepp.) Miers (Lecythidaceae), com 26 árvores o que representa 7,43% do total. Em segundo lugar está a Scleronema micranthum Ducke (Bombacaceae), com 9 árvores, ou seja 2,57% do total. Apresentados também dados sobre a ocorrência de látex, resinas, óleos e fenólicos, que ocorrem em 45,14% das árvores.

A review of the history and results of the first eight years of fieldwork of Projeto Flora Amazônica is given. This binational plant collecting program, sponsored by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and the National Science Foundation, has mounted 25 expeditions to many parts of Brazilian Amazonia. Expeditions have visited both areas threatened with destruction of the forest and remote areas previously unknown botanically. The results have included the collection of 32,976 members of vascular plants, 16, 482 of cryptogams, as well as quantitative inventory of 18.67 hectares of forest with the collection of 7,294*** numbers of sterile vouncher collections. The non-inventory collections have been made in replicate sets of 10-13 where possible and divided equally between Brazilian and U.S. institutions. To date, 55 botanists from many different institutions and with many different specialities have taken part with 36 different Brazilian botanists. The resulting herbarioum material is just beginning to be worked up and many nem species have been collected as well as many interesting range extensions and extra material of many rare species.

Abstract A field study of the floral biology of Victoria amazonica (Poepp.) Sowerby (Nymphaeaceae) was made for comparison with the many studies made in cultivated plants, of Victoria in the past. In the study areas in the vicinity of Manaus, four species of Dynastid beetles were found in flowers of V. amazonica, three of the genus Cyclocephala and one of Ligyrus. The commonest species of beetle proved to be a new species of Cyclocephala and was found in over 90 percent of the flowers studied. The flowers of V. amazonica attract beetles by their odour and their white colour on the first day that they open. The beetles are trapped in the flower for twenty-four hours and feed on the starchy carpellary appendages. Observations were made of flower temperature, which is elevated up to 11°C above ambient temperature, when the flower emits the odour to attract the beetles. Observations on beetle frequency, the number of floral parts, seed dispersal and the evolutionary development of cantharophily are also presented.

SUMMARY Five new taxa of Amazonian Chrysobalanaceae are described based on recently collected material: Couepia cidiana Prance, Hirtella radamii Prance, Licania heteromorpha Benth. var. revoluta Prance, Licania miltonii Prance, and Licania tocantina Prance. The continued collection of many undescribed taxa indicates that there is still much to be done in the basic botanical inventory of Amazonia.

Abstract A field study of the floral biology of two species of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) wp.s made. N. rudgeana G.F.W. Meyer, a night flowering species, was studied around Manaus and Belém. It is visited by the scarab beetle Cyclocephala castanea Oliv. in the Manaus vicinity and by C. verticalis Burm. in the Belém vicinity. N. rudgeana is protogynous and cross-pollination is quite frequent. N. ampla (Salisb.) DC., a day flowering species, was studied near Salvador, Bahia. This species is visited by the bee species Trigona spinipes. N. ampla is not protogynous and is largely self-fertilized, although a small amount of cross-fertilization may occur through the activity of the Trígona bees.

RESUMO Um resumo da história taxonômica do gênero Victoria Lindl. é apresentado. É mostrado que a espécie freqüentemente chamada Victoria regia Lindl., em verdade deve ser chamada Victoria amazonica (Poeppig) Sowerby. Embora Sowerby tenha feito a nova combinação nomenclatural no ano de 1850, o nome correto é ainda pouco usado. Espera o autor que o trabalho chame a atenção para a nomenclatura e estimule o uso do nome correto — Victoria amazonica.

Foi feito um inventário de seis hectares de floresta de. terra firme na área de influência da Estrada Cuiabá-Porto Velho (BR-364). Destes seis hectares, dois foram feitos no Município de Jaru, vicinal 605 e quatro na área do Projeto Machadinho, vicinais MC-2, MA-9. A flonesta apresenta uma altura média de 15m e um total de 278 espécies diferentes, representadas por 2.235 indivíduos e 57 famílias nos seis hectares estudados. Os hectares I e II do Município de Jaru apresentaram, respectivamente, uma diversidade florística de 113 e 136 espécies de 10cm ou mais de diâmetro (DAP), enquanto que os hectares III, IV, V e VI da área do Projeto Machadinho apresentaram respectivamente, 103, 115, 122 e. 121 espécies. A espécie mais importante no hectare I é o breu manga (Tetragastris altíssima (Aubl.) Swartz) com o IVI (Índice de Valor de Importância) de 12,07, o que representa 4,0%do total; no hectare II, muiraquatiara (Astronium lecointelDucke) com o IVI 28,94, ou se,ja 9,6% do total; no hectare III, Macrolobiumsp., com o IVI de 28,94, representando 9,6% do total; no hectare IV, pau d'alho (Gallesia integrifolia(Sprenq.) Harms), com IVI de 39,41, representando 13,1% do total; no hectare V, tauari (Couratari macrospermaA.S. Smith), com IVI de 11,32, ou seja, 3,8% do total; no hectare VI, violeta Peltogyne catingae Ducke subsp. glabra(W. Rodr.) M.F. da Silva), com o IVI de 11,68, representando 3,9% do total. As seis famílias mais importantes em ordem de importância são: Leguminosae, Moraceae, Sapotaceae, Lecythidaceae, Bursenaceae e Pal mae. Os dados quantitativos da regeneração natural indicaram que as espécies que apre-sentaram maior número de indivíduos regenerando, foram: Duguetia flagellaresHuber e Maquirasp. no Município de Jaru e Coussareasp. e. Micrandrasp. na área do Projeto Macha dinho, em Ariquemes.

Summary The vegetation analysis of a Central Amazonian igapó, a forest under severe environmental stress — poor soil and seasonal flooding, reveals the existence of the dominant species Myrciaria dubia with a M.I.V. 75. The Shannon diversity index of this forest is 4.358 bits per individual, of which 75.73% is attributable to the evenness value. Species distributions change along the moisture gradient. Though many species exhibit the tendency of zonal distribution, the boundaries of zones are not abrupt. The authors suggest that species distribution is the result of physiological difference to flood tolerance. Further research should be directed to the comparison of flood tolerance of the plants which occur in the following three areas: permanent water-logged area, beach area with open canopy and upper area with closed canopy. The various adaptive strategies to seasonal inundation and drought, and the reproductive potential of the forest also merit further studies.

Abstract An ethnobotanical comparison is made between the four Indian tribes the Denís, the Jamamadis, the Makús, and the Waikás. The data was collected during general plant collecting expeditions in the tribal areas, and is not presented as a complete ethnobotanical study of each tribe. It is a comparison of the botanical data which we were able to gather during short visits to each tribe. A table is given comparing the cultivated crops of each tribe. The following types of plant uses are discussed and compared: fish poisons, arrow poisons, other poisons, narcotic and hallucinogenic snuffs, coca, medicines, contraceptives, edible fruit and fungi and a few other miscellaneous plant uses. Information on the edible fungi eaten by the Waikás is presented for the first time. Various tables are given comparing the different plant uses by the four tribes. Reference is made to past observations and studies of the plants mentioned. Common to all four tribes are several of the most important food crops, fish poisons, some form of narcotic, arrow poisons, and various general uses of plants such as for building materials and body paints. Each tribe has a slightly different narcotic, the Jamamadís and Denís are most similar in this respect having a tobacco based snuff, the Waikás have several hallucinogenic snuffs and the Makú narcotic is coca which is eaten to remove hunger pains. The arrow poisons are also different from tribe to tribe. The Jamamadis and Denís have a Strychnos based curare, the Waikás a Virola, based poison, and the Makús a Moraceae based poison in which cardiac glycosides are present. The Jamamadís and Denís are ethnobotanically the most similar of the tribes compared and they are very different from both the Waikás and the Makús.

Abstract In this paper the most interesting and recent collections made by the author in the Amazonian Brazil and by other collectors are discussed here in this addition to his monograph of the Neotropical members of the Chrysobalanaceae. Three new species are also descrideb.

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora.

Resumo Este tratamento taxonômico abrange as espécies de Chrysobalanaceae registradas nas cangas da Serra dos Carajás, estado do Pará. Quatro gêneros e sete espécies ocorrem na área de estudo, nenhuma delas endêmica da região: Hirtella (3 spp.), Licania (2 spp.), Leptobalanus (L. octandrus) e Moquilea (M. egleri). O tratamento inclui chaves de identificação, descrições, ilustrações e comentários para todos os táxons.

Resumo Com este trabalho é iniciada uma série de publicações sobre a vegetação das campinas amazônicas de regossois (areia branca). Constitui uma introdução aos primeiros 3 (três) trabalhos da série, e um resumo dos assuntos em estudo no momento.

Abstract In 1972 the author described the new species Acioa edulis (Chrysobalanaceae) to name the Castanha de cutia, a plant which is economically important because of its edible fruit. The original description was based on fruiting material only. Recently collected flowering material has shown that the original generic assignment was incorrect, and so it is now transferred to Couepia the correct genus, and the flowers are described for the first time.

Abstract The Lecythidaceae of a 2500 m2 area of the secondary forest of INPA was studied. The 97 individuals of Lecythidaceae present indicated a high number of primary forest species. It is concluded that most of the area was not burnt when the original forest was cut, and the regeneration of primary forest species is much greater in areas which are not burnt over after felling. This is further supported by parallel studies of Bignoniaceae and Meliaceae of the same area.