DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.185741

Authors: Kaio C.M. da Cunha, Flávia M. Durgante, Laura L. Rivera-Parada, Itamara G. da Gama, Glaucileide Ferreira, Semirian C. Amoêdo, Caroline C. Vasconcelos

Abstract: Background and aims – Understanding the distribution of Amazonian tree species is hindered by sparse occurrence data and strong environmental heterogeneity. Species with wide geographic ranges but restricted habitat occupancy challenge climate-only explanations of distribution patterns. Here, we investigate the environmental drivers shaping the distribution of Ragala ucuquirana-branca (Sapotaceae) and the environmental filters constraining its realized distribution. Material and methods – We compiled 72 occurrence records from herbarium specimens and forest monitoring plots across the Amazon Basin. Species distribution models were developed using an ensemble framework integrating climatic, edaphic, topographic, and land cover variables across multiple algorithms. Model performance was evaluated using threshold-independent and threshold-dependent metrics, and habitat suitability was projected across the Amazon Basin. Key results – Model performance was consistently high, indicating robust discrimination between suitable and unsuitable environments. Soil-related predictors collectively accounted for the largest share of model importance, exceeding climatic and other environmental variables. Soil pH in water emerged as the most influential predictor, followed by water vapor pressure, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and the cation exchange capacity. Although the species exhibits a broad Extent of Occurrence of ca 1.48 million km2, its Area of Occupancy is highly restricted, revealing a spatially aggregated distribution. This pattern, together with severe fragmentation among subpopulations and environmentally constrained suitable habitats, supports a preliminary conservation assessment of Endangered. Suitable habitats are concentrated in Central Amazonia and adjacent portions of Northwestern and Southwestern Amazonia, whereas marginal conditions predominated across Eastern and especially Southeastern Amazonia. Conclusion – The distribution of R. ucuquirana-branca is strongly constrained by edaphic conditions and atmospheric stability rather than by broad climatic gradients alone. This decoupling between geographic range size and effective habitat occupancy highlights ecological specialization and potential vulnerability. More broadly, the study underscores the importance of incorporating soil and atmospheric filters into assessments of species rarity, distribution, and conservation priorities in hyperdiverse tropical forests.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.181704

Authors: Marlon N. Miranda, Norilyn Fontarum-Bulawin, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro

Abstract: Background and aims – The Philippines harbours 22 recognized species of Amorphophallus, with 20 endemic taxa; however, their phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood owing to limited molecular data. This study explored the monophyly and phylogenetic placement of Philippine Amorphophallus using molecular markers. Material and methods – Two plastid markers (rbcL and matK) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1) were sequenced for 26 Philippine Amorphophallus specimens. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses were performed on individual and combined datasets comprising 471 GenBank sequences representing 158 Amorphophallus species and three outgroups, and 63 Philippine Amorphophallus sequences generated in this study. Key results – Philippine Amorphophallus is polyphyletic, with species distributed across different clades. A strongly supported Paeoniifolius-Manta clade was recovered, including several Philippine taxa (A. paeoniifolius, A. rostratus, A. samarensis, and A. urceolatus) characterized by sessile spadices and verruculate petioles. Two Palawan accessions (A. natolii and A. cf. natolii) grouped within A. subgenus Metandrium, distinctly separated from other Philippine species. Conclusion – Results imply two independent colonization events from northern and southern biogeographical routes of Southeast Asia and Borneo. Unresolved polytomies indicate the need for phylogenomic studies. This first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Philippine Amorphophallus provides a foundation for systematic revisions, biogeography, and recognition of latent diversity in this megadiverse archipelago.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.176900

Authors: Jovianne Birindwa, Antoine Karangwa, Emile Maheshe

Abstract: Background and aims – Cinchona species, the botanical source of quinine, remain essential for treating severe malaria and support rural livelihoods in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet, increasing climate stress and land degradation threaten its future habitat suitability. This study assessed current and mid-century habitat suitability for Cinchona in North and South Kivu provinces and prioritised areas for conservation and replanting. Material and methods – Potential distributions were modelled with MaxEnt using 125 validated occurrences and ten environmental predictors (five bioclimatic, three topographic, two edaphic). To limit multicollinearity, we pre-selected variables with |r| < 0.7 and VIF < 10. Future projections used 2050s CMIP6 climates under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Key results – Model performance was high. Thermal variability together with elevation most strongly explained suitability, indicating a preference for moderate thermal regimes at 1,400–2,300 m. Under current climate, high suitability covers 4.13% of the study area, moderate 6.49%, low 27.67%, and 61.71% is unsuitable. By the 2050s, high suitability contracts to 1.27% (SSP2-4.5) and 1.07% (SSP5-8.5), while unsuitable area expands to 81.72% and 83.90%, respectively. High-suitability zones cluster along the eastern escarpment, notably Lubero, Oïcha, Kabare, Walungu, and Butembo, whereas lowland territories such as Shabunda and Fizi become largely unsuitable. Conclusion – Our results delineate micro-refugia for in situ protection, guide climate-resilient replanting toward highlands, and indicate where ex situ measures and assisted restoration will be needed under future climate conditions.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.152818

Authors: Carolyn Elinore Barnes Proença, Jair Eustáquio Quintino de Faria, Marla Ibrahim Uehbe de Oliveira, Julia Sonsin-Oliveira, Gustavo Hiroaki Shimizu, Vanessa Graziele Staggemeier

Abstract: Background and aims – Myrcianthes is a New World genus of Myrtaceae with 36 species, diverse in the Andes, and often dominant in montane forests. It is found from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from sea level to 3729 m, and its total latitudinal range is almost 62°. Its old age, combined with a wide ecological and geographic range, and the many narrow-endemic species, make it of phytogeographic and evolutionary interest. Material and methods – Altitudinal, geographic, and wood anatomy data of the genus were compiled from literature and online herbaria and curated to eliminate errors and produce a reliable dataset. ML and Bayesian phylogenetic trees based on ITS, ETS, matK, and psbA-trnH of 11 Myrcianthes species, in a matrix of 123 species, were constructed. The Bayesian tree was calibrated with three macrofossils and three secondary calibration points and used to infer biogeographic history and to estimate ancestral ranges using BioGeoBEARS. Key results – Myrcianthes has the widest combined altitudinal/latitudinal range in Myrtaceae. Narrow-endemic species are concentrated either in the high-latitude lowlands or the low-latitude highlands. Myrcianthes diverged from Eugenia in the early Oligocene but did not diversify before the mid-Miocene (later than Eugenia). Myrcianthes diversified from the south into South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its ancestral range emerged as the Chacoan/Paraná dominions, consistent with the extinct temperate/subtropical austral forest. After splitting from M. coquimbensis, endemic to Chile, the main clade divided into a lowland clade (most diverse in eastern South America) and a highland clade (most diverse in the Andes). The clades are sympatric near the inferred root of the tree and probably meet again in Colombia and Venezuela. Myrcianthes wood anatomy appears to differ from that of Eugenia by the occurrence of helical thickenings in the vessels and absence of prismatic crystals in the axial parenchyma, but sampling is still incomplete.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.158824

Authors: Rafael F. de Almeida, Sedera Norotiana Rasambo, Kelda Elliott, Marco O.O. Pellegrini, Nivohenintsoa Rakotonirina, Tiana Randriamboavonjy, Mamy Tiana Rajaonah, Miantsa Andrianantenaina, Noro Fenitra Randrianarimanana, Nantenaina Herizo Rakotomalala, Mbola Rakotondratsimba, Sedera Ny Aina Ranaivoson, Tafitaniaina Randriatsarazaka, David Goyder, Maria S. Vorontsova

Abstract: Background and aims – Acridocarpus belongs to one of the seven Malpighiaceae lineages that dispersed from the Neotropics to the Paleotropical region, being by far the most widely diversified and distributed genus of the family in Africa. In this study, we tested the monophyly and validity of the current infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus with a dated molecular phylogeny. We also reconstructed ancestral range distributions for biomes and continents to elucidate which route led to the colonisation of Africa by the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of this genus. Material and methods – We sampled six genes (ITS, PHYC, matK, ndhF, rbcL, and trnL-F), 21 species of Acridocarpus, and three outgroup species to test the monophyly of the infrageneric classification of the genus. BI and ML analyses were performed for the combined molecular dataset. A total of 20 morphological characters were optimised on the tree. Calibration points derived from a published Malpighiaceae chronogram were used for a dating analysis. Ancestral areas of Acridocarpus and its relatives were estimated for continental (South America, Africa, India, Madagascar, and New Caledonia) and biome (dry forests, humid forests, and savannas) ranges. Key results – The pre-existing infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus was recovered as non-monophyletic due to being solely based on homoplastic morphological characters. The MRCA of Acridocarpus colonised rainforests of East Africa + Madagascar 43 Mya via the Gondwana route and greatly diversified in this region, with a single long-distance dispersal event from Madagascar to New Caledonia (Oceania). The genus colonised African dry forests at least four different times, starting in the Oligocene and diversified a single time in Malagasy savannas in the Miocene.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.167734

Authors: Naim Berisha, Fadil Millaku, Elez Krasniqi

Abstract: Background and aims – The genus Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae) comprises ecologically and biogeographically significant taxa in the mountainous regions of the Balkans. Despite its importance, the diversity and distribution of Pulsatilla taxa in Kosovo have remained poorly documented. This study provides an updated overview based on new field data and critical taxonomic assessment. Material and methods – Extensive fieldwork was carried out across various mountain massifs in Kosovo, supplemented by herbarium revisions and morphological comparisons with reference material. Elevational ranges, ecological preferences, and population data were recorded for each taxon. Key results – A total of four species comprising five taxa are confirmed for the flora of Kosovo: Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia, P. halleri subsp. rhodopaea, P. montana subsp. balkana, P. montana subsp. jankae, and P. vernalis. New distributional records are provided, including the first confirmed presence of P. halleri subsp. rhodopaea in Kosovo and P. vernalis in the Sharri Mountains. Past misidentifications of P. montana subsp. jankae as P. vulgaris subsp. grandis are corrected. Conservation assessments suggest that P. alpina subsp. apiifolia remains nationally endangered, while P. halleri subsp. rhodopaea qualifies as Vulnerable due to its restricted range and occurrence at only two sites. Conclusion – The study clarifies the taxonomy, distribution, and conservation status of Pulsatilla taxa in Kosovo. It highlights the regional importance of certain populations and underscores the need for continued monitoring and habitat protection in light of environmental pressures and climate change. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of plant diversity in the Western Balkans and support evidence-based conservation planning.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.147801

Authors: Pablo Dupiol, Armel Chakocha, Marie-Louise Avana Tientcheu, Mohamed Mahamoud Charahabil, Cedric Mariac, Adeline Barnaud, Jérôme Duminil

Abstract: Background and aims – We developed a new set of nuclear microsatellite markers for Cola acuminata (Malvaceae), an important African food tree species commonly known as the kola nut. Probably originating from the tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin, C. acuminata is widely cultivated in the humid savannahs of the region where its nuts are sold throughout Central and West Africa for their stimulant properties. Nuclear microsatellite markers (SSRs) are well suited for assessing the genetic diversity and population structure of plant species due to their high variability. Material and methods – Leaf samples were collected from 84 C. acuminata cultivated individuals across three sites in Cameroon, two in the savannah zone, one in the forest zone. SSR markers were developed by sequencing genomic DNA from two individuals using an Illumina HiSeq platform. Genetic diversity was assessed based on 14 SSR markers genotyped in 84 individuals, and marker transferability to the closely related species Cola nitida was tested. Key results – Forty-eight new microsatellite loci were developed, of which 14 were polymorphic in C. acuminata. The results demonstrated a high level of genetic diversity with the presence of two to 33 alleles per locus (with an average of 14.14) across the three sites. The transferability of these markers was confirmed with 13 out of the 14 SSRs successfully amplifying in the closely related species, Cola nitida. Conclusion – These newly developed SSRs will be useful for assessing genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, and gene flow patterns of C. acuminata in the tropical forests of Central Africa. Preliminary results suggest genetic similarity between the two savannah sites. However, these two sites were significantly differentiated from the site in the forest zone. This suggests that the propagation material introduced in the savannah zone did not originate from the forest in southern Cameroon.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.155517

Authors: Arthur Macedo, Marcelo Trovó, Tariq Stévart, João Farminhão

Abstract: Background and aims – Rhipidoglossum is the third most species-rich epiphytic orchid genus in continental Tropical Africa, containing at least 53 species. As part of an ongoing taxonomic revision, a new species endemic to the Western Rift Valley was identified. The novelty was previously confused with R. adoxum and R. globulosocalcaratum. Here, we aim to clarify the diagnostic traits and geographic distribution of these three species. Material and methods – We applied standard herbarium taxonomic practices to a geographically representative sampling of dry and spirit specimens identified as R. adoxum and R. globulosocalcaratum, and conducted a thorough review of regional floras and field photographs to compile all available information on the novelty. A synoptic table, distribution map, and the risk of extinction based on IUCN Red List conservation status accompany the description and illustration of this new species. Key results – Rhipidoglossum fischerianum sp. nov., R. globulosocalcaratum, and R. adoxum can be distinguished from each other based on stem size, leaf apex, perianth, and rostellum morphology. Rhipidoglossum fischerianum is endemic to the lower montane forests in the Western Rift, whereas R. globulosocalcaratum is restricted to the Guineo-Congolian forests, and newly recorded from Cameroon and Uganda. Rhipidoglossum adoxum is found in montane forests of Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan. The new species is preliminarily assessed as Vulnerable (VU). The name R. globulosocalcaratum is here lectotypified. Conclusion – This new species increases the diversity of Rhipidoglossum in the Western Rift to 16 species, of which 10 are endemic or near-endemic to the region. It highlights the relevant role of ongoing taxonomic work and the preservation of the Western Rift forests, which harbour high levels of unique biodiversity.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.133256

Authors: Bonaventure Sonké, Murielle Simo-Droissart, Ehoarn Bidault, Fernandez Ngoula, Xander M van der Burgt

Abstract: Background and aims – For some time now, the forests of the Sanaga basin in Cameroon have been threatened by the construction of numerous hydroelectric dams. In anticipation to this construction work, botanical surveys were carried out, resulting in the discovery of many species new to science. One of these certainly belongs to the genus Talbotiella in Leguminosae. Material and methods – This study is based on morphological observations on herbarium specimens, through detailed examination of 28 specimens of the new tree species as well as specimens of existing species of Talbotiella. Key results – Talbotiella couteronii is described and illustrated. The new species resembles Talbotiella batesii but has fewer leaflets, 5–10 pairs; an inflorescence usually with fewer flowers, 5–12; and flowers with longer pedicels, 10–20 mm long. Talbotiella couteronii is endemic to Cameroon, where it is restricted to the middle Sanaga basin in the Central Region and the Littoral Region. It occurs gregariously in periodically flooded riverine forests. Talbotiella couteronii is preliminarily assessed as Endangered following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. The genus Talbotiella now consists of 10 species; of which six species are endemic to Cameroon. A comparative table summarizes the main vegetative characteristics of the 10 species. This treatment also includes an update of the description of T. bakossiensis.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.122470

Authors: Gbèwonmèdéa Hospice Dassou, Gafarou Agoundé, Pathmos Akouété, Gnimansou Abraham Favi, Ghyslain Chabi Kpétikou, Kolawolé Valère Salako, Jéronime Marie-Ange Sènami Ouachinou, Judicael Makponsè, Amadou Malé Kouyaté, İdris Sari, Romain Lucas Glèlè Kakaï, Hounnankpon Yédomonhan, Aristide Cossi Adomou

Abstract: Background and aims – Climate change induces increasing temperatures and drought, with possible profound shifts in species’ presence and distribution. Ecological niche models are widely used to assess plant species responses to climate change. However, such data are scarce for West Africa, particularly for vulnerable multipurpose species. This study focuses on modelling the ecological niche and the conservation status of the multipurpose tree Detarium senegalense to improve insights into its habitat suitability in West Africa under past, present, and future climatic conditions. This will provide an essential basis for setting up global management plans through efficient conservation and ecological restoration policies. Material and methods – The potential distribution of D. senegalense under past, current, and future climate scenarios were assessed using four algorithms including generalized additive models (GAM), generalized linear models (GLM), random forest (RF), and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). We also assessed the shift direction of suitable habitats and the conservation status of the species based on IUCN criteria. Overall, 220 occurrences were combined with a set of five bioclimatic variables to run the models. Key results – Models performed well with good values of AUC (0.92) and TSS (0.73). Isothermality (41.10%) and Precipitation of Wettest Month (21.50%) contributed most to the distribution of the species. The distribution of D. senegalense was relatively constant from the past to the present but could decrease in the next decades. In the future, only 17.70% and 13.98% of the areas were predicted to be suitable under respectively ssp245 and ssp585. In protected areas, the suitable areas under ssp245 were estimated at 21.01% with a decrease of 2.50% and 14.60% with a decrease of 8.61% under ssp585 by 2050. The direction of the distribution shifted to the south-east under future climate scenarios. The conservation status assessment of the species is Least Concern (LC). Conclusion – This study improves our understanding of the past, present-day, and future distribution of the species and provides support to better manage the conservation of D. senegalense in West Africa.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.117464

Authors: Mohamed Hamimeche, Errol Véla, François Gillet, Riadh Moulaï

Abstract: Background and aims – In spite of their proximity to the coasts, the flora of the islands and islets of the Algerian coasts has been poorly studied. This work is the first to provide an overall view of the richness and the determinants of the Algerian island flora. Material and methods – The study is based on a compilation of original floristic data. Two classifications of 30 islands and islets were derived from PCA and HCPC performed on the species occurrence matrix and on a matrix of flora descriptors including species richness, functional traits (life form, seed dispersal, pollination), and biogeographic range. We performed an RDA to explain the variation in flora characteristics by a set of physiographic (longitude, latitude, elevation, area, isolation, steepness index, and area/perimeter ratio) and biotic (seabird density and human presence) variables. Key results – The floristic inventory encompassed a total richness of 295 vascular plant taxa (including subspecies and varieties) on the 30 studied sites. Five main groups of islands and islets can be distinguished based on vegetation composition and three from flora descriptors. RDA model selection revealed that the combination of four variables (seabird density, area, latitude, and longitude) explained 26.6% of the variation in flora characteristics. Taken alone, the density of yellow-legged gull colonies and the island area were the main drivers of this variation. Results showed that floristic richness was associated with larger island area and higher seabird density, the importance of some plant functional traits, such as zoochory and entomogamy, and with a higher proportion of Eurasian holarctic species. Conclusion – In the context of island flora conservation, some of these small islands of Algeria can be considered as “modern refuges” from human pressures, and this is particularly important in the context of Mediterranean ecosystems characterised by a quasi-permanent human impact in various habitats. Two new important plant areas (IPAs) for Algeria are proposed following the results of these floristic inventories.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.103095

Authors: Itzel A. Piña-de la Rosa, Clara López-Marmolejo, N. Ivalú Cacho

Abstract: Background and aims – The study of factors and processes involved in evolutionary divergence can inform how biodiversity is generated and maintained. We evaluate shifts in phenology or in pollination systems as potential barriers to gene exchange and thus promoters of divergence at the population-species boundary in the plant ring-species Euphorbia tithymaloides in the Caribbean. Material and methods – Combining collections-based and field-based observations and measurements, we evaluate evidence supporting that shifts in tempo of reproductive activity (floral phenology) or pollinator guilds (using visitation as a proxy) could be acting as mechanisms promoting divergence in E. tithymaloides. We focus on the geographic region where evolutionary divergence in this species has been documented: Greater and Lesser Antilles. Phenology data were derived from herbaria and online databases, for a total of 376 records across the Greater and Lesser Antilles. We quantified and characterized reward (nectar n = 13 sites) and gathered visitation data using direct observation (n = 12 sites) for a total of over 133 hours of observation/site. Key results – The peak of floral activity of E. tithymaloides is in winter, when days are short (~late October–late May). Under natural conditions, plants in the Antilles produce up to 22.4 µL of nectar, with mean sugar concentrations of ~ 46.5 ºBrix that amount to up to 10.3 mg of total sugars, with no significant differences observed between plants of the Lesser and Greater Antilles. Hummingbirds are the main floral visitors of E. tithymaloides in both areas: Greater Antilles: 61%, Lesser Antilles: 85%, and network analyses support a floral visitor community turnover across islands/countries. Conclusion – Evolutionary divergence in Caribbean E. tithymaloides along the Greater and Lesser Antilles is not accompanied by shifts in floral phenology or pollinator systems. Other factors, like pollinator turnover or pollinator-plant trait matching, might be at play. We outline hypotheses to this effect.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.110352

Authors: Fabiola Soto-Trejo, Francisco Robles, Rafael Lira, Luis A. Sánchez-González, Enrique Ortiz, Patricia Dávila

Abstract: Background and aims – Endemism may be defined according to the time of origin of taxa. Neo-endemics refer to relatively recent species that have not dispersed outside their ancestral areas. In contrast, paleo-endemics refer to species of ancient origins, which are currently geographically restricted but probably were more widespread in the past. Geographically, endemism areas may also be based on the co-occurrence of more than one species. We aimed to qualitatively identify the neo-endemism and paleo-endemism of endemic Cactaceae of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, as well as to quantitatively assess paleo- and neo-endemics areas. Material and methods – Using a dated molecular phylogeny of endemic Cactaceae, we defined paleo- and neo-endemics using an arbitrary boundary of 2.6 million years ago; we also assessed the significance of concentrations of these species using a categorical analysis of paleo- and neo-endemism. Key results – Our results showed that most endemic Cactaceae in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley arose throughout the Pleistocene, while categorical analysis indicated localised mixed- and super-endemism (including both paleo- and neo-endemics) areas. Conclusion – We suggest that paleo- and neo-endemics, as well as localised mixed-endemism areas, may have originated due to a probable high climatic stability in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which in addition to topographically rugged and ecologically complex zones (e.g. ecotones, isolated habitat patches) may have allowed it to function as a refuge throughout Pleistocene climatic changes, mainly promoting the speciation of neo-endemics, as well as the persistence of relatively few paleo-endemics.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.99146

Authors: Eberhard Fischer, Dorothee Killmann, Jean-Baptiste M. M. Dhetchuvi

Abstract: Background and aims – The Zingiberaceae of Rwanda are revised, and three new records of Aframomum species (A. corrorima, A. daniellii, A. zambesiacum) are provided. One previously recorded species, A. alboviolaceum, has to be excluded from the Flora of Rwanda. Two new species of Renealmia are described from Rwanda and Burundi in connection with the preparation of the family treatment for the Flore d’Afrique centrale. Material and methods – Field work and standard herbarium practices were applied. Key results – Renealmia timmiorum sp. nov. is similar to R. cincinnata and R. cabrae, and R. susannae-katziae sp. nov. is similar to R. africana and R. dewevrei. The differences with these species are discussed and distribution maps for the new taxa are presented. Renealmia timmiorum is assessed as Least Concern (LC), while R. susannae-katziae is assessed as Endangered (EN).

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.95929

Authors: Federico Selvi, Giandiego Campetella, Roberto Canullo, Stefano Chelli, Gianniantonio Domina, Emmanuele Farris, Cristina Gasperini, Leonardo Rosati, Camilla Wellstein, Elisa Carrari

Abstract: Background and aims – Forests are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, and endemic plants are often a vulnerable component of the flora of a given territory. So far, however, understory forest endemics of southern Europe have received little attention and are poorly known for several aspects. Material and methods – We developed the first list of native vascular plants that are restricted to Italian forests. Available information on taxonomy, regional distribution, ecology, biology, functional traits, and conservation status was collected for each taxon, allowing to identify major knowledge gaps and calculate baseline statistics. Key results – The list includes 134 taxa, most of which are linked to closed-canopy forest habitats, while the others are also found in margins and gaps. The forest and non-forest Italian endemic flora differed in terms of taxonomic and life-form distribution. The rate and density of forest endemism increased with decreasing latitude and were highest in Sicily, Calabria, and Basilicata, where paleoendemic mono- or oligotypic genera also occur. Endemic phanerophytes were especially numerous on islands. Beech and deciduous oak forests were the most important habitats, but hygrophilous woodlands also host numerous endemics. Overall, the ecology, biology, and functional traits of the forest endemic taxa are still poorly known. The ratio diploids/polyploids was highest in the south and on the islands. Almost 24% of the taxa were assessed as “Critically Endangered”, “Endangered”, or “Vulnerable”, and 24% were categorized as “Data Deficient”, based on the IUCN system. Increasing frequency and intensity of fires was the most frequent threat. Conclusions – This work can contribute to implement the European forest plant species list and serve as a basis for further research on a unique biological heritage of the continent. However, more knowledge about these globally rare taxa is needed, to support their conservation in changing forest landscapes.

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DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.90511

Authors: Taynara Rabelo-Costa, Paulo Weslem Portal Gomes, Brenda Oliveira Rocha, Iury Leite Cruz, Ravena Santiago Alves, Tiê Rocha de Sousa Oliveira, José Luís Passos Cordeiro, Moabe Ferreira Fernandes, Eimear Nic Lughadha, Marcelo Freire Moro

Abstract: Background and aims – Climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene altered the distribution of many species and even entire biomes, allowing some species to increase their range while others underwent reductions. Recent and ongoing anthropogenic climate change is altering climatic patterns very rapidly and is likely to impact species’ distributions over shorter timescales than previous natural fluctuations. Therefore, we aimed to understand how Pleistocene and Holocene climatic fluctuations might have shaped the current distribution of Holoregmia and explore its expected distribution under future climate scenarios. Material and methods – We modelled the potential distribution of Holoregmia viscida (Martyniaceae), a monospecific plant genus endemic to the semi-arid Caatinga Domain in Brazil. We used an ensemble approach to model suitable areas for Holoregmia under present conditions, Paleoclimatic scenarios, and global warming scenarios in 2050 and 2090. Key results – Holocene climates in most Caatinga were too humid for Holoregmia, which restricted its suitable areas to the southern Caatinga, similar to its current distribution. However, under global warming scenarios, the Caatinga is expected to become too dry for this lineage, resulting in a steady decline in the area suitable for Holoregmia and even its possible extinction under the most pessimistic scenario modelled. Conclusion – The predicted extinction of the ancient and highly specialized Holoregmia viscida highlights the possible consequences of climate change for some species of endemic Caatinga flora. Invaluable phylogenetic diversity may be lost in the coming decades, representing millions of years of unique evolutionary history and consequent loss of evolutionary potential to adapt to future environmental changes in semi-arid environments.

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