Bombacoideae, Byttnerioideae, Grewioideae and Helicterioideae (Malvaceae s.l.) in the Raso da Catarina Ecoregion, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract: This work presents a floristic survey of the subfamilies Bombacoideae, Byttnerioideae, Grewioideae and Helicterioideae (Malvaceae s.l.) in the Raso da Catarina Ecoregion (RCE), Bahia, Brazil. The samples analyzed were collected from September 2013 to May 2015. The analyses were supplemented with dried collections kept in the herbaria: ALCB, HRB, HUEFS, HUNEB, HST, IPA, PEUFR, R and RB. The identifications were based mainly on specialized bibliographies, protologues, types and herbaria collections. Ten genera and 22 species of the subfamilies were recorded, nine endemic to Brazil. Waltheria L. was the most representative genus with five species, followed by Ceiba Mill. and Melochia L. with three species each, Helicteres L., Luehea Willd., Pachira Aubl. and Pseudobombax Dugand presented two species each and other genera were represented by one species each. Among the species recorded, Luehea candicans Mart. represents a new record for the Caatinga biome. The species most commonly found in the study area were Helicteres velutina K.Schum., Melochia tomentosa L., Waltheria brachypetala Turcz., W. indica L. and W. rotundifolia Schrank. The taxonomic treatment includes identification key, descriptions, illustrations, photos, geographical distribution, reproductive phenology and comments about all studied species. Keywords: biodiversity, Caatinga, morphology, semiarid, taxonomy.