A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) hiding in the shades in an urban Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Researchers have identified and described Phyllanthus celatus, a new and critically endangered species of Phyllanthus endemic to the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, an urban Atlantic Forest within Rio de Janeiro's UNESCO World Heritage Site. This discovery highlights the biodiversity hidden in shaded urban environments, with P. celatus distinguished by unique morphological traits such as reddish veins on its leaves and a 5-lobed pistillate disc, setting it apart from closely related species like P. augustinii, P. lobatus, and P. niruri. The study employs systematic taxonomy to establish its position within the genus, providing illustrations, field photographs, a distribution map, and preliminary conservation assessments. This finding underscores the importance of urban forests as refuges for endemic and endangered flora.

MENDES, J. C. R., BRAGA, J. M. A., FRAGA, C. N. D., TOMAZELLO-FILHO, M., ORLANDINI, P., & ATHIÊ-SOUZA, S. M. (2024). A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) hiding in the shades in an urban Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Phytotaxa, 660(3), 278–286. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.660.3.5