Two new dwarf species of Homalolepis (Simaroubaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado (Neotropical savanna)

Researchers have identified two new dwarf species of Homalolepis, a genus recently reinstated based on molecular evidence. These species, Homalolepis planaltina and H. pumila, are geoxylic subshrubs with restricted distributions in the Brazilian Cerrado, a Neotropical savanna. H. planaltina is known from a single population in southeastern Minas Gerais, while H. pumila is found in Emas National Park, Goiás. The study provides detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and conservation assessments for both species, increasing the total diversity of the genus to 28 accepted species. It also includes diagnostic features, an identification key, and ecological data, contributing significantly to the understanding of this genus.

DEVECCHI, M. F., THOMAS, W. W., & PIRANI, J. R. (2018). Two new dwarf species of Homalolepis (Simaroubaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado (Neotropical savanna). Phytotaxa, 336(3). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.336.3.3