Vitex gardneriana Schauer (1847: 687)

Soares, Arthur De Souza, Pastore, José Floriano Barêa & Jardim, Jomar Gomes, 2017, New records, conservation assessments and distribution of Lamiaceae in Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern, Brazil, Phytotaxa 311 (1), pp. 43-56 : 51

14. Vitex gardneriana Schauer (1847: 687) ( Figure 7G )

EOO: 8,008.462 km 2. AOO: 32.000 km 2. IUCN Assessment: Endangered

This species is endemic to the Caatinga, in northeastern Brazil, not only the states of Maranhão and Piauí as reported by BFG (2015). It was collected in RN in riverbeds, sandy caatinga vegetation and on rocky outcrops. According to the IUCN (2001), it was classified as EN due to its area of occurrence and the criteria B: 2b (ii, iii), and because no population has been recorded in a protected area. The areas where the species was recorded are subject to degradation by mining activities and agriculture, which may threaten the species.

15. Vitex rufescens Jussieu (1806: 77) ( Figure 7H )

EOO: 637,695 km 2. AOO: 44.000 km 2. IUCN Assessment: Vulnerable

This species is endemic to Brazil and is distributed in the Central-West, North, Northeast and Southeast regions in the Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest phytogeographic domains ( BFG 2015). In RN, it was collected only in Atlantic Forest, on the eastern coast of the state and sometimes in conservation units. Real estate speculation could reduce the area where the species occurs and its populations. Therefore, it was classified as VU according to the criteria B: 1b (i, ii) and 2b (i, ii) IUCN (2001), because only two populations were found in conservation areas.

Figures

FIGURE 7. A. Aegiphila verticillata; B. Amasonia campestris; C. Eplingiella fruticosa, D. Hypenia salzmannii; E. Marsypianthes chamaedrys; F. Mesosphaerum suaveolens; G. Rhaphiodon echinus; H. Vitex gardneriana; I. Vitex rufescens. Photos: (A) E.O. Moura, (B, E, I) E.C. Tomaz, (C, D, F, G) A.S. Soares, (H) J.G. Jardim.