The genus Mimosa L. (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in the Serra Branca APA/Raso da Catarina, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

This work consists of a floristic survey of the genus Mimosa L. in APA Serra Branca/Raso da Catarina, located in Jeremoabo, Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed specimens collected from June/2010 to October/2011 and collections deposited in the ALCB, HRB, HUEFS, and MBM herbaria. We registered 11 species distributed in two sections: Mimosa sect. Batocaulon DC. (Mimosa acutistipula (Mart.) Benth. var.acutistipula, M. adenophylla var. mitis Barneby, M. arenosa (Willd.) Poir. var. arenosa, M. caesalpiniifolia Benth., M. lewisii Barneby, M. misera Benth., M. piscatorum Barneby, M. quadrivalvis var. leptocarpa (DC.) Barneby, and M. tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.) and Mimosa sect. Mimosa (M. pudica var. tetrandra (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) DC. And M. sensitive L. var. sensitiva). The main characters used for delimitation of the species were inflorescence morphology, number of pinnae, leaflets, perianth elements and stamens, as well as aspects from the fruit. The species occurs mainly open areas and more degraded along trails on sandy soils. Keys for identification of species, descriptions, illustrations and comments about geographic distribution and flowering and fruiting periods of the species are presented.