The genus Habenaria (Orchidaceae) in Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The Serra da Canastra is located in the southwestern part of Minas Gerais within the Cerrado Biome. The floristic studies of the region began in the 1990's but are incomplete and Orchidaceae is one of the families that were not studied yet. This work presents a survey of the genus Habenaria in Serra da Canastra. 28 species were recorded for the region, two of which, H. canastrensis and H. pseudoculicina, are endemics from the study area. 30% of the Habenaria recorded for Minas Gerais occur in Serra da Canastra and the area is one of five conservation units with the highest diversity of the genus in the state. In the study area occur mainly species with broad distribution, as well as some species typical of the central plateau or typical of the Espinhaço range, but none species typical of high altitude grasslands of the Atlantic Forest domain.