Aquifoliaceae in the Serra Negra, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

A taxonomic study of Aquifoliaceae is presented for Serra Negra, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Serra Negra is part of the Mantiqueira Complex, located in the southern portion of Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. The floristic inventory was performed based on materials from expeditions linked to the "Estudos florísticos na Serra Negra, Minas Gerais" project. Those expeditions occurred between 2003 and 2010. In Serra Negra, Aquifoliaceae is represented by four species: Ilex dumosa, I. paraguariensis, I. subcordata, and I. theezans. Descriptions, identification key, illustrations of diagnostic characters and comments on the taxonomy, ecology and distribution of the species are provided.