Biogeography and conservation status assessment of Pseudolaelia (Orchidaceae) LUIZ MENINI NETO 1,2 * and RAFAELA CAMPOSTRINI FORZZA 3 1 Campus Arnaldo Janssen, Centro de Ensino Superior de Juiz de Fora, Luz Interior 100, Santa Luzia, Juiz de Fora, MG 36030-776, Brazil 2 Departamento de Botânica – ICB, s/n, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Brazil 3 Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Pacheco Leão 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22460-030, Brazil Received 14 November 2011; revised 4 July 2012; accepted for publication 23 August 2012 Pseudolaelia is endemic to eastern Brazil, with 12 recognized species occurring primarily in the Atlantic Forest and the cerrado, two of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The aims of this study were to: characterize the geographical distribution patterns, richness, diversity and endemism of Pseudolaelia spp.; compare their distribution with that of Full Protection Conservation Units (FPCUs) and priority areas for biodiversity conservation in Brazil; and determine the species conservation status, indicating areas important for conservation. The biogeography of Pseudolaelia was analysed using herbarium specimens and natural populations, parsimony analysis and geo- graphic information systems. The conservation status was defined according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Half of Pseudolaelia spp. are known from less than five sites, and four are micro-endemic, being known from a single site. Nine species should be considered as endangered as a result of habitat degradation. Four species are protected within FPCUs; micro-endemic species are not found in the priority areas for biodiversity conservation. The region of greatest richness, endemism and diversity encompasses the mountainous area in the north-west and north of Espírito Santo and the border with Minas Gerais, this being the central portion of the Cadeia do Espinhaço (Minas Gerais), a centre of secondary richness and diversity. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 171, 191–200. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Atlantic Forest – biodiversity hotspots – campo rupestre – cerrado – geographic information system (GIS) – granitic inselbergs – parsimony analysis. INTRODUCTION The genus Pseudolaelia Porto & Brade is endemic to eastern Brazil, consisting of 12 species that are pre- dominantly epiphytes on Vellozia Vand. (Velloziaceae), occurring on the granitic inselbergs of the Atlantic Domain, in the states of Minas Gerais (MG), Espírito Santo (ES) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and in campos rupestres (rocky outcrops) in Bahia state (BA) in the Caatinga Domain (dry savannah). There are also two endemic species found in the campos rupestres of the Cadeia do Espinhaço mountain range in Minas Gerais and in the Cerrado Domain (savannah) (Menini Neto, 2011). Several species are included on the list of rare plants in Brazil (van den Berg et al., 2009) and are threatened with extinction at either regional or national levels (Biodiversitas, 2005, 2007; Kollmann et al., 2007; Ministério do Meio Ambiente, 2008). The genus can be characterized by its fusiform or pyriform pseudobulbs, homoblastic nature, coverage of cataphylls that break up into fibres, separated by generally long rhizomes; long inflorescences, in general slender, indeterminate, unbranched or branched, bearing numerous pink, yellow or white flowers that are either maculate or concolourous, lip frequently trilobate, at times entire, relatively broad, with the disc generally ornamented by divergent lamellas, and cuniculus present (Menini Neto, 2011). See also the photographic guide available at http://fm2. fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/guideimages.asp?ID=455. *Corresponding author. E-mail: menini.neto@gmail.com Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 171, 191–200. With 3 figures © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 171, 191–200 191 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article-abstract/171/1/191/2557481 by guest on 29 May 2020