Microstachys crassifolia sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil

A new species of Microstachys, M. crassifolia, has been discovered in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region of Goiás, Brazil. This hemicryptophyte distinguishes itself from its closest relative, M. nana, by its fleshy, glandless leaves and reddish inflorescences, contrasting with M. nana's membranaceous, gland-bearing leaves found in southern Brazil. The discovery highlights the biodiversity of the Cerrado grasslands, a key component of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. The study employed morphological comparisons to differentiate the species, emphasizing the importance of underground systems and leaf characteristics in their identification.

da Silva, M. J., Pscheidt, A. C., & Cordeiro, I. (2016). Microstachys crassifolia sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil. Nordic Journal of Botany, 34(3), 364–369. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.00896