Solanaceae no Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brasil

Abstract

Solanaceae comprises 98 genera and 2300 species worldwide, exhibiting great morphological and chemical diversity, with South America as its primary center of diversification. In Brazil, there are 515 species and 36 genera, occurring in various plant formations, with greatest richness in Atlantic Forest formations. In Paraná, several records exist for its representatives, but detailed surveys of its diversity, especially within Conservation Units, remain scarce. Iguaçu National Park (ParNa Iguaçu) harbors the largest continuous remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the interior and is essential for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to investigate the richness of Solanaceae in ParNa Iguaçu, contributing to the expansion of taxonomic and floristic knowledge in the region. Botanical material was collected along trails and park edges, in areas of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest (FES) and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (FOM), using the walking method, followed by herborization and sample inclusion in the UNOP e EVB Herbarium. Additionally, an extensive survey of herbarium material was conducted through the SpeciesLink, JABOT e REFLORA platforms, along with in-person access to the collections of EVB, HCF, MBM and UNOP The determination, description of species, and construction of the dichotomous identification key were based on the analyzed samples and specialized literature. A total of 37 species were recorded, distributed across 12 genera, with Solanum (21 spp.), Cestrum (3 spp.), and Brunfelsia (3 spp.) being the most representative. The species found in ParNa Iguaçu are all native to Brazil, except Brugmansia suaveolens, which is naturalized. Some species, such as Athenaea fasciculata and C. mariquitense, were found only in FES areas, while S. paniculatum and S. cylindricum are restricted to FOM. Only Brunfelsia australis and B. cuneifolia are considered endemic to the country, while Petunia guarapuavensis, S. corymbiflorum, and S. fusiforme occur only in the southern region. This study revealed 17 new occurrences for the study area, highlighting Athenaea fasciculata, Lycium glomeratum, S. chacoense, S. delicatulum, S. fusiforme, S. paniculatum, S. pseudocapsicum, S. robustum, S. sanctae-catharinae, and Vassobia breviflora which showed records limited to one or two observations. The obtained data reinforce the importance of ParNa Iguaçu as a repository of regional biodiversity, highlighting the relevance of continuing studies that deepen the knowledge of the local flora.