A new species of Croton section Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae s.s.) from Parque Estadual do Cantão, Tocantins, Brazil

Abstract

The Neotropic is known as the most botanically species-rich region, and Croton is one of the richest angiosperm genera in this region. Here, we describe and illustrate a new species of Croton from the “Parque Estadual do Cantão,” located in state of Tocantins state, northern Brazil. The new species is classified based on morphological, anatomical and molecular data. Croton cantoensis sp. nov. is morphologically and anatomically related to Croton section Cleodora, and this hypothesis was supported by the results of our phylogenetic analyses, in which the new species emerged in Croton section Cleodora subsection Sphaerogyni. Croton cantoensis differs from other species from the section by its branchlets covered by ochre floccose indumentum, branchlets and petioles with scattered ferrugineus trichomes, petioles sometimes blackish and pistillate flowers with scattered ferrugineus trichomes. This new species increases the number of members of Croton section Cleodora to 28.