New places for treasures of the Caatinga dry forest: the case of Pleroma caatingae (Melastomataceae), an unusual and threatened species.

Melastomataceae comprises to 5,858 plant species across 173 genera globally. Brazil hosts the highest diversity for this family, including 1,453 species, with a great number of endemics. The Brazilian Caatinga is an important domain for Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests, Shrubs and Woodlands in South America, highlighting exceptional environmental diversity and hosting endemic and rare species. While the representation of Melastomataceae in the Caatinga is limited, the colonization of xeric environments by select species has garnered attention. One of these is Pleroma caatingae, a threatened species previously thought to be endemic to the state of Bahia, and recently collected in the Ceará state. This study provides an updated morphological description and uses a predictive Species Distribution Model (SDM) to predict potential species' distribution and conservation status. The findings not only enhance knowledge of neotropical species distribution patterns, but also highlight the importance of preserving overlooked arid habitats, such as the inselbergs, which harbor intriguing biodiversity as well.