identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03C8206BFFCA9D1DBB9BFB43C339FF0D.text	03C8206BFFCA9D1DBB9BFB43C339FF0D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Comanthera gandarela Echtern. & R. Ramos 2025	<div><p>Comanthera gandarela Echtern. &amp; R.Ramos, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)</p><p>Type: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Santa Bárbara, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-43.654446&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-20.118889" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -43.654446/lat -20.118889)">Serra do Gandarela, próximo ao vilarejo do Palmital</a>, 20°07’08”S, 43°39’16”W, 1585 m, 8 July 2012, L. Echternacht, T.V. Bastos &amp; J. Pimenta 2266 (holotype OUPR!, isotypes BHCB!, HUFU!, UEC!) .</p><p>Diagnosis: — Comanthera gandarela differs from Comanthera nivea (Bongard 1831: 645) L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2010: 1141) by its semi-terete leaves (vs. flat), spathes surpassing the leaves (vs. equalling or shorter than the leaves), convex and semi-spherical receptacle and flower disc in mature inflorescences (vs. obconic), with involucral bracts reflexed (vs. erect to patent), elongated stem in mature individuals (vs. short), and canescent leaves (vs. glabrescent), in addition to rupicolous canga habitat (vs. arenicolous quartzitic habitat).</p><p>Description: —Perennial herbs, 8–17 cm tall. Stem aerial, 1–2 cm long, erect, very branched, with up to 40 congest rosettes (solitary in young individuals). Leaves rosulate, erect to recurved, semi-terete, linear, 0.4–1.8 cm × 0.3–0.5 mm; canescent o both surfaces, glabrescent abaxially, appressed malpighiaceous hairs, symmetric or asymmetric, and sometimes also simple patent hairs; abaxial surface with a thickened central vein; apex acute, obtuse to round. Inflorescences in terminal position, 5–40 per individual rosette. Spathes 0.8–1.6 cm long, surpassing the leaves, stria spiraled, pilose, patent simple hairs mostly from base to middle, deciduous, appressed malpighiaceous hairs mainly at the distal half, apex acute, oblique opening. Scapes 7–16 cm long at the flowering stage, erect; stria spiraled, indumentum sericeous, covering the costae, intercostal region glabrous, appressed asymmetric malpighiaceous hairs. Capitula 4–7 mm high × 6–11 mm in diameter, campanulate to radiate; receptacle obconic in young inflorescences, becoming convex and semi-spherical in mature inflorescences; involucral bracts in 7–8 series, lax, surpassing the flower level, external series light straw-colored, obovate, apex round, 1–2 × 0.5–1 mm, glabrous; bracts progressively longer towards the inner series, internal series straw-colored from base to middle, cream at the distal half, margin hyaline, spathulate, apex round, 3–4 × 1.2–1.8 mm, glabrous, reflexed in dry environments. Flowers 3-merous, 70– 150 per capitulum; the upper corolla of the staminate and pistillate flowers emerging above the lanose receptacle; the staminate flowers maturing before and externally to the adjacent pistillate flowers, usually twice the number of pistillate than staminate flowers in mature capitula. Floral bracts absent. Staminate flowers ca. 2.5 mm long, including the pedicel; pedicel ca. 1.0 mm long; sepals slightly smaller than or equaling the petals; sepals fused at the very base, concave, elliptical, ca. 1.0 mm long, glabrous, membranaceous, hyaline, apex round; petals fused at the base, concave, obovate, ca. 1.2 mm long, glabrous, membranaceous, hyaline, apex round to obtuse; stamens free, ca. 1.5 mm long, exerted; carpellodes ca. 0.5 mm long, connate in the base, fimbriate at the apex. Pistillate flowers ca. 2.0 mm long, including the pedicel; pedicel ca. 0.1–0.6 mm long at anthesis, elongating during fruit maturation; sepals free, concave, elliptic, 0.5–0.7 mm long, glabrous, membranaceous, hyaline, apex obtuse to round; petals fused at the middle, free at base and top, narrow-spathulate, 1.0– 1.5 mm long, glabrescent, membranaceous, hyaline, apex round; gynoecium ca. 1.5 mm long, ovarium ca. 0.5 mm long, style ca. 0.4 mm long, stigmatic branches ca. 0.5 mm long, papillate, liberating at the same level of the nectariferous branches, these ca. 0.3 mm long, fimbriate at apex. Seeds oval 0.3–0.5 mm long, rough, elliptic.</p><p>Etymology: — This species is named after the Serra do Gandarela, the mountain range to which it is endemic, and which also gives its name to the National Park.</p><p>Phenology: — The species was collected fertile in November, March, June, July, and August, suggesting a long or maybe continuous flowering and fruiting period. However, the materials from November have immature flowers (Carmo 1157) or more pistillate flowers at anthesis, with short pedicels (Carmo 1473). Specimens from March show staminate and pistillate flowers and anthesis and fruits in early development, with the ovary and sepals hidden by the receptacle hairs, and the nectariferous branches, stigmas and petal lobes exposed ( Vidal 1196); or the pistillate flowers are completely exposed with long pedicels and dispersing seeds ( Vidal 1189). Plants from June and July usually show enlarged receptacles forming semi-cylindrical flower discs and mostly dispersing seeds (Echternacht 2748, 2266; Tameirão-Neto 5303). Inflorescences indeed seem to last a long time, but detailed phenological studies along the year are necessary to analyze the phenophases.</p><p>Anatomy: — Leaves of C.gandarela have a single-layered epidermis (Fig.3A–D). Epidermal cells are isodiametric, with the outer periclinal wall thicker than the other walls (Fig. 3A–D). In surface view, the cells appear rectangular and slightly sinuous (Fig. 3E). In transverse sections, collapse of epidermal cells is noticeable at several points (Fig. 3B). Paracytic-type stomata (Fig. 3E) occur in two lateral bands of the abaxial epidermis, located above the remaining epidermal cells and associated with regions of underlying chlorenchyma (Fig. 3B,C). The adaxial and abaxial epidermises exhibit multicellular malpighiaceous hairs (Fig. 3F). The hairs consist of a basal cell, a necklace cell, and a large apical cell, which gives them a malpighiaceous appearance (Fig. 3F). The apical cell may be symmetrically or asymmetrically inserted on the necklace cell, resulting in symmetrical and asymmetrical malpighiaceous hairs in the leaves of C. gandarela . Beneath the epidermis, layers of sclerenchyma are present, except in the stomatal bands (Fig. 3B–D). The mesophyll consists of a central region of compact chlorenchyma surrounding three vascular bundles, with simple substomatal chambers (Fig. 3A–D). The leaves are heterobaric, with bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) composed of sclerenchyma (Fig. 3B–D). In the central vascular bundle, BSEs occur in both adaxial and abaxial epidermal regions, while in the lateral bundles, BSEs are restricted to the adaxial side (Fig. 3B, D). However, variation in this feature is observed both within a single leaf and among different leaves. The most frequently observed condition in cross-sections is the presence of BSEs in the central bundle only on the adaxial side (Fig. 3B). All vascular bundles are collateral (with a single xylem pole and a single phloem pole) and surrounded by an outer sheath composed of larger, thin-walled cells, and an inner sheath made up of smaller, thick-walled cells (Fig. 3B).</p><p>Anatomical differences are observed among the basal, median, and apical portions of the leaf. At the base, stomata are absent, the chlorenchyma is reduced, and the parenchyma cells are larger (Fig. 3A). In the median region, the chlorenchyma is more developed, and stomata are present on the abaxial epidermis (Fig. 3B). In the apical portion, the chlorenchyma remains well developed, and fusion process of the three vascular bundles is observed (Fig. 3C).</p><p>Scapes are 3-costate and consist of an epidermis, cortex and vascular cylinder (Fig. 3G). The epidermis is single-layered, composed of small, thick-walled cells (Fig. 3G). Stomata are slightly elevated relative to other epidermal cells and are restricted to the costal regions, associated with chlorenchyma (Fig. 3G). The cortex has three regions of sclerenchyma alternating with three regions of chlorenchyma (Fig. 3G). The central cylinder is surrounded by a discontinuous, hyaline-appearing, parenchymatous outer sheath and a continuous, thickened, non-lignified inner sheath (confirmed by Acridine Orange) (Fig. 3H, I). The larger vascular bundles exhibit lignified phloem fibers in an arc pattern towards the internal sheath (Fig. 3H, I). The pith consists of cells with thickened walls that become lignified during development (Fig. 3I).</p><p>The Acridine Orange test revealed that the sclerenchyma fibers of both leaves and scapes are non-lignified (Fig. 3D, I).</p><p>In three-dimensional view, hairs are distributed over the entire leaf surface, except in the stomatal bands (Fig. 4A). Most malpighiaceous trichomes on the leaves are symmetrical (Fig. 4B), although many asymmetrical forms are also observed (Fig. 4C). SEM reveals the striated ornamentation of the epicuticular wax and the stomatal ridges (Fig. 4D). Hairs and stomata on the scapes are more sparsely distributed than on the leaves (Fig. 4E, F). Furthermore, no symmetrical hairs were observed on the scapes, only asymmetrical ones (Fig. 4F).</p><p>Seeds are oval and exhibit a rough surface ornamentation forming concave and convex regions (Fig. 4G, H). The ridges have sinuous margins, and the anticlinal walls of the outer tegmen layer project above the outer periclinal wall (Fig. 4H). The hilum is prominent (Fig. 4H). Spherical structures were also observed in the seeds (Fig. 4H).</p><p>Habitat and Distribution: — Comanthera gandarela is rupicolous, occurring on itabirite rock outcrops (Fig. 5A), growing apparently without soil, among sparse herbaceous vegetation and frequently associated with lichens. The species is restricted to ferruginous Campos Rupestres (Cangas) in the Serra do Gandarela, within the municipalities of Caeté, Santa Bárbara, and Rio Acima, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Fig. 5). It occurs at the highest elevations, usually above 1,400 meters, and is concentrated within a 10 km range, with a single isolated record to the northeast ( Vidal &amp; de Paula 1196). Other doubtful collections from the south of the Rio Piracicaba valley were not considered due to their morphological variation, as explained below. However, individuals are not uniformly distributed throughout the Cangas in this area, nor across all available habitat, and are relatively scarce. The species’ occurrence coincides with regions where the canga appears lighter in satellite images, likely due to the abundant presence of lichens.</p><p>Population, threats, and conservation status: — Individuals occur in groups of usually 5 to 30 per outcrop, in small, scattered patches along the species’ range. Extensive and detailed demographic studies are still needed and would be valuable—along with genetic analyses—to evaluate the species’ diversity and viability in the face of current threats. The Serra do Gandarela National Park theoretically protects the core of the C. gandarela population. However, in practice, the maintenance of habitat quality within the park is not guaranteed. On the contrary, habitat degradation has been observed over the years. The park boundary is extremely sinuous to accommodate mining and other activities. The buffer zone was only recently established, through ICMBio Ordinance No. 1,962, dated May 23rd 2025; however, it remains incomplete in some areas, so the park suffers from impacts directly. This, combined with a lack of enforcement by environmental authorities, is leading to the progressive degradation of habitat quality. In addition, both extremities of the C. gandarela population lie outside the park’s borders.</p><p>During our fieldwork, we were able to observe the southernmost individuals over a 12-year period, located in the municipality of Santa Bárbara, at the border of the National Park. During the first and second visits (2012, 2017), the Canga was well preserved, and we visually estimated over 1,000 individuals. However, in 2019, a mining operation began extracting Canga and iron there, at the type locality, and adjacent to the National Park. We revisited the site in July 2024 and found that a cell tower had been installed directly on top of this population fragment, reducing the number of individuals to approximately 270. The mine pit lies about 200 meters from the remaining individuals, and an expansion permit has already been granted by the environmental agency, allowing the pit to extend up to the Park’s boundary, impacting part of what remains of this subpopulation fragment. The northern portion of the species’ distribution, which still retains high-quality habitat, is also targeted for mining. We visited the area in June 2025 and recorded a population fragment of approximately 50 individuals (voucher Echternacht 3123, OUPR).</p><p>Despite occurring within a protected area, Comanthera gandarela faces potential threats primarily due to ongoing mining activities nearby (Fig. 5A). The direct drivers of habitat degradation related to mining includes loss of Canga and deterioration of habitat quality. Immediate indirect impacts encompass airborne particulate matter, alterations in groundwater levels, the opening and widening of roads, installation of structures (such as cell towers), invasive species, among others. Mining activities cause numerous changes in the landscape beyond the directly and indirectly affected areas, including increased urbanization, intensified road usage, land occupation, and changes in land use in the surrounding regions. Other activities, such as forestry also impact the area, but are rather limited to forest ecosystems (Fig. 5B). These transformations contribute to increased fire frequency, heightened pressure from illegal plant collection, and the spread of invasive species (e.g. Melinis minutiflora P.Beauvois), resulting in significant loss of habitat quality (Rossi et al. 2014).</p><p>Fire posed a threat in 2024 at unprecedented levels, exacerbated by a prolonged drought associated with El Niño, and altered rainfall patterns in Minas Gerais, resulting in the longest dry season on record. The MapBiomas project recorded 2 to 5 fire events between 2012 and 2023, with higher recurrence surrounding the type locality (fig. 5C). We did not find any recent signs of fire during any of our four visits to the species’ population. We visually estimate that Canga appears less prone to fire than the surrounding grasslands, due to its lower biomass. Barbosa et al. (2020) state that fires are not an eminent part of these ecosystems; however, they observed that, following an isolated fire event, an Amazonian canga community maintained important ecosystem properties. Nevertheless, we do not rule out the possibility that the isolation and reduced number of individuals in the population of C. gandarela may be the result of recurrent fire events. Studies on avascular plants have shown that fire impacts liverworts communities (Oliveira et al. 2021), including indirect effects on the overall flora composition by facilitating the invasion of Melinis minutifolia (1812: t. 11 f. 4) (Rossi et al. 2014).</p><p>Brazil is a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity and is governed by Decree No. 4,339 of August 22, 2002, which establishes principles and guidelines for implementing the National Biodiversity Policy. This decree mandates policies for monitoring impacts on species threatened with extinction and, among other provisions, requires polluting enterprises to conduct biodiversity inventories in special environments such as the Cangas (10.1.10 goal). The conservation of Comanthera gandarela is critically important, as its habitat is highly specialized and vulnerable to degradation. Efforts to monitor mining impacts and implement effective conservation strategies within both the National Park and surrounding areas are essential for the long-term survival of this species. Our findings echo Salles et al. (2019), who highlight that extensive habitat loss and fragmentation due to mining in Brazil’s ironstone mountains—such as in the QAF including the Serra do Gandarela—have rendered endemic rupicolous plant species, like Comanthera gandarela, critically endangered, emphasizing the urgent need to protect remaining intact canga patches.</p><p>Studies on the cultivation of this species are of great importance for its conservation. The successful rescue of individuals appears highly unlikely if it involves uprooting and cultivation in a substrate different from the original. Saving plants would require extracting entire rock outcrops where they grow to preserve the root system intact for reintroduction within the same region. Seed propagation should be investigated, as it appears more promising as both an in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. However, there are no scientific studies demonstrating the feasibility of rescuing plants through rock translocation in canga ecosystems, and only a few have tested transplantation and seed germination of endemic canga species (e.g. Carajasia cangae R.M.Salas, E.L.Cabral &amp; Dessein, Escobar et al. 2025).</p><p>The extent of occurrence (EOO) of Comanthera gandarela is estimated at 47.6 km ², and the area of occupancy (AOO) at 20 km ². The population appears to be severely fragmented, and the AOO still requires validation through fine-scale mapping. Connectivity among population fragments remains to be tested. The quality of the habitat is declining, as are the EOO, AOO, number of locations, subpopulations, and mature individuals. Therefore, following IUCN (2024) criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v), we suggest that the species be considered Critically Endangered.</p><p>Taxonomic and ecological notes:—The most remarkable feature that distinguishes Comanthera gandarela from all other species in the subgenus is the structure of the old capitula: the receptacle enlarges with continuous flower production, becoming convex and semi-spherical, and exposing the flowers and fruits above the reflexed involucral bracts. This is a rare characteristic in the genus, shared only with C. retroflexa L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2011: 4) . Comanthera gandarela is easily distinguished from C. retroflexa by its spathes with an oblique opening (vs. lacerate), as well as by the reflexed involucral bracts that remain visible in old capitula, which have a semi-spherical flower disc (vs. hidden beneath the spherical flower arrangement). Additionally, the external series is glabrous (vs. densely pilose in C. retroflexa). The latter species is micro-endemic to the municipality of Mucugê, in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state.</p><p>In contrast, the capitula of most species in the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais have obconic receptacles, with flowers positioned below or at the level of the involucral bracts, which remain erect to radiate throughout all phenophases of the capitula. Another interesting feature of C. gandarela is the highly branched stem, with short branches forming cushions of up to 40 rosettes. However, this trait is also present in other species, such as C. euschemus (Ruhland 1903: 274.) L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2010: 1140), C. aciphylla (Bongard 1831: 636) L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2010: 1137), and C. giuliettiae L.R. Parra (2010: 1140) .</p><p>Comparisons among the species most similar to Comanthera gandarela are presented in Table 1. The morphologically and geographically closest species is C. nivea, and these appear to be recently diverged taxa, with the distribution of the latter overlapping that of the former. Comanthera nivea occurs in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais, mainly in the Espinhaço Range, QAF, Serra da Mantiqueira, and Serra da Canastra (Parra 2000). Comanthera gandarela differs from C. nivea by having semi-cylindrical leaves (vs. flat), with a single central vein clearly visible on the abaxial surface (vs. one to three veins evident), and usually shorter leaves (0.4–1.8 vs. 1–7 cm). In C. gandarela, the spathes are conspicuous, surpassing the leaves (vs. equaling or shorter than the leaves in C. nivea). Additionally, Comanthera gandarela is a heliophyte found in ferruginous outcrops, whereas C. nivea is typically a sciophyte inhabiting quartzitic arenicolous neosols. However, hybridization between the two species seems possible, and there is one record of C. nivea from Canga (Carmo 339.).</p><p>Another species similar to Comanthera gandarela is C. aciphylla, which also has leaves shorter than spathes and semi-cylindrical leaves, with a single evident central vein; however, this feature is present only during early development, as the leaves become flat later (Parra 2000). The leaves of C. aciphylla are, however, larger (1–3 vs. 0.3–0.5 mm), and the species occurs on quartzitic Campos Rupestres, being endemic to the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, and not occurring in the QAF.</p><p>Compared to other species of Comanthera subg. Comanthera previously studied anatomically (Giulietti et al. 2012, Alone et al. 2016), the leaves of C. gandarela can be distinguished by the presence of bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) from the lateral vascular bundles occurring exclusively in the adaxial epidermal region. This contrasts with C. aurifibrata (Silveira 1928: 360) L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2010: 1137) (Giulietti et al. 2012), in which the BSEs of the lateral bundles are located in the abaxial region, near the leaf margin. Abiotic stressors, particularly water stress, may induce asymmetric development of BSEs (Buckley et al. 1999, Beyschlag &amp; Eckstein 2001), which could account for the variation observed in C. gandarela . This intra- and interfoliar variation observed in C. gandarela has not been previously documented in the available literature for other Comanthera species. Nevertheless, studies such as those by Scatena &amp; Rosa (2001), Oriani et al. (2005) and Alves et al. (2013) highlight the relevance of examining anatomical differentiation along distinct regions of the organs.</p><p>The compartmentalization of the mesophyll by BSEs is one of the common responses to xeric environments, being associated with efficient water use (Terashima 1992, Kenzo et al. 2007, Tresmondi et al. 2015). Plants with heterobaric leaves exhibit faster stomatal responses to desiccation cues and water stress (Terashima 1992). Because there is a direct connection between the vascular bundle, mesophyll, and epidermis, water conduction from xylem elements to the epidermis is facilitated, and the amount of water used for photosynthesis is reduced, thereby optimizing the process (Pizzolato et al. 1976, Inoue et al. 2015, Barbosa et al. 2019). BSEs can be composed of types of parenchyma and sclerenchyma (Cutler et al. 2009, Evert 2013)—a supportive tissue that helps maintain structural integrity during desiccation and mechanical stress (Apezzato-Da-Glória &amp; Carmello-Guerreiro 2006, Silva 2024). Comanthera gandarela combines these xeromorphic characteristics by presenting BSEs formed by sclerenchyma composed of non-lignified fibers, which seem to function as a strategy to resist mechanical disturbances, facilitate water transport through the tissues, and retain it under desiccating conditions, owing to the predominance of hydrophilic substances in their cell walls.</p><p>Malpighiaceous hairs are commonly described for the genus (Echternacht et al. 2014, Alone et al. 2016) and are considered synapomorphic for Comanthera subg. Comanthera (Parra et al. 2010) . Alone et al. (2016) described these hairs in C. mucugensis (Giulietti 1996: 69) L.R. Parra &amp; Giulietti (2010: 1141) as unicellular, however, the images available in the study indicate multicellular malpighiaceous hairs, apparently symmetrical and asymmetrical, as in C. gandarela . These hairs cover almost the entire leaf surface. A dense indumentum is also a xeromorphic trait, as it modifies the leaf microclimate by reducing UV radiation incidence and internal leaf heating (Evert 2013). Comanthera gandarela exhibits adaptations to the xeric environment in which it evolved and persisted, with such features being widely reported within the family (Scatena et al. 2004, Trovó et al. 2015, Corredor 2016). In general, the scapes of C. gandarela are similar to those of C. nivea (Corredor 2016), exhibiting the same anatomical features, such as stomata positioned above other, discontinuous hyaline-appearing parenchymatous outer sheath, and three sclerenchymatous ribs. Sclerophylly is a characteristic common to many xerophytes (Micco &amp; Aronne 2002). Comanthera scapes typically display well-developed sclerenchyma (Corredor 2016); however, the composition of the sclerenchyma in C. gandarela suggests that the adaptive strategy of these organs is consistent with that of the leaves.</p><p>Seed coat ornamentation in Comanthera is a key feature for taxonomic and systematic purposes, with surface rugosity recognized as a synapomorphy of the genus (Giulietti et al. 2000, Parra et al. 2010). The resulting sculpturing patterns are species-specific and can aid in distinguishing closely related taxa (Coan et al. 2010, Corredor 2016). The seeds of C. gandarela conform to the diagnostic features of C. subg. Comanthera (Barreto et al. 2013) . Spherical structures have been reported in seeds of species examined by Parra (2000) and Barreto et al. (2013). These studies hypothesize that such structures may correspond to bacterial colonies potentially involved in the germination process of Comanthera .</p><p>Particulate matter is a major pollutant released in large quantities in mining areas(Oliveira 2014).Due to its abrasive nature, particulate matter can damage the cuticle, epicuticular waxes, and epidermal cells, facilitating the penetration of other pollutants into leaf tissues (Rocha et al. 2014, Silva et al. 2020). Such anatomical damage is commonly observed in vegetation growing near mining sites. Preliminary analyses suggest that the epidermal degradation observed in C. gandarela (Fig. 3B) may be a symptom associated with particulate matter deposition. Anatomical and micromorphological alterations typically precede both visual and physiological symptoms, emphasizing the relevance of such studies for a more accurate assessment of short- and long-term environmental impacts caused by mining activities in the Serra do Gandarela, region of Canga.</p><p>Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Caeté, campo rupestre sobre canga, 20 o 03’06”S, 43 o 41’49”W, 1619 m, no date, Barros, A. M. &amp; Vasconcelos, F. B. 2519 (BHCB!); próximo ao PARNA Serra do Gandarela, área do Projeto Apolo, erva rupícola em itabirito, vegetação aberta, herbácea-arbustiva, em campo rupestre ferruginoso (canga), 20 o 03’07”S, 43 o 41’24”W, 1600 m, 11 June 2025, Echternacht, L., Costa, W. S., Pereira, T. S. T., Dayrell, W. F. &amp; Rocha, R. K. S. 3123 (OUPR!). Rio Acima, Serra de Gandarela, C 1, coletado em fendas e depressões na rocha, epilítica, afloramento de canga, 20 o 05’37”S, 43 o 40’59”W, 1624 m, 11 November 2007, Carmo, F. F. 1157 (BHCB!); Parque Nacional do Gandarela, próximo ao Mirante do Gandarela, em canga encouraçada, 20 o 05’27”S, 43 o 41’13”W, 1586 m, 28 August 2025, Lima, T., Dayrell, W., Hackett, I., Santos, A., Almeida, M. &amp; Echternacht, L. 326 (OUPR!); campo rupestre sobre canga, 20 o 05’49”S, 43 o 41’00”W, 4 July 2013, Tameirão Neto, E. &amp; Mansur, T. 5303 (BHCB!); Serra do Gandarela, estrada de Acuruí para Conceição do Rio Acima, 20°06’36”S 43°40’06”W, 7 March 2012, Vidal, C. V &amp; Paula, R. L. 1189 (BHCB!, RB!). Santa Bárbara, Serra do Gandarela, C 2, coletado em fendas e depressões na rocha, epilítica, afloramento de canga, 20 o 03’24”S, 43 o 41’28”W, 1637 m, 14 November 2007, Carmo, F. F. 1473 (BHCB!); Serra do Gandarela, Estrada de Acuruí para Conceição do Rio Acima, aprox. 300 m após a bocaina, em estrada de mineração para o alto da Serra, 20 o 07’07”S, 43 o 39’14”W, 1575 m, 11 June 2017, Echternacht, L. &amp; Bastos, T. V. 2748 (BHCB!); Parque Nacional da Serra do Gandarela, canga a 200 m acima da mina Ferro Puro, 20 o 07’04”S, 43 o 39’16”W, 1572 m, 12 July 2024, Echternacht, L., Souto, D. A. F., Lima, T. &amp; Araújo, V. 3028 (OUPR!); Serra do Gandarela, campo rupestre sobre formação ferrífera, 20 o 02’43”S, 43 o 35’53”W, 8 March 2012, Vidal, C. V. &amp; de Paula, R. L. 1196 (BHCB!, RB!).</p><p>Doubtful vouchers: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Itabirito, Serra de Capanema / C2, 20°13’7.7” S, 43°34’52.2”W, 1807 m, 20 December 2008, Carmo, F. F. 339 (BHCB). Mariana, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-43.541943&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-20.243334" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -43.541943/lat -20.243334)">Mina de Conta História</a>, 20°15’55”S, 43°31’40”W, 990–1120 m, June 2007, Mendes, M. S., Brina, A. E. &amp; Neves, G. S. 40 (BHCB!). Ouro Preto, Fazenda Córrego das Almas, 20°14’36”S, 43°32’31”W, 1511 m, 22 March 2017, Pereira, A. F. S., Souza, J. A. M. &amp; Silva, E. 56 (BHCB!); RPPN Horto Alegria, 20°13’41”S, 43°34’15”W, 1838 m, 02 August 2017, Paiva, J.A.M., Souza, J.A.M. &amp; Silva, E. 1426 (BHCB!).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C8206BFFCA9D1DBB9BFB43C339FF0D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Echternacht, Livia;Souto, Danielle;Silva, Luzimar;Lima, Thales De;Ramos, Renato	Echternacht, Livia, Souto, Danielle, Silva, Luzimar, Lima, Thales De, Ramos, Renato (2025): Comanthera gandarela, a critically endangered new species from the ferruginous campos rupestres (Cangas) of Serra do Gandarela, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Eriocaulaceae). Phytotaxa 726 (1): 20-36, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.726.1.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.726.1.2
