First record of Astrocaryum G. Mey. (Arecaceae) for Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

We document here the first record of Astrocaryum G.Mey. for Ceará State, Brazil. A. vulgare Mart., a species formerly known only to the Brazilian states of Amapá, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás, and Maranhão, was collected in areas of the Coastal Vegetation Complex, whose floristic composition is influenced by both the Caatinga and Cerrado domains. This finding expands our knowledge on the geographic distribution of this species in Brazil, contributing to its conservation and to future biogeographic studies. We present ecological, morphological and taxonomic data, a distribution map, photographs and illustrations, and update its conservation status.