Velloziaceae from the inselbergs of the Land of Sugarloaf Mountains, southeastern Brazil: species distribution overview (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Inselbergs, composed of granite or gneissic rocks, rise abruptly from the landscape, forming island habitats. In southeast Brazil, these dome-shaped lowland inselbergs, located in the Atlantic Forest Domain, are known as sugar loaves, and the area encompassing these outcrops is called “Land of Sugar Loaves” (TPA). Due to adverse conditions such as lack of soil and water and high UV radiation, plant communities in inselbergs exhibit specific adaptations, forming distinct habitats such as plant mats, mainly from monocot families. Notably, Velloziaceae, well adapted to drought, form mats in these inselbergs but do not occur in the surrounding matrix. This study provides detailed maps of the distribution of Vellozia species in the TPA region, highlighting endemic and widely distributed species. Vellozia species in these outcrops present taxonomic challenges, so we examined the relationship between geographic distribution and morphological plasticity. We identified seven species: Vellozia albiflora, V. bahiana, V. candida, V. inselbergae, V. plicata, V. pulchra and V. variegata. Despite having similar attributes, such as adventitious roots and desiccation tolerance, Vellozia species show different distribution patterns, with widely distributed species exhibiting greater morphological plasticity. By comparing distribution patterns and environmental conditions, researchers can better understand the evolutionary relationships and adaptive responses of these plants.