Notícias
Botanists pay tribute to Niède Guidon by naming a new species from the Caatinga in her honor
In an article published in the Kew Bulletin on April 7, researchers from the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden and UNESP describe a new plant species found predominantly in the Caatinga: Machaerium guidone Filardi & Milanezi-Jordão, of the legume family (Fabaceae).
The species’ epithet honors Brazilian archaeologist Niède Guidon, who passed away in June 2025 at the age of 92. As the authors write, Guidon is “recognized for her pioneering research on rock art sites in the state of Piauí. Her innovative theories on early human presence in the Americas and her tireless dedication were fundamental to the creation of Serra da Capivara National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.” Serra da Capivara was precisely where the specimen used in the description of the new species was collected.
More good news is that the risk assessment presented by the researchers and conducted by the CNCFlora/JBRJ team indicates that the species is not threatened with extinction. In addition to Piauí, Machaerium guidone occurs in the states of Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, and Minas Gerais. With this new discovery, the number of species in the genus Machaerium in the Caatinga rises to 14. In Brazil, there are 45 endemic species of this genus.
The article, authored by Valner Matheus Milanezi Jordão (ENBT/JBRJ), Daniela Sampaio (UNESP), and Fabiana Luiza Ranzato Filardi (JBRJ), also provides detailed information on the habitat, distribution, phenology, field images, and illustrations of the plant, as well as a revised identification key for all Machaerium species occurring in the Caatinga.