JBRJ researchers discover new species of Colombian flora

At the end of 2024 and in January of this year, two new species of the Melastomataceae family (the family of quaresmeiras, pixiricas and canela-de-velho) were discovered and formally described by researchers from the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ), in collaboration with researchers from Colombia, the United States and Minas Gerais. These two species, restricted to the Colombian Amazon, belong to genera that have not yet been studied in the flora of South America: Ernestia and Comolia.

The first species, published in the journal Phytotaxa in December last year, was scientifically baptized as Ernestia rheophytica. This work is part of the doctoral study by Diego Nunes da Silva, a student at the National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT). The article had the collaboration of researchers from Colombian institutions, the United States and JBRJ, including João Marcelo Braga and Paulo Guimarães. Ernestia rheophytica is still little known to science and occurs in a region that is difficult to access on the Yarí River.

The second species, published in the journal Brittonia in January this year, was named Comolia ciliata. The discovery came about during Diego's master's studies, also carried out at ENBT. The article also included the participation of a professor from the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG) and researchers Elsie Guimarães and Paulo Guimarães, both from JBRJ.

Access the description of Ernestia rheophytica on Phytotaxa and ResearchGate.

Access the description of Comolia ciliata on Brittonia and ResearchGate.