Rio Botanical Garden launches illustrated guide to the flora of Mona Cagarras

The rich flora of the Cagarras Islands Natural Monument is brought together in Mona Cagarras - Illustrated Guide to the Symbolic Flora of the Archipelago, published by the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. In the publication, researchers Luiz Berri and Massimo Bovini describe 15 species relevant to the natural monument, offering readers an overview of the floral spectrum that inhabits the islands. For over a decade, Bovini and his collaborators have been researching the flora of Mona Cagarras, and the guide is one of the main fruits of this work.

The species depicted are native to the Atlantic Forest, including Alcantarea glaziouana. Threatened with extinction, it is one of the largest bromeliads in the world, reaching several meters in height and visible from a distance on the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Another highlight is Neoregelia cruenta, known as the tank bromeliad because it stores abundant amounts of rainwater. It is valuable for the islands, where there are no sources of drinking water. Its commercialization has almost caused it to disappear from the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

The guide, which was funded by the Rio de Janeiro State Research Support Foundation (Faperj), also features botanical illustrations for readers to color. Produced with academic rigor, the work is written in accessible, less technical language. The digital version is available for free download on the JBRJ website. The print edition will be released soon.

The selection of species followed criteria such as threat of extinction, postcard appeal, rarity, beauty, economic significance, restoration, and invasive species, which are highly present in Mona.

Created 15 years ago, Mona Cagarras has been a pillar in the preservation of the remnants of the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. Located five kilometers from Ipanema Beach, it consists of four islands (Palmas, Comprida, Cagarra, and Redonda), two islets (Filhote da Cagarra and Filhote da Redonda), and a 10-meter marine area surrounding each of them.