Malvoideae Burnett ( Malvaceae ) in the Environmental Protection Area Serra Branca , Raso da Catarina , Jeremoabo , Bahia , Brazil

Malvoideae is the largest subfamily of Malvaceae, including 110 genera and 1,730 species distributed predominantly in tropical regions, with a few representatives in temperate regions. In Brazil, the subfamily occurs throughout the country and all phytogeographic domains. The floristic survey of Malvoideae in the Environmental Protection Area Serra Branca included analysis of 43 specimens collected from August 2011 to February 2013. The analysis were supplemented with dried collections from the following herbaria: ALCB, HUEFS and MAC. Six genera and sixteen species were recorded. Sida L. was the most representative genus with five species [S. angustissima A.St.-Hil., S. castanocarpa Krapov., S. cordifolia L., S. galheirensis Ulbr., S. linifolia Cav. and S. spinosa L.], followed by Pavonia Cav. with three species [P. blanchetiana Miq., P. cancellata (L.) Cav. and P. glazioviana Gurke], Sidastrum Baker with three species [S. micranthum (A.St.-Hil.) Fryxell, S. multiflorum (Jacq.) Fryxell and S. paniculatum (L.) Fryxell] and Herissantia Medik. with two species [H. crispa (L.) Brizicky and H. tiubae (K.Schum .) Brizicky]. The remainging genera were represented by one species each: Pseudabutilon virgatum (Cav.) Fryxell and Malvastrum tomentosum (L.) S.R.Hill. The majority of the species recorded in the area have a Neotropical distribution, and six species are endemic to Brazil, among which the species Herissantia tiubae, Sida galheirensis, Pavonia blanchetiana and Pavonia glazioviana are endemic to the Northeast Region, the latter two species occurring exclusively in the Caatinga biome. The taxonomic treatment includes a key for the identification, descriptions, illustrations, photos, data of the geographical distribution, economic potential and reproductive phenology and comments about the species.

Economically, members of Malvoideae are important in the textile industry and as food, such as species of Gossypium L. and Abelmoschus Medik., respectively.Some species are used mainly as ornamentals, such as Hibiscus, Malvaviscus Fabr., Abutilon and Pavonia.The subfamily also includes several species of Abutilon, Sida, Urena L., Malvastrum A.Gray. and Herissantia Medik., that produce fibers used in the strings with medicinal potential and weeds species or ruderal (Takeuchi 2011, Souza & Lorenzi 2012).
Given the importance of the subfamily Malvoideae, and the scarcity of information about the subfamily for the Caatinga biome, the present study aimed to survey species of Malvoideae (Malvaceae) occurring in the Environmental Protection Area Serra Branca (EPASB), in order to contribute to knowledge about the flora of the semiarid region of Bahia as well provide support for the development of plans to manage the conservation unit.

Material and Methods
The Evironmental Protection Area Serra Branca, Raso da Catarina (EPASB, Figure 1) comprises 67,237 ha, located in the municipality of Jeremoabo in Northeastern Bahia fully inserted into the "polígono das secas" (Fundação CTI/NE 2016), delimited by the coordinates 09º53'15.5"to 09º44 '34.6"S and 38º49'36.1"to 38º52'20.4"W,limited to the South with the Vaza-Barris River and North to the Ecological Station Raso da Catarina (ESEC).The predominant vegetation is the sandy, very dense bushy Caatinga.The climate of the Ecoregion is semiarid, with average rainfalls of 500 mm/year and annual temperature is approximately 23ºC (Szabo et al. 2007).The soils are generally sandy deep and very fertile relief plan with sandstone formations (Velloso et al. 2002).The study was based on fieldwork carried out in the period August/2011 to February/2013, besides information complemented by the analysis of specimens deposited in the following herbaria: ALCB, MAC and HUEFS, acronyms according to Thiers 2016 (continuously updated).The field collections and observations were performed during random walks exploring most of the study area.The herborization and material processing followed the methodology by Fosberg & Sachet (1965) and Mori et al. (1989), where fertile material was collected with flowers and/or fruit.Observations were made about the distribution of the species and the type of soil (Tricart 1972, Sampaio 1995).The specimens were deposited in the herbarium of the State University of Bahia (HUNEB -Collection Paulo Afonso) and the duplicates will be sent to the main herbaria in the state of Bahia (ALCB, HRB and HUEFS).
The identifications were made based mainly on specialized bibliographies, protologues, photos of type collections and comparison of the collections in the herbaria that were visited.For the taxonomic descriptions, the terminologies proposed by Harris & Harris (2001) and Gonçalves & Lorenzi (2011) were adopted.The taxonomic treatment includes a key for the identification, descriptions, illustrations, photos, data of the geographical distribution, economic potential and reproductive phenology and comments about the species.
Pavonia cancellata show a large polymorphism in the leaves, especially in the form and dimensions of the blades.It can be easily recognized when flowering by its ascending branches and yellow petals with a vinaceous basal spot.It was found in EPASB with flowers and fruits in July and September in open areas on sandy soils.The species has beekeeping and medical potential (Sampaio et al. 2005).Gürke, Fl.Bras.(Martius) 12(3): 524.1892.Iconografia: Esteves (1998: 221).Figures 2f; 3f
Material An endemic species of the Northeastern Region of Brazil, occurring in the states of Piauí, Ceará and Pernambuco to Bahia and found exclusively in Caatinga environments (Esteves 1998, Esteves 2016).
Sida castanocarpa in the study area is the only species of the genus that has a prostrate habit.Furthermore, it can be differentiated by white to salmon-colored petals and muricate mericarps with brown stellate trichomes.It was collected with flowers and fruits in March and July, in anthropized areas on sandy soils.
A widely distributed species, it has been reported from America and Tropical Africa.In Brazil it occurs in all regions in Caatinga, Cerrado, Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Forest and swamp environments.In the Northeast Region it occurs in the states of Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte (Bovini 2016d).
A species widely distributed in the New World, and with few records in the Old World.In Brazil it is well represented in the Northeast Region (Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte), in areas of Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest.The species does not occur in the Northern Region (Bovini 2016d).
In the study area, S. micranthum can be distinguished by its dense glomerule inflorescences, shortly pedicellate small flowers and clear yellow petals with a pink basal spot.It was collected just once with flowers and fruits in March.The species holds medicinal potential (Sampaio et al. 2005).