The Brazilian rain- and dry forest (cerrados) are among the world’s prime biodiversity hotspots, provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, but are faced by an alarming loss of forest cover threatening many species with extinction. Hence, documenting and improving the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of the Brazilian flora are key factors facilitating their urgently needed protection. The present project deals with Brazilian members of the coffee family (Rubiaceae), an exceptionally diverse group with many undescribed or poorly known species. The Rubiaceae comprise of more than 13,000 species and range among the top 4 of the largest plant groups worldwide. It has a largely tropical distribution and is exceptionally well-represented in Brazil, although members are found in most ecosystems worldwide. Besides their important contributions to plant biodiversity, many species are of economic (Coffea arabica) and medicinal importance (antiprotozoic Cinchona-bark containing quinine) or are valued as ornamentals (e.g. Gardenia, Ixora or Mussaenda). As plants of complex but fragile tropical ecosystems, many species are vulnerable to habitat destruction such as deforestation. As such the project will improve the knowledge and conservation of Brazilian Rubiaceae.
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On this map you find all the locations of transcribed records of the project "LinBi - Rubiaceae from Brasil (Herbarium of the Natural History Museum Vienna)".
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