Revision of <i>Mattfeldanthus</i>, a genus of Vernonieae (Asteraceae) endemic to northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Mattfeldanthus H. Rob. & R. M. King constitutes one of the few South American genera of Vernonieae with zygomorphic corollas. It has two species endemic to northeastern Brazil that occur in “caatinga” and “campo rupestre” vegetation. The species can be distinguished from each other by several morphological features including the shape of their involucres, capitulum number, floret size and phyllary shape. In this paper the two species of Mattfeldanthus are described and illustrated. In addition, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus to other in Vernonieae are discussed and the geographic distribution of the species is revised to include a larger area of northeastern Brazil