O gênero Setaria p. Beauv. (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

The genus Setaria (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) includes about 30 species accepted as occurring in Brazil, which is one of its centers of diversity, but lacks taxonomic studies for each region of the country. This work is the first taxonomic study of the genus for the state of Minas Gerais, providing an illustrated identification key, descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic comments for the species. This study confirms the occurrence of 14 species of Setaria inhabiting various environments, from forest formations to subshrublands, dry, wet, and anthropic areas throughout the state. These species are: S. globulifera, S. italica, S. macrostachya, S. parviflora, S. paucifolia, S. scabrifolia, S. scandens, S. setosa, S. sphacelata, S. sulcata, S. tenacissima, S. tenax, S. viridis, and S. vulpiseta. These species can be differentiated by characteristics such as the number of involucral bristles, arrangement of denticles on the involucral bristles, flat or longitudinally plicate leaf blades, presence or absence of lower palea, and trichomes on the upper lemma of the spikelet, leaf blade, or collar. Based on the results, the new occurrence of the species S. italica was confirmed for the state of Minas Gerais, which is native to India and introduced to the Americas.