Melastomataceae family comprises 67 genera and 1,321 species in Brazil, and it can be found in all Brazilian States. There are 28 genera and 338 species in Rio de Janeiro State. This study presents 26 species of Melastomataceae found on rain forests at the Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca at Rio de Janeiro municipality. Miconia is the richest genus with eight species (M. brasiliensis, M. calvescens, M. cinnamomifolia, M. latecrenata, M. mirabilis, M. prasina, M. staminea and M. tristis), followed by Tibouchina with five species (T. corymbosa, T. estrellensis, T. gaudichaudiana, T. granulosa and T. heteromalla), Leandra with four species (L. hirta, L. melastomoides, L. reversa and L. variabilis), Ossaea with three species (O. amygdaloides, O. confertiflora and O. marginata), Clidemia with two species (Clidemia capitellata and Clidemia hirta) and Meriania, Mouriri, Pleiochiton and Rhynchanthera (M. glabra, M. arborea, P. blepharodes and R. dichotoma) with one species each. Identification keys, descriptions, geographic distribution data, comments and illustrations are presented.
Atlantic forest; biodiversity; Myrtales; taxonomy
