New Myrcia Species Discovered in Tocantins: Expanding Our Understanding of Cerrado Flora

The March 2026 edition of the scientific journal Heringeriana, a publication of the Brasilia Botanical Garden (JBB), has officially recognized two significant additions to the national flora of Brazil within the Myrtaceae family. These findings highlight the critical biodiversity of the Brazilian Cerrado, which stands as the second-largest biome in South America, trailing only the Amazon. Spanning approximately 2 million square kilometers, the Cerrado is celebrated as the most biologically diverse tropical savanna on the planet.

A primary highlight of this publication is the formal scientific description of a previously unknown species, Myrcia fariae. This new taxon was identified within the Parana river basin, located in the state of Tocantins. As of 2025, the Myrcia genus comprises roughly 794 species, with its primary centers of diversity situated in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest. The discovery of Myrcia fariae comes at a time when the Cerrado, despite its ecological wealth, continues to suffer from a lack of comprehensive biological data, a gap that complicates effective conservation planning.

In addition to the new discovery, the journal documented the first confirmed occurrence of Myrcia calderonii within Brazilian borders. Historically, this species was thought to exist exclusively in Central America; however, its presence in Brazil was verified through rigorous morphological and molecular analyses. The taxonomic landscape of the Myrcia genus in Brazil now includes 393 species, 304 of which are endemic to the region. This expansion of the M. calderonii range from Central to South America provides vital insights into the phylogeography of the genus.

Ongoing research into the Cerrado's flora, such as the work conducted by the National Forest Inventory (IFN), indicates that our knowledge of the biome's woody plant life is far from complete. Between 2015 and 2020 alone, researchers identified 27 new species in the region. The Cerrado is not only the wettest savanna in the world but also serves as a crucial hub for water conservation, as it feeds the basins of three of South America's major river systems: the Amazon, the La Plata/Paraguay, and the São Francisco.

These latest botanical discoveries, shared through specialized academic channels, provide a foundational framework for future conservation strategies. Protecting this vulnerable region is of paramount importance, especially considering that a significant portion of the Cerrado has already been transformed by human activity into anthropogenic landscapes. By documenting these species, scientists are better equipped to advocate for the preservation of the unique biodiversity found in Tocantins and across the broader Brazilian savanna.