Checklist of Angiosperms of a Cerrado Environmental Protection Area in the State of Maranhão, Brazil: floristic composition and new occurrences

This study presents an updated checklist of angiosperms from the Inhamum Municipal Environmental Protection Area (IMEPA), municipality of Caxias, a strategic area for understanding the Cerrado flora in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. The data presented provides information on the most representative taxa, number of collections, physiognomies of occurrence, life forms, endemicity to Brazil, new records for the State and a floristic similarity analysis with other Cerrado areas in this State. A total of 16 field excursions were carried out from January 2018 to June 2019, with random collections of fertile specimens made mostly on trails. We found 228 species of angiosperms distributed in 148 genera and 50 families. The most representative family was Leguminosae, with 54 species and 33 genera. Cyperus (Cyperaceae) was the most representative genus with seven species. A total of 40 species are endemic to Brazil, and ten are new occurrences for the State of Maranhão. The similarity analysis showed that the composition of angiosperm species from IMEPA is closer to that from the Buriti do Meio Environmental Protection Area, another conservation unit located in the same mesoregion within the State of Maranhão. Nonetheless, low similarity values were recorded, demonstrating an exclusive local richness in the analyzed areas. This study contributed to the knowledge of the Cerrado flora from the State of Maranhão, filling in the Cerrado diversity gaps in Northern Brazil. Este estudio presenta una lista actualizada de angiospermas del Área de Protección Ambiental Municipal de Inhamum (APAMI), municipio de Caxias, un área estratégica para el conocimiento de la flora del Cerrado en el Estado de Maranhão, Brasil. Los datos presentados brindan información sobre los taxones más representativos, número de colecciones, fisonomías de ocurrencia, formas de vida, endemicidad a Brasil, nuevos registros para el Estado y un análisis de similitud florística con otras áreas del Cerrado en este Estado. Se realizaron un total de 16 excursiones de campo desde enero 2018 hasta junio 2019, con recolecciones aleatorias de especímenes fértiles realizadas principalmente en senderos. Encontramos 228 especies de angiospermas distribuidas en 148 géneros y 50 familias. La familia más representativa fue Leguminosae, con 54 especies y 33 géneros. Cyperus (Cyperaceae) fue el género más representativo con siete especies. En total 40 especies son endémicas de Brasil y diez nuevos registros para el esta