Endangered Plant Categories
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| Critically threatened - CR |
| In danger - EN |
| Vulnerable - VU |
Constantia cipoensis Porto & Brade (CR)
Photo: Sergio Araujo
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Constantia cipoensis Porto & Brade is an orchid species native to Brazil critically endangered by predatory collection and thinning of the host plant, resulting in reduced number of individuals and habitat destruction. The extinction risk assessment was carried out by Danielli Cristina Kutschenko.
It is endemic to Minas Gerais where it occurs as an epiphyte on Vellozia, in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, in an area of the Cerrado Biome, in a type of vegetation called campo rupestre, at altitudes ranging from 900 to 1300m.
It is considered the most ornamental of the genus, which has only six species. Four species occur exclusively in Minas Gerais. Its flowers are relatively large compared to the size of the plant.
The genus name was given by Barbosa Rodrigues in honor of his third wife Constança and the species name mentions the place where it was found.
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Brassia aracnoidea Barb. Rodr. (VU)
Photo: Sergio Araujo
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Brassia arachnoidea Barb. Rodr.
Orchid belonging to the genus Brassia, native to Central and South America.
It occurs in the phytogeographic domains of the Atlantic Forest in the Ombrophylous Forest, in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and São Paulo and in the domains of the Amazon Biome in the states of Acre, Amazonas and Roraima.
According to the evaluation of Danielli Cristina Kutschenko (In CNFlora), some of its records are within conservation units and the others outside protected areas, leaving it prone to indiscriminate exploitation. Thus, it is considered that the species is subject to two threat situations and it is concluded that B. arachnoidea is "Vulnerable" (VU). However, the great distribution disjunction of the species in the Brazilian States and the lack of collection records for the Amazonian States suggest low collection effort.
Therefore, further distribution, population and exploration studies are recommended, which may lead to a new categorization in the future |
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The name of the genus (described in 1813 by Robert Brown) was given in honor of William Brass, botanist and illustrator, who collected in South Africa and Guinea.
Its flowers can reach 20 cm in length and are usually yellow, green or brown. The long and thin ones refer to spiders, making them known as spider orchids.
Sources consulted
1) Meneguzzo, T.E.C. Brassia in Flora and Funga from Brazil. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Available at: <https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB11232>. Accessed on: 18 Feb. 2023
2) CNCFlora. Brassia arachnoidea in Red List of Brazilian Flora version 2012.2 National Center for Flora Conservation. Available at <http://cncflora.jbrj.gov.br/portal/pt-br/profile/Brassia arachnoidea>. Accessed on February 18, 2023.
3) Fernandes da Silva, Manoela, Fernandes da Silva, João Batista. Brazilian Native Amazon Orchids II, 2010. Page 73 |
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