Pouteria ciliata, P. confusa, P. nordestinensis and P. velutinicarpa spp. nov (Sapotaceae) from Brazil

This paper provides descriptions and illustrations of four new species of Pouteria from the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil (P. ciliata, P. confusa, P. nordestinensis and P. velutinicarpa). In addition, distribution maps and a table with the principal, useful characters to distinguish the new species from related taxa are available. Pouteria ciliata is recognized by its well-developed intersecondary veins, and ciliate inner sepals and corolla; P. confusa by its Chrysophyllum-like leaves, tetramerous flowers, and inner sepals with a villous surface; P. nordestinensis by its long petioles, ciliate corolla, and anthers with pilose apex; P. velutinicarpa by its fruits with a persistent, velutinous indumentum. Due to intense deforestation of the Atlantic rainforest, preliminary IUCN red list assessments are provided. For P. ciliata the IUCN status of Vulnerable (VU) is proposed, P. nordestinensis is Least Concern (LC) and P. confusa is considered Endangered (EN), while the data for P. velutinicarpa are still insufficient (Data Deficient, DD).