Treasures of the Serra da Jiboia (Bahia, Brazil): a new species of Racinaea and an overview of the local Bromeliaceae flora

Abstract

Serra da Jiboia, located in the south‐central region of Bahia, represents an important ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga and harbors high floristic diversity and numerous endemic species. The Bromeliaceae family, well represented in the region, stands out for its ecological importance and adaptability to various microenvironments. This study aimed to inventory the Bromeliaceae species of Serra da Jiboia, with emphasis on endemic and threatened taxa. In addition, Racinaea nana is described as a newly discovered, critically endangered species. It is distinguished by its markedly reduced size and prevailing simple inflorescence, occurring exclusively as an epiphyte in Dense Ombrophilous Forest, a threatened vegetation type. A total of 61 taxa were recorded, distributed across 19 genera and three subfamilies (Bromelioideae, Tillandsioideae, and Pitcairnioideae), with the predominance of epiphytic habit. Twenty species are endemic to Bahia, eight are listed as threatened with extinction, and ten taxa have Serra da Jiboia as their type locality. The high floristic richness, presence of microendemisms, and the significant number of threatened species reinforce the importance of Serra da Jiboia as a priority area for biodiversity conservation. The absence of officially protected areas in the region highlights the urgent need for legal protection and environmental management actions.