New plant species discovered in Mato Grosso, Brazil

A beautiful passionflower is amongst the species found in some of the country's most threatened habitats.

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05 Nov 2010

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On expedition at Cristalino on the Brazilian Amazon, where at least eight new plant species have been discovered. (Image: William Milliken, RBG Kew)

Passiflora cristalina is among several new Brazilian plant species recently discovered by Kew.

It is a striking red passionflower with edible egg-shaped fruits and is thought to be pollinated by hummingbirds. Dr Daniela Zappi discovered it during an expedition to the Amazon rainforest in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

The plants in this part of the Amazon are poorly known and threatened by deforestation from cattle farming. Says Dr Zappi, “The survey work we have carried out so far is a major step forward in scientific knowledge and is being used by local government agencies to develop a much-needed plan to protect this area.”

Read related news articles and find out more about the work of Kew’s Tropical America team:

Checklist of the Flora of Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Programa Flora Cristalino – Research based conservation and capacity builiding in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

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