One plant, two countries: discovery in the Cerrado reveals species 'hidden' for decades

One plant, two countries: discovered in the Cerrado reveals species 'hidden' for decades A plant with lilac or blue flowers, capable of reaching two meters in height and producing inflorescences of up to one meter, has just officially gained a name for science. The discovery of Stachytarpheta pradoi, however, began long before researchers realized that they were facing a new species. Specimens of the same plant had been collected in Bolivia decades ago and remained in herbaria identified as Stachytarpheta canescens. It was after recent collections carried out in Mineiros (GO), that Brazilian researchers were able to piece together this story. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram The new species was described by Brazilian researchers in a study published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa. To date, the plant is known in areas of Bolivia and Brazil, with known populations in both countries separated by approximately 1,100 kilometers as the crow flies. The story of the Brazilian discovery began in December 2025, during a survey of the flora in the Pinga Fogo region, in Mineiros. Professor and researcher Isa Lucia de Morais, from the State University of Goiás (UEG), noticed that there was something different about the plant. "I already knew that it was a different species of Stachytarpheta than the ones I knew. As I am not an expert on the taxon, I sought help from the Verbenaceae taxonomist, Pedro Henrique Cardoso from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). He told me from the beginning that it could be a species that had been registered for Bolivia and that it could be something new", says Isa. The researcher sent samples collected in Goiás to Pedro. From there, the investigation advanced into the herbaria. “With a lot of dedication on his part, consulting materials from other herbaria to see botanical material from Bolivia, and with the help of professor Fátima Regina Gonçalves Salimena, from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, he was able to confirm that it was a new species”, explains Isa. One plant, two countries: new species was 'hidden' for decades in herbaria Isa Lucia de Morais See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: GASTROPODS: Pará caves hide mysteries; two new species are found IN THE HEIGHTS: Which vultures are there in Brazil? Discover five species and their differences RARE: Unreleased video shows native bees cleaning the nostrils of a mountain eagle in MG How do you know that a plant is a new species? Finding a different plant does not automatically mean discovering a new species. It is necessary to compare it with already known species, study morphological characteristics and consult records and specimens preserved in scientific collections. According to Pedro Henrique Cardoso, professor at Unesp and one of those responsible for the study, this work is carried out by taxonomists, specialists who investigate the diversity, characteristics and distribution of organisms. “To recognize a species as new to science, it is not enough to find a plant that looks different. It is necessary to carefully compare it with species that have already been described, analyze its morphological characteristics, check existing records in scientific collections, and understand its geographic distribution. Only after a detailed investigation is it possible to conclude that it is, in fact, a species that has not yet been described by science." Collection in the Cerrado reveals a species that spent decades 'hidden' in herbaria Isa Lucia de Morais In the case of Stachytarpheta pradoi, researchers found a set of characteristics that allowed it to be differentiated from other species of the genus. One of the main differences is in the bracts — structures associated with the flowers. The plant also has densely hairy branches and leaves, lilac flowers or blue and narrow, cylindrical inflorescences that can reach one meter. “The identity of the species is not defined by a single characteristic, but by the combination of different morphological characters. This plant is densely hairy on branches and leaves, the inflorescences are narrow-cylindrical and can reach up to 1 m in length; the bracts linear or narrowly lanceolate, smaller than or approximately the same length as the calyx, and the corollas may be lilac or blue. This combination of characteristics allows it to be differentiated from other species of the genus", explains Pedro. Stachytarpheta pradoi can reach two meters in height. The calyx of the flowers is green or purplish-green, while the corolla is tubular, can measure up to 1.2 centimeters in length and has five lobes. A distance of 1,100 kilometers The known distribution of the species raised another question for researchers. In Brazil, Stachytarpheta pradoi was found in the Cerrado de Mineiros. In Bolivia, occurs in the department of Santa Cruz. Between the known populations in the two countries there are approximately 1,100 kilometers in a straight line. A plant separated by 1,100 km reveals a new species in the Cerrado Isa Lucia de Morais There are two possibilities discussed by researchers to explain this distance. The first is that the species naturally presents a disjoint distribution, with geographically separated populations. “It is interesting to highlight that the known populations of Stachytarpheta pradoi in Bolivia and Brazil are separated by approximately 1,100 km in a straight line. Such a pattern may reflect a naturally disjunct distribution of the species", explains Isa. The flora of Mineiros itself has already presented other unexpected occurrences. According to the researchers, species previously associated with other regions of South America or Brazil were also later recorded in the municipality. "Alternatively, the apparent disjunction may reflect incomplete knowledge about the