New plant species in Tocantins named after Marina Silva

Researchers have identified a new plant species in the Jalapão region of Tocantins, Brazil, naming it Chamaecrista marinasilvae in honor of environmentalist and former Minister of the Environment Marina Silva. The scientific description was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany.

The species, which grows as a shrub or slender tree between 1.5 and 3 meters tall, was previously misidentified in herbariums as Chamaecrista juruenensis. The discovery resulted from morphological analyses conducted by a team including researchers from Embrapa Cenargen and the Federal University of Western Bahia (UFOB).

Chamaecrista marinasilvae is already considered an endangered species according to preliminary assessments based on IUCN criteria. The plant faces significant threats from agricultural expansion in the Matopiba region, tourism pressure, and wildfires. Portions of its habitat are located within the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station and near the Jalapão State Park.