Checklist das Solanaceae do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil

Abstract

Brazil, a megadiverse country, harbors one of the richest floras in the world, whose documentation is essential for biodiversity conservation and scientific knowledge. The Solanaceae family, with broad ecological, economic, and medicinal importance, is widely distributed across the country but still lacks updated regional studies. This work aimed to gather, organize, and provide updated information on the Solanaceae species recorded for the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 2,448 records from SpeciesLink and the Virtual Herbarium Reflora were analyzed, with taxonomic validation based on the Flora and Funga of Brazil and expert consultation. Data were revised, standardized, and compared with national records. As a result, 60 species belonging to 14 genera were identified, including 12 new records for the state and the first citation of the genus Lycium. These findings highlight the relevance of botanical collections and digital databases in updating regional checklists, supporting taxonomic research and conservation strategies.