Mesosphaerum sp.

Soares, Arthur De Souza, Pastore, José Floriano Barêa & Jardim, Jomar Gomes, 2017, New records, conservation assessments and distribution of Lamiaceae in Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern, Brazil, Phytotaxa 311 (1), pp. 43-56 : 51

12. Mesosphaerum sp.

EOO: 2,396.816 km 2. AOO: 12.000 km 2. IUCN Assessment: Endangered

This species was collected in areas of the Caatinga associated with rocks or rocky soils at 400 m elevation. The populations were recorded in the municipalities of Currais Novos, Jucurutu (where it grows in a reserve) and São João do Sabugi. The species has also been recorded in neighboring states, such as Paraíba and Pernambuco, in the same habitat. The three municipalities are located in the region of Seridó, where mining activity is strongly present. Due to this, its conservation status has been classified as EN according to criteria B: 1a, 1b (i, ii), 2a, 2b (i, ii) ( IUCN 2001).