A new species of giant tree, which can reach up to 30 meters in height, has been discovered in the town of Branquinha (AL). From the genus Dipteryx, which belongs to the legume family, the tree has been cataloged as “Dipteryx hermetopascoaliana”, a tribute to the famous composer and multi-instrumentalist from Alagoas Hermeto Pascoal. The discovery was published in the scientific journal “Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society” on 9.

Deforestation: the most threatened park in the Amazon is the target of record orders for gold exploration

Accident: Canadian tourist dies after falling in Iguazu Falls while taking a selfie

Researchers found the species in a Permanent Protected Area (PPA) within private property, in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest. As the biome is the most devastated in the country – currently around 10% of its original cover remains – the hermetopascoaliana was born considered an endangered species.

On the property, in a fragment of forest surrounded by sugarcane plantations, an adult tree and two young ones were found. The discovery is the result of the doctoral thesis of researcher Catarina Silva de Carvalho, from the National School of Tropical Botany of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro (JBJR). The article is also co-authored by Haroldo Cavalcante de Lima and Domingos Cardoso, from JBRJ, Débora Zuanny, from the Federal University of Bahia, and Bernarda S. Gregório, from the State University of Feira de Santana.

– Just as Hermeto is a symbol of resistance of the diversity of Brazilian culture in the infinite universe of jazz, by its northeast flavor and its universal character, being a world reference, the giant tree Dipteryx hermetopascoaliana that we have cataloged is a symbol of resistance of the megadiversity of the Atlantic Forest – wrote the authors of the discovery.

“Destruction package”: Congress could approve, still in 2022, measures that accelerate deforestation

The genus Dipteryx is common in the Amazon and the Cerrado, where there are species such as cumaru and baru, respectively. Its presence in the Atlantic Forest is unprecedented, which heightens the significance of the discovery.

This Friday (21), at 2 p.m., the researchers will make a presentation on the new species, in a panel of the National Week of Science and Technology, which takes place at the Botanical Garden until next Sunday (23). The event is open to the public.