Bia manuelii (Euphorbiaceae: Acalyphoideae), a new species from Sierra de Coalcomán, Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

The genus Bia (Euphorbiaceae-Acalyphoideae) is a small assemblage of 6 species ranging from central Mexico to South America that has until recently been included in the genus Tragia. The new species Bia manuelii is described and illustrated with photographs. This taxon is a narrow endemic known only from 2 collections in the
Sierra de Coalcomán, municipality of Coalcomán, in southwestern Michoacán. It grows in tropical deciduous forest at elevations from 990 to 1 110 m. A key is provided to distinguish this species from Bia cordata (= Tragia bailloniana), the only other species of the genus in Mexico.