Rare flower species found by researcher in Utinga State Park
The species, scientifically named Ruizterania belemnensis, was first discovered in the municipality of Santa Bárbara do Pará over 100 years ago
A native flower of the Amazon, considered rare to spot in nature, was found in the Utinga Camillo Vianna State Park in Belém by a researcher from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG). The species, scientifically named Ruizterania belemnensis, was first discovered over 100 years ago in Santa Bárbara do Pará, in Greater Belém.
According to Júlio Meyer, the manager of the Belém Administrative Region of the Pará Institute of Forest Development and Biodiversity (Ideflor-Bio), responsible for the Utinga State Park, the discovery reinforces the importance of the park for environmental conservation of the Amazon Rainforest.
“Utinga State Park has frequently revealed rare species of fauna and flora. The identification of species like this within the conservation unit makes clear the importance of the Park for the preservation of the region's biodiversity,” he emphasized.
According to MPEG researcher Leandro Ferreira, who made the discovery, this is the second finding of the plant in the Metropolitan Region of Belém. “This is the second record of this species in the metropolitan region of Belém. It was described for science in the early last century, where today is the municipality of Santa Bárbara do Pará. However, the location where this species was discovered has been destroyed by urban growth,” he stated.
Researcher Leandro Ferreira also highlighted that the location of the discovery is kept secret to avoid human interference. “It was recorded in a fragment of vegetation called 'campinarana' in Utinga State Park. The exact location is kept secret for security reasons, to preserve the plant,” the specialist added.
Service - Located on Avenida João Paulo II, in the Curió-Utinga neighborhood of Belém, Utinga State Park operates from Wednesday to Monday, from 6 AM to 5 PM, and remains closed on Tuesdays for maintenance. The space welcomes visitors of all ages and also schedules visits for schools and universities, which can be requested via email [email protected].
Text by Sinval Farias with supervision by Vinícius Leal / Ascom Ideflor-Bio
