Since 2008 I am a Professor at State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.
EDUCATION
Doctor in Botany (2007)
Master in Botany (2001)
Degree in Biology (1997)
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Environmental Science
123
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
A New Species of Myriopus (Heliotropiaceae) From Brazil José Iranildo Miranda de Melo, Luanderson Gomes de Sá Feddes Repertorium, 2026 A new species of Myriopus (Heliotropiaceae), Myriopus chrysocalyx J.I.M. Melo & L.G. Sá, hitherto recorded for the Brazilian Northeastern is described and illustrated. Myriopus chrysocalyx can be readily recognized by its branches strigose to villous, and, mainly, for presenting leaf blade chartaceous to subfleshy, congested inflorescences, a golden calyx, tomentose, stigma sessile with stigmatic head conical, glabrous, ring sinuous with thickened margin, and pubescent fruit. A distribution map with known occurrence records as well as data on the habitat, morphological diagnostic characters, and reproductive phenology are provided. A key to the Brazilian species of Myriopus is presented. In addition, the conservation status of M. chrysocalyx is preliminary assessed according to IUCN criteria and has been classified as Vulnerable (VU).
Nomenclatural adjustments in Myriopus (Heliotropiaceae) José Iranildo Miranda de Melo Webbia, 2025 Based on comparative morphological examinations of specimens available in both physical and digitized herbaria, a new combination is proposed in Myriopus (Heliotropiaceae): Myriopus subulatus (Gardner) J.I.M.Melo. Additionally, Tournefortia lanceolata Fresen. is synonymized under M. subulatus, with its effective lectotypification. Data on the distribution, habitat and reproductive phenology are provided for M. subulatus, as well as taxonomic notes based its morphological characters. Myriopus breviflorus (DC.) Luebert and M. subulatus are morphologically similar, and a key to their identifications is presented together with a list of the specimens examined.
Flora of Paraíba, Brazil: Plumbaginaceae Juss Fernanda Kalina da Silva Monteiro, José Iranildo Miranda de Melo Hoehnea, 2025 RESUMO Plumbaginaceae Juss. inclui 27 gêneros e ca. 836 espécies com distribuição cosmopolita, porém o centro de diversidade consiste na região mediterrânea e nas partes central e ocidental da Ásia. No Brasil, está representada por dois gêneros, Limonium Mill. e Plumbago L., com uma espécie cada - Limonium brasiliense (Boiss.) Kuntze e Plumbago scandens L. - ocorrendo, principalmente, nos domínios da Amazônia, Caatinga e Mata Atlântica. Este trabalho compreende o tratamento taxonômico de Plumbaginaceae para o Estado da Paraíba, representado pela espécie P. scandens L., incluindo comentários sobre afinidades taxonômicas, ilustrações dos caracteres diagnósticos, dados sobre floração e frutificação, bem como informações sobre sua distribuição geográfica. A partir dos resultados obtidos, foi possível compreender a morfologia e distribuição das espécies da família Plumbaginaceae no território paraibano, contribuindo também para a ampliação do conhecimento sobre a flora da Paraíba.
Flora of Paraíba, Brazil: Commelinaceae Mirb. Igor Meneses Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Fernanda Kalina da Silva Monteiro, José Iranildo Miranda de Melo Biota Neotropica, 2025 This study comprises the taxonomic survey of Commelinaceae in the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, aiming present the richness and distribution of its species. Field expeditions were undertaken between March/2022 and June/2023 to obtain fertile specimens and identify natural populations. Morphological analyses were based mainly on the local herbarium collection (HACAM) and on collections maintained in local herbaria (CSTR, EAN, HCES, and JPB), as well as in herbaria from Pernambuco State (IPA and PEUFR) and digital platforms (Herbário Virtual Reflora and SpeciesLink). Taxonomic identifications were based on specialized literature, including consultations of the nomenclatural types and protologues. A total of 18 species belonging to nine genera were identified (12 species encountered in the Caatinga and 15 in the Atlantic Forest). The genera Commelina L. and Tradescantia L. emend. M.Pell. were the most taxonomically diversified, with four species each. Dichorisandra perforans and D. thyrsiflora represented new occurrences for the study area. The taxonomic treatments include morphological descriptions, identification key, geographic distribution data, preferred environments, flowering and/or fruiting data, images, and taxonomic notes based on the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of each species.
A new species of Cordia sect. Gerascanthus P. Browne (Cordiaceae) to the Brazilian semiarid José Iranildo Miranda de Melo, Marcio Gleisson Medeiros Gonçalves, Lucas Morais Lima Webbia, 2025 A new species of Cordia (Cordiaceae) is described, Cordia rosangelae J.I.M.Melo, hitherto recorded exclusively in the Brazilian semiarid region. It can be readily recognised by its subcylindrical branches and, mainly, by its lax inflorescences, flowers with an obclavate calyx distinctly smaller than the corolla tube with a reddish stripe in the apical portion, corresponding to the extension of the lacinia, as well as by its corolla up to 5.0 cm long, unguiculate corolla lobes, flattened style, linear, with calluses stigmas and pyriform ovary. A distribution map with known occurrence records as well as data on the habitat, morphological diagnostic characters and reproductive phenology of the species are provided. A key to distinguishing C. rosangelae from the other species of Cordia sect. Gerascanthus from Caatinga domain is presented. In addition, the conservation status of C. rosangelae is preliminary assessed according to IUCN criteria and the species has been classified as Least Concern (LC).
Updated checklist of angiosperms in an exceptional area of the Serra do Teixeira National Park (PARNA), Paraíba, Brazil Aureliana Santos Gomes, Erimagna De Moraes Rodrigues, Luan Pedro-Silva, José Iranildo Miranda de Melo, Rubens Teixeira de Queiroz, et al. Revista Brasileira De Geografia Fisica, 2025 The Caatinga is the largest Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) in South America with diverse geomorphological features. The “altitude marshes”, exceptional areas with altitudes above 700 m that were established in the humid mountains of the Caatinga, shelter vegetation characteristic of other phytogeographic domains. Despite the importance of these areas for the Brazilian semi-arid region, several of them still remain unknown, or little known, floristically. This study aims to update the floristic inventory of angiosperms in the recently created Serra do Teixeira National Park (PARNA), previously called Pico do Jabre State Park, in the State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. The checklist was prepared through field trips between 2018 and 2020 and compiled from a list of species published in 2004. The study compiled 335 species distributed in 70 families and 220 genera, while Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Asteraceae were the most representative families. Species richness depending on altitude was initially observed to be increasing, however, upon reaching intermediate levels of the altitudinal gradient, a decline in richness was observed, which continued to decrease until the top of the massif. Of the total number of documented species, there are representatives widely distributed in the Brazilian territory (141 spp.) as well as species also associated with the phytogeographical domains of Caatinga (281 spp.), Cerrado (254 spp.), Atlantic Forest (263 spp.), Amazon (157 spp.), Pampa (76 spp.) and Pantanal (82 spp.). The results demonstrate that the PARNA of Serra do Teixeira constitutes an important refuge for plant biodiversity, especially in the semi-arid region of Paraíba and Brazil.
A New Combination in Euploca (Heliotropiaceae) from Cuba José Iranildo Miranda de Melo Novon, 2024 A new combination in Euploca Nutt. (Heliotropiaceae) is proposed in this work: E. reversifera (C. Wright ex Millsp.) J. I. M. Melo, based on Heliotropium reversiferum C. Wright ex Millsp., a neglected endemic species from Cuba.
Flora of Paraíba, Brazil: Krameriaceae José Iranildo Miranda de Melo, Sabrina Soares Figueiredo, Michel Martins Rodrigues, Márcio Gleisson Medeiros Gonçalves Hoehnea, 2024