Novelties in Dyckia (Pitcairnioideae ‐ Bromeliaceae) from the South America dry diagonal: Two new species, a new combination and a new name

Dyckia is a South American genus mostly distributed in the Brazilian Cerrado and Caatinga domains, which are part of the South American dry diagonal where it represents an important floristic and ecological component. Following phylogenetic studies, the genus was recently expanded to include species previously placed in Encholirium and Deuterocohnia . With this new delimitation, Dyckia comprises ca. 220 species, of which some are micro‐endemic. We present novelties in the genus for the South American dry diagonal based on fieldwork, herbarium specimens and the literature. Two new micro‐endemic species are described: Dyckia avacanoeira , endemic to Chapada dos Veadeiros; and Dyckia oreadica , endemic to the Jalapão region. We provide complete descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, photographs, preliminary conservation assessments and comments on the taxonomy and ecology of the two species. Additionally, in view of the new circumscription of Dyckia , we provide a new name, Dyckia viridiflora , to replace an illegitimate name, and a new combination, Dyckia josinoi‐narcisae , for a species previously placed in Encholirium .