Abstract

GIRALDO CANAS, DIEGO. A new genus of the Neotropical family Marcgraviaceae (Ericales) and circumscription of the Norantea Complex. Caldasia [online]. 2007, vol.29, n.2, pp.203-217. ISSN 0366-5232.

The Marcgraviaceae is a Neotropical family with 110-130 species. Norantea Complex within the family, is the shows a very diverse morphology (e.g. inflorescence structure, morphology and disposition of nectariferous bracts, as well as the pollen morphology), and for this reason, this genus has been divided into Marcgraviastrum, Norantea sensu stricto, Sarcopera, and Schwartzia. However, this delimitation doesn’t satisfy the correct ubication for two species, Sarcopera oxystylis and Schwartzia diaz-piedrahitae, because they show singular and mixed features of various genera. The peculiar characteristics of these species are concentrated in the inflorescence structure, and this structure defines the generic arrangement in Marcgraviaceae. Therefore, I propose a new genus in order to avoid the ambiguity in the taxonomic ubication of Sarcopera oxystylis and Schwartzia diaz-piedrahitae. In addition, I present the respective combinations, the species descriptions, as well as their illustrations, synonyms, and geographic and ecological distributions. Finally, I show an overview on the new circumscription for the Norantea Complex.

Keywords : Neotropical flora; Marcgraviaceae; Marcgravia; Marcgraviastrum; Norantea; Pseudosarcopera; Ruyschia; Sarcopera; Schwartzia; Souroubea.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )