Abstract

NOGUERA-SAVELLI, ELIANA. A taxonomic revision of Loasaceae from Venezuela. Caldasia [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.1, pp.43-67. ISSN 0366-5232.

Because the family Loasaceae has not been studied taxonomically in Venezuela,  a taxonomic revision was conducted to provide further insights on the species occurring in the country as well as to determine  the main characters of taxonomic importance for their recognition. One hundred and two specimens of Loasaceae were examined from national and international herbaria. In Venezuela, Loasaceae is represented by three subfamilies (Gronovioideae, Mentzelioideae, Loasoideae), four genera (Gronovia, Klaprothia, Nasa, and Mentzelia), and nine species (Gronovia scandens L., Klaprothia fasciculata (C. Presl) Poston, K. mentzelioides Kunth, Nasa lindeniana (Urb. & Gilg) Weigend, N. perijensis (Weigend) Weigend, N. venezuelensis (Steyerm.) Weigend, N. triphylla (Juss.) Weigend subsp. papaverifolia (Kunth) Weigend, Mentzelia aspera L., and M. scabra subsp. chilensis (Gay) Weigend). Identification keys, descriptions, specimens examined, synonyms, illustrations, as well as information on their geographical distribution and ecology, and some morphological observations are provided. The indument and ornamentation of the seed coat are the principal characters of taxonomic value to distinguish species of Loasaceae in Venezuela.

Keywords : Diversity; Loasaceae; Taxonomy; Flora of Venezuela.

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