Research Article |
Corresponding author: Aleksandar Radosavljevic ( aleks.rado@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Clifford Morden
© 2019 Aleksandar Radosavljevic.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Radosavljevic A (2019) The rise of Cynometra (Leguminosae) and the fall of Maniltoa: a generic re-circumscription and the addition of 4 new species. PhytoKeys 127: 1-37. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.127.29817
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Cynometra L. is a genus of ca. 85 species of shrubs to large trees. It is amongst the largest genera in the legume subfamily Detarioideae and one of the few with a pantropical distribution. Perhaps due to this wide distribution and high diversity, systematists and taxonomists have struggled with the classification of Cynometra and its close ally, the genus Maniltoa Scheff. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that many of the African species are more closely related to other genera and that the genus Maniltoa is nested within a clade of Indo-Pacific Cynometra. Here, I present an emended circumscription of Cynometra that excludes the African species defined by jointed pedicels and dehiscent fruits and includes the species formerly recognised in Maniltoa. New combinations in Cynometra are also provided for those species that require them. Additionally, four new species of Neotropical Cynometra are described and illustrated: Cynometra cerebriformis sp. nov. from the lower Rio Trombetas in Brazil; Cynometra dwyerii sp. nov. from the Darien gap region of Panama; C. tumbesiana sp. nov. from the dry tropical forests of Ecuador and Peru; and C. steyermarkii sp. nov. from the foothills of the western Cordillera de la Costa in Venezuela.
Cynometra L, Detaroideae, Leguminosae, Maniltoa Scheff, new species, taxonomy
The genus Cynometra L. (Leguminosae) has a broad tropical distribution, is relatively species rich and many of its species are poorly represented in herbaria. The approximately 85 species of trees and (some) shrubs in the genus are spread somewhat evenly amongst four regions (Figure
A Map showing global distribution of Cynometra and Maniltoa (white hatching) B ML majority rules consensus tree from
The following herbaria allowed the author to study their collections in person or provided loans: A, ATH, BM, BRI, CANB, F, IAN, INPA, K, MG, MO, NY, P, RB, SING and US. Morphological characters were assessed and measured from herbarium material. Flowers and immature fruit were rehydrated in warm Pohl’s solution (
Linnaeus established the genus Cynometra and included two species from southeast Asia in the first edition of Species Plantarum, Cynometra cauliflora L. and C. ramiflora L. (Linnaeus, 1753). This original concept of Cynometra was of a genus distinguished by compound leaves, four reflexed sepals, five equal petals and by single-seeded, indehiscent pods with thick and tuberculate valves (Linnaeus’ description does not explicitly mention ‘indehiscent pods’, but it is a character present in both of his original species). For nearly the next century, this circumscription was generally followed by taxonomists around the world. The limits of the genus were first expanded by the publication of two new species from the Indo-Pacific region: Cynometra polyandra Roxb., described in 1820 from Indian material and Cynometra grandiflora A.Gray, described in 1854 from Fijian specimens. These species differed most notably from the traditional understanding of Cynometra by having more numerous stamens (35–40 in C. grandiflora and approximately 50 in C. polyandra;
In Africa, misunderstanding of the delimitation of Cynometra persisted, even after
Léonard’s work (
An early morphological cladistic analysis by
To reconcile the discrepancy between the current classification of Cynometra and Maniltoa and our understanding of their evolutionary relationships, I present here an emended generic circumscription of Cynometra that excludes the species of Cynometra clade A and includes the species formerly placed in Maniltoa. A treatment that proposes a new genus for the species of Cynometra clade A is in preparation.
Syn. Iripa Adans., Fam. 2: 508. 1763. Cynomora R.Hedw. Gen. Pl. [R. Hedwig]. 1806. Type. Cynometra cauliflora L. (lectotype, designated by A.S. Hitchcock, in Hicthcock and Green 1959, pg. 152)
Metrocynia Thouars, Gen. Nov. Madagasc. 22. 1806. Type. Metrocynia commersoniana DC.
Maniltoa Scheff., Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 1: 20. 1876. Type. Cynometra grandiflora A.Gray.
Schizosiphon K.Schum., Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land 101. 1889. Schizoscyphus K.Schum ex Taubert, nom. superfl. Bot. Centralbl. 41: 265. 1890. Type. Schizosiphon rosea K. Schum.
Pseudocynometra Kuntze in Post & Kuntze, Lex. Gen. Phan. Phan. 464. 1903. Type. Cynometra polyandra Roxb.
Trees or shrubs (infrequent), evergreen (rarely deciduous), buttressed or not, growth flush-wise, new growth flaccid and whitish or reddish at emergence, becoming green with maturity, vegetative buds covered in a series of imbricate scales. Stipules lateral, free, linear or filamentous, early caducous, scars typically not visible on mature growth. Leaves pulvinate, petiolate, rachis (if present) terete or caniculate, often terminating in a filiform outgrowth, axes glabrous or pubescent, paripinnate with 1–16 pairs of opposite leaflets (rarely unifoliolate); leaflets petiolulate but sometimes appearing sessile because of decurrent lamina, blade lanceolate, ovate, elliptic, oblong, obovate, oblanceolate or trapeziform, symmetrical to strongly asymmetrical, glabrous or sparsely pubescent abaxially, glabrous adaxially (rarely with sparse pubescence along midvein), margins entire, apex broadly obtuse to acuminate, retuse or emarginate, mucronate, base oblique, distal margin decurrent to petiolule; laminar nectaries usually present, abaxial, submarginal, embedded in laminar surface, shallow, without noticeably raised edges. Inflorescences axillary or ramiflorous (rarely cauliflorous), racemose, 1–2(–3), per axil, buds enclosed by imbricate bracts, appearing conical, ovoid or cigar-shaped in silhouette; pedicels simple (not articulated), filamentous in anthesis, accrescent and lignified in fruit; bracts enclosing inflorescence during development prior to emergence, imbricate, distichous, deciduous or persistent; bracteoles not enclosing buds, paired, inserted along proximal half of pedicel, opposite or subopposite, caducous. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; hypanthium present (sometimes indistinct), either turbinate-campanulate and short or tubular and partially to completely enveloping ovary; disc absent; sepals (3–)4(–5), reflexed at anthesis, unequal, deltoid, ovate, elliptic or oblong; petals 5, crumpled or smooth, incurved, erect or horizontal, equal, linear, oblong, or oblanceolate, with rounded or acute apices; stamens (8–)10–80, filaments free or briefly connate basally; anthers dorsifixed, versatile, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary inserted +/- centrally, occasionally eccentric, free, short-stipitate or subsessile, pubescence varied but rarely glabrous, light green or pinkish, often turning red post anthesis, ovules 1 (2); style eccentric, glabrous; stigma capitate. Legumes indehiscent, splitting along suture after germination due to action of emerging shoot, orbicular to oblong, often laterally compressed, smooth to deeply fissured, often apiculate (in some taxa only when immature), valves 0.5–4.0 mm thick, cork-like in several species, remaining attached to cotyledons during and after germination. Seeds 1–2, enclosed in fruit until germination. Seedling germination epigeal.
The emended description above reflects the merger of Maniltoa and Cynometra s.s. and the exclusion of the east African taxa with dehiscent pods, paniculate inflorescences and articulated pedicels (Tables
Species excluded from Cynometra. Distributions correspond to regions given in text. Species may occupy only a part of the overall region. MTA = mainland tropical Africa.
Species | Distribution |
---|---|
Cynometra alexandri C.H. Wright | MTA |
Cynometra ananta Hutch. & Dalziel | MTA |
Cynometra brachyrrhachis Harms | MTA |
Cynometra engleri Harms | MTA |
Cynometra filifera Harms | MTA |
Cynometra fischeri Baker f. | MTA |
Cynometra gilletii De Wild. | MTA |
Cynometra gillmanii J. Léonard | MTA |
Cynometra greenwayi Brenan | MTA |
Cynometra hankei Harms | MTA |
Cynometra leonensis Hutch. & Dalziel | MTA |
Cynometra longipedicellata Harms | MTA |
Cynometra lujae De Wild. | MTA |
Cynometra nyangensis Pellegr. | MTA |
Cynometra oddonii De Wild. | MTA |
Cynometra palustris J. Léonard | MTA |
Cynometra pedicellata De Wild. | MTA |
Cynometra sessiliflora Harms | MTA |
Cynometra suaheliensis (Taub.) Baker f. | MTA |
Cynometra ulugurensis Harms | MTA |
Cynometra webberi Baker f. | MTA |
Accepted species of Cynometra. Taxonomy follows:
Species | Distribution | Species | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Cynometra abrahamii Du Puy & R.Rabev. | MAD | Cynometra longifolia Huber | NEO |
Cynometra americana Vogel | NEO | Cynometra lukei Beentje | MTA |
Cynometra ankaranensis Dupuy & R.Rabev. | MAD | Cynometra lyallii Baker | MAD |
Cynometra aurita R.Vig. | MAD | Cynometra macrocarpa A.S.Tav. | NEO |
Cynometra bauhiniifolia Benth. | NEO | Cynometra madagascariensis Baill. | MAD |
Cynometra beddomei Prain | INP | Cynometra malaccensis Meeuwen | INP |
Cynometra bourdillonii Gamble | INP | Cynometra mannii Oliv. | MTA |
Cynometra brachymischa Harms | INP | Cynometra marginata Benth. | NEO |
Cynometra capuronii Du Puy & R.Rabev. | MAD | Cynometra marleneae A.S.Tav. | NEO |
Cynometra cauliflora L. | INP | Cynometra mayottensis Labat & O.Pascal | COM |
Cynometra cloiselii Drake | MAD | Cynometra megalophylla Harms | MTA |
Cynometra commersoniana Baill. | MAD | Cynometra microflora R.S.Cowan | NEO |
Cynometra congensis De Wild. | MTA | Cynometra minutiflora F.Muell. | INP |
Cynometra copelandii (Elmer) Elmer | INP | Cynometra mirabilis Meeuwen | INP |
Cynometra craibii Gagnep. | INP | Cynometra novoguineensis Merr. & L.M.Perry | INP |
Cynometra crassifolia Benth. | NEO | Cynometra oaxacana Brandegee | NEO |
Cynometra cubensis A.Rich. | NEO | Cynometra parvifolia Tul. | NEO |
Cynometra cuneata Tul. | NEO | Cynometra pervilleana Baill. | MAD |
Cynometra dauphinensis Dupuy & R.Rabev. | MAD | Cynometra polyandra Roxb. | INP |
Cynometra dongnaiensis Pierre | INP | Cynometra portoricensis Krug & Urb. | NEO |
Cynometra duckei Dwyer | NEO | Cynometra ramiflora L. | INP |
Cynometra elmeri Merr. | INP | Cynometra retusa Britton & Rose | NEO |
Cynometra falcata A.Gray | INP | Cynometra sakalava Du Puy & R.Rabev. | MAD |
Cynometra fissicuspis (Pittier) Pittier | NEO | Cynometra sanagaensis Aubrev. | MTA |
Cynometra floretii Labat & O.Pascal | COM | Cynometra schlechteri Harms | MTA |
Cynometra glomerulata Gagnep. | INP | Cynometra schottiana Hochr. | NEO |
Cynometra grandiflora A.Gray | INP | Cynometra simplicifolia Harms | INP |
Cynometra hemitomophylla (Donn.Sm.) Rose | NEO | Cynometra spruceana Benth. | NEO |
Cynometra hondurensis Dwyer | NEO | Cynometra stenopetala Dwyer | NEO |
Cynometra hostmanniana Tul. | NEO | Cynometra travancorica Bedd. | INP |
Cynometra humboldtiana Stergios | NEO | Cynometra trinitensis Oliv. | NEO |
Cynometra insularis A.C.Sm. | INP | Cynometra vogelii Hook.f. | MTA |
Cynometra iripa Kostel. | INP | Cynometra warburgii Harms | INP |
Cynometra katikii Verdc. | INP | Cynometra whitfordii Elmer | INP |
Cynometra letestui (Pellegr.) J.Léonard | MTA | Cynometra yokotai Kaneh. | INP |
Cynometra longicuspis Ducke | NEO | Cynometra zeylanica Kosterm. | INP |
Several other characteristics of Maniltoa that supposedly distinguish it from Cynometra are also incorrect. The first is the presence of conspicuous ‘bract covered’ vegetative and reproductive buds (
The most clearly distinguishing feature of the newly emended Cynometra with respect to the taxa here excluded (Cynometra clade A) is the indehiscent pod. Indeed, if one examines the taxa misplaced in Cynometra over the years, they nearly all share the characteristic of dehiscent pods. Unfortunately, Linnaeus makes no mention of the nature of the pods’ dehiscence. Likewise, subsequent treatments were vague.
With this new circumscription, the two genera are united and share radially symmetric flowers, bract covered buds (with bracts persisting on the inflorescence), flowers with early caducous bracteoles not enveloping the flowers and indehiscent fruits (which may play a role in dispersal as many taxa are associated with alluvial habitats or appear as drift ‘fruit’ in coastal environments;
The generic rearrangements require new combinations to reflect the merging of Maniltoa into Cynometra. For Maniltoa, in most cases, the taxonomy proposed by
Maniltoa basifoliola Verdc., Kew Bull. 37: 129. 1982. Type. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Madang province: Madang subprovince [district], cleared area utilized as a gravel pit on north side of Madang Usino Highway on banks of Gogol River, 145 37 E, 05 15 S, 100 m alt., 25 April 1979, S.H. Somer & P. Katik LAE 75185 (holotype: K; isotypes: BM, L, M).
The arrangement of leaflets for which this species is named (i.e. the basal-most pair of leaflets inserted just above petiole and separated from terminal pair of leaflets by a relatively long rachis) is unusual amongst the species that were formerly included in Maniltoa; however some species of Cynometra have a similar arrangement (e.g. Cynometra sakalava Du Puy & R.Rabev from Madagascar).
Maniltoa brassii Merr. & L.M.Perry, J. Arnold Arbor. 23: 398. 1942. Type. BRITISH NEW GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Central Division: U-uma River, 14 May 1926, [fl., imm. fr.], L. J. Brass 1428, (holotype: A; isotype: K).
The protologue lists the collection year as 1928, however 1926 appears to be the correct date. While the label affixed to the holotype does list the collection date as “14 May 1928”, this appears to be a transcription error. The handwritten slip attached to the holotype, presumably filled out by the collector Brass, gives the date as “14/5/26”. Additionally, the printed label is titled “Arnold Arboretum Expedition, 1925–1926”. The label on the isotype also has the collection date as 14 May 1926.
Maniltoa browneoides Harms, Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3: 190. 1902. Synonym. Pseudocynometra browneoides (Harms) Kuntze, Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173. 1903. Type. [INDONESIA]. Java. [West Java: Bogor Botanic Gardens], 1880–1882, [fl], H. O. Forbes 1204a (holotype: B, destroyed; isotype: BM).
Maniltoa gemmipara Scheff. ex Backer, Voorl. Schoolfl. Java 104: in clavi. 1908. Type. [INDONESIA]. Cultivated at Weltevreden (Djakarta), 1908, Backer s.n. (holotype: L, fide
According to Knaap-van Meeeuwen (1970, p. 42), the type material for Maniltoa browneoides came from a cultivated specimen grown at Bogor Botanical Gardens from seeds or seedlings collected by Forbes on New Guinea, however no citation is given as the source for this information. The holotype for M. gemmipara is listed as being at Leiden by Knaap-van Meeuwen, however there are no specimens there annotated as such. There are two specimens, however, from Java collected in 1908 that seem to match the details in the protologue. These are filed as M. gemmipara and have the registration numbers L.3886447 and L.3886448.
Maniltoa cynometroides Merr. & L.M.Perry, J. Arnold Arbor. 23: 398. 1942. Type. BRITISH NEW GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Palmer River, 2 mi. below junction Black River, 100m alt., Jun 1936, [fr], L. J. Brass 6903 (holotype: A; isotypes: BM, BO, BRI, L).
Maniltoa fortuna-tironis Verdc., Kew Bull. 32 (1): 243. 1977. Type. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Central District [Central Province]: Rouna Falls area, forest by tributary of R. Laloki, 300 m alt., 2 Jan. 1976, B. Verdcourt, C.R. Huxley, & Dodd 4899 (holotype: K; isotypes: LAE, UPNG).
Maniltoa lenticellata C.T.White, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 130. 1927. Type. PAPUA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Northern Division: Sageri, July 1922, [fl], C. E. Lane-Poole 203 (holotype: BRI; isotype: A).
Maniltoa lenticellata var. villosa Verdc., Kew Bull. 32 (1): 241. 1977. Type. TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Morobe district [Morobe province]: Lae subdistrict [Lae district], Kassam Pass, 6°20'S, 146°00'E, 3500 ft alt., [fl], J.S. Womersley & J. Vandenberg NGF 37192 (holotype: LAE; isotypes: A, BISH, BO, BRI, CANB, K, L, NSW, PNH, SING, UPNG, US)
Maniltoa mariettae van Meeuwen, Blumea 18 (1): 37. 1970. Type. TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Morobe District [Morobe Province]: Yalu, 6°36'S, 146°52'E, 50 ft alt., Jul 1944, [fl], C.T. White, H.E. Dadswell, & L.S. Smith, NGF 1661 (holotype: BRI; isotype: CANB).
Maniltoa megalocephala Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 55 (1): 52. 1917. Type. NORDÖSTLICH NEU-GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Sepik area, 1912–1913, C. L. Ledermann 7857, 7895, 10616 (syntypes: B, destroyed). PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Sepik area, Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 55 (1): 53, tab. 2. 1917. (lectotype, here designated)
All three syntypes cited in Harms’ original description were destroyed and no isotypes have been located. Therefore plate 2 (tab. 2) from Harms 1917 is designated as the lectotype (Figure
Maniltoa minor A.C.Sm., Sargentia 1: 37. 1942. Type. FIJI. Lau Province: Moala Island, near Maloku, 20–24 Mar 1934, [fl], A.C. Smith 1333 (holotype: GH; isotype: BISH, K, NY, S, WIS, US).
Maniltoa plurijuga Merr. & L.M.Perry, J. Arnold Arbor. 23: 398. 1942. Type. NETHERLANDS NEW GUINEA [INDONESIA]. [Papua:] 2 km southwest of Bernhard Camp, Idenburg River, 650 m alt., 3 April 1939, L.J. Brass & C. Versteegh 13539 (holotype: A; isotype: BO, BRI, L).
Maniltoa psilogyne Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 55 (1): 50. 1917. Type. KAISER-WILHELMSLAND [Papua New Guinea]. At Kaulo, ca. 250 m alt., 1 December 1907, R. Schlechter 16934 (holotype: B; isotypes: A, E, G, K, L, S, Z).
Schizosiphon roseus K.Schum., Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land 101. 1889. Syn. Schizoscyphus roseus (K.Schum.) Warb., nom superfl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 13: 331. 1891. Maniltoa rosea (K.Schum.) Meeuwen, Blumea 18: 35. 1970. Type. KAISER-WILHELMSLAND [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Astrolabebay, Im Hochwalde von Constantinhafen, July [1886–1887], Hollrung 492 (holotype: B, destroyed; isotypes not found). PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Madang Province: Madang District, Naikum, Josephstaal, 04°45'30"S, 145°00'30"E, 1 Sept. 1958, K.J. White NGF 10226 (neotype, designated by
Maniltoa urophylla Harms, Bot. Jahrb. 55: 51. 1917. Type. NORDÖSTLICH NEU-GUINEA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Kameelsrücken, lager G, 6–900 m, Sept. 1912, C. L. Ledermann 8848 (holotype: B, destroyed; isotypes: WRSL, LE, not located).
I agree with
Maniltoa schefferi K.Sch., Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land 10. 1889. Syn. Pseudocynometra schefferi Kuntze, Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173. 1903. Type. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Dore, Teysmann s.n. (lectotype, designated by
Maniltoa hollrungii Harms, Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3: 189. 1902. Syn. Pseudocynometra hollrungii Kuntze, Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173. 1903. Type. KAISER-WILHELMSLAND [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Augusta-Station, Aug. 1887, Hollrung 689 (holotype: B, destroyed; isotypes not found).
Maniltoa peekelii Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 55 (1): 50. 1917. Syn. Maniltoa schefferi var peekelii (Harms) Verdc. Type. [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Neu-Mecklenburg (New Ireland): Lemakot, Garamate, Strandebene, July 1912, G. Peekel 841 (holotype: B, destroyed). PAPUA NEW GUINEA. New Ireland District [Province]: [Island of New Ireland], Kavieng Sub-District [District], ca. 26 miles from Kavieng, inland from Lavongai, 2°46'S, 151°2'E, 0 m alt., 24 Jan. 1967, M.J.E. Coode, T. Cropley, & P. Katik NGF 29604 (neotype, here designated: K; isoneotypes: A, CANB, L, LAE).
When
Maniltoa steenisii van Meeuwen, Blumea 18 (1): 40. 1970. Type. TERRITORY OF PAPUA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Northern District [Northern Province]: Tufi subdistrict, near Budi Barracks, 9°32'S, 148°58'E, 75 m alt., 26 August 1954, R.D. Hoogland 4581 (holotype: CANB).
Knaap-van Meeuwen incorrectly cites the holotype as being housed in BRI.
Maniltoa steensisii var. rodneyensis Verdc., Kew Bull. 32 (1): 241. 1977. Type. TERRITORY OF PAPUA [PAPUA NEW GUINEA]. Central District [Central Province]: Abau Subdistrict [Abau District], Cape Rodney, Mori River, 200 ft alt., 20 June 1968, E. E. Henty NGF 38561 (holotype: LAE; isotypes: A, BISH, BO, BRI, CANB, K, L, NSW, SING).
Maniltoa vestita A.C.Sm., J. Arnold Arbor. 31: 170. 1950. Type. FIJI. Vanua Levu. Mathuata [Macuata] province: east of Lambasa [Labasa], on the southern slopes of Mt Numbuiloa, 3 Nov 1947, [fl], A.C. Smith 6442 (holotype: A; isotypes: BISH, BRI, K, L, LE, NY, P, S, US).
Maniltoa floribunda A.C.Sm., J. Arnold Arbor. 31: 169. 1950, non Cynometra floribunda Benth, Trans Linn. Soc. London 25: 318. 1865. Type. FIJI. Viti Levu. Nandronga-Navosa Province: southern slopes of Nausori Highlands, in drainage of Namosi Creek above Tumbenasolo, 300–400 m alt., 29 May 1947, A.C. Smith 4588 (holotype: A; isotypes: BISH, BRI, K, L, LE, NY, P, S, US).
This species is named after the nation of Fiji, where it is endemic, but somewhat common and widespread, occurring on at least six islands (
A monograph of the Neotropical species of Cynometra was published by
BRAZIL. Pará: [Mun. Oriximiná] Rio Trombetas, near Cachoeira Porteira, 24 May 1974, [fl.], D. G. Campbell et al., P22338 (holotype US; isotype F, INPA, MO, NY).
Tree to 20 m tall; bark not seen; branchlets rough, lenticels prominent, bud scale scars partially encircling stems near base, new growth with short scattered pubescence, glabrous or nearly so at maturity. Stipules not seen. Leaves bifoliolate, pulvinate, axes glabrous or with sparse pubescence concentrated on adaxial surfaces; petioles 3.0–4.0 mm long, 1.0 mm wide, transversely corrugated; petiolules 0.5–1.0 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, transversely corrugated; leaflets appearing sessile, coriaceous, obelliptic to obovate, asymmetric, primary vein eccentric, proximal side 2.0–2.7 times wider than distal, 3.1–4.5 cm long, 1.1–1.9 cm wide, abaxial surface with scattered raised areas both surfaces glabrous, primary venation pinnate, secondary venation brochidodromous-eucamptodromous, 3–4 basal acrodromous veins, decurrent to primary vein, prominent abaxially, their course barely visible adaxially, tertiary venation difficult to discern on either surface even under magnification, margins entire, apex acute, usually short acuminate (acumen to 4.0 mm), retuse, mucronate, base oblique, acute, distal side narrowly cuneate with margin nearly parallel to midvein for 8.0–10.0 mm, proximal side convex, decurrent to petiolule, laminar glands absent. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, (1–)2 per axil, bracteate, axes ferrugino-pilose; peduncle 1.0–2.0 mm, rachis 2.0–5.0 mm long, flowers spirally arranged, 2–10 per raceme; pedicels 7.0–10.0 mm and filamentous in anthesis, to 18.0 mm and accrescent in fruit; bracts subtending individual flowers, scale-like, quickly deciduous, brown, broadly elliptical to deltoid, strongly convex 1.5–2.5 mm long, 1.0–1.5 mm wide, striate, abaxial surface pubescent, pubescence denser at base and along margins, glabrous adaxially; bracteoles not seen. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric, pentamerous, delicate; hypanthium cupular, 0.7–1.0 mm deep, surrounding basal portion of ovary, fleshy, abaxial surface pubescent, adaxial surface glabrous; sepals 4, imbricate, reflexed, abaxial and adaxial sepals larger than lateral, greenish-white, petaloid, oblong to elliptic, apices acute to rounded, 3.0–4.0 mm long, 1.0–2.0 mm wide, pubescence on abaxial surface near apex, with faint parallel venation; petals 5, equal, white, crumpled texture, curving inwards, oblanceolate, 4.0–5.0 mm long, 1.0–1.5 mm wide, adaxial surface with minute appressed hairs, pinnate venation; stamens 10, filaments free, subequal, 7.0–8.5 mm long, anthers dorsifixed, versatile, longitudinal dehiscence, ellipsoid, to 1.0 mm long, glabrous; ovary centrally inserted, free, stipitate, obliquely elliptical, 2.5–3.0 mm long, 1.5–2.0 mm wide, tomentose, stipe 0.5 mm, style apical, 2.0–2.5 mm long, glabrous, eccentric, curving downwards, stigma capitate. Legume indehiscent, oblate, rugose, apiculate when immature, 14.2–17.5 mm long, 7.1–9.2 mm wide, 12.1–13.9 mm thick, valves pubescent, wall of pericarp up to 2.5 mm thick, brown. Seeds 1 per pod, filling locule, dark brown.
Illustration of Cynometra cerebriformis. A Habit B bud with imbricate bracts C leaf base showing corrugated petiole and petiolule D inflorescence rachis showing bract scars on main axis and remnants of bracteoles on pedicels E flower F infructescence with single pod G bract H sepal I petal J longitudinal section of hypanthium and receptacle; sepals, petals and stamens removed. A–E, G–J Campbell et al. P22338, US F G. Martinelli 7016, US.
Currently, this species appears restricted to the Trombetas River Basin of Para State, Brazil. However, it is quite possible that the range is more extensive given that the species occurs in seasonally flooded forests and the genus is known for water dispersed fruits (
Flowering specimens have been collected in May. Fruiting specimens have been collected in June and August.
Cynometra cerebriformis is named after the brain-like appearance of the mature fruit.
BRAZIL. Pará: Municipio Oriximiná: Rio Trombetas shore, Porteira cemetery, 3 Jun 1974 [im fr], D. G. Campbell et al. P22510 (INPA, NY, US); Margem direita do Rio Mapuera, entre as Cach[oeira] Paraiso Grande e Maracajá, Área do reservatório da 2a etapa, 00°58'S, 57°35'W, 12 Aug 1986 [im fr], C.A. Cid Ferreira et al. 7659 (INPA, NY); Rio Trombetas, river banks downriver from Cachoeira Porteira, N to NE bank (Between C.P. and IBDF Reverval – Lago do Jacaré), 17 Jun 1980 [fr], C. Davidson & G. Martinelli 10324 (INPA, NY, US); Rio Trombetas, margem esq. entre o Lago Jacaré e Cachoeira Porteira, 70 m alt., 17 Jun 1980 [fr], G. Martinelli 7016 (INPA, NY, RB).
This taxon has been collected in the areas around Santarem and Oriximiná in Para, Brazil. Many of the specimens have been annotated by Adalea Sprada Tavares as Cynometra duckei ssp. trombetensis, but I can find no record of publication and several of the specimens thus annotated are assigned to different taxa in her unpublished thesis (
Cynometra cerebriformis differs from C. duckei primarily in the shape of the leaflets. Cynometra cerebriformis differs from C. spruceana var. spruceana in several ways. The leaflets of C. cerebriformis are generally smaller than those of C. spruceana var. spruceana and the surface is nearly smooth, while the secondary veins are quite obvious in C. spruceana. Cynometra cerebriformis also lacks the basal laminar gland present in C. spruceana and many other Cynometra taxa. Finally, the fruit of C. spruceana is approximately 1.5×–2.5× larger than the fruit of C. cerebriformis and the valves are smooth to slightly rugulose, lacking the strongly rugose surface of C. cerebriformis.
Cynometra cerebriformis differs from C. marginata var. laevis by having an acute leaflet base, short acumen and oblate rugose fruit; C. marginata var. laevis has an obtuse leaflet base, long acumen and a globose fruit with a prominent raised suture ridge.
PANAMA. Darién [now Comarca Emberá-Wounaan]: vicinity of Campamento Buena Vista, Río Chucunaque above confluence with Río Tuquesa, [08°23'N, 77°47'W] 5 July 1959, [fr.], W. L. Stern 941 (holotype US; isotype MO).
Tree to approximately 20 m tall; bark not seen; branchlets lenticelate, pubescent when young, becoming glabrous with age. Stipules not seen. Leaves bifoliolate, axes pubescent, transversely corrugated; petioles 4.5–5.5 mm long; petiolules 1.0–1.5 mm long, inconspicuous, leaflets appearing sessile; leaflets narrowly obovate to obovate, occasionally sub-trapeziform, strongly asymmetric, primary vein eccentric, proximal side 2.8–3.7 times wider than distal, 3.1–3.9 cm long, 1.4–1.9 cm wide, thin, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent, more so on midvein and major secondaries, adaxial surface with pubescence restricted primarily to midvein, occasional hairs scattered on lamina, primary venation pinnate, secondary venation brochidodromous-eucamptodromous, 2(–3) basal acrodromous veins, decurrent to primary, prominent abaxially, only slightly less so adaxially, tertiary venation visible on both surfaces at 10× magnification, margins entire, apex acute, weakly acuminate (to 2.0 mm), retuse, mucronate, base oblique, acute, distal side narrowly cuneate, proximal side slightly concave to cuneate, decurrent to petiolule, laminar glands present, 3–6 per leaflet, arranged in a row approximately halfway between margin and midvein, restricted to distal portion of lamina, typically adjacent to tertiary veins, crateriform, less than 1.0 mm in diameter. Inflorescences not seen, position inferred as axillary from remnant of peduncle. Flowers not seen. Legume indehiscent, roughly globose, to 4.7 cm in diameter, surface of valves rugulose, wall of pericarp up to 3.0 mm thick, deep brown colour at maturity. Seeds 1 per pod, filling entire cavity, dark brown.
Illustration of Cynometra dwyerii. A Leaf base (adaxial surface) showing corrugated petiole and pubescence along midrib B habit C leaf base (abaxial surface) showing basal acrodromous veins arising from leaflet pulvinus and laminar glands D leaflet apex (abaxial surface) E Dissected fruit, proximal surface F dissected fruit, distal surface G longitudinal section of fruit with single seed H reconstruction of fruit. A–H Stern et al. 941, US.
Known only from the type locality in the Darien Gap region of Panama; the area where the type was collected is primarily lowland moist tropical forest.
The type was collected with mature fruit in July.
The specific epithet honours the contributions of Dr. John Dwyer, who published the first monograph of the Neotropical species of Cynometra.
This species is known only from the type collection, however the combination of vegetative characters and fruit morphology make it clearly distinct from other Cynometra species. Superficially, this species resembles C. bauhiniifolia, given its small leaflets with prominent secondary venation. However, the pubescence and arrangement of laminar glands clearly distinguish it from other Neotropical species of Cynometra, which usually have just a single, basal laminar gland. In fact, the combination of bifoliolate leaves with small leaflets and several submarginal laminar glands is unique across the entire genus. When these characters are combined with the large, globose fruit, it is clear that this is a distinct species.
None.
VENEZUELA. Miranda: Distrito Brión, Selva siempre verde a lo largo de la quebrada afluente del río Aricagua, 3.9 km oeste del Pueblo Seco, 1.6 km oeste de Aricagua, 75 m alt., 24–25 March 1973, [fl, fr], J. A. Steyermark & V. Carreño Espinoza, 106937 (holotype: US; isotypes: F, VEN n.v.).
Tree to 25 m tall; bark not seen, sapwood reddish; branchlets glabrous, lenticelate. Stipules not seen. Leaves bifoliolate, axes glabrous; petioles 6.5–9.0 mm long, 2.0 mm wide, transversely corrugated; petiolules 2.0–3.0 mm long, 1.0 mm wide, transversely corrugated; leaflets, coriaceous, elliptic to slightly obovate, asymmetric, primary vein eccentric, proximal side 2.3–3.1 times wider than distal, 5.7–7.1 cm long, 2.7–3.6 cm wide, discolorous, abaxial and adaxial surface glabrous, primary venation pinnate, secondary venation brochidodromous-eucamptodromous, 2(–3) basal acrodromous veins, decurrent to primary vein, prominent abaxially, slightly raised adaxially, tertiary venation visible on abaxial surface without magnification, margins entire, apex obtuse, usually rounded but occasionally acuminate (to 3.0 mm), retuse, mucronate, base oblique, acute, distal side strongly cuneate, proximal concave to convex, decurrent to petiolule, single laminar gland present on some leaflets, abaxial, near basal margin of proximal lamina and insertion point of petiolule, typically adjacent to tertiary veins, crateriform, 0.5 mm in diameter. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, bracteate, axes densely ferrugino-puberulent; peduncle together with rachis to 6.0 mm long, flowers spirally arranged, 15 per raceme; pedicels 5.5–6.0 mm, pubescent, accrescent in fruit; bracts subtending individual flowers, scale-like, deciduous, lustrous, brown, broadly elliptical, strongly convex 1.0–2.0 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, striate, abaxial surface with appressed pubescence along medial surface and along margins, glabrous adaxially; bracteoles paired, inserted near base of pedicel, subopposite, linear to oblanceolate, 2.5–3.0 mm long, 0.75 mm wide, acute at apex, densely pubescent on abaxial surface, less so adaxially. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric, pentamerous, delicate; hypanthium much reduced, less than 0.5 mm deep, with a few scattered hairs on abaxial and adaxial surface; sepals 4, imbricate, reflexed, slightly unequal, white, petaloid, oblong to obovate, 2.5–3.5 mm long, 1.0–1.5 mm wide, faintly striate, appressed pubescence on abaxial surface near insertion point and along central axis; petals 5, equal, white, oblanceolate, 3.5–4.5 mm long, 1.0–1.5 mm wide, pinnate venation; stamens 10, filaments appearing free but possibly connate for approximately 0.25 mm at base, subequal, 4.0–5.5 mm long, anthers dorsifixed, versatile, longitudinal dehiscence, ellipsoid, to 0.75 mm long, glabrous; ovary centrally inserted, free, sessile, obliquely elliptical, 2.5–4.0 mm long, 1.5–3.0 mm wide, pubescent at base and along suture, becoming glabrous with age, style apical, 1.5–2.5 mm long, glabrous, eccentric, stigma capitate. Legume indehiscent, globose, shortly apiculate (to 0.75 mm), 1.5 cm in diameter, surface of granulose, with very short pubescence, wall of pericarp up to 2.0 mm thick, brown. Seeds 1 per pod (1 ovule per ovary based on dissections), dark brown.
Illustration of Cynometra steyermarkii. A Habit, flowering branch B habit, fruiting branch C leaf base, showing basal acrodromous veins arising from leaflet pulvinus D inflorescence rachis, showing bracts and bracteoles; pedicels removed to show structure E buds with imbricate bracts F flower G bract H bracteoles I sepals J petal K longitudinal section of flower showing single ovule and much reduced hypanthium; sepals, petals and stamens removed. A–K Steyermark et al. 106937, US.
Known from a single collection made in Miranda State, Venezuela. The species was collected growing along a small stream in the foothills of the Cordillera de la Costa at approximately 75 m above sea level. While much of this region is covered in xeric shrublands and thorn forests, this site corresponds to a low gallery forest growing along a tributary of the Río Aricagua.
The type material was collected at the end of March with late flowers and nearly mature fruit.
The specific epithet honours Dr. Julian A. Steyermark, the collector of the type material and a prolific collector of neotropical plants. Over the course of his career, he made over 130,000 collections and greatly advanced our knowledge of the Venezuelan flora.
None.
Cynometra steyermarkii is the only confirmed species of Cynometra known from the forests of the Cordillera de la Costa in northern Venezuela and one of two species of Venezuelan Cynometra growing outside of the Guayana region. Henri Pittier (1926) published an account of a Cynometra growing in the hills outside of Caracas, Cynometra sphaerocarpa Pittier, for his Manual de las plantas usuales de Venezuela. While the description is valid, according to the rules of nomenclature in effect at the time, he failed to designate a type or list any collections that may correspond to this taxon. In his 1958 revision, Dwyer was unable to locate any material that could be assigned to this taxon and pointed out the limited utility of Pittier’s description – ‘Las hojas inequilaterales, lanceadas, largamente atenuadas y glabras… Los frutos son subglobosos, de 3.5–4 cm. de diametro y contienen una sola semilla [Leaflets asymmetric, lanceolate, largely attenuate and glabrous. The fruits are sub-globose, 3.5–4 cm in diameter, and contain a single seed].’– which could very well describe any number of Cynometra species, including C. steyermarkii. A full set of Pittier’s duplicates from this publication should be deposited in the United States National Herbarium (US), but after exhaustive searches in the US collections and a study of both Pittier’s archives and the museum registrar’s records, I was unable to find any material that could be attributable to C. sphaerocarpa. Curators at Herbario Nacional de Venezuela graciously searched through material housed there, but were also unsuccessful. While it is possible that C. steyermarkii and C. sphaerocarpa are the same taxon, without Pittier’s original material, it is impossible to know for sure. Rather than leave this unresolved, it is more useful to describe a new species with good type material.
This species bears a resemblance to Cynometra spruceana var. phaselocarpa Benth. owing to the obtuse nature of the leaf apices. However, C. steyermarkii often has slightly acuminate apices. Furthermore, both the rachis and pedicels of the inflorescence are much shorter in C. steyermarkii than in typical C. spruceana var. phaselocarpa.
ECUADOR. El Oro: Bosque Petrificado Puyango, dirt track from information centre towards the camping area near Río Puyango, 03°52'30"S, 80°05'01"W, 450 m alt., 6 May 1997 [fl], B.B.Klitgaard et al. 507, (holotype K; isotype AAU n.v., LOJA n.v., NY, QCNE n.v., US).
Tree 10–25 m tall; bark grey-brown, lenticelate, inner bark red; branchlets with short pubescence when young, becoming glabrous with age. Stipules not seen. Leaves bifoliolate, axes ferrugino-puberulent when young, glabrous when mature; petioles 4.5–6.5 mm long, transversely corrugated; petiolules 1.5–2.0 mm long, inconspicuous; leaflets oblong-ovate to elliptic to oblong-obovate, occasionally slightly falcate or sub-trapeziform, strongly asymmetric, primary vein eccentric, proximal side 1.8–2.5 times wider than distal, 4.1–7.9 cm long, 2.5–3.3 cm wide, discolorous, abaxial surface sparsely pubescent on midvein, secondary veins and along basal margin, adaxial surface glabrous, primary venation pinnate, secondary venation brochidodromous-eucamptodromous, 2–3 (–4) basal acrodromous veins, decurrent to primary vein, prominent abaxially, flush to slightly raised adaxially, tertiary venation visible on abaxial surface at 10× magnification, margins entire, apex acute, acuminate (to 6.0 mm), retuse, mucronate, base oblique, distal side acute, convex to cuneate, proximal side obtuse, concave to rounded, decurrent to petiolule, single laminar gland present, abaxial, near basal margin of proximal lamina and insertion point of petiolule, typically adjacent to tertiary veins, crateriform, 1.0 mm in diameter. Inflorescence a cluster of (1–)2–3 axillary racemes, bracteate, axes ferrugino-puberulent at base, hairs becoming scattered at distal end; peduncle together with rachis 4.5–8.0 mm long, flowers spirally arranged, 12–20 per raceme; pedicels 5.0–9.0 mm, pubescent initially but soon glabrescent, accrescent in fruit; bracts subtending individual flowers, scale-like, deciduous, leaving behind a lunate scar on the rachis, lustrous, brown, broadly elliptical, strongly convex 1.5–2.5 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, striate, abaxial surface with scattered appressed pubescence at apex and along margins, glabrous adaxially; paired bracteoles inserted 0.5–1.0 mm from base of pedicel, subopposite, oblong-lanceolate, 2.0–2.5 mm long, 1.0 mm wide, convex at apex, pubescent along margins and medial abaxial surface. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric, pentamerous, delicate; hypanthium cupular, 1.0–1.5 mm deep, fleshy, with a few scattered hairs on abaxial and adaxial surface; sepals 4, imbricate, reflexed, unequal, adaxial sepal usually 2 times as wide as the others, white, petaloid, broadly ovate to elliptical, 3.0–4.5 mm long, 1.5–4.0 mm wide, striate, scattered pubescence at base; petals 5, erect, equal to subequal, white, spathulate to oblanceolate, 3.5–5.5 mm long, 1.0–2.0 mm wide, glabrous but with a tuft of hair at base of claw; stamens 10, filaments free, subequal, 5.5–7.5 mm long, white, anthers dorsifixed, versatile, longitudinal dehiscence, suborbicular, to 1.5 mm long, yellow-orange, glabrous; ovary centrally inserted in hypanthium, free, stipitate, obliquely elliptical, 4.0–5.0 mm long, 2.0–2.5 mm wide, densely pilose, stipe 0.5–1.0 mm long, style apical, 3.0–4.0 mm long, glabrous, eccentric, geniculate, stigma capitate. Legume indehiscent, oblong, weakly apiculate, slightly compressed, up to 5.2 cm long, 4.0 cm wide, 3.9 cm thick, surface of valves finely textured, granulose, wall of pericarp up to 4.0 mm thick, deep brown colour at maturity. Seeds 1 per pod, filling entire cavity, dark brown.
Illustration of Cynometra tumbesiana. A Habit B leaflet base, showing laminar gland C flower D inflorescence rachis, showing bracts and bracteoles; pedicels removed to show structure E fruit, dissected to show single seed filling entire cavity. A–D Klitgaard et al. 507, K; B Neill & Núñez 10453, US.
Cynometra tumbesiana occurs in the seasonally dry tropical forests of western and southern Ecuador and north-western Peru (a single collection) at elevations between 100–800 m (Figure
Flowering specimens have been collected in May and December to January; fruiting specimens have been collected in August and January to February. Cynometra tumbesiana is one of the few woody taxa in the dry forests that retain their leaves during the dry season.
The specific epithet refers to the Tumbes region, where the type specimen was collected and where many of the known localities occur.
ECUADOR. El Oro: Bosque Petrificado Puyango, dirt track from information centre towards the camping area near Río Puyango, 03°52'30"S, 80°05'01"W, 450 m alt., 23 Aug 1996 [fr], B.B. Klitgaard et al. 325 (AAU n.v., K, LOJA n.v., NY, QCNE n.v.); 26 Feb 1997 [fr], B.B. Klitgaard et al. 424 (AAU n.v., K, LOJA n.v., NY, QCNE n.v.). [Piñas]: Piedras, about 3 km. along new trail, 18 Jun 1943 [st], E.L. Little, Jr. 6622 (US). Guayas: [without specific locality] 2 Feb 1962 [fr], A.J. Gilmartin 551 (US). Guayaquil: Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, 15 km west of Guayaquil, summit area of Cerro Blanco, 2°10'S, 79°58'W, 370 m alt., 27 Feb 1996 [fr], D. Neill & T. Núñez 10453 (MO, US); Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, along road from visitor centre to “Cusumbo Top”, 80, 01 W, 2 10 S, 400 m alt., 7 Aug 1996 [im fr], D. Neill, T. Núñez & J. Machuca 10636 (MO); Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, carretera a Salinas, km 15, 2°10'S, 79°58'W, 400 m alt., 21–25 Jan 1992 [fr], D. Rubio & Galo Tipaz 2365 (MO). Isidro Ayora: Reserva Ecológica Manglares Churute, carretera Guayaquil–Puerto Inca, sector norte del Cerro Masvale, 2°20'S, 79°50'W, 200–300 m alt., May 1993 [fl], T. Núñez & A. Hernández 147 (MO). Manabi: [Puerto López]: Estero Perro Muerto, Machalilla National Park, below San Sebastian, 1°36'S, 80°42'W, 400–420 m alt., 23 Jan 1991 [fl], A. Gentry & C. Josse 72677 (MO); [San Vicente]: [hacienda] El Recreo, [fl], H.F.A. von Eggers 15752 (US). PERU. Tumbes: Zarumilla: Dtto. Matapalo, Campo Verde a 68 km de. Tumbes, 700–800 m alt., 24 Dec 1967 [fr], J. Schunke V. 2411 (F, NY, US).
This species, restricted to the few remaining fragments of dry tropical forest in western Ecuador and the Tumbes region of Peru, has been mistakenly referred to as Cynometra crassifolia Benth. for many years. However, closer examination shows it to be quite distinct from this taxon. The type specimen of C. crassifolia was collected in Brazil by Portuguese naturalist Alexandre Rodriques Ferreira during his exploration of the Amazonian region of Brazil from 1783–1792. His collections, along with many others housed at Lisbon, were expropriated by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and transferred to Paris during Napoleon’s occupation of Portugal. There, it was seen by George Bentham, who described Cynometra crassifolia in 1840. The primary differences between C. tumbesiana and C. crassifolia are found in the inflorescences: the racemes of C. crassifolia have larger flowers, longer pedicels and a more robust pedicel and rachis, but fewer individual flowers than those of C. tumbesiana. The flowers of C. tumbesiana are indeed relatively small compared to the other neotropical Cynometra species, though they are densely clustered on the short rachis of the inflorescence. The leaflets of C. tumbesiana are also less distinctly acuminate than those of C. crassifolia and have a less obtuse base; the base of the leaflet in C. crassifolia can appear to be almost truncate.
Some taxonomists have placed the Ecuadoran Cynometra within C. bauhiniifolia Benth., with a few treating C. crassifolia as a synonym of C. bauhiniifolia (
Cynometra tumbesiana is morphologically and ecologically similar to C. oaxacana Brandegee from western and southern Mexico. The two can be distinguished by the narrower and more acuminate leaflets and larger fruits in C. tumbesiana. The inflorescences of C. oaxacana are also slightly more robust and have a more obvious pubescence. Both species are found in dry habitats (uncommon amongst the neotropical species of Cynometra), though C. tumbesiana is found in much drier sites.
I thank the directors, curators and support staff at the following herbaria for allowing me to view and borrow specimens: A, ATH, BM, BRI, CANB, F, IAN, INPA, K, MG, MO, NY, P, RB, SING and US. I am very grateful to my thesis advisors Vicki Funk (US) and Patrick Herendeen (CHC) for their suggestions to improve the manuscript. Kenneth Wurdack (US) and Warren Wagner (US) provided invaluable feedback during the preparation of this manuscript. I thank Alice Tangerini (US) and her students, Mattias Lanas and Katherine Rudebusch for providing detailed and illuminating illustrations of the new species. This project was conducted as part of my doctoral research at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Northwestern University and the National Museum of Natural History. The research was funded by grants and fellowships from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Garden Clubs of America, the Hunt Institute, the National Science Foundation (Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant DEB-1501199; co-PI Patrick Herendeen) and the Smithsonian Institution.