Abstract Detail

Systematics Section

Judd, Walter S. [1], Ionta, Gretchen M. [2], Skean Jr., J. Dan [3], Becquer-Granados, Eldis R. [4], Michelangeli, Fabian A. [5].

Introduction to the Miconieae of the Greater Antilles: I. Major clades.

Recent DNA-based phylogenetic analyses of Miconieae (Melastomataceae) by Michelangeli and collaborators have revealed, for the first time, the major clades comprising this group of some 1800 Neotropical species; unfortunately, nearly all of the traditionally recognized taxonomic groups have proved to be non-monophyletic. Here we introduce the major clades occurring in the Greater Antilles. Most species fall within the Caribbean clade (125 species), which is comprised of several distinct subclades supported by molecular and morphological data: 1) Calycogonium glabratum clade (10 spp; leaves with pair of conspicuous domatia, their hairs often connate), 2) Calycogonium hispidulum clade (13 spp.; ovary 4-lobed with external calyx lobes flattened parallel to the floral radii), 3) Pachyanthopsis clade (5 spp.; lax inflorescences, globular-stellate hairs with elongate curved arms); 4) Leandra lima clade (ca. 30 spp.; hypanthia and usually also leaves with stout, thick-based, elongate-multicellular hairs, petals with a stout apical hair, and usually lacking stellate hairs); 5) Tetrazygia bicolor complex (6 poorly delimited spp.; leaves with stellate-peltate scales, reduced external calyx lobes, constricted hypanthium), 6) Pachyanthus s.s. (9 spp.; clawed petals, most have sepal lobes tearing apart), and 7) the reduced placental clade (ca. 12 spp.; heterogeneous group with species currently placed in Tetrazygia, Calycogonium, Pachyanthus, and Miconia). Other major radiations within the Antilles are represented by Mecranium (24 spp.; axillary inflorescences, 4-merous flowers, erose to ciliate toral fringe, reduced external calyx teeth, and most with a membranous irregularly rupturing calyptra), Miconia sect. Chaenopleura (47 spp.; flowers with actinomorphic androecium, the stamens held in a ring, the anthers obovate, opening by 2 longitudinal slits, berries pale blue), and Clidemia sect. Sagraea (see companion abstract). The phylogenetic positions of some Antillean species are unresolved.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Florida, Department of Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118526, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
2 - University of Florida, Department of Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118526, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8526, USA
3 - Albion College, Department of Biology, Albion, MI, 49224-1831, USA
4 - Jardin Botanico Nacional, Universidad de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
5 - New York Botanical Garden, Cullman Program for Molecular Systematics Studies, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx, New York, 10458, USA

Keywords:
Melastomataceae
Greater Antilles
Miconieae.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 56
Location: 556B/Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Time: 4:30 PM
Number: 56014
Abstract ID:248