An official website of the United States government
All the names in Paronychia described from South America are investigated. Five names (P. arbuscula, P. brasiliana subsp. brasiliana var. pubescens, P. coquimbensis, P. hieronymi, and P. mandoniana) are lecto- or neotypified on specimens preserved at GOET, K, LP, and P. The typification of nine names, first proposed by Chaudhri in 1968 as the “holotype” are corrected according to Art. 9.10 of ICN. Three second-step typifications (Art. 9.17 of ICN) are proposed for P. camphorosmoides, P. communis, and P. hartwegiana. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: P. arequipensis comb. et stat. nov. (basionym: P. microphylla subsp. microphylla var. arequepensis), P. compacta nom. nov. pro P. andina (Philippi non Gray; Art. 53.1 of ICN), P. jujuyensis comb. et stat. nov. (basionym: P. hieronymi subsp. hieronymi var. jujuyensis), P. compacta subsp. boliviana comb. nov. (basionym: P. andina subsp. boliviana), and P. compacta subsp. purpurea comb. nov. (basionym: P. andina subsp. purpurea). A new species (P. glabra sp. nov.) is proposed based on our examination of live plants and herbarium specimens. P. johnstonii subsp. johnstonii var. scabrida is synonymized (syn. nov.) with P. johnstonii. Finally, P. argyrocoma subsp. argyrocoma is excluded from South America since it was based on misidentified specimens (deposited at MO) of P. andina subsp. andina. A total of 30 species (43 taxa including subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, and forms) are recognized, highlighting that for some (Paronychia chilensis, P. communis, P. setigera) we provisionally accept Chaudhri’s infraspecific classification, since the high phenotypic variability of these taxa is quite complicated and further investigations need to solve their taxonomy.
more »
« less
This content will become publicly available on February 17, 2026
Notes on the genus Polycarpon (Caryophyllaceae) in South America, with the description of a new subspecies from Peru
Background and Aims: Polycarpon is a genus traditionally comprising about 16 species distributed in tropical and temperate regions. Molecular studies demonstrated its polyphyly, highlighting three supported clades: the P. coquimbense-suffruticosum aggregate (from South America), P. prostratum (tropical), and the P. tetraphyllum aggregate (mainly in the Mediterranean region). The first two clades have been excluded from Polycarpon: P. coquimbense, P. suffruticosum, and P. anomalum recently transferred to Augustea, and P. prostratum recognized under Polycarpaea. The remaining members represent a polyploid complex treated as a single species, P. tetraphyllum. Taxonomic questions remain open, especially concerning the number of taxa occurring in some geographical areas. Among them is South America, for which we here present a synopsis.Methods: This work is based on field surveys, examination of specimens, and analysis of literature. The International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants was consulted.Key results: Three subspecies of Polycarpon tetraphyllum are recognized in South America: subsp. apurense (from Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, and Venezuela), subsp. tetraphyllum (alien in most of the countries), and subsp. peruvianum (endemic to Peru). The latter subspecies is newly described here and it differs from subsp. diphyllum and subsp. tetraphyllum by stipule shape, leaf arrangement and colour, arrangement of flowers in inflorescences, petal length, and stamen number. It also presents a distinct habitat: dry, rocky soils, in contrast to the sandy soils or disturbed areas where other subspecies grow. The name P. urbanianum, previously considered as a Peruvian endemic, is here demonstrated to be not a species of Polycarpon. A diagnostic key of the South American subspecies of P. tetraphyllum is proposed.Conclusions: The results obtained remark the variability of Polycarpon tetraphyllum s.l. and highlight that the flora of South America, especially concerning the small Caryophyllaceae needs to be further investigated.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2019425
- PAR ID:
- 10631639
- Publisher / Repository:
- Acta Botanica Mexicana
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Acta Botanica Mexicana
- Issue:
- 132
- ISSN:
- 0187-7151
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Lecidea varians is among the most common and abundant bark-dwelling crustose lichens in temperate eastern North America. As presently delimited, it is highly variable, including chemical and morphological diversity well beyond that currently accepted for most lichen species. The generic placement of L. varians has also been questioned for decades. It has long been recognized as aberrant in Lecidea and Pyrrhospora, excluded from Lecidella, and more recently transferred to Traponora. Drawing from the results of extensive chemical, molecular phylogenetic and morphological studies, we show that L. varians and its relatives represent a previously unrecognized lineage within the speciose lichen family Lecanoraceae. The lineage appears to occupy an isolated position, distinct from the aforementioned genera, and is newly described as the genus Xanthosyne (typified by L. varians). The chemical and morphological variation within L. varians is mirrored by, but not entirely correlated with, considerable molecular diversity. A new taxonomy is proposed for L. varians and its relatives to serve as a framework for future studies. Three species are recognized: X. varians (≡ Lecidea varians), common and widespread in parts of North America; X. granularis, a new species from the Atlantic Coast of eastern North America that differs morphologically from X. varians in having a leprose thallus; and X. sharnoffiorum, a new species also found mainly along the Atlantic Coast of eastern North America, which has a coarsely granular, non-leprose thallus and produces a unique, unidentified xanthone. Multiple well-supported lineages were recovered within X. varians that correlate to varying degrees with chemical and morphological variability, as well as geographic distribution. Eight subspecies are recognized to accommodate the variation within X. varians: X. varians subsp. exigua comb. nov. (≡ Lecidea exigua) characterized by the presence of atranorin and a consistent set of three xanthones, is widespread in southern Europe and western North America (coastal California); X. varians subsp. varians (≡ Lecidea varians) is distributed mainly in northeastern North America and produces thuringione and arthothelin; X. varians subsp. morsei subsp. nov. is morphologically and chemically variable, with one chemotype (thiophanic acid) with a northeastern distribution, and the other with a unique and unidentified xanthone, found mainly in the interior U.S.A.; X. varians subsp. obscura subsp. nov. occurs mainly in the central U.S.A. and North Temperate regions, produces a unique, unidentified xanthone and generally has black apothecia with green epihymenial pigments; X. varians subsp. pseudomorsei subsp. nov. and X. varians subsp. submorsei subsp. nov. resemble X. varians subsp. morsei but differ in molecular sequence characters; X. varians subsp. subtilis comb. nov. (≡ Lecidea subtilis) and X. varians subsp. subexigua subsp. nov. occur in the Appalachian Mountains, the former producing atranorin and the latter lacking atranorin, both with thiophanic acid with or without other xanthones. In an addendum, Lecidella subviridis is discussed with respect to the genus Xanthosyne. An identification key is provided for all species and their subspecies within Xanthosyne.more » « less
-
Abstract Parablechnumis the most diverse genus in the fern family Blechnaceae, with about 70 species, mainly from Central and South America, the Austropacific, and a few in Africa. Species delimitation inParablechnumis challenging, and regional studies vary in species recognized. This genus is generally found in humid mid- to high-elevation forests, especially in the Andes. Ecuador is notable for its high species richness, particularly in the poorly explored Cordillera del Cóndor, a sub-Andean range with a distinctive geology contributing to high plant diversity and endemism. Since the early 2000s, botanical expeditions have revealed numerous endemic species, highlighting the region's significance. In 2006, an unusualParablechnumspecies was collected in the Cordillera del Cóndor. Here, we describe it as a new species,Parablechnum shuariorum. It grows on sandstone cliffs along small rivers and can be distinguished by its fertile fronds, which are shorter than its sterile ones, and its densely scaly rachis. This species, endemic to the Cordillera del Cóndor, is found at elevations of 900–1,600 m. It is named after the Shuar people, whose lands include the collection sites. Preliminary conservation assessment suggests thatP. shuariorumis endangered due to a limited area of occupancy and threats from human activities, such as mining.more » « less
-
Abstract Liotyphlopsis a genus of blindsnakes distributed in Central and South America. We reviewed specimens ofLiotyphlops albirostrisalong its current distribution range and, based on morphological data and ecological niche modeling analyses, we restrict the geographical range ofL. albirostrisand validate three previously described species. In this revision, we describe the morphological variation in the populations from Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and propose a new taxonomic arrangement. We revalidate three previous synonyms ofL. albirostristo full species status, while dividing the populations from Colombia in two subspecies―one attributed to a previously recognized species from the Caribbean region, and a new one from the Andean region. The new species differs fromL. albirostrisfrom Panamá in cephalic scale arrangements that effectively reduces the previously reported variability of these scales inL. albirostris. We also explore some osteological differences that are congruent with the variation observed. We hope that the recognition of these new species better represents the diversity withinLiotyphlops, helping to bring these new species out of their cryptic status so that they will be considered in future conservation efforts.more » « less
-
The genus Rhoptropus comprises nine recognized species of diurnal geckos endemic to the arid regions of Angola and Namibia. Seven species occur in Angola, including the widespread R. boultoni and the poorly known Angolan endemics R. benguellensis and R. montanus, formerly recognized as subspecies of R. boultoni. While R. benguellensis is relatively widespread in the Angolan Escarpment highlands, R. montanus is geographically restricted to the Huíla Plateau. Recent fieldwork on the Serra da Neve inselberg, a herpetological diversity hotspot in southwestern Angola, revealed the presence of an undescribed species of Rhoptropus at an elevation of approximately 1600 m. An integrative taxonomic approach combining coloration, morphological and molecular data supports the recognition of this population as a distinct taxonomic unit with affinities to R. montanus, which we describe herein as Rhoptropus nivimontanus sp. nov. The discovery of a new species of Rhoptropus endemic to Serra da Neve is discussed in the biogeographic context of the region.more » « less
