A revision of African Velloziaceae based on leaf anatomy characters and rbcL nucleotide sequences. (19th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Behnke, H.‐Dietmar; Hummel, Eric; Hillmer, Stefan; Sauer‐Gürth, Hedwig; Gonzalez, Javier; Wink, Michael
• Is Part Of: Botanical journal of the Linnean Society. Volume 172:Number 1(2013:May)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2013-04-19
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/boj.12018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-4074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The African Velloziaceae is revised mainly using evidence from leaf anatomy and <italic>rbcL</italic> sequence data. <italic>Xerophyta</italic> is the only African genus in the family. Forty‐five species are recognized in Africa, 11 of which are described as new and distinct on the basis of morphological, anatomical and/or genetic characters; one species is known to occur on the Arabian Peninsula, and 25 species are presently identified in Madagascar. The leaf anatomy of all <italic>Xerophyta</italic> spp. and the <italic>rbcL</italic> sequences of 44 <italic>Xerophyta</italic> spp. are examined. Four distinct types of leaf anatomy are (re‐)defined and, with additional anatomical and morphological features, are used to produce a key to African <italic>Xerophyta</italic>. For each species, the morphology, leaf anatomy, synonymy, distribution, extensive literature sources and specimens used are given. The combined anatomical/genetic evidence allowed the description of the new species and the definition of <italic>X. simulans</italic> as singular in African Velloziaceae with leaf anatomical similarities to the South American <italic>Vellozia plicata</italic> and to Cyclanthaceae. The analysis of the <italic>rbcL</italic> sequence data supports the Chinese genus <italic>Acanthochlamys</italic> as sister to Velloziaceae <italic>s.s.</italic>, the monophyly of the Old Word genus <italic>Xerophyta</italic> and its separation from the New World taxa. In <italic>Xerophyta</italic>, a well‐supported clade includes all species with radial isolateral mesophyll (<italic>Barbacenia</italic>‐type leaf anatomy). The other leaf types do not separate into uniform clades. A Madagascan clade houses species with <italic>Vellozia</italic>‐ and <italic>Xerophyta</italic>‐type leaf anatomy and also contains the pan‐African <italic>X. humilis</italic>. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London</p> </abstract>