Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden

Toward a New Generic Delimitation in Polygalaceae III: Chamaebuxus, Chodatia, Heterosamara, and Paivanthus

José Floriano Barêa Pastore — 2026-03-06

The Chamaebuxus alliance (Polygalaceae) comprises the Old World genera Heterosamara Kuntze, Chamaebuxus Tourn. (formerly known as Polygaloides Haller), and Polygala L. subg. Chodatia Paiva and represents the last unresolved lineage of Polygala s.l. that has not yet been comprehensively analyzed in a phylogenetic study. Based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, we accommodate these taxa into four distinct genera: Chamaebuxus, Chodatia (Paiva) J. F. B. Pastore, comb. & stat. nov. (elevated to genus rank), Heterosamara, and Paivanthus J. F. B. Pastore, gen. nov. Phylogenetic trees were inferred using target enrichment data with Angiosperms353 probes, complemented by data from the maternally inherited plastid loci and the biparentally inherited nrITS region. A strongly supported topological incongruence was observed between the plastid and nuclear datasets for the African genus Paivanthus, which was recovered as sister to Chodatia in plastid analyses, but as sister to the Asiatic genus Heterosamara in nuclear analyses. This incongruence suggests a likely hybrid origin for the African lineage formerly included in Heterosamara. Here, Polygala subg. Chodatia is raised to generic rank, encompassing the species formerly alternatively assigned to Polygala sect. Arillus S. K. Chen. Within Chamaebuxus, we recognize two sections: the Old World section Chamaebuxus and the North American monotypic section Triclisperma (Raf.) J. F. B. Pastore. Two genera are now recognized as having heteropolar pollen: Heterosamara s. str. and Paivanthus, which includes African species previously assigned to Heterosamara. The genus Heterosamara is further subdivided into five sections: section Ecristata J. F. B. Pastore (newly described), section Heterosamara, section Saxicola S. K. Chen, section Spathulata J. F. B. Pastore (newly described), and section Villososperma C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen. A taxonomic key is provided for the genera Chamaebuxus, Chodatia, Heterosamara, Paivanthus, and Polygala, along with their infrageneric taxa. Photographic plates, a distribution map, 15 new lectotypes, six second-step lectotypes, two new heterotypic synonyms, 41 new combinations, and nomenclatural notes are also presented.

Rubiacearum Americanarum Magna Hama Pars LV. Overview with a Revised Circumscription of Palicourea sect. Heteropsychotria (Palicoureeae)

Charlotte M. Taylor — 2026-04-28

Many of the species classified in Psychotria L. subg. Heteropsychotria Steyerm. have been shown to belong to Palicourea Aubl. based on morphological and molecular characters. Here, species corresponding to Psychotria sect. Heteropsychotria Steyerm. are studied. This section is circumscribed here differently than by Borhidi, to include 29 species found from Mexico and the Antilles to southeastern Brazil with centers of diversity in northeastern South America and the Greater Antilles. This section is not easily diagnosed morphologically because its features are ancestral and widespread in Palicourea, but it can be characterized generally by the combination of stipule form, inflorescence arrangement, and corolla and fruit details. Here several species have revised taxonomic circumscriptions and names, seven new nomenclatural combinations are published, seven names are lectotypified, and four new species are described: Pal. laxivenulosa C. M. Taylor and Pal. pseudovenulosa C. M. Taylor are found in the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, and Pal. chiribiquetensis C. M. Taylor and Pal. hopkinsiana C. M. Taylor are found in the central to western Amazon basin.

Taxonomic Assessment and Neotypification of Salicornia utahensis (Amaranthaceae: Salicornioideae)

Esteban Ramírez Chueca — 2026-07-01

Salicornia utahensis Tidestr. is a perennial halophyte inhabiting saline habitats of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The original type, Kearney & Shantz 3249 (1912; Grantsville, Utah), cited in literature as deposited at US herbarium, is no longer extant, and no duplicates have been located despite extensive searches. In July 2025, we visited the area near Grantsville corresponding as closely as possible to the locus classicus in order to assess extant populations and collect representative material in optimal phenological condition. A neotype is designated here in accordance with Articles 7.11, 9.8, 9.13, and 9.19(a) of the International Code of Nomenclature (Turland et al., 2025) to ensure nomenclatural stability and maintain the traditional usage of the name. In addition, we provide morphological, micromorphological, ecological, and ETS-based phylogenetic evidence, which further clarifies the identity and taxonomic position of the species.

Taxonomic Novelties in Aniba (Lauraceae) with Notes on Stamen Diversity

Rosa del C. Ortiz — 2026-07-01

Our recent herbarium work yielded various undescribed species in the genus Aniba Aubl. (Lauraceae); four of them are described here. Aniba fasciculiflora R. Ortiz & van der Werff, A. sanchezvegae R. Ortiz & van der Werff, and A. tunquiana R. Ortiz & van der Werff are from northern Peru, and A. villosior R. Ortiz & van der Werff is from central Bolivia. The new species are compared with morphologically similar species and distinguished from them by unique combinations of characters, of which the most relevant are flower arrangement, flower shape, and stamen features. We reinstate three taxa that were previously placed in synonymy: A. gigantifolia O. C. Schmidt, A. murcana C. K. Allen, and A. simulans C. K. Allen. We also investigate stamen diversity in Aniba and explore its usefulness in distinguishing species in the genus. By their type of stamen, the newly described and reinstated species all belong to the Aniba affinis group.

Taxonomic and Morphometric Studies of Taxa from the Nissolia brasiliensis and N. longiflora Complexes (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Dalbergieae)

Renan Pavan Campos — 2026-08-25

Nissolia Jacq. comprises 32 species distributed throughout the Neotropics. Its representatives are vegetatively uniform, making floral and fruit characters essential for species delimitation. This homogeneity, however, results in unresolved taxonomic complexes, especially among species with high morphological similarity, such as N. brasiliensis (Vogel) T. M. Moura & Fort.-Perez and N. longiflora (Benth. ex A. Gray) T. M. Moura & Fort.-Perez. These taxa exhibit not only extensive intraspecific morphological variation but also imprecise delimitation. Resolving such complexes is critical for understanding biodiversity, as they obscure the actual number of species. In this context, the present study aimed to conduct a morphometric and taxonomic investigation of the N. brasiliensis–N. longiflora complex. We combined classical taxonomic approaches with multivariate analyses, specifically factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) coupled with hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC), using 14 qualitative and 25 quantitative characters from 46 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We also provide an identification key, distribution maps, photographic plates, and illustrations for the investigated taxa. The results support the recognition of five species within the complex, leading to the proposal of four name reinstatements, six new combinations, and four new synonyms.

Erratum: Toward a New Generic Delimitation in Polygalaceae III: Macropolygala J. F. B. Pastore, a Replacement Name for Chodatia (Paiva) J. F. B. Pastore, Nom. Illeg.

José Floriano Barêa Pastore — 2026-08-25

After publication of our recent article in the Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Volume 111 (published 6 March 2026; Pastore et al., 2026), we discovered that the generic name Chodatia (Paiva) J. F. B. Pastore had already been used for an algal genus, Chodatia Hansgirg (1903). Because algae are governed by the same International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants, Chodatia (Paiva) J. F. B. Pastore is therefore a later homonym and illegitimate under Article 53.1 of the Code (Turland et al., 2025). As the name commemorates the Swiss botanist Robert Hippolyte Chodat (1865–1934), whose work was particularly important in Polygalaceae but also extended to other angiosperms and to phycology, especially green algae, the prior use of the name in algae is perhaps not surprising. We therefore provide the necessary correction and propose Macropolygala J. F. B. Pastore as a replacement name (nomen novum) for Chodatia (Paiva) J. F. B. Pastore.

The following nomenclatural changes are therefore required.

Cypselae of Canary Island Tolpis (Asteraceae: Cichorieae): Populational Variation, Biogeography, and Taxonomic Utility

Daniel J. Crawford — 2026-08-25

Tolpis Adans. (Asteraceae: Cichorieae) is a small monophyletic clade in the Macaronesian archipelagos, the larger of two subclades occurring in the Canary Islands. Variation in setae number and body lengths of cypselae, which ostensibly function in dispersal and establishment, were studied to assess their biogeographic and ecological implications, and their taxonomic utility. The Tukey post-hoc test assessed differences in cypselae among populations on each island, means among islands, and differences among taxa. El Hierro populations share the same Tukey group for both characters; there are differences among populations on both La Gomera and La Palma. Setae number is variable on geologically complex Tenerife with five Tukey groups in the sampling from different substrates, areas of the island, and taxonomic designations. Mean values for cypsela characters do not differ among El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma; Tenerife has larger cypselae and higher setae numbers than the other three islands. Population variation in cypselae limits their use as characters for delimiting taxa; however, variation associated with geological substrates and potential dispersibility were noted. The commonly reported larger cypselae of insular lineages compared to closest continental relatives are not seen in Canarian Tolpis.

Five New Bullate-leaved Species of Peperomia (Piperaceae) from Colombia

José Esteban Jiménez — 2026-08-25

We describe and illustrate five new species of bullate-leaved Peperomia Ruiz & Pav. from Colombia: P. arboretorum J. E. Jiménez, Díaz-Rueda & J. P. Tobón-A. from Antioquia, P. boyacensis J. E. Jiménez & D. Amaya from Boyacá, P. bullatifolia J. E. Jiménez, Edwin Trujillo & Villanueva from Caquetá, P. guanesorum J. E. Jiménez & D. Sanín from Santander, and P. vallecaucana J. E. Jiménez from Valle del Cauca. Together with previously known taxa, these discoveries raise to 10 the number of Colombian species with bullate leaf blades, a phenotype that has likely been underestimated because it is often obscured in herbarium material. All known bullate-leaved species are terrestrial, restricted to shaded understory habitats, and most are allopatric montane endemics. We combine detailed field observations, herbarium studies, and a phylogenetic framework to aid description of these species and understand the evolution of bullate-leaved Peperomia. Four new species for which molecular data are available are placed in Peperomia subg. Multipalmata Scheiris & Frenzke, whereas P. vallecaucana is inferred, based on morphology, to belong to subgenus Perlucida Scheiris & Frenzke. Additional sampling of three previously described bullate-leaved species was also added to the phylogeny. Our results demonstrate that bullate leaves in Colombian Peperomia have evolved at least three times independently and are concentrated in two major lineages, Multipalmata and Perlucida. We recognize two main venation-related bullation patterns and highlight the potential adaptative significance of this trait in humid, low-light montane forests. For each new species, we provide a morphological description, notes on distribution, habitat, and a preliminary IUCN conservation assessment. Photographs and illustrations of all the living plants are also included, as well as a key to identify the species with bullate leaf blades in Colombia.