Evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of Microtea (Microteaceae), a basal lineage in the core Caryophyllales
Author
Sukhorukov, Alexander P.
Author
Sennikov, Alexander N.
Author
Nilova, Maya V.
Author
Mazei, Yuri
Author
Kushunina, Maria
Author
Marchioretto, Maria Salete
Author
Hanacek, Pavel
text
PhytoKeys
2019
115
1
50
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.115.29041
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.115.29041
1314-2003-115-1
FFC7960EFFAAFFDC04270C4DBF41FFA8
2542375
Gen.
Microtea Sw., Prodr. [O.P.Swartz]: 53 (1788).
Microtea debilis
Sw. (type species)
Schollera
Rohr, Skr. Naturhist.-Selsk. 2: 210 (1792), nom. illegit., non Roth (1788).
Microtea subgen. Schollera
(Rohr) H.Walter, Pflanzenr. (Engler) 39: 127 (1909), nom. inval. (Art. 22.2). Type species:
M. debilis
Sw. Note:
Vahl (1792)
established that a new generic name,
Schollera
was based on the plant that he considered conspecific with
Microtea debilis
. The type of
Schollera
Rohr is therefore that of
Microtea debilis
(
Turland et al. 2018
: Art. 10.2).
Ancistrocarpus
Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. [quarto] 2: 186 (1817). Type species:
A. maypurensis
Kunth (≡
Microtea maypurensis
(Kunth) G.Don).
Potamophila
Schrank, Pl. Rar. Hort. Monac. 2: tab. 63 (1821) nom. illegit., non R.Br. (1810). Type species:
P. parviflora
Schrank (=
Microtea maypurensis
(Kunth) G.Don).
Ceratococca
Willd. ex Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg., ed. 15, 6: LXX (1820). Type species:
C. maypurensis
Humb. & Bonpl. ex Roem. & Schult. (=
Microtea maypurensis
(Kunth) G.Don).
Aphananthe
Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 383 (1821), nom. rej. Type species:
A. celosioides
(Spreng.) Link (≡
Microtea celosioides
(Spreng.) Moq. ex Sennikov & Sukhor.). Note: The generic name
Aphananthe
Link is rejected in favour of its later homonym,
Aphananthe
Planch. (
Cannabaceae
).
Description of the genus.
Annuals, perennial herbs, rarely dwarf subshrubs; stems angulate, glabrous or papillate; leaves alternate, sessile or pedunculate, entire, filiform to ovate or obovate, cuneate or truncate, apically mostly acuminate, a persistent leaf rosette usually present, cauline leaves resembling the rosulate leaves or much shorter;
inflorescence
a spike or thyrsoid; pedicel inconspicuous or up to 3 mm long; flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, subtended by a hyaline bract and two similar bracteoles, sometimes bracteoles absent; perianth of (4)5 glabrous segments or lobes, green, white or yellowish; stamens (4)5 in alternisepalous position, or 6-8 (in both antesepalous and alternisepalous positions), anthers 0.15-0.30 mm, introrse, thecae globose, pollen grains pantoporate; ovary roundish; style not present or very short, stigmas 2-5; fruit nut-like, single-seeded, dry; pericarp projections (if present) not evident in flowering condition, pericarp at fruiting stage reticulate, mostly having finger-shaped outgrowths (emergences) that can be plumose (with additional smaller hair-like projections) or hooked at their apices; seeds spherical, black, with rugose or alveolate surface, with annular embryo located vertically and abundant perisperm.
Ten species distributed in the (sub)tropics of the Americas; two -
M. debilis
and
M. maypurensis
- are considered as aliens in the humid tropics of Africa (Cameroon) and Asia (Indonesia), respectively.