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Sectional Placement of Some Problematic Cordia Species (Boraginaceae)

1989; American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Volume: 14; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2418917

1548-2324

James S. Miller, Joan W. Nowicke,

Banana Cultivation and Research

The recent publication of Cordia sect. Superbiflorae based on Brazilian species brings into question the sectional placement of some extra-Brazilian members of the genus. Pollen of 24 species of sects. Cordia and Superbiflorae and several additional species with large corollas was examined in an attempt to resolve problems of sectional assignment of the species with funnelform corollas. At least three pollen types are found in Cordia, which correlate closely with sectional limits. Sections Cordia and Superbiflorae differ from the remainder of the genus in their large, funnelform corollas, but they can be distinguished by the striate-reticulate tectum of pollen in the former and spinulose tectum in the latter. These studies suggest that Cordia boissieri, C. crispiflora, C. curbeloi, C. dodecandra, C. fitchii, C. ignea, C. pulverulenta, C. rickseckeri, C. salvifolia, C. seleriana, C. subcordata, C. tortuensis, and C. truncatifolia are best placed in sect. Cordia. Cordia bordasii is unique in the genus in its rugulose tectum but is more closely related to sect. Cordia than to other sections. Cordia aberrans, C. anabaptista, C. rufescens, C. superba, and C. taguahyensis were the basis for sect. Superbiflorae. Pollen morphology suggests that C. decandra is more closely related to these species than to other sections. Cordia lauta and C. chabrensis are still best referred to sect. Varronia despite their unusual corollas. Cordia aurantiaca is unusual in having pollen with a clavate tectum but seems best placed in sect. Myxa based on floral/fruit morphology.