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Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). X. Revision of the species of the Miconia crotonifolia complex

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Abstract

The systematics of Miconia angustilamina, M. crotonifolia, M. macrocarpa and M. umbellata, species traditionally considered within either Clidemia and Heterotrichum (M. angustilamina, M. umbellata) or Tetrazygia and Tetrazygiopsis (M. crotonifolia, M. macrocarpa) are investigated. These species, which are considered to be closely related and constitute the M. crotonifolia complex, are taxonomically revised. The circumscription of M. umbellata is expanded to include Heterotrichum cymosum (often considered a Puerto Rican endemic) and that of M. macrocarpa is expanded to include Tetrazygia tuerckheimii, which is recognized as an ecologically differentiated subspecies. The species of the M. crotonifolia complex are restricted to the Greater Antilles and are the most diverse on Hispaniola.

Resumen

La relaciones sistemáticas entre Miconia angustilamina, M. crotonifolia, M. macrocarpa y M. umbellata, especies tradicionalmente consideradas dentro de Clidemia y Heterotrichum (M. angustilamina, M. umbellata) o Tetrazygia y Tetrazygiopsis (M. crotonifolia, M. macrocarpa) fueron investigadas. Estas especies, las cuales se consideran como cercanamente relacionadas y que constituyen el complejo de M. crotonifolia son objeto de una revisión taxonómica. El concepto de M. umbellata se expande, incluyendo ahora Heterotrichum cymosum (generalmente considerada endémica a Puerto Rico) y se expande M. macrocarpa con la inclusión de Tetrazygia tuerckheimii, la cual es considerada como una subespecie ecológicamente diferenciada. Las especies del complejo de M. crotonifolia están restringidas a las Antillas Mayores y presentan su mayor diversidad en La Española.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Norris Williams, Keeper of the University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS), and Kent Perkins, Collections Manager, for assistance in processing specimens. We also thank the curators and staff of the herbaria (A, F, FTG, GH, JBSD, MICH, MO, NY, S, and US) who generously provided specimens on loan. Keron C. St. E. Campbell graciously assisted in our visit to the herbarium (IJ) of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, Institute of Jamaica, and Patrick Lewis was very helpful during our visit to the herbarium (UCWI) of the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Milcíades Mejía, Thomas A. Zanoni, Daisy Castillo, Alain H. Liogier, Teodoro Clase, Ricardo García, Francisco Jiménez, and Brígido Peguero assisted in several visits of the first author to the herbarium (JBSD) of the Jardin Botánico Nacional, Dominican Republic. Bret Jestro assisted during the visit of the first author to the herbarium of Fairchild Tropical Garden (FTG). Numerous individuals assisted in field work, most notably J. Richard Abbott, Reed Beaman, José de Js. Jiménez, Beverly J. Judd, Reuben E. Judd, Alain H. Liogier, Richard Lowden, Milcíades Mejía, Tim McDowell, J. Dan Skean, Jr. and Thomas A. Zanoni (Dominican Republic), Dan and Tia Cordier, Donald Dod, Paul Paryski, Jenness McBride, Florence Sergile, J. Dan Skean, Jr. and Charles Woods (Haiti), Keron C. St. E. Campbell, Patrick Lewis and George R. Proctor (Jamaica), and Reuben E. Judd, George R. Proctor and Carlos Riviera (Puerto Rico). We thank the staff of the Electron Microscopy and Bioimaging Laboratory, University of Florida. We appreciate the useful comments of three anonymous reviewers, and the editorial assistance of Fabián Michelangeli. This research was supported, in part, by National Science Foundation Grant BSR-0818399.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Walter S. Judd & Gretchen M. Ionta

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Judd, W.S., Ionta, G.M. Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). X. Revision of the species of the Miconia crotonifolia complex. Brittonia 65, 66–95 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-012-9264-y

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