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Conservation and taxonomic updates for the Jamaican endemic genus Dendrocousinsia (Euphorbiaceae)

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Abstract

The nomenclature of Dendrocousinsia (Hippomaneae, Euphorbiaceae) is revised and we present four new taxonomic combinations within the genus. It comprises six species and one variety. Extensive field surveys were conducted and conservation assessments are presented based on the IUCN redlist system for threatened species. Three of the species are Critically Endangered as each of them has a very restricted distribution. The other three species are Vulnerable. There has been a long debate pertinent to the taxonomic placement of Dendrocousinsia. Until extensive phylogenetic studies are performed within the Hippomaneae we propose to maintain this group as a distinct genus and not as a section within Sebastiania. This study highlights Dendrocousinsia as restricted to Jamaica with a high conservation priority because of its uniqueness and the Critically Endangered status of half of its species.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (grant number 12254431). This is contribution number 217 of the Tropical Biology Program of Florida International University. The study was also supported by matching research funds from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Tracy Commock thanks Montgomery Botanical Center for providing lodging during her research visits to Miami. Our gratitude to B. Van Ee and an anonymous referee for reviewing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tracy Commock.

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Commock, T., Campbell, K.C.S.E., Meikle, J. et al. Conservation and taxonomic updates for the Jamaican endemic genus Dendrocousinsia (Euphorbiaceae). Brittonia 67, 87–95 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-014-9357-x

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