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Anatomical interpretations of the taxonomy of Chamaecrista (L.) Moench sect. Absus (Leguminosae–Caesalpinioideae)

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Abstract

Chamaecrista (L.) Moench (Caesalpinioideae–Leguminosae) with 330 species is organized into six sections: Apoucouita, Absus, Grimaldia, Chamaecrista, Caliciopsis and Xerocalyx. Section Absus is the largest section of the Chamaecrista and is organized into four subsections, viz., subsect. Adenophyllum, subsect. Baseophyllum, subsect. Otophyllum and subsect. Absus. This section is not monophyletic and has a complex taxonomy. This study aims to anatomically characterize 60 taxa of Chamaecrista, identifying meaningful morphoanatomical characters that may shed light on the evaluations of the taxonomic and phylogenetic framework of Chamaecrista, especially C. sect. Absus. Standard light microscopy techniques were used to anatomically characterize the leaves. The anatomical data were subjected to a multivariate analysis (Jaccard index). Epidermal papillae on the abaxial side, the distribution and types of secretory and tector trichomes, variations in the arrangement of the vascular system of the midvein and the type of arrangement of the vascular system of the petiole are useful for separating species or groups of species. The presence and type of secretory structure, the type and position of stomata and the venation pattern are important in establishing the affinities between sections and subsections. The phenetic analysis demonstrates that the anatomical data contribute to the establishment of affinities between sections and subsections, supporting the elevation of the taxonomic status of the clade Baseophyllum to section and the insertion of C. absus (C. sect. Grimaldia) into C. sect. Absus, corroborating molecular studies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível de Superior), CAPES/PNADB (Programa Nacional de Apoio e Desenvolvimento da Botânica), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais) and Floresta Escola (SECTES/UNESCO/HidroEx/FAPEMIG) for financial support and/or scholarships. We also wish to acknowledge he herbaria ESAL, HUEFS, OUPR, RB and SPF for allowing sampling of voucher specimens; and the Instituto Chico Mendes and IEF-MG (Instituto Estadual de Floresta de Minas Gerais) for permission to collect specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Rodovia BR 367, Km 583, 5.000, CEP 39.100-000, Diamantina, MG, Brazil

    Dayana M. T. Francino

  2. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, CEP 36.570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil

    Ítalo A. C. Coutinho, Valdnéa C. Dalvi, Aristéa A. Azevedo & Renata M. S. A. Meira

  3. Departamento de Educação, Herbário HUNEB (Coleção Paulo Afonso), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Campus VIII. R. do Gangorra 503, CHESF, Alves de Sousa, Paulo Afonso, BA, 48608-240, Brazil

    Adilva de S. Conceição

Authors
  1. Dayana M. T. Francino
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  2. Ítalo A. C. Coutinho
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  3. Valdnéa C. Dalvi
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  4. Aristéa A. Azevedo
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  5. Adilva de S. Conceição
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  6. Renata M. S. A. Meira
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Correspondence to Renata M. S. A. Meira.

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Handling editor: Zhu Xi-Yun.

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Francino, D.M.T., Coutinho, Í.A.C., Dalvi, V.C. et al. Anatomical interpretations of the taxonomy of Chamaecrista (L.) Moench sect. Absus (Leguminosae–Caesalpinioideae). Plant Syst Evol 301, 2087–2103 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-015-1208-z

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