Biodiversity, phylogeny and biogeography of African and Madagascan Melastomataceae
Final Report Abstract
Melastomataceae are among the 10 largest families of flowering plants with an estimated 173 genera and some 5858 species, morphologically identified by their acrodromous leaf venation, bisexual and colourful flowers with diplostemonous androecium. During the first project phase, we focused on Melastomateae, the most diverse tribe in Africa (ca. 185 spp. in 13 gen.) while the other African and Madagascan members of Melastomataceae remained notoriously understudied. Only four of the ca. 160 species of African/Madagascan Sonerileae had been phylogenetically sampled. The main objective for the second phase was therefore to further resolve generic relationships in the African and Madagascan Sonerileae. To complete phase one of this project which focussed on the tribe Melastomateae, three additional papers were published. First, we described and phylogenetically placed a new genus, Nothodissotis endemic to Atlantic Central Africa. Next, Cailliella praerupticola which was only known from its type collection from 1937, was again collected in 2016. This species was phylogenetically placed, its morphological description expanded, and its conservation status assessed. To round-up the current systematic work in the tribe Melastomateae, we published a paper on the systematics of Dissotis and allies. The morphological and phylogenetic studies resulted in the following taxonomic changes of African Melastomateae: (1) five new genera were described, Almedanthus (for Dissotis pachytricha), Eleotis (for D. sect. Sessilifoliae), Feliciotis (for D. sect. Macrocarpae), Pyrotis (for D. gilgiana) and Rosettea (for D. sect. Squamulosae); (2) the genus Nerophila was reinstated with an expanded circumscription to include Antherotoma senegambiensis, A. clandestina, D. congolensis, D. pauciflora and three species earlier treated in African Osbeckia; (3) circumscription of Dissotis s.str. was reduced to six species; (4) the monospecific genus Derosiphia was reinstated; and (5) two species previously placed in Dissotis were transferred to Antherotoma. To complete our generic realignment, 12 new synonyms and 58 new combinations were effected at or below the species level. A total of 40 lecto- or neotypes are designated. A revised key is provided for African Melastomateae genera. For the tribe Sonerileae, first a new genus and species (Benna alternifolia), is described from Guinea. This species is unique and the only melastome with alternate leaves. Interestingly, Benna is not related to the other African/Malagasy members of Sonerileae, but instead among the basal members of the tribes and nested within the South American lineage. A paper on the systematics of Sonerileae is currently under review and the morphological and phylogenetic results suggest that excluding Benna alternifolia and Medinilla, the rest of African/Malagasy members form a well-supported clade. Surprisingly, although a very large and morphologically diverse genus, both African and Madagascan the Gravesia species form a monophyletic clade. Nevertheless, nothing can be said about its infrageneric classification. For the taxonomic realignment within African Sonerileae, we propose the reinstatement of the monospecific genus Bourdaria. A new genus Mendelia is described for the distinctive Amphiblemma molle. Calvoa hirsuta will be designated as the type of genus Calvoa, lectotypes to be designated for Medinilla engleri and Veprecella lutea, and a neotype will be designated for Preussiella kamerunensis. In addition, we collaborated in phylogeny and systematics of Dissochaeteae, which resulted in a peer-reviewed publication.
Publications
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(2019). Nothodissotis (Melastomataceae), a new genus from Atlantic Central Africa, including the new species N. alenensis from Equatorial Guinea. PhytoKeys 118: 89-103
Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Lachenaud, O., Stone, R.D., Kadereit, G.
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(2020). Towards a complete phylogeny of African Melastomateae: Systematics of Dissotis and allies (Melastomataceae). Taxon 69 (5): 946-991
Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Stone, R.D, Fongod, A.G., Couvreur, T.L.P., Kadereit, G.
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(2021). Molecular phylogenetics of the Dissochaeta alliance (Melastomataceae): Redefining tribe Dissochaeteae. TAXON 70: 793–825
Kartonegoro, A, Veranso‐Libalah, M.C., Kadereit G, Frenger, A., Penneys, D.S., Mota de Oliveira, S., Van Welzen, P.C.l.
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(2021). Phylogenetic placement of Cailliella praerupticola (Melastomataceae), a rare, monospecific lineage from Guinea, West Africa. Willdenowia 51: 47–56
Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Stone, R.D., Haba, P.M., Magassouba, S., Kadereit, G., Van Der Burgt, X.
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(2022) Benna alternifolia (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae), a new herbaceous genus and species from Guinea, West Africa. Willdenowia 52: 25–37
Van Der Burgt, X.M., Haba, P.M., Magassouba, S., Veranso-Libalah, M.C.
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(2022). Systematics and Taxonomy of the Tribe Melastomateae. In: Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 429–463
Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Stone, R.D., Kadereit G., Guimarães, P.J.F.
