A new infrageneric classification for Amorimia (Malpighiaceae) based on morphological, phytochemical and molecular evidence

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships for 14 of the 15 species of Amorimia (Malpighiaceae) were inferred based on ndhF plastid DNA and ETS nuclear ribosomal DNA using both parsimony and Bayesian methods. Our results show that: (1) the monophyly of the genus is corroborated with the new circumscription of the A. rigida complex; (2) several morphological and phytochemical characters support Amorimia and its two main clades; and (3) these clades can be proposed as new subgenera in Amorimia.

Taxonomic revision of Amorimia W.R. Anderson (Malpighiaceae)

“…Amorimia W.R. Anderson is a small genus of Neotropical lianas, comprising 15 species distributed throughout Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF) and Rainforests in South America, ranging from Northern Colombia to Southern Brazil and Argentina (Anderson 2006, BFG 2015, Almeida et al 2016a, 2016b, 2017a, 2017b. The genus is monophyletic and currently placed in a basal grade in the Malpighioid clade (sensu Almeida et al 2017b), alongside Ectopopterys W.R. Anderson, Mascagnia (Bertero ex DC.)…”

“…The genus is monophyletic and currently placed in a basal grade in the Malpighioid clade (sensu Almeida et al 2017b), alongside Ectopopterys W.R. Anderson, Mascagnia (Bertero ex DC.) Bertero s.s., Calcicola W.R. Anderson & C.C.…”

“…Davis, Rhynchophora Arènes, Microsteira Baker, and Triaspis Burch.) (Davis & Anderson 2010, Almeida et al 2017b. Amorimia is currently recognized by synapomorphies such as the presence of extra-fl oral nectaries on the abaxial side of bracts and bracteoles, petals pubescent on both sides, samaras with two free lateral wings larger than the dorsal wing, and the production of monofl uoroacetate (Anderson 2006, Almeida et al 2017b.…”

“…After extensive fi eld and herbarium studies, in association with additional molecular studies (Almeida et al 2017b), I presented new morphological, evolutionary and biogeographical data to the systematics of Amorimia (Almeida 2017). These systematic efforts paved the way for the elaboration of a new, comprehensive and updated taxonomic revision for the genus, herein presented.…”

Timing the origin and past connections between Andean and Atlantic Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests in South America: Insights from the biogeographical history of Amorimia (Malpighiaceae)

“…Amorimia W.R.Anderson is a lianescent genus of Neotropical Malpighiaceae comprising 15 species mostly confined to nuclei of SDTFs in South America (Almeida & al., 2016a(Almeida & al., , 2017a. Its monophyly has been consistently corroborated in the past few years based on different datasets (Davis & Anderson, 2010;Almeida & al., 2017b). As a result, two main lineages have consistently been recovered (Davis & Anderson, 2010;Almeida & al., 2017b), and were recently recognized as subgenera (Almeida & al., 2017b).…”