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Hamelieae A. Rich. Search in IPNISearch in NYBG Virtual HerbariumAfrican Plants, Senckenberg Photo GallerySearch in Living Collections Decrease font Increase font Restore font
 

Published In: Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 4: 342, 438. 1830. (Sept 1830) (Prodr.) Name publication detailView in BotanicusView in Biodiversity Heritage Library
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 3/26/2021)
Acceptance : Accepted
Note : Subfam. Cinchonoideae
Project Data     (Last Modified On 3/25/2021)
Notes:

The Neotropical tribe Hamelieae includes 14 genera and about 120 species found in humid vegetation, and is widely distributed. However, only a few species range through South America while most of its genera and species are found in Mexico and Central America. The tribe is variable morphologically, and thus not easily characterized as a whole. Generic circumscriptions have been controversial and difficult to evaluate because the plants vary so much in characters often considered to delimit higher taxa. These genera have been studied by Lorence (e.g., Lorence et al., 2012), Borhidi and collaborators (e.g., Borhidi et al., 2004, 2004; Stranczinger et al., 2014), and Ochoterena and collaborators (e.g., Martínez-Cabrera et al., 2007, 2009). The most widespread species is Hamelia patens, which is also one of the most common and commonly collected species of Netropical Rubiaceae.

Genera of Hamelieae generally have triangular interpetiolar stipules, cymose inflorescences, five- or more often four-merous homostylous flowers, and 2--5-locular ovaries. Beyond this, the species range from herbs and small shrubs to fairly large trees, without or sometimes with (Hoffmannia, Patima) raphides in the tissues, with opposite to verticillate leaves, terminal or axillary inflorescences, small to large flowers with or without calycophylls, ovaries with the placentation axile or basal, and baccate, indehiscent, or thinly capsular fruits with the ovules numerous to sometimes 1 (Cosmocalyx) in each locule. In general the subfamily Cinchonoideae is characterized by a lack of raphide crystals in the tissues, but at least one genus of tribe Hamelieae (Hoffmannia) does have these. Some species of Hoffmannia also have swellings in the stems or leaves that contain ants. The genera in this tribe have a wide variety of flower form and pollinators, and the flowers also vary widely within some genera. Hamelia patens has become a popular ornamental in recent years in warm temperate regions, where various cultivars are grown as annuals.   

The tribe Hamelieae belongs to subfamily Cinchonoideae (Manns & Bremer, 2010). The systematics of some of the Mexican genera have been problematic for some time, due to the morphological radiation within this tribe and to poor knowledge of some of these genera. Many of the species are not well documented, and appear to have localized ranges especially areas such as the mountain ranges of Oaxaca and Guerrero. In Chiapas in southern Mexico, Omiltemia filisepala had not been seen for a long time until its recent re-discovery, and Eizia has not been found again since its type was collected in 1938 in spite of extensive searching (M. A. Pérez Farrera, pers. comm.). The systematics of some groups, such as Syringantha, have been controversial for a long time and have only been resolved with molecular data. Relatively few of the problematic species have been studied with multiple data sets, and further taxonomic changes are likely when this work is advanced (Ochoterena & collaborators, in prep.). 

Author: C.M. Taylor
The content of this web page was last revised on 7 April 2020.
Taylor web page: http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/curators/taylor.shtml

Distribution: Wet to humid seasonal vegetation from low elevations to montane areas, northern Mexico and the Antilles to Bolivia and northern Argentina.
References:
Taxa Included Here:

Bellizinca Borhidi
Cosmocalyx Standl.
Csapodya Borhidi
Deppea Schltdl. & Cham.
Deppeopsis Borhidi & Stranczinger
Edithea Standl.
Eizia Standl.
Habroneuron Standl.
Hamelia Jacq.
Hoffmannia Sw.
Omiltemia Standl.
Patima Aubl.
Pinarophyllon Brandegee
Placaniophyllon Brandegee
Pseudomiltemia Borhidi = Omiltemia
Syringantha Hook.f.


 
 
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