Further disintegration of Piptocarphinae, an amplified concept of Critoniopsis and notes on the occurrence of paleae in Piptocarpha (Compositae: Vernonieae)
ORCID
- José Aguilar-Cano: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9997-1370
- Carolina M. Siniscalchi: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3349-5081
- Eve Lucas: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7603-435X
- Benoît Loeuille: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6898-7858
MSU Affiliations
University Libraries
Item Type
Article
Abstract
The circumscription of the tribe Vernonieae (Compositae) has been problematic due to the reorganisation of the polyphyletic genus Vernonia and the creation of many small genera. Recent phylogenetic studies have focused on the relationships within Vernonieae but few studies have explored the generic relationships within subtribe Piptocarphinae. Of note, some diagnostic features of Piptocarphinae are not unique to the subtribe and are found in other Vernonieae genera. In this study, we explored the phylogenetic relationships in Piptocarphinae, the genus boundaries in this subtribe and tested the infrageneric affinities of the paleate species, using previously published and newly generated nuclear ITS sequences for 65% of the genera of American Vernonieae. Results agree with previous phylogenetic studies, where nearly all subtribes are seemingly paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Piptocarphinae emerges as polyphyletic and should be reduced to contain only the monophyletic Piptocarpha, whereas Critoniopsis is monophyletic only if Cuatrecasanthus is included. We propose placing Cuatrecasanthus and Joseanthus in synonymy of Critoniopsis, resulting in eight new combinations: C. chimborazensis, C. giannasii, C. flexipappa, C. kingii, C. lanceolatus, C. sandemanii, C. sparrei and C. trichotoma and a new name, C. boekei. Piptocoma also resolves as non-monophyletic but no taxonomic recommendations are made, as few species have been sampled in phylogenies so far. We present a new combination in the genus Piptocarpha, P. glomerulata. The presence of paleae likely emerged independently at least three times in American Vernonieae. Paleate receptacles are present in three different series in Piptocarpha subg. Piptocarpha, which indicates that paleae have likely arisen twice in the evolution of Piptocarpha. Finally, a brief discussion about the adaptive function of paleae and pappus is provided.
Publication Date
2-25-2025
Publication Title
Kew Bulletin
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
First Page
67
Last Page
82
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10183-7
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Aguilar-Cano, J., Siniscalchi, C. M., Lucas, E., Malakasi, P., & Loeuille, B. (2025). Further disintegration of Piptocarphinae, an amplified concept of Critoniopsis and notes on the occurrence of paleae in Piptocarpha (Compositae: Vernonieae). Kew Bulletin, 1–16.
