New discoveries and taxonomic novelties in neotropical Rinorea (Violaceae)

Resumen

Rinorea (Violaceae) is a pantropical genus of small trees and shrubs, and in the Neotropics, it is often a common element in the understory of tropical lowland forests. The last revision of Neotropical Rinorea was in 1988, by W.H.A. Hekking, where he recognized 47 species and three infraspecific taxa. Over the course of revising Rinorea from Colombia, field observations and herbarium studies revealed ten new species. Several of the new species described here belong to species complexes that required examination of herbarium material from across the Neotropics, resulting in the description of new species from both Central America and northern South America. Most new species belong to R. sect. Pubiflorae, one of the two sections of Rinorea in the Neotropics that contains opposite-leaved taxa. In our circumscriptions, we evaluated biogeographic distribution, habitat information, and morphological characters not used by Hekking, such as those associated with leaf architecture and venation. This research has also resulted in several nomenclatural adjustments, including new combinations and synonymies. Field work also allowed us to provide complete, updated descriptions for previously poorly known taxa. The project will result in a treatment for the Flora of Colombia floristic series.

Citación: Hoyos Gómez, S.E., Wahlert, G.A. & Callejas, R. 2025. New discoveries and taxonomic novelties in neotropical Rinorea (Violaceae). Revista Jard. Bot. Nac. Univ. Habana 46(Número especial 1): 61.  

Trabajo presentado en el XIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Botánica. Sesión Sistemática, Filogenia, Biogeografía y Evolución.