Cyphomandra

  • Authority

    Bohs, Lynn A. 1994. Cyphomandra (Solanaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 63: 154. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Solanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cyphomandra

  • Type

    Lectotype species. Cyphomandra betacea (Cavanilles) Sendtner, designated by Benitez de Rojas, Rev. Fac. Agron. (Maracay) 7(3): 75.1974. From Greek = hump and avr|p or = man, referring to the thickened anther connective.

  • Synonyms

    Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn., Solanum L., Solanum betaceum Cav., Pionandra, Pionandra floribunda Miers, Pionandra hartwegii Miers, Pallavicinia, Pallavicinia fragrans (Hook.) De Not., Solanum betaceum Cav., Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn., Cyphomandra floribunda (Miers) Dunal

  • Description

    Genus Description - Unarmed trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. Architecture usually conforming to Prevost’s model. Bark light-colored and usually smooth. Stems with wood in a cylinder surrounding a large central spongy or chambered pith; vascular bundles bicollateral. Indumentum of uniseriate, multicellular, glandular and eglandular, simple or rarely dendritically branched hairs; stellate hairs absent. Trunk leaves alternate with 2/5 Phyllotaxis, petiolate, simple or imparipinnate, unlobed or pinnately lobed, often with cordate bases. Crown leaves 3-4 per sympodial unit, similar or dissimilar to those of the main stem, the two leaves above the inflorescence often paired. Venation brochidodromous; veins usually spreading at base, ascending at apex and curved toward margin. Inflorescence a scorpioid cyme, terminal but often appearing axillary or extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, usually ebracteate, usually pendent; pedicels secund, usually pendent, articulated at or near the base, leaving pedicellar remnants or prominent scars on the rachis. Flowers perfect, actinomorphic, 5-merous. Calyx synsepalous, cyathiform, persistent and scarcely enlarged in fruit. Corolla sympetalous, hypogynous, white, pink, purple, green, or brownish, stellate, campanulate, or occasionally urceolate; aestivation valvate or induplicate. Stamens equal; filaments glabrous, short, inserted in the corolla tube near its base; anthers basifixed, the thecae minutely papillose, often tapered toward apex, dehiscent by apical pores; anther connective papillose, expanded abaxially and often also adaxially; pollen tricolporate. Ovary superior, bilocular; placentation axile on fleshy intrusions; style articulated at base, glabrous or occasionally pubescent; stigma more or less bilobed, sometimes broadly expanded at apex, often with two apical glands. Fruit a berry, usually pendent, usually yellowish when ripe, often with darker longitudinal stripes; mesocarp frequently with stone cell aggregates. Seeds numerous, flattened, reniform, often appearing pubescent; embryo strongly curved; endosperm abundant. Germination epigeal. n = 12.

  • Discussion

    Species Concept

    This treatment is based mainly on the study of herbarium specimens, augmented where possible by observations of living plants in the field and greenhouse. The taxa recognized are for the most part delimited by use of the morphological or taxonomic species concept in which assemblages of population samples (sets of specimens) are separated from each other by morphological discontinuities (Davis & Heywood, 1963). In most cases these discontinuities exist in many characters. Furthermore, these morphological entities often have unique geographical, elevational, and/or ecological preferences. Where character differences exist among populations but no consistent patterns of variation are observed, I recognize a single polymorphic species (as in C. hartwegii). Subspecies are the only infraspecific taxa recognized, and are delimited on the basis of consistent yet relatively minor morphological differences, such as density of pubescence or corolla size. In most cases the subspecies have distinct geographic ranges.

    New species have not been described on the basis of incomplete herbarium samples. Two potential new species are noted in this treatment, but not enough information is available to give them species status. These taxa are described briefly at the end of the species treatments.

    Typification

    Retroactive application of the rules for botanical nomenclature and typification often causes problems. To minimize these difficulties, I have strictly followed the ICBN (Greuter et al., 1988) guidelines in interpreting type material. A specimen is only regarded as the holotype if it was definitely indicated as such by the original author of the taxon. If a single specimen was not designated as the holotype, I have chosen a lectotype from among the extant duplicates of the type collection number (isotypes) or from the syntypes mentioned by the original author. In each instance, I have tried to take into account all indications of which specimens the author actually examined in formulating his protologue. Specific notes on lectotypification can be found following their respective species in the taxonomic section.

    Many type specimens of Solanaceae formerly housed at the Berlin herbarium (B) were destroyed during World War II. Where appropriate, lectotypes have been chosen from among the extant isotypes. No isotypes have been found for C. dolichocarpa and C. tenuisetosa, but photos of the original B specimens taken before the war allow positive identification to species. Neotypes have been chosen for these two species.

    Notes on the Systematic Treatment

    Species are listed alphabetically by specific epithet. The dichotomous key is artificial and is not intended to reflect evolutionary relationships.

    Measurements were made from dried herbarium specimens, material preserved in fluid (FAA or ethanol), and dried flowers rehydrated in boiling water. The majority of collections examined were dried herbarium specimens. Colors given are based on personal field observations and herbarium label data.

    All specimens cited in the treatment have been seen by the author except where noted as "n.v." All specimens have been cited in the treatment with the exception of C. hartwegii, where a list of representative specimens is given. These were chosen on the basis of geographic representation and wide distribution in many herbaria. Only the New World collections are cited for C. betacea, although a list is given of the other countries where this species has been found. Complete specimen lists for these two species are available from the author. All specimens seen in this study are included in the List of Exsiccatae.

    Distribution maps were prepared from Flora Neotropica Base Map No. 1, © University of Utrecht. All dots represent specimens I have seen.

  • Distribution

    About 35 species, all native to the New World from Mexico to South America (Fig. 11). Cyphomandra betacea (q.v.) has been distributed worldwide by humans.

    Mexico North America| Central America| South America|