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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section/ASPT

Donnell, Aliya [1], Cantino, Philip [2], Ballard Jr, Harvey [3].

Evidence for several new species in the neotropical genus Bakeridesia Hochr. (Malvaceae).

Bakeridesia (Malvaceae)is a neotropical genus of tall shrubs, distributed throughout the seasonally dry forests of Mexico,Central America and northwestern South America. The genus is easily distinguished within the tribe Malveae by the following suite of characters: entire leaves, yellow or orange flowers, a height of at least 3 meters at maturity, and mericarps with a lacerate, dorsal wing. At least one species is currently sold as an ornamental shrub. In the nearly 40 years since the only revision of this genus was published, hundreds more collections have been made, and DNA data for most of the species are now available. In the process of completing a modern revision of Bakeridesia, evidence supporting the recognition of several new species has emerged. Some of these are segregates of the polymorphic Bakeridesia integerrima, which spans the entire geographical range of the genus. Phenetic analyses of morphological characters,along with phylogenetic analyses of ITS data, suggest that B. integerrima actually encompasses several morphologically and geographically distinct species. In addition to differing in geographic distribution, these species can be distinguished based on habitat preference and floral characters, namely the length of the calyx tube and the length and thickness of the pedicels. In addition to the B. integerrima segregates, other new species have been discovered based on careful study of herbarium specimen sand field observations in southern Mexico. At least two of these have narrow geographic distributions and are extremely vulnerable due to rapid habitat loss. Resolution of the species boundaries in Bakeridesia will provide an accurate view of the biodiversity in the genus, thus helping to prioritize areas for conservation in the imperiled Mesoamerican seasonally dry tropical forests.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - Ohio University, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
2 - Ohio University, Environmental and Plant Biology, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
3 - Ohio University, ENVIR & PLANT BIOLOGY-PORTER H, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701-2979, USA

Keywords:
species delimitation
new species
Malvaceae
neotropics.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 18
Location: Franklin A/Hyatt
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 4:45 PM
Number: 18013
Abstract ID:720


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