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Title: Resurrection and new species of the Neotropical genus Adelonema (Araceae: Philodendron Clade)

Author
item WONG, SIN - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO)
item Meerow, Alan
item CROAT, THOMAS - Missouri Botanical Garden

Submitted to: Systematic Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2015
Publication Date: 2/11/2016
Citation: Wong, S., Meerow, A.W., Croat, T. 2016. Resurrection and new species of the Neotropical genus Adelonema (Araceae: Philodendron Clade). Systematic Botany. 41(1):32-48.

Interpretive Summary: Previous studies have shown that the aroid genus Homalomena as traditionally defined had two different origins. American species are a distantly related to Asian species. This study of 29 accessions of 10 American species, and a total of 135 accessions representing 92 taxa of Homalomena, Furtadoa, and Philodendron for nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences supports resurrection of the genus Adelonema for American species currently assigned to Homalomena. Adelonema is here delimitated as a tropical American genus of 16 species divided into two new sections: sect. Adelonema and sect. Curmeria based on morphologically supported molecular results. The genus Adelonema is distinguished by its rhizome, crushed tissues smelling of anise, an extensively sheathing, sometimes prickly leaf stem, often variegated leaf blades, flower stem and ovary characteristics. Four new species are described: Adelonema orientalis, A. palidinervia, A. panamensis, and A. yanamonoensis. Eleven new transfers from other genera are made: Adelonema allenii, A. crinipes, A. hammelii, A. kvistii, A. moffleriana, A. peltata, A. picturata, A. roezlii, A. speariae, A. wallisii, and A. wendlandii.

Technical Abstract: Previous studies have shown Homalomena as traditionally defined to be polyphyletic, with Neotropical species phylogenetically distinct from Asian species. This study of 29 accessions of 10 Neotropical taxa, and a total of 135 accessions representing 92 taxa of Homalomena, Furtadoa, and Philodendron for nuclear ITS and plastid matK regions supports resurrection of the genus Adelonema for Neotropical species currently assigned to Homalomena. Adelonema is here delimitated as a Neotropical genus of 16 species divided into two new sections: sect. Adelonema and sect. Curmeria based on morphologically supported molecular results. The genus Adelonema is distinguished by an hypogeal rhizome, crushed vegetative tissues smelling of anise, an extensively sheathing, sometimes prickly petiole, chartaceous often variegated leaf blades, a spadix either obliquely inserted on the spathe/peduncle (sect. Adelonema), or stipitate (sect. Curmeria), ovaries with 2-4- pluriovulate locules, and anatropous ovules on an axile placenta. Four new species are described: Adelonema orientalis, A. palidinervia, A. panamensis, and A. yanamonoensis. Eleven new combinations are made: Adelonema allenii, A. crinipes, A. hammelii, A. kvistii, A. moffleriana, A. peltata, A. picturata, A. roezlii, A. speariae, A. wallisii, and A. wendlandii.