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Moullava spicata (Dalzell) Nicolson. A flowering branch B single pinna of bipinnate leaf C leaflet undersurface D leaflet undersurface detail E young stem F older stem G part inflorescence H calyx opened out I median petal J upper lateral petal K lower lateral petal L stamen M gynoecium N stigma O fruit P seed. A, G from photo by P. S. Green B–D, H–N from Cult. Foster Bot. Gard. F1901, specimen Hutchinson 2784 E from Critchett 11/79 F from Nana 5620 O, P from Meebold 8605. Drawn by Eleanor Catherine.
Source publication
The Caesalpinia group is a large pantropical clade of ca. 205 species in subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) in which generic delimitation has been in a state of considerable flux. Here we present new phylogenetic analyses based on five plastid and one nuclear ribosomal marker, with dense taxon sampling including 172 (84%) of the species and r...
Similar publications
As a result of ongoing studies in Caesalpinia sensu lato, new combinations and synonyms are proposed in the reinstated segregate genus Coulteria.
Citations
... Libidibia (DC.) Schltdl. is a neotropical genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae), consisting of seven species distributed from Mexico and the Caribbean to Paraguay and northern Argentina (Lewis 2005;Gagnon et al. 2016). It occurs mainly in seasonally dry tropical forests and woodlands and secondarily in wet forests (Ford 1995;Gagnon et al. 2016;Oliveira and Fernando 2023). ...
... Libidibia (DC.) Schltdl. is a neotropical genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae), consisting of seven species distributed from Mexico and the Caribbean to Paraguay and northern Argentina (Lewis 2005;Gagnon et al. 2016). It occurs mainly in seasonally dry tropical forests and woodlands and secondarily in wet forests (Ford 1995;Gagnon et al. 2016;Oliveira and Fernando 2023). Libidibia species are typically small to large trees with smooth or fissured bark, bipinnate leaves with opposite pinnae and leaflets or, less frequently, the leaves singly pinnate, pentamerous and zygomorphic flowers, boat-shaped abaxial sepals, a differentiated adaxial petal (standard), ten stamens, and indehiscent, woody or coriaceous, fruits (Ford 1995;Gagnon et al. 2016). ...
... It occurs mainly in seasonally dry tropical forests and woodlands and secondarily in wet forests (Ford 1995;Gagnon et al. 2016;Oliveira and Fernando 2023). Libidibia species are typically small to large trees with smooth or fissured bark, bipinnate leaves with opposite pinnae and leaflets or, less frequently, the leaves singly pinnate, pentamerous and zygomorphic flowers, boat-shaped abaxial sepals, a differentiated adaxial petal (standard), ten stamens, and indehiscent, woody or coriaceous, fruits (Ford 1995;Gagnon et al. 2016). ...
Libidibia is a small genus of caesalpinioid legumes with seven species spanning from Mexico and the Caribbean to southern South America. Within this genus, Libidibia ferrea stands out as an iconic Brazilian tree currently classified into the varieties ferrea, glabrescens, leiostachya, and parvifolia. They comprise a species complex together with three other varieties currently accepted as synonyms (var. cearensis, var. megaphylla and var. petiolulata). Together they exhibit complex morphological variation, along with confusion regarding their common names and geographic distribution. Five distinct morphotypes were recognized which were compared using a morphometric study of 26 quantitative leaf characters. We also performed ecological niche modeling for those morphotypes spanning from Quaternary to the present. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Analysis (DA) revealed four main clusters which also present distinct niche preferences throughout the Quaternary and current distinct geographical distributions. Based on our findings, we propose recognizing four morphotypes as separate species: L. ferrea, L. juca, L. leiostachya, and L. parvifolia. Libidibia ferrea and L. juca are small trees and shrubs, distributed respectively in the southern portion of the ‘Caatinga’ and from the Amazon to the northern ‘Caatinga’ region. On the other hand, L. leiostachya and L. parvifolia are both tall trees, predominantly inhabiting the wetter regions of the ‘Caatinga’ (L. parvifolia) and extending into the coastal rainforests of southeastern Brazil (L. leiostachya). Three new combinations are proposed and an identification key, diagnostic descriptions, and taxonomic notes are presented.
... Tara spinosa is a valuable neotropical legume belonging to the Caesalpinia group, a large clade of 205 species in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, comprising 26 genera (Gagnon et al., 2016). The cpDNA haplotypes along the entire distribution rank inside Peru shows reduced genetic variability, probably because of human activities from pre-Columbian times (Balaguer et al., 2011). ...
... Here we includes the new taxonomic changes that have been made to the generic rank in the Caesalpinia group [5], where several genera such as Pomaria [59], Hoffmannseggia [58], Erythrostemon [4], Coulteria [60], Guilandina [5], Denisophytum [5], and Conzattia and now considered monophyletic, and also morphollogically separated and recognized as different generic entities. ...
... Here we includes the new taxonomic changes that have been made to the generic rank in the Caesalpinia group [5], where several genera such as Pomaria [59], Hoffmannseggia [58], Erythrostemon [4], Coulteria [60], Guilandina [5], Denisophytum [5], and Conzattia and now considered monophyletic, and also morphollogically separated and recognized as different generic entities. ...
... Here we includes the new taxonomic changes that have been made to the generic rank in the Caesalpinia group [5], where several genera such as Pomaria [59], Hoffmannseggia [58], Erythrostemon [4], Coulteria [60], Guilandina [5], Denisophytum [5], and Conzattia and now considered monophyletic, and also morphollogically separated and recognized as different generic entities. ...
As part of the Fabaceae project of northeastern Mexico, today we present the compendium of legumes of the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Cercidoideae and Detarioideae from this region. As in our previous work on the Mimosoideae Clade, new nomenclatural changes and retypification of genera of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae are included. Also, based on new scientific information published, the taxonomic changes in new genera, recently segregated from the genus Caesalpinia (Conzattia, Coulteria, Denisophytum, Erythrostemon, Guilandina, Hoffmannseggia, and Pomaria) are included. Based on field work, collection of botanical samples over the past 37 years, and reviewing botanical materials in national and international herbaria, the diversity of legumes of the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Cercidoideae, and Detarioideae in northeastern Mexico has been recorded. The subfamily Caesalpinioideae includes two tribes, the tribe Caesalpinieae with 12 genera (Caesalpinia, Ceratonia, Coulteria, Delonix, Denisophytum, Erythrostemon, Gleditsia, Guilandina, Hoffmannseggia, Haematoxylum, Parkinsonia, and Pomaria), and 26 species and the tribe Cassieae, which includes three genera (Cassia, Chamaecrita, and Senna) and 28 species. The subfamily Cercidoideae include two genera (Bauhinia and Cercis), and eight species and the subfamily Detarioideae, includes only one genus and one species (Tamarindus indicus). The total flora of these three subfamilies comprize 18 genera and 63 species, it includes 56 native species and seven exotic ones: Bauhinia variegata, Cassia fistula, Ceratonia siliqua, Delonix regia, Erythrostemon gilliesii, Senna alata, and, Tamarindus indicus. The endemism of both subfamilies includes a total of 20 species and 10 infraspecific categories.
... The diversity center of this genus lies in the western Pacific, with occurrences extending to the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific. As proposed by Polhill and Vidal (1981), Mezoneuron belongs to Caesalpinia group characterized by their defensive glandular trichomes and spinescence (Gagnon et al., 2016). This group primarily occurs in seasonally dry tropical forests and shrublands with morphologically diverse pods (Fig. 1), and various seed dispersal strategies (Gagnon et al., 2018). ...
... This group primarily occurs in seasonally dry tropical forests and shrublands with morphologically diverse pods (Fig. 1), and various seed dispersal strategies (Gagnon et al., 2018). Recent phylogenetic studies using molecular and morphological data reveal that Caesalpinia group is not monophyletic (Gagnon et al., 2013(Gagnon et al., , 2016, while Mezoneuron is monophyletic (Clark et al., 2022). ...
... The photos were processed with rotation, greyscale conversion, and contrast enhancement using Affinity Photo (v1.10.6), then compiled into plates using Affinity Designer (v1.10.6). Mezoneuron fossil records were collected by consulting published literature (Herendeen and Dilcher, 1991;Herendeen and Crane, 1992;Clark, 2016;Gagnon et al., 2016) and online databases, including Fossilworks (http://www.fossilworks.org) and The International Fossil Plant Names Index (http:// www.ifpni.org). ...
The genus Mezoneuron Desf. (Caesalpinioideae, Fabaceae) comprises 23 extant species distributed throughout the Old World tropics and subtropics, yet its fossil record is scarce with finds restricted to Europe and North America. Here, we report a new Mezoneuron pod fossil from the lower Miocene Sanhaogou Formation of Jinggu Basin in Southwest China, representing the first fossil occurrence of this genus in Asia and the only one within its current distribution range. The fossil presents a vascularized wing along the placental suture and with poorly developed, irregular reticulate venation, which are typical pod characters in Mezoneuron. With detailed morphological observation and comparison, it is assigned as a new species, namely M. zhekunii Y.S. Zhao, L.B. Jia et T. Su sp. nov. Together with the historic and modern distribution of Mezoneuron and its relatives, we propose that Mezoneuron originated in the Northern Hemisphere no later than the middle Eocene. Mezoneuron attained relatively low latitudes in Asia no later than the early Miocene, with our fossil representing the lowest latitudinal record. The oblique and fine wrinkles of pod probably suggest a papery texture and low weight observed in mature pods of some extant Mezoneuron species, which favors wind dispersal.
... Some scientific names have been updated, such as those related to Caesalpinia Plum. ex L. and Prosopis L. (Gagnon et al. 2016, Hughes et al. 2022). Plant samples not recognized in the field were identified using specialized literature and/or morphologically comparing them with those housed at herbarium CICY. ...
Background:
One of the most diverse and threatened plant associations in the Yucatan peninsula has not been characterized and therefore not included in any protection category in Mexico. We characterize and describe this plant association, which is rapidly disappearing or being irreversibly transformed as a result of anthropic activities. We propose a name and attempt a preliminary assessment of its taxonomic richness, and the identification of priority species to be preserved.
Questions:
What is the species richness and plant endemism associated within this plant association? What are the ecologically important and high-priority species for conservation? How is it different from associated or similar plant associations?
Studied species:
Vascular plants.
Study site and dates:
Northern Yucatan peninsula; 2021-2023.
Methods:
The plant association was characterized, and quantitative parameters were recorded. The Importance Value Index was estimated to assess its local ecological importance, and each species was assigned a conservation category in order to evaluate the conservation status in a global context.
Results:
We propose Seasonally flooded Coquinal (SFC) as a name for this plant association based on geomorphological, physiognomic, and structural attributes. A total of 206 species were recorded, two of which are endemic to the SFC and 28 to the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP). Twelve species are listed under a risk category.
Conclusions:
The SFC harbors a high plant diversity of species endemic species to the YPBP, 12 of which are included in the IUCN red list, for which its typification and conservation should be a high priority in Mexico.
... Caesalpinia spinosa (Mol.) Kuntze, also known as Tara spinosa (Molina) Britton & Rose (Gagnon et al., 2016), usually known as tara, is the dominant tree species in the Atiquipa fog forest, a highly valuable and unique ecosystem in the middle of the Atacama Desert in Peru. Tara provides multiple ecosystem services such as water catchment from fog, pods and seeds rich in tannins and gums, and timber (de la Cruz Lapa, 2004;Larrea, 2011). ...
Bio-fertilisation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be extremely beneficial for plant development and growth under harsh environments. PGPR have been recently successfully applied in restoration programmes, but locally adapted strains are needed for successful outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the effect of bio-fertilisation with selected native PGPR strains on the growth and physiological response to drought of Caesalpinia spinosa (Mol.) Kuntze (tara), the main tree species of the Atiquipa forest, a highly valuable and unique ecosystem in the middle of the Atacama Desert in Peru. We compared the growth and physiological status of tara seedlings that were bio-fertilised with three PGPR strains, chemically fertilised and a non-fertilised control, under well-watered and under drought conditions. Seedlings inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. strain RC5.5 showed enhanced tolerance to drought, although under favourable, stress-free conditions it did not promote growth and only significantly increased quantum yield of photosystem II (F v /F m). On the other hand, chemical fertilisation highly enhanced plant growth, but led to substantial hydric demand under water limitation. Under drought, RC5.5 bio-fertilised plants showed lower reduction of leaf relative water content, net carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and a balanced shoot-to-root ratio compared with control plants. Therefore, strain RC5.5 is highlighted as a valuable candidate to be used as inoculant of tara in reforestation and restoration programmes in arid zones, in particular the Atiquipa forest, or in local tara plantations.
... Tara spinosa (Molina) Britton & Rose (Gagnon et al., 2013;Gagnon et al., 2016;IPNI, 2023) es una especie probablemente originaria del Perú, donde se conoce principalmente, como "tara" o "taya". En otros países se conoce como "guarango" y "dividivi" (Villena & Seminario, 2021). ...
Tara spinosa (Molina) Britton & Rose (Fabaceae), conocida como “tara” o “taya”, probablemente oriunda del Perú, crece desde el nivel de mar hasta los 3000 m s.n.m., y es importante por los taninos y la goma contenidos en sus vainas y semillas, respectivamente. Los objetivos fueron definir y validar los descriptores morfológicos de la plántula y caracterizar el germoplasma de “tara” de la región Cajamarca (58 entradas de nueve provincias) integrando descriptores de fruto, semilla y plántula. Se identificaron siete descriptores de plántula altamente discriminantes, siendo los del cotiledón los más importantes. La caracterización del germoplasma de “tara” de Cajamarca con 18 descriptores integrados (seis de fruto, cinco de semilla y siete de plántula) permitió un nuevo agrupamiento, en siete grupos, lo que indica estrecha variabilidad (86% de duplicados).
... The veracity of this statement is supported by the recent recognition of the species Paubrasilia echinata (Lam.) Gagnon, H.C.Lima & G.P.Lewis becoming a new monospecific genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae [6]. ...
The traceability of commercial timber is one of the preventive measures to combat the illegal timber trade. Even though there are several methods to determine wood species or its origin, no standard procedure has been established. Furthermore, traceability is a difficult problem, and studies on the subject are lacking. NIRS technology combined with multivariate data analysis has proved to be a fast and efficient methodology for species identification and a promising tool for geographical origin determination. This study aimed to track a commercial cargo of 19,114 m³ of Cedrela odorata L. boards from the legal extraction concession area in the Jamari National Forest (Amazon region) to the final dealer located in the city of Ubatuba (São Paulo), a distance of 3,100 km by land. The cargo was packed and transported by truck to protect it from the weather. The NIR spectra obtained at the origin were used to create a data-driven soft independent modelling by class analogy (DD-SIMCA model), which was applied to the spectra obtained at the cargo's destination. The compatibility rate found by the model using all sampled batches was 76%, which means that most of the samples were within the model acceptance area and were highly compatible with the initial cargo. When applied to C. odorata samples from other origins/cargos, the number of samples within the acceptance area did not go over 21%. When testing the model on other wood species (Erisma uncinatum Warm. Swietenia macrophylla King, and Micropholis melinoniana Pierre), this rate was no more than 22%. These latter values corroborate the practicality, precision, and reliability of NIRS for in-field tracking of wood cargo.
... Supporting this hypothesis, we observe resemblances in floral Additionally, we investigated the evolution of Malpighiaceae-like flowers within the grade of the Caesalpinioideae subfamily that subtends the mimosoid clade. Flowers in this grade are relatively unspecialized with radial or weakly bilateral symmetry, free sepals, petals, and stamens, and limited nectar protection, allowing for the evolution of a wide range of floral morphologies in response to different groups of pollinators (Arroyo 1981), even within more restricted lineages (Gagnon et al. 2016). Malpighiaceae-like flowers occur in different genera of the Caesalpinioideae subfamily, as reported by Sazima et al. (2009) for Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) ...
Floral mimicry is a captivating phenomenon wherein flowers imitate traits of other plants to attract specific pollinators. The Caesalpinioideae legumes in general have relatively unspecialized flowers, which has allowed the development of disparate morphologies adapted to different groups of pollinators. This study describes the pollination of Moldenhawera nutans L.P. Queiroz, G.P. Lewis & Allkin, and explores its potential floral mimicry toward Malpighiaceae flowers. Our investigation revealed that M. nutans is pollinated by bees of the genera Centris and Xylocopa. It also presents compelling evidence supporting the hypothesis of floral mimicry, including striking similarities in floral display, shared oil-collecting pollinators, oil collection behavior in M. nutans despite the absence of oil production, and the reliance on exogenous pollen for reproduction. These findings suggest that species of Centris visit M. nutans flowers under the mistaken impression of oil availability, subsequently transitioning to pollen collection. We explored other potential cases of floral mimicry with Malpighiaceae in the Caesalpinioideae legumes by optimizing the Malpighiaceae-like floral display on a dated phylogeny of this subfamily. However, current information does not allow us to determine whether the similarities in floral morphology represent cases of floral mimicry, phylogenetic inertia, or simple convergence. Hypothesis tests are suggested that can guide the study of these fascinating evolutionary processes in the group.
... It is noticeable, therefore, an expressive amplification of the knowledge of the vegetal diversity, indicating an increase of approximately 115% in the number of Fabaceae registered in the region. This increase is possibly due to the discovery of new species, such as those recently described by Gagnon et al. (2016), Garcia (2016), andPinto et al. (2017), as well as progress in the sampling and identification efforts, and new records for Chapada do Araripe. ...
The Brazilian plateau known as Chapada do Araripe is home to several types of vegetation and a diversity of native species. This plateau is located among the Brazilian states of Ceará, Pernambuco, and Piauí, in the Northeast region. This study consisted of a floristic inventory of Fabaceae species prevailing in different environments of the mentioned plateau. Monthly botanical expeditions were performed from October 2021 to November 2022; these occurred at previously selected sites. The plant collection, herborization, and identification of the species were carried out according to the specialized literature, and the specimens were deposited in the Herbário Caririense Dárdano de Andrade-Lima (HCDAL). A total of 194 species, 11 infraspecific taxa, and 81 genera belonging to five subfamilies were listed. These numbers represented approximately 32% of the diversity of Fabaceae recorded in Brazil, and an increase of approximately 115% in the number of species previously recorded in the Chapada do Araripe. The most diverse subfamilies were Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae, with 90 and 89 species, respectively. The most representative genera were Senna (19 spp.), Chamaecrista (15 spp.), and Mimosa (14 spp.). Thirteen species and three varieties were new records in Ceará state. The predominant growth habit was tree type, recorded in 44% of the species (86), and the main habitats were Steppe Savannah, Savannah, and Wooded Steppe Savannah. Thirteen species are endemic to the Caatinga phytogeographic domain: Copaifera arenicola, Copaifera cearensis, Hymenaea cangaceira, Cenostigma microphyllum, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Mimosa misera, Parapiptadenia zehntneri, Pithecellobium diversifolium, Senna cearensis, Senna gardneri, Senna lechriosperma, Crotalaria holosericea e Luetzelburgia bahiensis. Regarding the status of species protection and conservation, most are in Least Concern status (48.8%), four are Near Threatened (Hymenaea cangaceira, Pterogyne nitens, Dalbergia cearensis, Parapiptadenia zehntneri), two species are in Vulnerable status (Melanoxylon brauna and Senegalia cearensis), one species did not have enough data for assessment (Copaifera cearensis), and one is Endangered (Amburana cearensis). The findings of the present study can support conservation strategies, and ecological and phytosociological studies, among others. Also, it can be used for planning and promoting environmental education. Such information is valuable for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources of the Chapada do Araripe.
