A Revision of &lt;I&gt;Solanum&lt;/I&gt; Section &lt;I&gt;Gonatotrichum&lt;/I&gt;

Stephen Stern,Leandro Giacomin,João Stehmann,Lynn Bohs,Sandra Knapp

doi:10.1600/036364413x666624

Abstract

Abstract Solanum section Gonatotrichum (Solanaceae) includes eight species native to North, Central, and South America. Plants of this section are herbs to woody shrubs that lack spines, are pubescent with simple or stellate hairs, and have berries that swell due to increased turgor pressure and explosively dehisce to disperse the seeds. Section Gonatotrichum is closely related to section Brevantherum, from which it differs by the presence of explosive fruit dehiscence and simple hairs in all taxa except S. lignescens, which has stellate pubescence. The morphology, taxonomic history, nomenclature, ecology, distribution, and reproductive biology of Solanum section Gonatotrichum are reviewed. A dichotomous key is provided for the species of the section.

Highlights

Section Gonatotrichum includes eight species native to North, Central, and South America
One clade that has been recognized in molecular studies is the Gonatotrichum clade, which corresponds to the formally named Solanum section Gonatotrichum Bitter
Section Gonatotrichum has previously been taxonomically challenging because while some species are relatively widespread in their distribution (S. deflexum Greenm., S. olympicum Hassl., and S. turneroides Chodat), others are narrowly distributed and relatively inconspicuous, making them among the least collected species of Solanum

Summary

A Revision of Solanum Section Gonatotrichum

Abstract—Solanum section Gonatotrichum (Solanaceae) includes eight species native to North, Central, and South America. One clade that has been recognized in molecular studies is the Gonatotrichum clade, which corresponds to the formally named Solanum section Gonatotrichum Bitter. Section Gonatotrichum includes eight species native to North, Central, and South America. They are all herbaceous or small, woody shrubs with simple hairs (except S. lignescens Fernald which has stellate pubescence). The fruits are unique within the genus and are a key diagnostic character for the section They have a thin pericarp with a watery mesocarp that is held under pressure until the fruits explosively dehisce (Nee 1989). Section Gonatotrichum has previously been taxonomically challenging because while some species are relatively widespread in their distribution (S. deflexum Greenm., S. olympicum Hassl., and S. turneroides Chodat), others are narrowly distributed and relatively inconspicuous, making them among the least collected species of Solanum

Materials and Methods

A Key to the Species of SOLANUM Section GONATOTRICHUM

SOLANUM EVOLVULOIDES

Literature Cited