Allophylastrum: a new genus of Sapindaceae from northern South America

Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.5.1684

Abstract

The new genus Allophylastrum (Sapindaceae) is described from Roraima, Brazil and Guyana. Allophylastrum resembles the genus Allophylus in its vegetative morphology but differs by its apetalous flowers with a cupular nectary disc, 5–6 unequal stamens, and 4- to 5- porate pollen grains. A key is provided to differentiate Allophylastrum from Allophylus. The new species Allophylastrum frutescens is described and illustrated.

Highlights

While working on a treatment of Sapindaceae for the Flora of the Guianas Project (Acevedo-Rodríguez in prep.), I came across a new species that Sapindaceous in appearance, did not fit any of the known genera of Sapindaceae
The new genus is morphologically similar to Allophylus as they share similar shrubby-arboreal habit, and trifoliolate leaves without stipules (AcevedoRodríguez et al 2011)
Pollen grains in Allophylastrum frutescens are subglobose in equatorial view and obtusely 4- or 5-angled in polar view, 4–5-porate, with rugulate ornamentation (Fig. 2a-d)

Summary

Launched to accelerate biodiversity research

Department of Botany, MRC-166 Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington D.C. 20013-7012, USA Academic editor: Hanno Schaefer | Received 9 June 2011 | Accepted 26 July 2011 | Published 28 July 2011 Citation: Acevedo-Rodríguez P (2011) Allophylastrum: a new genus of Sapindaceae from northern South America. PhytoKeys 5: 39–43. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.5.1684

Introduction

Taxonomic treatment

Key to Allophylastrum and Allophylus