Recognition of Brownea coccinea Jacq. subspecies capitella (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

Abstract

A new subspecies, Brownea coccinea subsp. capitella, is recognized based on geographical separation and morphological differences. A key to the subspecies is provided. Brownea is a neotropical genus of about 12 spe- cies occurring between sea level and 1,300 m, usu- ally in humid microenvironments. Following an ini- tial study of the genus in Venezuela (Velasquez & Agostini, 1981), a need to revise the classification of B. coccinea became clear. Study of numerous specimens revealed a wide range of phenetic vari- ation, which had previously led to descriptions of several new species, here considered as synonyms. Two groups are now being recognized, correspond- ing to different geographical regions in Venezuela: B. coccinea subsp. coccinea, from the western part of the Cordillera de la Costa, Zulia, and the Cordillera de los Andes; and B. coccinea subsp. capitella, occurring in the central-eastern part of the Cordil- lera de la Costa south to the Territorio Federal Amazonas. Subspecies capitella is the more com- mon of the two, also occurring in Guyana, Trinidad- Tobago, and northern Brazil. Klitgaard (1991) re- duced Brownea angustifolia Little to a subspecies of B. coccinea, but it is here considered to be a distinct species restricted to Ecuador and south- western Colombia. Besides the geographical sepa- ration, B. coccinea has five equal petals, whereas B. angustifolia has three large, spathulate petals and two smaller, narrower ones. The two species also differ in the shape of the sepals and the form and apex of the bracteoles.