Abstract
The Neotropical genus Mezia (Malpighiaceae) comprises 15 species of lianas (except M. huberi W.R.Anderson, a shrub or small tree). All have multibranched, densely brown-sericeous inflorescences with the ultimate unit a 4-flowered umbel of bilaterally symmetrical flowers. The distinctive pair of large cymbiform bracteoles subtends a rudimentary pedicel and encloses the floral bud. The flowers contain elongate sepals, the lateral four biglandular, yellow petals, the posterior often splotched with red, a heteromorphic androecium, and a tricarpellate gynoecium. The three styles are all free; the posterior pair is lyrate in five species but erect in the others. The samaras have an orbicular to oblate lateral wing and a much smaller dorsal wing; in most species, additional winglets and/or crests are present between the lateral and dorsal wings. Only Mezia mariposa W.R.Anderson has butterfly-shaped samaras lacking additional ornamentation. Four new species are proposed: Mezia andersonii C.E.Anderson, M. bahiana C.E.Anderson, M. fanshawei C.E.Anderson and M. sericea C.E.Anderson. One variety is elevated to species level and provided with a new name, Mezia peruviana C.E.Anderson; a lectotype is chosen for Diplopterys involuta var. ovata Nied. Full descriptions and synonymies are provided, as well as a distribution map. All species are illustrated.
Highlights
The Neotropical genus Mezia Nied. comprises mostly lianas; only M. huberi is a shrub or small tree
The orbicular to oblate samaras, 3–11.5 cm in diameter, have large lateral wings that, with one exception (Mezia mariposa), are confluent at the base; the nut bears one small central dorsal wing, which in many species is flanked by an array of winglets and/or crests
In most species the floriferous bracts are much smaller than the bracteoles, but they are subequal in Mezia fanshawei and nearly as large in M. russellii
Summary
The Neotropical genus Mezia Nied. comprises mostly lianas; only M. huberi is a shrub or small tree. The orbicular to oblate samaras, 3–11.5 cm in diameter, have large lateral wings that, with one exception (Mezia mariposa), are confluent at the base; the nut bears one small central dorsal wing, which in many species is flanked by an array of winglets and/or crests. The exceptions are Mezia araujoi of south-eastern Brazil, and the widespread M. includens, whose range extends from Panama to Ecuador and Brazil. Anderson added eight species, beginning with his study of the Malpighiaceae of the Guayana highland (1981), Mezia was known only from M. araujoi and M. includens, and even they were often thought conspecific. This revision is based in part on W. Future fieldwork likely will discover more undescribed species and provide additional collections that will be a source for amplified descriptions and distribution ranges
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