Abstract
The genus Paramollugo with the type species Paramollugo nudicaulis (≡Mollugo nudicaulis) has recently been described after molecular investigations. Here we report two new endemic Malagasy species: Paramollugo simulans and Paramollugo elliotii, and transfer a forgotten New Caledonian endemic Mollugo digyna to Paramollugo (Paramollugo digyna). Consequently, the number of Paramollugo species in the Eastern Hemisphere is increased from three to six. Almost all genus representatives (except Paramollugo nudicaulis, which has a wide distribution in Southern Asia, Arabia and tropical Africa) are endemic to Madagascar, Somalia, or New Caledonia. Since the type of seed coat ornamentation is crucial for species delimitation, a diagnostic key with new taxonomically significant carpological characters and other new traits is provided for all the herbaceous Paramollugo. The distribution patterns of Paramollugo nudicaulis s.str., Paramollugo simulans and Paramollugo elliotii are presented.
Highlights
The new genus Paramollugo Thulin has recently been split from Mollugo s.l. after molecular investigations (Thulin et al 2016)
We have previously shown that seed morphology and ultrasculpture are very useful for the diagnostics and taxonomy of major groups within the former Mollugo s.l., and that the ‘Mollugo nudicaulis’ group (=Paramollugo) needs further taxonomic studies (Sukhorukov et al 2016; Sukhorukov and Kushunina in press)
Paramollugo is best represented in Madagascar, where four species are found: herbaceous P. simulans, P. elliotii, P. nudicaulis, and shrubby P. decandra
Summary
The new genus Paramollugo Thulin has recently been split from Mollugo s.l. after molecular investigations (Thulin et al 2016). It comprises five herbaceous species and one small shrub, the Malagasy P. decandra (ex-Mollugo decandra). Herbaceous Paramollugo species clearly differ from all other Molluginaceae by having rosulate leaves only. The inflorescences in herbaceous Paramollugo are bracteose, dichasial or trichasial (‘pseudodichotomous’), with long inflorescence stems (Batenburg et al (1984) sub Mollugo).
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