Xochiquetzallia (Asparagaceae, Brodiaeoideae), a new genus segregated from the paraphyletic Dandya.

Jorge Gutiérrez,Teresa Terrazas

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.139.46890

Jorge Gutiérrez, Teresa Terrazas

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.139.46890

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Abstract

A new genus, Xochiquetzallia, for the Brodiaeoideae, Asparagaceae family is here proposed. A taxonomic analysis based on morphology highlights its synapomorphies. The characters that distinguish Xochiquetzallia are the absence of a pith in the gynophore and the presence of an entire stigma. The recognition of Dandya purpusii as a monotypic genus is supported by the development of a short floral tube (< 2 mm) and a pith in the gynophore, as well as a divided stigma shared with the other genera of the Milla clade, Bessera, Jaimehintonia, Petronymphe and Milla. A key to its taxonomic determination is given for both the Xochiquetzallia species and the Milla clade genera.

Highlights

A gynophore was not described for the former species of Dandya in Xochiquetzallia (X. balsensis, X. hannibalii and X. thadhowardii; Lenz 1971; López-Ferrari and Espejo-Serna 1992)
Gutiérrez et al (2010), when studying the gynophore, checked if it exists in the Xochiquetzallia species
Xochiquetzallia balsensis, X. hannibalii and X. thadhowardii have an entire stigma, a character shared with X. mortoniana which lacks a pith in the gynophore

Summary

Introduction

Dandya H.E. Moore is a genus endemic to Mexico and one of the five genera of the Milla clade (Gutiérrez et al 2017). Dandya purpusii (Brandegee) H.E. Moore, the type species, has been placed in several genera in the past (Moore 1953) and molecular evidence suggest that generic limits in the complex are weak when few species are included in their phylogenetic analyses (Pires et al 2001, Pires and Sytsma 2002, Gándara et al 2014). Gutiérrez et al (2017) conducted a study on the phylogeny of Copyright Jorge Gutiérrez,TeresaTerrazas.

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Conclusion