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The systematic position of theHolarrheninae (Apocynaceae)

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Abstract

The genusHolarrhena, described byRobert Brown in 1811, has had a problematic taxonomic history, in part due to a suite of characters that does not conform with accepted concepts within theApocynaceae. In a number of important taxonomic charactersHolarrhena is typical of subfam.Apocynoideae. But due to the relatively unspecialized structure of the anthers most recent authors have placedHolarrheng, together withCarruthersia andSpirolobium, as the subtribeHolarrheninae in subfam.Plumerioideae.

For the present investigation the floral structure and pollen morphology ofHolarrhena, Carruthersia andSpirolobium were analyzed. From the chemical literature reports of the occurrence of steroidal alkaloids in thePlumerioideae were evaluated. Our results indicate that the three genera belong to subfam.Apocynoideae in the tribeNerieae, but that the “Holarrheninae” is an unnatural group, and that the three genera should be accommodated individually within the tribe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Systematische Botanik der Universität, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008, Zürich, Switzerland

    Mary E. Endress

  2. Organisch-chemisches Institut der Universität, Zürich, Switzerland

    Manfred Hesse, Armin Guggisberg & Ji-ping Zhu

  3. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Palynological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden

    Siwert Nilsson

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  1. Mary E. Endress
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  2. Manfred Hesse
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  3. Siwert Nilsson
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  4. Armin Guggisberg
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  5. Ji-ping Zhu
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Endress, M.E., Hesse, M., Nilsson, S. et al. The systematic position of theHolarrheninae (Apocynaceae). Pl Syst Evol 171, 157–185 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00940603

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