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Taxonomic revision of Rinorea ilicifolia (Violaceae) from Africa and Madagascar

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Summary

The uncertain taxonomic circumscription between Rinorea ilicifolia (Welw. ex Oliv.) Kuntze and R. spinosa (Boivin ex Tul.) Baill. has led to considerable confusion when attempting to identify the two species. The plants from mainland Africa have typically been determined as R. ilicifolia while the plants in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands have been variously assigned to R. spinosa, R. ilicifolia, or R. ilicifolia subsp. spinosa (Boivin ex Tul.) Grey-Wilson. A third taxon from east Africa, R. ilicifolia var. amplexicaulis Grey-Wilson, has auriculate leaf bases and a mostly discrete distribution from R. ilicifolia, suggesting a greater degree of divergence than is indicated by its taxonomic rank of variety. To better understand the circumscription among these three taxa, we performed multivariate and discriminant analyses of six quantitative variables measured from herbarium specimens. Based on results from these analyses, we deemed there was insufficient morphological divergence to maintain R. ilicifolia and R. spinosa as separate species. Instead, we recognise a single species, R. ilicifolia, composed of three subspecies: R. ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia in mainland Africa, R. ilicifolia subsp. spinosa in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, and R. ilicifolia subsp. amplexicaulis (Grey-Wilson) Wahlert, comb. et stat. nov. from Tanzania and Burundi. Here we provide a taxonomic revision of R. ilicifolia, a distribution map and preliminary risk of extinction assessment using IUCN Red List categories and criteria for the three subspecies. We also propose a change of status for Rinorea [unranked] Ilicifoliae Engl. to the rank of section, an action supported by phylogenetic and morphological evidence. The new section includes R. ilicifolia and 13 other taxa from mainland Africa. Lectotypes are designated for the section and for Alsodeia spinosa Boivin ex Tul., and a second-step lectotype is selected for Alsodeia ilicifolia Welw. ex Oliv.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the many herbarium curators at K, MO, P, PRE, TAN, TEF, and WAG who made specimens available for this study. Two anonymous reviewers generously provided detailed feedback which helped to improve the accuracy of this paper. We also thank Jacek Wajer (BM) for providing high resolution images of herbarium material. Peter Phillipson (MO, P) provided assistance with mapping and protected areas in Madagascar. Financial support was provided by an Ohio University Graduate Student Senate Grant for Original Research and Student Enhancement Award (GAW) and an Ohio University Baker Grant (HEB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA

    Gregory A. Wahlert

  2. Biology Department, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, 54751, USA

    Keith E. Gilland

  3. Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA

    Harvey E. Ballard Jr.

Authors
  1. Gregory A. Wahlert
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  2. Keith E. Gilland
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  3. Harvey E. Ballard Jr.
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Correspondence to Gregory A. Wahlert.

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Appendix. List of specimens used in morphometric analysis

Appendix. List of specimens used in morphometric analysis

Rinorea ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia: Y. S. Abeid & O. A. Kibure 706 (MO); Y. S. Abeid & O. A. Kibure 735 (MO); J.-G. Adam 3181 (MO, P); J.-G. Adam 20793 (P); J.-G. Adam 23589 (MO); J.-G. Adam 29747 (MO); J.-G. Adam 30109 (MO); M. Aubréville 1801 (P); L. Bernardi 8304 (P); L. Bernardi 8414 (P); J. P. M. Brenan 8491 (P); F. J. Breteler 6105 (MO, P); F. B. Dhego et al. 592 (MO); A. Chevalier 14820 (P); A. Chevalier 16641 (P); A. Chevalier 16741 (P); A. Chevalier 16854 (P); A. Chevalier 16921 (P); A. Chevalier 22601 (P); K. O. Darko 461 (MO, P); J. de Koning et al. 9747 (MO); J. J. F. E. de Wilde 6361 (MO); J. J. F. E. de Wilde & A. G. Voorhoeve 3736 (P); W. J. J. O. de Wilde & B. E. E. Duyfjes-de Wilde 1625 (MO); A. A. Enti 435 (MO); A. A. Enti 644 (MO); A. A. Enti 1683 (MO); P. Ezrom et al. 189 (MO); R. B. Faden et al. 77/415 (MO); L. Festo 817 (MO); I. Friis et al. 3919 (MO); Frontier-Tanzania 1420B (MO); Frontier-Tanzania 2700 (MO); L. Gautier et al. LG2265 (MO); L. Gautier et al. LG2863 (MO); D. J. Harris & J. M. Fay 76 (MO); D. J. Harris & J. M. Fay 228 (MO); D. J. Harris & J. M. Fay 534 (MO); C. J. Kayombo et al. 4678 (MO); O. A. Kibure 84 (MO); O. A. Kibure 491 (MO); O. A. Kibure 514 (MO); J. Koechlin 3914 (P); M. G. Latilo 22 (P); J. Lewalle 4900 (MO); Maclaud 182 (P); M. Merello et al. 1337 (MO); M. A. Mwangoka 1257 (MO); M. A. Mwangoka & S. Ali 2188 (MO); L. B. Mwasumbi & P. Mponda 12643 (MO); L. B. Mwasumbi & P. Munyenyembe 13848 (MO); P. B. Phillipson et al. 4947 (MO); G. E. Pilz 2667 (MO); M. Reekmans 3892 (MO [2 sheets]); S. A. Robertson & W. R. Q. Luke 4544 (MO); P. Schnell 5328 (P); V. Simon et al. 9 (MO); A. R. da Torre & J. Paiva 9888 (MO); L. White 881 (MO).

Rinorea ilicifolia subsp. spinosa: L. H. Boivin 2122bis (P); L. H. Boivin 3296 (P); J. M. Bosser 5899 (P); J. M. Bosser 18012 (P); J. M. Bosser 18111 (P [2 sheets]); G. Cremers 2443 (P); P. Coulon 88 (MO); R. Decary 1356 (BM, P); R. Decary 2361 (P); R. Decary 15808 (P); L. Gautier et al. LG3134 (P); J.-L. Guillaumet 2256 (P); P. Hoffmann et al. 435 (MO); H. Humbert 18845 (P); L. Humblot 151 (P); M. Keraudren-Aymonin & G. G. Aymonin 25629 (P); J.-N. Labat et al 2230 (P); J. D. Leandri 263 (P); J. D. Leandri 666 (P); J. D. Leandri 953 (P); J. D. Leandri 1067 (P); J. D. Leandri & P. Saboureau 2907 (P); C. Mas 294 (P); H. Perrier 355 (P); H. Perrier 1409 (P); H. Perrier 12117 (P); H. Perrier 12118 (P); M. Pignal et al. 1926 (MO); C. H. O. Pobéguin 68 (P); R. Randrianaivo et al. 228 (P); J. M. C. Richard 185 (P); J. M. C. Richard 210 (P); J. M. C. Richard 328 (P); J. M. C. Richard 555 (P); RN 2008 (P); RN 2548 (P); RN 2714 (P); RN 3011 (P); RN 4917 (P); RN 5664 (P); RN 8153 (P); RN 10331 (P); RN 11418 (P); G. Rouhan & F. Bernier 38 (MO); SF 3169 (P); SF 14197 (P); SF 15513 (P); SF 16343 (P); SF 16571 (P); SF 18034 (P); SF 26211 (P); SF 26398 (P); L. Tarnaud 150 (P); H. Tinguy 804 (P); S. Wohlhauser & H. Andriamalaza 60267 (P).

Rinorea ilicifolia subsp. amplexicaulis: Y. S. Abeid et al. 1274 (MO); Y. S. Abeid et al. 2282 (MO); G. Gobbo 344 (MO); W. R. Q. Luke et al. 8185 (MO); B. E. Mhoro 33 (MO); D. W. Thomas 3691 (MO).

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Wahlert, G.A., Gilland, K.E. & Ballard, H.E. Taxonomic revision of Rinorea ilicifolia (Violaceae) from Africa and Madagascar. Kew Bull 75, 12 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-020-9866-6

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