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The convoluted history of the name Lisianthus

Common name: 

Latin name and synonyms: Adenolisianthus (Progel) Gilg in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 4(2): 98 (1895)
Synonym: “Lisianthus” sect. Adenolisianthus Progel (1865)

Etymology: After aden- (Greek for gland),  lisi- (for smooth or even, not ridged or hairy), and -anthus (flower), meaning "gland-bearing and smooth flower".

Species: Only one, Adenolisianthus arboreus.

Distribution: A small area in the river basins of Rio Negro and Rio Vaupes in northwestern Brazil, southern Venezuela and southern Colombia in South America. 

Habitat:  Lowland, white-sand savanna, also called Amazon caatinga.

Characteristics: Shrubs or subshrubs, leaves crowded towards branch apices. Leaves sessile, broadly obovate, widest at or above middle (rarely ovate). Inflorescences terminal, many-flowered, with long-stalked, monochasial branches (flowers one by one on one side of the branch), with scale-like bracts. Flowers 5-merous, horizontal or nodding. Calyx campanulate, thick and leathery, persistent in fruit; calyx lobes with a dorsal glandular ridge. Corolla broadly funnelshaped, leathery, greenish-yellow, with rounded lobes. Stamens inserted far into the corolla tube; filaments sometimes strongly bent close to the anther. Anthers slightly bent. Pollen released as tetrads.  Style long, slender; stigma bilamellate. Capsules nodding.

Evolution and related plants:  Adenolisianthus belongs to the tribe Helieae, and its closest relative has not yet been identified.

Economic uses:  None known.

Notes: 

Accepted species (synonyms in parenthesis) and their distribution:

References and publications: 

Gilg, E. 1895. Gentianaceae. Pp. 50-180. In: A. Engler & K. Prantl, editors. Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien, vol. 4(2). Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig.

Struwe, L., J. W. Kadereit, J. Klackenberg, S. Nilsson, M. Thiv, K. B. von Hagen, & V. A. Albert. 2002. Systematics, character evolution, and biogeography of Gentianaceae, including a new tribal and subtribal classification. Pp. 21-309. In: L. Struwe & V. A. Albert (eds.), Gentianaceae: Systematics and Natural History, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Struwe, L., P. J. M. Maas, O. Pihlar, & V. A. Albert. 1999. Gentianaceae. Pp. 474-542. In: P. E. Berry, K. Yatskievych, & B. K. Holst, editors. Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana, vol. 5. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. (images)

© Lena Struwe, 2004