Philcoxia

Philcoxia is a genus within the family of Plantain Family. It is found only in Brazil. Both the genus and all three species were first described only in 2000 on the basis of collections made of 1966, 1981 and 1992. Recent works consider that the species of the genus could be carnivorous.

Description

The Philcoxia species are herbaceous plants, perennial (safe Philcoxia bahiensis, probably Philcoxia minensis ), otherwise one-year, to reach a stature height 10-26 centimeters. The species are mostly stalked underground, only Philcoxia goianensis is sessile.

The leaves are stalked ganzrandigen plate -like and roundish to narrow kidney-shaped. Their underside is glabrous, on top of the leaves are covered with stalked glands that secrete a sticky secretion, on closer examination were detected in Philcoxia minensis numerous caught nematodes find on the leaf surface.

The bracts are scale-like, bracts absent, the inflorescences are monotelisch (ie, main and lateral axes all end with a flower). The five sepals are non- grow, fünflappige crown is light blue to purple, hairless on the outside, inside short hair. The five lobes indicate two lips, the upper two and the lower two-to three-lobed. The flower tube is slender, dilated at the base at the throat, find in it are close to the approach the two stamens. The stamens are very short, the anthers have only one counter, the connective is thickened, staminodes absent. The stylus is linear and widened abruptly at the top. The ovary bears numerous ovules. The round to nearly round, bicompartmental fruit capsule opens along the septa.

Distribution and habitat

The genus is restricted to the eastern Brazil, where the plants seasonally dry and nutrient-poor, deep sandy soils of the Cerrado and the Campos Rupestres settle at altitudes 800-1450 m.

In the dry season it comes here often to fires. Philcoxia colonize as pioneer plants also disturbed sites, such as bsp. caused by diamond mining and which are otherwise almost devoid of vegetation.

Botanical history

First specimens of this genus (later than Philcoxia goiasensis described ) were collected in 1966 and were preliminary to the water hose plants ( Lentibulariaceae ) have been received. However, Peter Taylor from Kew Gardens, they determined in collaboration with David Philcox early 1970s than previously undescribed genus of the figwort family ( Scrophulariaceae ). A description of genus and species Taylor started, but not completed it for over two decades; the material remained untouched in his hand.

A working group led by Raymond Harley Collections in 1991 received a private man, including a plant that could not be satisfactorily determined. Since it resembled a water hose ( Utricularia ), the material on Martin Cheek of the Kew Gardens was forwarded, which they designated as the figwort plant by their placentation and they in turn passed it to Vinicius Souza, an expert on Brazilian figworts. Souza realized that it was a question of a new type and at the same time, a new genus of figworts. Further research brought to light another, in 1981, collected Herbarexemplar that - could be determined as a second species of the genus (later Philcoxia minensis ) - although in poor condition and without a precise location.

Peter Taylor wanted 1994 to complete the work on the first description of long raw material and showed Raymond Harley his designs and the Herbarexemplar. He recognized that Taylor worked the same genus, and that it was a third not yet described species of the genus in his copy. In 2000 appeared a Community section, where the new species was first described at the same time with three of their species. The genus name honors the Philcoxia British botanist David Philcox, an expert in tropical figworts who helped Taylor in familial classification.

In the context of severe changes in the family since the early 1990s, it was after molecular genetic studies in 2007 then the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ) is assigned. At the same time the first simple tests were carried out on a Karnivorie and previously only sparse knowledge about Philcoxia minensis significantly amplified on the basis of a Neufunds.

Species

  • Philcoxia minensis V. C. Souza & Giulietti
  • Philcoxia goiasensis P. Taylor
  • Philcoxia bahiensis V. C. Souza & Harley

Evidence

  • Peter W. Fritsch, Frank Almeda, Angela B. Martins, Boni C. Cruz, D. Estes: Rediscovery and Phylogenetic Placement of Philcoxia minensis ( Plantaginaceae ), with a test of Carnivory. In: Proceedings of the Californian Academy of Sciences. 58 (21 ), 2007, pp. 447-467, PDF Online
  • Peter Taylor, Vinicius Castro Souza, Ana Maria Giulietti and Raymond Mervin Harley: Philcoxia: a new genus of Scrophulariaceae with three new species from eastern Brazil. In: Kew Bulletin. 55, 2000, pp. 153-163
  • Plantain Family
  • Plantaginaceae
Asterids Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)
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