Morphological analysis, nomenclatural and geographic distribution of Phyllanthus subcarnosus (Phyllanthaceae) in Cuba

• Main Authors: Beatriz Medina Morales, Jose Luis Fiallo, Dennys de Vales Fernández, Leneidy Pérez Pelea, José Angel García-Beltrán, Banessa Falcón-Hidalgo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de La Habana 2021-05-01
• Series: Revista del Jardín Botánico Nacional
• Subjects: contorno foliar; morfometría geométrica; phyllanthus sect. omphacodes; ramificación filantoidea
• Online Access: http://www.rjbn.uh.cu/index.php/RJBN/article/view/544
• ISSN: 0253-5696; 2410-5546

Phyllanthus subcarnosus, which is endemic to Cuba and Hispaniola is the only species in P. sect. Omphacodes. The representatives of Eastern Cuba had been considered a species (P. leonis) independent from those of Western Cuba due to the greater dimensions of their terminal branches, leaves, capsules, seeds and also for their floral characters. However, they are currently considered as a single species. In view of these divergent taxonomic treatments, characterize the morphological diversity of P. subcarnosus is assessed, and its nomenclature, as well as its geographical distribution in Cuba are updated, based on the study of 159 herbarium specimens that represents 59 individual plants, and on the evaluation of 56 vegetative and 63 reproductive characters. The characters that distinguish P. subcarnosus plants in Cuba from its congeners are: hardened cataphylls, elliptical or ovate leaf blade, bisexual cymules, male flowers with three stamens, female flowers with three bifid styles united in a column at the base, and fruits with 6 asymmetrically trigonous seeds. The most important vegetative characters to characterize its variability are the length of the floriferous branches, the number of leaves per floriferous branch and the length of the leaf blade. The nomenclature of the species was updated by clarifying the correct authorship of the name P. subcarnosus is established. The distribution was updated by adding 21 new locations. Citation: Medina, B., Fiallo, J.L., de Vales, D., Pérez, L., García-Beltrán, J.A. & Falcón-Hidalgo, B. 2021. Análisis morfológico, nomenclatura y distribución geográfica de Phyllanthus subcarnosus (Phyllanthaceae) en Cuba. Revista Jard. Bot. Nac. Univ. Habana 42: 107-118. Received: 30 September 2020. Accepted: 25 January 2021. Online: 4 May 2021. Editor: Luis Manuel Leyva.