Cuviera
| Cuviera | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Ixoroideae |
| Tribe: | Vanguerieae |
| Genus: | Cuviera DC. |
| Type species | |
| Cuviera acutiflora DC. | |
Cuviera is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It was originally described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1807 and is named after the French naturalist Georges Cuvier.[1]
Description
The species form a homogeneous group that is well charaterized by their striped petals, many-flowered inflorescences and usually ant holes in the twigs. The bracts are recaulescent, which means that the first node of the inflorescence is bare and the lowest bracts are inserted at the second node.[2]
Distribution and Habitat
The genus is found in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest zone. The centre of diversity is the Lower Guinean forests; two species occur in the Upper Guinean forests, and only C. angolensis extends into the Congolian forests.[2]
Most species are relatively light demanding, favouring secondary or riverine forest, but some are found in the understory as well. They often grow in clusters.
Taxonomy
At one time, the genus Globulostylis was considered as a subgenus of Cuviera,[3] but it has been re-established as an accepted genus.[2]
Species
Accepted species according to the latest revision.[2]
- Cuviera acutiflora DC.
- Cuviera angolensis Welw. ex K.Schum.
- Cuviera le-testui Pellegr.
- Cuviera longiflora Hiern
- Cuviera macroura K.Schum.
- Cuviera physinodes K.Schum.
- Cuviera pierrei N.Hallé
- Cuviera subuliflora Benth.
- Cuviera trilocularis Hiern
- Cuviera truncata Hutch. & Dalziel
The following species are excluded from Cuviera based on morphological and molecular data, but have not been transferred to other genera yet.
- Cuviera australis K.Schum. = Vangueria lasiantha (Sond.) Sond.
- Cuviera bolo Aubrèv. & Pellegr. = Robynsia glabrata Hutch.
- Cuviera calycosa Wernham
- Cuviera migeodii Verdc.
- Cuviera nigrescens (Elliott ex Oliv.) Wernham
- Cuviera schliebenii Verdc.
- Cuviera semseii Verdc.
- Cuviera tomentosa Verdc.
References
- ↑ de Candolle AP (1807). "Mémoire sur le Cuviera". Annales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 9: 216–222.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Verstraete B, Lachenaud O, Smets E, Dessein S, Sonké B (2013). "Taxonomy and phylogeny of Cuviera (Rubiaceae-Vanguerieae) and reinstatement of the genus Globulostylis with the description of three new species". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (3): 407–441. doi:10.1111/boj.12062.
- ↑ Verdcourt B (1987). "Notes on African Rubiaceae-Vanguerieae". Kew Bulletin 42: 123–199.