Novelties in Centronia and Meriania (Merianieae, Melastomataceae) and a taxonomic revision of Meriania brachycera group

Abstract

A historical review, the circumscription problems and nomenclatural changes based upon a phylogenetic morphological analysis of the genus Centronia are presented. In this framework, four Andean species of Centronia are transfered to the genus Meriania (M. brachycera, M. haemantha, M. mutabilis and M. mutisii) and five new species related to this group (M. aguaditensis, M. arizae, M. silverstonei, M. sararensis and M. yalconensis) and three new subspecies of M. haemantha (subsp. chaponensis, subsp. orientalis and subsp. virolinensis) are described. The selection of lectotypes of M. haemantha and M. mutisii is made and four names Centronia eximia, C. pulchra, C. dichromantha and C. insignis, are considered synonyms. We argue that this group of nine species is a natural group witthin the genus Meriania, and present taxonomic revision.

Keywords

• centronia
• melastomataceae
• meriania brachycera group
• merianieae
• north andes
• taxonomy