Systematics and Evolution of Tribe Pyramieae

Merianthera calyptrata sp. nov. (Melastomataceae, Myrtales), a new candelabriform species from Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…In all other species of Merianthera, the fruits apparently lack a dehiscence region, and "the seeds are dispersed after the hypanthium and ovary walls decay and open ("cápsula rompente" or "rupturing capsule" sensu Baumgratz 1985), and the seeds are released through the gaps left by the falling irregular hypanthium pieces" (Goldenberg et al 2012). The same mechanism is found in some species of Huberia (also in the tribe Pyramieae; Bochorny et al 2019Bochorny et al , 2022, and in Allomaieta Gleason and Alloneuron Pilger (both in the tribe Cyphostyleae; Michelangeli et al 2011). All these species in Merianthera, Huberia, Allomaieta and Alloneuron have an inferior ovary, and this dehiscence mechanism has been interpreted as a consequence of the ovary position (Goldenberg et al 2012).…”

“…& R.Goldenb. (Bochorny et al 2019), is now assigned to Pyramieae Naudin, a tribal name with priority (Bochorny et al 2022). Its four genera (Bisglaziovia Cogn., Cambessedesia DC., Huberia DC., and Merianthera Kuhlm.)…”

“…Its four genera (Bisglaziovia Cogn., Cambessedesia DC., Huberia DC., and Merianthera Kuhlm.) with a total of 68 species are almost restricted to eastern Brazil, except for four species of Huberia occurring in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes (Bochorny et al 2022). Finally, the genus Merianthera had up to now seven species (Goldenberg et al 2012), two of which (M. eburnea R.Goldenb.…”

Five new species of Huberia (Melastomataceae) from the eastern Brazilian mountains

“…Melastomataceae is a highly morphologically and ecologically diverse family that comprises 173 genera and about 5860 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and with a few species in temperate areas (Ulloa Ulloa 2022). The recently circumscribed tribe Cambessedesieae Bochorny et al and shortly reassigned to Pyramieae Naudin (Bochorny et al 2022a) contains 69 species in four genera (Bisglaziovia Cogn., Cambessedesia DC., Huberia DC., and Merianthera Kuhlm.). These species are almost restricted to eastern Brazil, except for four species of Huberia occurring in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador (Baumgratz 2004).…”

“…Huberia DC. contains 37 taxa (Bochorny et al , 2022aBaumgratz et al 2020) with most species exclusive to "campos de altitude" (high elevation grasslands > 1000 m) within the Atlantic Forest domain in eastern Brazil. Some species occur at sea level, such as Huberia carvalhoi Baumgratz, Huberia ovalifolia DC.…”