The reinstatement and rediagnosis of the madagascan genus Rhodocodon (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), with validation and remarks on H. Perrier’s taxa

Abstract

The genus Rhodocodon is here reinstated based on morphological, biogeographical and molecular evidence. On the basis of the work presented by H. Perrier de la Bâthie in Flora of Madagascar, one subgenus and ten species of Rhodocodon are validated here. Furthermore, Rhodocodon madagascariensis and R. urgineoides are lectotypified, and Hyacinthus cryptopodus and Urginea mascarenensis are transferred to Rhodocodon. A complete morphological description for all 13 accepted species of Rhodocodon is provided, including data on biology, ecology and distribution. Furthermore, an identification key for the Rhodocodon species is presented.

Phytochemical Investigations of Three Rhodocodon (Hyacinthaceae Sensu APG II) Species

“…The FTIR spectrum showed bands at 3419 (OH-stretch), 1732, and 1715 cm -1 (aldehyde and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl stretches, respectively). The characteristic 1 H NMR resonances for α-pyrone ring protons of a bufadienolide occurred at δ H 7.47 (H-21, dd, J = 0.9 Hz, 2.5 Hz), 8.01 (H-22, dd, J = 2.5 Hz, 9.7 Hz) and 6.29 (H-23, dd, J = 9.7 Hz, 0.9 Hz). The H-21 and H-22 resonances showed correlations in the HMBC spectrum with a methine carbon resonance (δ C 52.2) that could be assigned to C-17.…”

<strong><em>Triandra pellabergensis</em> (Hyacinthaceae subfam. Urgineoideae), a new genus and species from Pella se Berge, Northern Cape Province, South Africa</strong>

“…The above-mentioned phylogenetic study place a sample of Triandra as sister to the Madagascan endemic genus Rhodocodon, from which it can be readily separated on morphological grounds (cf. Knirsch et al 2015Knirsch et al , 2016Knirsch et al , 2019; these molecular analyses further reveal Triandra to be distantly related to Thuranthos, Vera-duthiea and Indurgia.…”

Bufadienolides and anti-angiogenic homoisoflavonoids from Rhodocodon cryptopodus,Rhodocodon rotundus and Rhodocodon cyathiformis

“…However, in 2006, this move was reevaluated by Pfosser et al (Pfosser et al, 2006), who re-assigned L. cryptopodus to the subfamily Urgineoideae, which brought about a necessary transfer from the genus Ledebouria to Drimia as D. cryptopoda (Baker) Pfosser, Wetschnig & Speta. Rhodocodon Baker has recently been reinstated as a genus within the Scilloideae subfamily of the Asparagaceae (sensu APG III) by Knirsch et al, (Knirsch et al, 2015) based on morphological, biogeographical and molecular evidence and Drimia cryptopoda was transferred to this new genus. No medicinal use of any species of Rhodocodon has been reported although the crushed bulbs of R. cryptopodus are used for epilation.…”

“…giganteus). The genus is endemic to Madagascar and thirteen species have been identified based on morphological, biogeographical and molecular evidence (Knirsch et al, 2015).…”