Gloxiniopsis

Full name and orig. publication: Gloxiniopsis Roalson & Boggan, Selbyana 25(2): 228 (19 Dec. 2005).

Etymology: Composed of the generic name Gloxinia and the Greek suffix -όψις, -opsis = looking like, similar to.

Synonyms: -

Infrafamilial position: Gesnerioid Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae) - Gloxinieae.

Description: Terrestrial perennial herbs with scaly rhizomes. Stem erect. Leaves opposite, ± isophyllous, with 5-9(-14) pairs of veins. Flowers solitary, emerging from the axils of opposite or alternate bracts, forming together a terminal, indeterminate raceme; pedicels ebracteolate. Sepals free. Corolla white, campanulate,  limb of subequal lobes, lower lobes toothed. Stamens 4, anthers coherent. Nectary annular , strongly reduced or possibly absent. Ovary inferior; stigma stomatomorphic. Fruit a subglobose fleshy capsule, dehiscing along the dorsal surface and splitting the hypanthium to the base.  Seeds numerous, minute, rhombic to ellipsoid.

Chromosome number:  Unknown (probably 2n = 26).

Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.

Type and only species: Gloxiniopsis racemosa (Benth.) Roalson & Boggan

Distribution: In the Andes of Colombia.

Ecology: Probably as in Gloxinia.

Notes: In habit and flower form G. racemosa is very similar to Gloxinia perennis. However, molecular data suggest that they are not closely related and that G. racemosa merits placement in a distinct genus (Roalson et al. 2005a,b; Boggan 2006)

Selected references: Roalson, Boggan, Skog, Zimmer, Taxon 54(2): 389-410 (2005a), molec. syst.; Roalson, Boggan, Skog, Selbyana 25(2): 225-238 (2005b), tax.; Boggan, Gesneriads 56 (3): 26-32 (2006), surv.

Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.

Illustrations:

Gloxiniopsis racemosa (Benth.)  Roalson & Boggan, type and only species
[formerly
Gloxinia racemosa (Benth.) Wiehler]

Left: Bot. Mag. t. 6233 (1876), as Monopyle racemosa
Right:
Gesneriads 56 (3): 29 (2006), phot. J. Katzenstein

 



last modified: 2007-04-03