''Tovomita'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the family

Clusiaceae The Clusiaceae or Guttiferae Juss. (1789) (''nom. alt. et cons.'' = alternative and valid name) are a family (biology), family of plants including 13 genera and ca 750 species. Several former members of Clusiacae are now placed in Calophyllaceae ...

. They are noted for having white-yellow

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latices are found in nature, but synthetic latices are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a wikt:milky, milky fluid, which is present in 10% of all floweri ...

and containing

xanthone Xanthone is an organic compound with the molecular formula C13H8O2. It is a white solid. In 1939, xanthone was introduced as an insecticide and it currently finds uses as ovicide for codling moth eggs and as a larvicide. Xanthone is also use ...

s. The genus is distributed in the

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

, with many occurring in Venezuela. Most are native to the forests of the

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...

.BGCI publishes Red List of Neotropical genus ''Tovomita''.
Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Most ''Tovomita'' species are trees, and a few are shrubs. They sometimes have

buttress root Buttress roots, also known as plank roots or stilt roots, are large, wide roots on all sides of a shallowly rooted tree. Typically, they are found in nutrient-poor tropical forest soils that may not be very deep. They may prevent the tree from fa ...

s. There are monoecious and dioecious species.Cuello, N. L
''Tovomita''.
In: J. A., et al., Eds. ''Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana''. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of this genus and its relatives is a current topic of research.

Phylogenetic analyses In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as Computational phylogenetics, phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organ ...

have helped to clarify relationships between the species, and many new species have been named and described in recent years.Marinho, L. C. et al. 2019.
A gold mine: four more new species of ''Tovomita'' (Clusiaceae: Clusieae) from Amazonia.
''Willdenowia'' 49(3) 343-50.Marinho, L. C., et al. 2019
Plastomes resolve generic limits within tribe Clusieae (Clusiaceae) and reveal the new genus ''Arawakia''.
''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 134 142-51. The genus ''Tovomita'' is not

monophyletic In biological cladistics for the classification of organisms, monophyly is the condition of a taxonomic grouping being a clade – that is, a grouping of organisms which meets these criteria: # the grouping contains its own most recent co ...

. As of 2019 there are about 50 species. Species include:''Tovomita''.
Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. *'' Tovomita aequatoriensis'' *''

Tovomita brasiliensis ''Tovomita'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae. They are noted for having white-yellow latex and containing xanthones. The genus is distributed in the tropical Americas, with many occurring in Venezuela. Most are native to t ...

'' *'' Tovomita brevistaminea'' *'' Tovomita chachapoyasensis'' *'' Tovomita croatii'' *'' Tovomita longifolia'' *'' Tovomita macrophylla'' *''

Tovomita mangle ''Tovomita'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae. They are noted for having white-yellow latex and containing xanthones. The genus is distributed in the Tropics, tropical Americas, with many occurring in Venezuela. Most are na ...

'' *'' Tovomita microcarpa'' *'' Tovomita rubella'' *''

Tovomita stylosa ''Tovomita'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae. They are noted for having white-yellow latex and containing xanthones. The genus is distributed in the tropical Americas, with many occurring in Venezuela. Most are native to t ...

'' *'' Tovomita weberbaueri'' *'' Tovomita weddelliana''

Threats

Some species are considered to be threatened, but the conservation status for most ''Tovomita'' species is not known due to lack of data. The most significant threat to the species is the deforestation of the Amazon.

References

External links

*Marinho, L. C. et al
''Tovomita'' (Clusiaceae) of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.
Color photographic field guide to some ''Tovomita'' species. Field Museum. Malpighiales genera Flora of the Neotropical realm {{Clusiaceae-stub