''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family
Melastomataceae
Melastomataceae () is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. 5115 known species. Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs ...
.
It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which means 'twofold'.
PlantZAfrica, from the ''D. canescens'' page. This refers to the two types of
anther
The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...
s that is a characteristic of this genus.
Taxonomy
Until recently ''Dissotis'' contained dozens of species, organized into four sections – ''Dissotis, Macrocarpae, Sessilifoliae'', and ''Squamulosae''. A 2020 study found that the genus was
polyphyletic
A polyphyletic group is an assemblage that includes organisms with mixed evolutionary origin but does not include their most recent common ancestor. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as Homoplasy, homoplasies ...
, and most species formerly placed in ''Dissotis'' were placed in five new genera – ''
Almedanthus
''Almedanthus pachytrichus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae
Melastomataceae () is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics ...
'' (for ''Dissotis pachytricha''), ''
Eleotis'' (for former ''Dissotis'' sect. ''Sessilifoliae''), ''
Feliciotis'' (for former sect. ''Macrocarpae''), ''
Pyrotis
''Pyrotis gilgiana'' is a species of flowering plant in family Melastomataceae. It is a perennial herb up to 45 cm. tall which is native to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia in central Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest ...
'' (for ''D. gilgiana'') and ''
Rosettea
''Rosettea'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes 21 species native to tropical Africa.
*''Rosettea aquatica''
*''Rosettea benguellensis''
*''Rosettea carrissoi''
*''Rosettea castroi''
*''Rosettea cordifolia''
*''R ...
'' (for former sect. ''Squamulosae'') – or into the existing or revived genera ''
Antherotoma
''Antherotoma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae.
Its native range is Tropical and Southern Africa, Comoros, Madagascar.
Species:
*'' Antherotoma angustifolia''
*'' Antherotoma clandestina''
*'' Anthero ...
'', ''
Derosiphia'', and ''
Nerophila
''Nerophila'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae
Melastomataceae () is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tro ...
''.
[Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Stone, R.D. and Kadereit, G. (2020), Towards a complete phylogeny of African Melastomateae: Systematics of Dissotis and allies (Melastomataceae). TAXON, 69: 946-991. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12317]
Species
As accepted by Kew;
*''
Dissotis elegans
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis grandiflora
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis homblei
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis idanreensis
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis lebrunii
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis leonensis
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis longisetosa
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis splendens
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
*''
Dissotis swynnertonii
''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.
Etymology
The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...
''
References
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q8560453
Melastomataceae genera
Melastomataceae
Flora of the Afrotropical realm
Taxa named by George Bentham