''Melanthera'' (common name: squarestem), 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 ...

of perennial flowering plants in the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. Despite their general hardiness, leaves of ''Melanthera'' species are often attacked by

rusts Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), ...

such as ''

Uromyces columbianus ''Uromyces'' is a genus of rust fungus, rust fungi in the family Pucciniaceae. The genus was described by Franz Unger in his 1833 work ''Die Exantheme der Pflanzen''. They have a worldwide distribution but large occurrences happen in North America ...

'' and '' Uromyces martinii''.

Taxonomy

The classification of this genus was uncertain. At times it included species native

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, as well as

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 ...

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

and

Oceania Oceania ( , ) is a region, geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Outside of the English-speaking world, Oceania is generally considered a continent, while Mainland Australia is regarded as its co ...

, including

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

. Further studies are needed to clarify its taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. The genus now includes three species native to the tropical Americas. Species formerly placed in genus ''Melanthera'' are now placed in ''

Lipochaeta ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' (Hawaiian species), '' Lipotriche'' (sub-Saharan African species), and '' Wollastonia'' (species from eastern Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific).Orchard, Anthony E. 2013. The ''Wollastonia/Melanthera/Wedelia'' generic complex (Asteraceae:Ecliptinae), with particular reference to Australia and Malesia. ''Nuytsia'' Volume 23 (25 July 2013):337-466.

Species

Three species are currently accepted. * '' Melanthera latifolia'' (Gardner) Cabrera -

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

, and northern

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

* ''

Melanthera nivea ''Melanthera nivea'', also known as pineland squarestem, snow squarestem and , is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It grows in the Americas. Distribution It is found in the SE United States, including Louisiana, Mississipp ...

'' (L.) Small – Pineland Squarestem, Snow Squarestem, Yerba de Cabra; SE United States ( LA MS AL GA FL SC TN KY IL),Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
/ref>

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

(from

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

Quintana Roo Quintana Roo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 administrative divisions of Mexico, federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into municipalities of ...

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

(

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

, northern

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

, and

) * '' Melanthera parvifolia'' Small – Small-leaf Squarestem - southern

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

Unplaced names

* '' Melanthera cinerea'' Schweinf. -

Formerly placed here

* '' Lipochaeta bryanii'' – Pili Nehe;

(as ''Melanthera bryanii'' (Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta fauriei'' – Olokele Canyon Nehe; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera fauriei'' (H. Lév.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta integrifolia ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' – Kure Atoll Nehe; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera integrifolia'' (Nutt.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta kamolensis'' – Maui Nehe;

MauI Maui (; Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ) is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2). It is the List of islands of the United States by area, 17th-largest in the United States. Maui is one of ...

(as ''Melanthera kamolensis'' (O.Deg.) & Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta lavarum'' – Coastal Nehe; Hawaii. (as ''Melanthera lavarum'' (Gaudich.) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta micrantha'' -

(as ''Melanthera micrantha'' (Nutt.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta perdita'' – Kookoolau; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera perdita'' (Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipochaeta populifolia'' – Grassland Nehe; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera populifolia'' (Sherff) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta remyi ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' – Annual Nehe; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera remyi'' (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta subcordata ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' - Hawaii (as ''Melanthera subcordata'' (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta tenuis ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' – Streambed Nehe; Hawaii (as ''Melanthera tenuis'' (O.Deg. & Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta tenuifolia ''Lipochaeta tenuifolia'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Waianae Range nehe and slender-leaf nehe. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Oahu.< ...

'' – Waianae Range Nehe; Oahu (as ''Melanthera tenuifolia'' (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) * ''

Lipochaeta venosa ''Lipochaeta venosa'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name spreading nehe. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Hawaii.Lipochaeta waimeaensis ''Lipochaeta waimeaensis'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Waimea Canyon nehe.USFWS''Lipochaeta waimeaensis'' Five-year Review.August 2010. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only fro ...

'' – Waimea Canyon Nehe;

KauaI Kauai (), anglicized as Kauai ( or ), is one of the main Hawaiian Islands. It has an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), making it the fourth-largest of the islands and the 21st-largest island in the United States. Kauai lies 73 m ...

(as ''Melanthera waimeaensis'' (H.St.John) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) * '' Lipotriche abyssinica'' (as ''Melanthera abyssinica'' (Sch.Bip. ex A.Rich.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Vatke, ''M. djalonensis'' , and ''M. sokodensis'' ) * '' Lipotriche elliptica'' (as ''Melanthera elliptica'' O.Hoffm. and ''M. chevalieri'' ) * '' Lipotriche felicis'' (as ''Melanthera felicis'' C.D.Adams) * '' Lipotriche gambica'' (as ''Melanthera gambica'' Hutch. & Dalziel) * '' Lipotriche marlothiana'' (as ''Melanthera marlothiana'' ) * '' Lipotriche pungens'' (as ''Melanthera pungens'' Oliv. & Hiern) * '' Lipotriche rhombifolia'' ) (as ''Melanthera rhombifolia'' O.Hoffm. & Muschl.) * '' Lipotriche richardsiae'' (as ''Melanthera richardsae'' Wild) * '' Lipotriche robinsonii'' (as ''Melanthera robinsonii'' Wild) * '' Lipotriche scaberrima'' (as ''Melanthera scaberrima'' Hiern) * '' Lipotriche scandens'' (as ''Melanthera scandens'' (Schumach. & Thonn.) Brenan) * '' Lipotriche tithonioides'' (as ''Melanthera tithonioides'' ) * '' Lipotriche triternata'' (as ''Melanthera baumii'' , ''M. monochaeta'' , ''M. schinziana'' , ''M. triternata'' , and ''M. varians'' ) * ''

Wollastonia biflora ''Wollastonia biflora'' (syn. ''Melanthera biflora'') also known as sea daisy, beach daisy and sea ox-eye, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a scandent, rough-looking and fast-growing plant with a wide distribution. ...

'' (as ''Melanthera biflora'' (L.) Wild.) * '' Wollastonia dentata'' (as ''Melanthera prostrata'' (Hemsl.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob., ''M. robusta'' , or ''M. taiwanensis'' ) * '' Wollastonia lifuana'' (as ''Melanthera lifuana'' )

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q9031295 Asteraceae genera Flora of the Americas Taxa described in 1792