Acta Botanica 34. (1988)
1988 / 3-4. szám - BORHIDI ATTILA - GONDÁR ERZSÉBET - OROSZNÉ KOVÁCS ZSUZSANNA: The re-consideration of the genus Cordia L.
Acta Botanica Hungarica 34(3-4), pp. 375-423 (1988) THE RE-CONSIDERATION OF THE GENUS CORDIA L. A. BORHIDI, E. GONDÁR and ZS. OROSZ-KOVÁCS Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-2163 Vácrátót; INNOVATEXT, SEM-Laboratory, Budapest; Department of Botany, Janus Pannonius University, Pécs (Received: 1 September, 1988) The genus Cordia L. (Boraginaceae) has been re-considered several times from taxonomical point of view. It was splitted into 10 genera by FRIESEN (1933), but at same time it was maintained as an undivided unit by the world monographist of the genus, I.M. JOHNSTON. Palynological studies of several authors suggested a new approach to the taxonomy of this group. More than 100 species of Cordia were submitted to a careful study in respect of pollen morphology and calyx structure and floral morphology. Results permit us to suggest the separation of three genera: Cordia L., Varronia P. Browne and Gerascanthus P. Browne and a number of new combinations correlated to these changes. INTRODUCTION Cordia L. is a highly variable genus of a pantropical distribution. Its different species were described in the framework of different genera by early classic authors like, PLUMIER, LINNÉ, P. BROWNE, RUIZ et PAVON. The first review of the genus was made by DE CANDOLLE (1845), who distinguished two genera, Varronia DC. non P. BROWNE, including 3 species with calyx opening with circumcised calyptra, and Cordia Plum, with 5 sections: Gerascanthus Cham., Rhabdocalyx A. DC., Pilicordia A. DC., Physoclada DC. Sebestenoides DC., Муха Endl. and Cordiopsis A. DC. This concept was followed by GÜRKE in the Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (1893) with some modifications. In his treatment Varronia was included into Cordia as a section, and Cordiopsis has not been distinguished not even on a section level. It is BRITTON, who starts dividing Cordia into several genera. After the intention of Millspaugh (1909) he also re-establishes Varronia of P. BROWNE (1914), than Sebesten of DILLENIUS (1918) and at last describes with MILLSPAUGH (1925) the genus Calyptracordia, for distinguishing the species Cordia alba (Jacq.) Roem. et Schult, having a calyx opening with calyptra. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest