A revision of Passiflora L. subgenus Decaloba

• Published in: PhytoKeys 2014-11 (43), p.1
• Main Author: Porter-Utley, Kristen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Identification and classification; Passifloraceae; Physiological aspects
• ISSN: 1314-2011; 1314-2003
• DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.43.7804

Passiflora subgenus Decaloba supersection Cieca is a monophyletic group of herbaceous to woody climbers found in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. The 19 species recognized here are primarily distributed in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Two species, Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora pallida , are also naturalized in various regions of the Old World. The species of the supersection are recognized by their small, apetalous, usually greenish flowers with the filaments of the corona mostly in two series. The plants commonly lack c-glycosylflavones but possess flavonol 3-O-glycosides. The supersection contains two problematic species complexes, Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora coriacea . Phylogenetic relationships within supersection Cieca are investigated by means of phenetic and cladistic analyses of morphological and molecular (ITS 1 & 2) characters. The morphological and molecular data sets were analyzed separately because of incongruity due to taxon sampling and the complicated evolutionary history of entities within the Passiflora suberosa complex. All analyses confirm the monophyly of the supersection. They also show that the Passiflora suberosa complex is a non-monophyletic group of cryptic species, and inter-taxic hybridization and polyploidy have contributed to the confusing and complex pattern of variation evident within the group. Four taxa that were formerly included in this complex are recognized: Passiflora pallida , Passiflora suberosa subsp. suberosa, Passiflora suberosa subsp. litoralis, and Passiflora tridactylites . On the basis of molecular and morphological data, three species from the Passiflora coriacea complex are recognized: Passiflora coriacea , Passiflora sexocellata , and Passiflora megacoriacea . A key, detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and illustrations are included in the revision. Pollination, dispersal, and herbivory of the group are reviewed. The distribution and ecology of the species within the supersection are also discussed.