Advances in Legume Systematics 14. Classification of Caesalpinioideae. Part 2: Higher-level classification.

Caesalpinioideae is the second largest subfamily of legumes (Leguminosae) with ca. 4680 species and 163 genera. It is an ecologically and economically important group formed of mostly woody perennials that range from large canopy emergent trees to functionally herbaceous geoxyles, lianas and shrubs, and which has a global distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Following the recent re-circumscription of 15 Caesalpinioideae genera as presented in Advances in Legume Systematics 14, Part 1, and using as a basis a phylogenomic analysis of 997 nuclear gene sequences for 420 species and all but five of the genera currently recognised in the subfamily, we present a new higher-level classification for the subfamily. The new classification of Caesalpinioideae comprises eleven tribes, all of which are either new, reinstated or re-circumscribed at this rank: Caesalpinieae Rchb. (27 genera / ca. 223 species), Campsiandreae LPWG (2 / 5-22), Cassieae Bronn (7 / 695), Ceratonieae Rchb. (4 / 6), Dimorphandreae Benth. (4 / 35), Erythrophleeae LPWG (2 /13), Gleditsieae Nakai (3 / 20), Mimoseae Bronn (100 / ca. 3510), Pterogyneae LPWG (1 / 1), Schizolobieae Nakai (8 / 42-43), Sclerolobieae Benth. & Hook. f. (5 / ca. 113). Although many of these lineages have been recognised and named in the past, either as tribes or informal generic groups, their circumscriptions have varied widely and changed over the past decades, such that all the tribes described here differ in generic membership from those previously recognised. Importantly, the approximately 3500 species and 100 genera of the former subfamily Mimosoideae are now placed in the reinstated, but newly circumscribed, tribe Mimoseae. Because of the large size and ecological importance of the tribe, we also provide a clade-based classification system for Mimoseae that includes 17 named lower-level clades. Fourteen of the 100 Mimoseae genera remain unplaced in these lower-level clades: eight are resolved in two grades and six are phylogenetically isolated monogeneric lineages. In addition to the new classification, we provide a key to genera, morphological descriptions and notes for all 163 genera, all tribes, and all named clades. The diversity of growth forms, foliage, flowers and fruits are illustrated for all genera, and for each genus we also provide a distribution map, based on quality-controlled herbarium specimen localities. A glossary for specialised terms used in legume morphology is provided. This new phylogenetically based classification of Caesalpinioideae provides a solid system for communication and a framework for downstream analyses of biogeography, trait evolution and diversification, as well as for taxonomic revision of still understudied genera.

Los bosques estacionalmente secos del Perú: un re-análisis de sus patrones de diversidad y relaciones florísticas

Los bosques estacionalmente secos en el Perú constituyen un conjunto de ecosistemas que incluye tres grandes grupos florísticos: bosques costeros, interandinos y orientales. Con la excepción de los bosques estacionalmente secos de las llanuras costeras del norte del país, hasta hace poco la ausencia de datos hacía difícil describir adecuadamente estos grupos en base a su florística. En los últimos 20 años, en estos bosques se han generado diversos estudios florísticos e inventarios botánicos enfocados en plantas leñosas, que han llenado vacíos de conocimiento en áreas críticas. Con estos estudios hemos generado la base de datos DRYFLOR Perú que a la fecha incluye 526 inventarios cuantitativos (listas de especies en áreas discretas incluyendo registros de sus abundancias) y que nos permiten confirmar la distinción florística de los tres grandes grupos. Adicionalmente logramos reconocer claramente dos subgrupos de bosques estacionalmente secos costeros (de llanura y de montaña), dos subgrupos interandinos (valles del Marañón-Mantaro y del Pampas) y tres subgrupos orientales (valles del Huallaga, Tambo y Urubamba). Todos los subgrupos tienen un ensamblaje de especies de plantas leñosas que los distingue y caracteriza en términos de abundancia, frecuencia, riqueza de especies y niveles de endemismo. Si bien ahora podemos describir mejor la heterogeneidad florística de los bosques estacionalmente secos en el Perú, hemos identificado vacíos de conocimiento importantes que requieren de atención prioritaria: i) requerimos de esfuerzos de inventario adicionales en los bosques orientales, ii) necesitamos resolver las afinidades florísticas de los bosques del valle del Apurímac, iii) nuestros datos coinciden en poco más del 75% con las definiciones y distribución de bosques secos del reciente Mapa Nacional de Ecosistemas del Perú, y será necesario revisar el concepto de bosque estacionalmente seco para lograr capturar adecuadamente su distribución en este instrumento de gestión.

Seasonally dry forests in Peru are a combination of ecosystems that include three large floristic groups: coastal, inter-Andean and eastern forests. Except for the seasonally dry forests of the northern coastal plains of the country, until recently it was difficult to explore what occurred floristically within each group due to lack of data. However, in the last 20 years various floristic studies and botanical inventories focused on woody plants have managed to fill knowledge gaps in critical areas. With these studies we have generated the DRYFLOR Peru database that to date includes 526 quantitative inventories (lists of species in discrete areas, including records of their abundances) and that allows us to confirm the floristic distinction of the three large groups. Additionally, we were able to clearly recognize two subgroups of seasonally dry coastal forests (on coastal plains and along the Andean piedmont), two inter-Andean subgroups (within the Marañón-Mantaro and Pampas valleys) and three eastern subgroups (within the Huallaga, Tambo and Urubamba valleys). All subgroups have an assemblage of woody plant species that distinguishes and characterizes them in terms of abundance, frequency, species richness, and levels of endemism. Although we can now better describe the floristic heterogeneity of seasonally dry forests in Peru, we have identified important knowledge gaps that require urgent attention: i) we require additional inventory efforts in the eastern forests, ii) we need to resolve the floristic affinities of the forests of the Apurímac valley, iii) our data agree in little more than 75% with the definitions and distribution of dry forests of the recent National Ecosystem Map of Peru, and it will be necessary to review the concept of seasonally dry forests to adequately capture its distribution in this management tool.

Evolutionary diversity in tropical tree communities peaks at intermediate precipitation.

Global patterns of species and evolutionary diversity in plants are primarily determined by a temperature gradient, but precipitation gradients may be more important within the tropics, where plant species richness is positively associated with the amount of rainfall. The impact of precipitation on the distribution of evolutionary diversity, however, is largely unexplored. Here we detail how evolutionary diversity varies along precipitation gradients by bringing together a comprehensive database on the composition of angiosperm tree communities across lowland tropical South America (2,025 inventories from wet to arid biomes), and a new, large-scale phylogenetic hypothesis for the genera that occur in these ecosystems. We find a marked reduction in the evolutionary diversity of communities at low precipitation. However, unlike species richness, evolutionary diversity does not continually increase with rainfall. Rather, our results show that the greatest evolutionary diversity is found in intermediate precipitation regimes, and that there is a decline in evolutionary diversity above 1,490 mm of mean annual rainfall. If conservation is to prioritise evolutionary diversity, areas of intermediate precipitation that are found in the South American 'arc of deforestation', but which have been neglected in the design of protected area networks in the tropics, merit increased conservation attention.

Maximising Synergy among Tropical Plant Systematists, Ecologists, and Evolutionary Biologists.

Closer collaboration among ecologists, systematists, and evolutionary biologists working in tropical forests, centred on studies within long-term permanent plots, would be highly beneficial for their respective fields. With a key unifying theme of the importance of vouchered collection and precise identification of species, especially rare ones, we identify four priority areas where improving links between these communities could achieve significant progress in biodiversity and conservation science: (i) increasing the pace of species discovery; (ii) documenting species turnover across space and time; (iii) improving models of ecosystem change; and (iv) understanding the evolutionary assembly of communities and biomes.

Vochysia awasensis (Vochysiaceae), nueva especie de los Bosques Montanos del Chocó ecuatoriano / Vochysia awasensis (Vochysiaceae), new species from the Mountain Forests from the Ecuatorian Chocó

Vochysia awasensis I. Huamantupa, es descrita e ilustrada como especie nueva de la familia Vochysiaceae, perteneciente a la sect. Ciliantha Stafleu subsect. Megalanthae Stafleu, proviene de los bosques montanos de la región biogeográfica del Chocó en el noroeste de Ecuador. Presenta mayor afinidad a V. megalantha y V.duquei, pero a su vez se distingue de estas por presentar el peciolo sésil poco conspicuo y decurrente, limbo foliar de 17-33,5 (-35) x 4,5-10 cm; pétalos florales entre 2,4-3 x 0,6-0,9 cm.

Vochysia awasensis I. Huamantupa, is described and illustrated as new species of the family Vochysiaceae, belonging to the sect. Stafleu Ciliantha subsect. Megalanthae Stafleu, which comes from the montane forests of the Choco biogeographical region in the northwestern of Ecuador. The new species differs from its relatives V. megalantha and V. duquei, by its inconspicuous and recurrent petiole, blade 17-33,5 (-35) x 4,5-10 cm, and petals 2,4-3 x 0,6 to 0,9 cm.

Inusual riqueza, composición y estructura arbórea en el bosque de tierra firme del Pongo Qoñec, Sur Oriente peruano / An unusual richness, structure and composition tree in terra firme forest of Pongo Qoñec, Peruvian South East

Se estableció una parcela de 1 ha, en bosque de tierra firme en el Pongo de Qoñec, valle Kosñipata (Cusco), dentro de la Reserva Biósfera del Manú, a 710 m; 12°53'53"S y 72°22'25"W. Se registró 56 familias, 153 géneros, 249 especies con 813 individuos con Dap ≥ 10 cm. Las familias, más ricas fueron: Fabaceae (32 especies), Moraceae (24), Rubiaceae (17) y Lauraceae (12); los géneros más ricos, Inga (17), Neea (7), Miconia (5); se halló un área basal total de 40,50 m², de ellas Iriartea deltoidea con 6,58 m², Socratea salazarii 2,28 m², y Endlicheria sp 1,65 m², obtuvieron mayor ab; la especie con mayor valor de importancia fue: I. deltoidea, corroborando estudios anteriores en bosques de tierra firme. El análisis estructural muestra que clases diamétricas 10-20 cm, abarcan 71,3% del total de fustes. Al comparar nuestros resultados, el Pongo de Qoñec, sorprendentemente supera en riqueza a parcelas adyacentes dentro del sur peruano y muestra un patrón de riqueza de familias y géneros similar a parcelas peruanas diversas como Yanamono 300 especies y Mishana (289), en Loreto. Consideramos que esta inusual riqueza se debe en gran medida a factores ambientales únicos que se dan en este Pongo, como son la alta precipitación, dinámica de vientos y la variabilidad de suelos en áreas pequeñas. Por tanto estos resultados difieren considerablemente de enunciados conocidos, que consideran a la amazonia sur peruana con moderada a baja riqueza arbórea.

One plot of 1 ha, was established in the terra firm forest in the Pongo de Qoñec, Kosñipata valley (Cusco), inside the reserve Biósfera of the Manú, to 710 m; 12°53'53"S and 72°22'25"W. We registered, 56 families, 153 genus, 249 species, with 813 individuals with Dap ≥ 10 cm. Families, more rich were: Fabaceae (32 species), Moraceae (24), Rubiaceae (17) and Lauraceae (12); The most rich genus were, Inga (17), Neea (7), Miconia (5); the total basal area was 40.50 m², of them Iriartea deltoidea with 6.58 m², Socratea salazarii 2.28 m², and Endlicheria sp 1.65 m², obtained bigger ab; The specie with most high value of importance went: I deltoidea, corroborating previous studies in the terra firm forests. The structural analysis evidences than diametrics class of 10-20 cm, was 71.3 % of the total of individuals. When comparing our results, the Pongo Qoñec, surprisingly obtained high richness to adjacent plots, inside the Peruvian south and sample a similar patterns of richness of families and genus to most diversity Peruvian plots how Yanamono 300 species and Mishana (289), in Loreto. We considered that these unusual richness are due to environmental factors, present in the Pongo de Qoñec, such as the high precipitation, dynamics of winds and the variability of soils in little areas. Therefore these results differ considerably from known enunciates, that consider that Amazon south Peruvian have low and moderate trees richness.

Una nueva especie de Demosthenesia (Ericaceae) del Cusco, Perú / New species of Demosthenesia (Ericaceae) from Cusco, Perú

Se describe e ilustra una especie nueva de la familia Ericaceae del género Demosthenesia, procedente de la localidad de San Antonio en el Valle de La Convención, Departamento de Cusco, siendo: Demosthenesia matsiguenka I. Huamantupa. Se discute con D. vilcabambensis Luteyn, la que presenta mayor semejanza.

A new species of Demosthenesia (Ericaceae) is described, from San Antonio, La Convención Valley, Cusco Department: Demosthenesia matsiguenka I. Huamantupa. It is compared to D. vilcabambensis Luteyn.

Análisis de la composición florística de los bosques de Jenaro Herrera, Loreto, Perú / Analysis of the floristic composition of the forests of Jenaro Herrera, Loreto, Peru

La composición florística de 17 parcelas (0,5 - 2 ha) de Jenaro Herrera, Loreto, Perú fue analizada utilizando el método multivariado de agrupamiento por promedio aritmético de grupos de pares no ponderados (UPGMA). Nueve grupos florísticos fueron reportados y correspondieron a los siguientes tipos de bosque descritos anteriormente en la zona: 1) bosque ribereño, un grupo; 2) bosque latifoliado de aguas negras, dos grupos; 3) bosque de arena blanca, dos grupos(más un grupo con parcela que incluye parte de otro tipo de bosque); 4) bosque de terraza, un grupo; 5) bosque de palmeras de aguas negras, un grupo; y 6) bosque de palmeras de terraza baja, un grupo. Problemas taxonómicos en el nivel de especies fueron minimizados con la remoción de las especies raras.

The floristic composition of 17 plots (0,5 - 2 ha) of Jenaro Herrera, Loreto, Peru were analyzed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Nine floristic groups were reported corresponding to the following types of forests described in the study area before: 1) riverine forest -one group, 2) black water broad leaf forest -two groups, 3) white sand forest -two groups (plus one group with a plot including part of another type of forest), 4) terrace forest -one group, 5) black water palm forest -one group, and 6) low terrace palm forest -one group. Taxonomic problems were detected in species level; however, these were minimized when rare species were removed.