Melinia

Abstract: Corona and stigma head characters used to recognise the South American genera Amblystigma, Fontellaea, Lugonia, Melinia, Mitostigma, Philibertia, Podandra, Steleostemma and Stelmatocodon are shown to be unreliable, arbitrarily separating closely allied species. It is proposed that Philibertia be redefined to accommodate the other genera. A synopsis of the genus, now comprising 40 Andean or temperate species, is presented together with a discussion of affinities, both within the genus and more widely. 25 new combinations are made in Philibertia, four new species and one variety are described from Bolivia, and four new names proposed. In addition, Melinia harleyi Fontella, which is excluded from the enlarged concept of Philibertia, is transferred to Hemipogon, and M. urbaniana K. Schum. is transferred to Oxypetalum as 0. melinioides. All names in Philibertia are accounted for, and an index to exsiccatae presented.