Orophea

Abstract: The genus Orophea Blume (Annonaceae: Saccopetaleae) has been revised with the following main results: — The genus in the circumscription of most authors is not monophyletic, but biphyletic. The genus Mezzettiopsis Ridley has to be reinstated. — Pseuduvaria, Mitrephora, Petalolophus, Oreomitra, Schefferomitra, Goniothalmus, Exellia, Popowia, Richella, Phaeanthus, Trivalvaria and Atopostema are not closely related to Orophea as supposed by Fries (1959). — For the tribe in which Orophea has to be placed, the name Saccopetaleae Hook. f. & Thomson has to be accepted for nomenclatural reasons. Its members are Miliusa, Orophea, Mezzettiopsis, Phoenicanthus, Alphonsea and Platymitra. — Characters of the genus have been studied and a new classification below genus level has been proposed, i.e. subgenera Orophea and Sphaerocarpon Kesler, subgen. nov. — Transverse sections through the cavity of some inner petals show characteristic glandular tissue thus demonstrating that these cavities are nectary glands. — For the tribe and the genus a dichotomous and a synoptical key are provided allowing determination at least in fertile state. — The 85 known names have to be reduced to 37 species, including 11 species described as new. Some species have to be united, many have to be transferred to different genera such as Pseuduvaria, Mitrephora, Popowia, Alphonsea, Phoenicanthus, Sageraea, Guamia or Mezzettiopsis. — Distribution patterns of the genus and the species have been presented. A laurasian origin of the group is probable.

Abstract: In order to provide additional data for the subdivision of the palaeotropical genus Miliusa (Annonaceae), its pollen was examined using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, including 20 of the 30 – 40 species. Further, species of the other genera in the former tribe Miliuseae (Alphonsea, Mezzettia, Orophea, Platymitra; Phoenicanthus not available) and of the Polyalthia cerasoides group, the sister group to Miliusa in a recent molecular analysis, were included. The pollen of Mezzettia and Platymitra is described for the first time with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The pollen of all species studied with transmission electron microscopy appeared to possess an inaperturate exine, but apertural areas (‘germination zones’) were observed in the intine. The pollen morphological variation within Miliusa does not correlate with the macromorphological subdivision of the genus. It appeared to be impossible to define distinct pollen types. The former tribe Miliuseae cannot be charact...

Abstract: A new genus and species, Craibella phuyensis (Annonaceae), is described from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. Craibella is a genus of small trees with pendent, unisexual flowers; the petals are in two whorls, with the larger inner whorl forming a mitriform dome over the reproductive organs. It is suggested that the genus is most closely related to Pseuduvaria and Orophea, but is distinguished from both by the combination of leaf-opposed inflorescences, elongated-conical torus in staminate flowers, and unusual staminal connectives that are apically expanded but do not extend distally over the thecae. Other significant differences include unisexual flowers, distinguishing Craibella from Orophea, and solitary pollen grains (monads), distinguishing it from Pseuduvaria.