Remijia

Abstract: Joosia comprises 11 species, three of which are here described as new: J. longisepala, J. multiflora, and J. obtusa. Joosia pulcherrima Steere is resurrected from synonymy. Joosia is a close relative of Cinchona, Ladenbergia, and Remijia, from all of which it differs in having wilting rather than caducous stipules, an inflorescence of predominantly monochasial cymes, and corolla lobes with marginal showy appendages. It occurs from western Panama along the Andes south to northern Bolivia, with a pronounced center of diversity in Ecuador. On the basis of a cladistic and biogeographical analysis, it is hypothesized that the genus originated in the lowland forest of the westernmost Amazon Basin.

Abstract: The new combination Alibertia utleyorum (Dwyer) C. M. Taylor is made, and the new species Alibertia premontana, Pentagonia involucrata, Remijia uniflora, and Rudgea sanblasensis are described and illustrated. During the review of specimens of neotropical Rubiaceae for preparation of floristic treatments for Mesoamerica and the Venezuelan Guayana and identification of materials for institutional inventory projects, the need for the following new combination became evident, and several undescribed species were discovered.

Abstract: We present three new records of Remijia (Rubiaceae) for Brazil. Remijia globosa and R. reducta were known only from Venezuela and R. hispida from Venezuela and Colombia. During a revisional study of the genus, we found these three species had also been collected in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Additionally, we found a collection of R. hispida from Venezuela, near La Esmeralda, at an altitude over 2,000 m higher than previously known for this species. This contributes to the knowledge of Remijia distribution, especially in the Amazon basin and in the Brazilian part of the Guiana Shield.

Abstract: Remijia chelomaphylla is known from one locality in eastern Peru. Although also distinct from other species of the genus because of vestiture and size and shape of the capsule, the type material is unique because it has lobed or sinuate leaf margins, rarely seen in the Rubiaceae. The wall of the foliar trichomes is sculptured with cuticular micropapillae. This sculpturing is reported to be found in other members of the Cinchoneae. Remijia DC. is a member of the tribe Cincho- neae (Rubiaceae). The genus was first described from Brazil in 1829, but species are now known from Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. No species is known to be widespread throughout the entire range of the genus; in fact, most are restricted to relatively limited ranges. Remijia chelomaphylla is known from the val- ley of the Rio Monz6n, a tributary of the Rio Huallaga of eastern Peru. The type was col- lected in 1963, prior to extensive disturbance of this locality. Rapid deforestation along the Rio Huallaga and its tributaries has occurred within the past fifteen years because of a large increase in population (Gentry and Lopez-Pa- rodi 1980). The area is also a source of coca, Erythroxylum coca Lam. var. coca (Bohm et al. 1982), and much of the land has been cleared for its cultivation. Efforts to relocate the plant have been unsuccessful. Jose Schunke Vigo has collected extensively in the vicinity, but this species was not included in his collections. I was unable to locate the species on a recent field trip, and it is probable that the plant is rare or possibly even extinct. Although currently under revisionary study, the genus is estimated to contain about 25 species. Remijia chelomaphylla is unlike other species examined, especially in the apparent lobation of the leaves and the characteristic leaf vestiture.