We are the Crystal Gems: taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina L. (Commelinaceae, Commelinales) and their allies.
Name
3073-Article_Text-13423-1-10-20250925.pdf
Description
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Size
68.91 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (CRC64NVME)
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Resource type
Journal article
Date published
September 25, 2025
Abstract
We present a taxonomic revision of the gem-fruited species of Commelina and their allies. We address misapplied names, taxonomic confusion, and undescribed taxa based on a combination of macro- and micromorphological characters, ecological and reproductive data, and preliminary molecular data for Commelina. We recognise a total of 14 species, including two new species, Commelina almandina M.Pell. & Cornejo sp. nov. and C. sugariae M.Pell. sp. nov., and five reestablished ones previously treated as synonyms. We provide an identification key to the gem-fruited species of Commelina and their closest allies, as well as complete morphological descriptions, images, comments, and distribution maps for all recognised species. Species are recognised based on a unique combination of discrete vegetative (i.e., root and rhizome morphology, stem posture and growth pattern, leaf-sheath morphology, phyllotaxy, and leaf-blade morphology) and reproductive (i.e., synflorescence architecture, inflorescence position, spathe morphology, upper cincinnus development and flower production, pedicel pubescence, sepal morphology, petal morphology, filaments’ posture at anthesis, anthers and antherodes morphology, gynoecium and fruit morphology, fruit dehiscence, and seed morphology) morphological characters. We also provide comments and corrections on the taxonomy, application, and nomenclature of names historically associated with or confused with species of gem-fruited Commelina. Finally, we provide a general overview of poorly explored characters and issues plaguing the taxonomy of Commelina.
Project(s)
Priority 3: Digital Revolution
Funder
| Funder name | Awards |
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil | “Estudos integrados da biodiversidade vegetal para conservação e manejo da Amazônia” (Processo 88881.510208/2020-01 - PDPG – Amazônia Legal - PhD scholarship - Post-doctoral grant |
Fundação Flora de Apoio à Botânica, Brazil | REFLORA grant |
Smithsonian Institution | REFLORA grant |
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil | Productivity grants (processes: 311835/2023-6) |
Journal title
European Journal of Taxonomy
Volume
1020
Publisher
Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle
Place of publication
Paris, France
eISSN
2118-9773
Date accepted
May 6, 2025
Official URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Additional information
IF = 1.3 (2024)