Evolutionary Analysis of Monopyle (Gesneriaceae) from Central America

Abstract

There are currently six species and one variety of Monopyle Benth. described for Central America.  The largest percentage of taxa are reported from premontane to montane forests in Panama and Costa Rica from 300 – 1300 m.  Monopyle puberula Morton and Monopyle maxonii Morton are the most widely distributed in this region with the other species being endemic to narrow geographic areas.  Systematic studies towards a revision of Monopyle have revealed four distinct new species for the region that were commonly lumped within Monopyle macrocarpa Benth.  Morphological assessment of Monopyle macrocarpa from the region show that this taxon, however, does not occur in Central America and is restricted to northern Peru.  Recent studies I have completed show an additional three species exist in Central America.  The newly discovered species can be distinguished by a suite of characters including petiole length, density of pubescence, corolla shape coupled with color, and calyx shape. Ongoing molecular and morphological studies in the genus will be used to confirm the relationships of the species to other taxa in the genus and tribe.