Search results for "Marantochloa"
showing 3 items of 3 documents
Breeding system and fruit set in African Marantaceae
2013
Abstract Marantaceae are a pantropically distributed family of perennial herbs and lianas in the understory of tropical rainforests. They are characterized by a unique pollen transfer mechanism. To understand its functional significance and evolution, field investigations have been conducted in Gabon. Data from 28 (of 35) species from Central Africa are achieved. The pollen–ovule ratio (34–140:1; exception Sarcophrynium 2.5:1) falls into the range of facultative autogamous species. All investigated species were proven to be self-compatible; however, only two were autogamous. Natural fruit set was generally low (10.9 ± 10%). The highest natural fruit set was found in Marantochloa purpurea (2…
Five new species of Marantaceae endemic to Gabon
2012
ABSTRACT Five new species of African Marantaceae are described and illustrated from two locations in Gabon, Marantochloa alba A. C. Ley, sp. nov., M. grandiflora A. C. Ley, sp. nov., M. montsdecristalii A. C. Ley, sp. nov. and Thaumatococcus flavus A. C. Ley, sp. nov. from the mountainous area of Monts de Cristal, north east of the capital Libreville, as well as Hypselodelphys lopei A. C. Ley, sp. nov. from the central part of Gabon in secondary forest near La Lope and Mikongo. New keys to the genera Marantochloa Brongn. & Gris., Thaumatococcus Benth. and Hypselodelphys (K. Schum.) Milne.-Redh. are provided.
Evolution in African Marantaceae - Evidence from Phylogenetic, Ecological and Morphological Studies
2011
Abstract The Marantaceae (∼530 spp.) are one of the most species rich families within the order Zingiberales which incites the search for evolutionary factors favoring speciation. A positive influence on their divergence is ascribed to their unique explosive pollination mechanism which has been proposed to be a key innovation. To test this hypothesis phylogenies of the two major African clades (Sarcophrynium and the Marantochloa clade) were established based on data from nuclear (ITS, 5S) and chloroplast (trnL/trnL-F) DNA for an almost complete taxon sample. The phylogeny was used to parsimoniously reconstruct morphological and ecological traits and geographic distribution patterns. The res…