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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Zuluaga, Alejandro [1], Cameron, Kenneth [2].

A preliminary phylogeny of Monstera, Aracee.

Monstera is a medium-sized genus of the family Araceae, and a very important hemiepiphytic component of montane and lowland tropical rainforests. It is exclusively Neotropical, and has two principal centers of diversity: Costa Rica-Panama and the Colombian Andes. Monstera is a poorly known genus, and its taxonomy historically has been problematic due to relatively small but overlapping morphological variation, the great amount of existing names, incorrect use of them, and a noticeable deficiency of herbarium collections. The last revision for the genus in 1977 included 22 species, and four sections were proposed based on morphological characters. The delimitation of the species classified within the largest section, Monstera sect. Monstera, is especially challenging due to the morphological intergradation of the species across their geographical distribution. Today 38 species are recognized, and as many as 10-15 remain undescribed. Recent phylogenetic analyses of Araceae by different authors, but including only 1-3 species of Monstera, suggest that the genus is monophyletic and closely related to the Amydrium-Epripemnum clade. A detailed morphological study is underway, and this is being generated together with a phylogenetic reconstruction for Monstera based on chloroplast trnL-F and other loci. Species from each of the four sections, as well as individuals representing several populations of the most variable species, are included.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - University Of Wisconsin-Msdison, 430 Lincoln Drive, UWisconsin-Department Of Botany, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
2 - Wisconsin State Herbarium, Department Of Botany, 154 Birge Hall, 450 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

Keywords:
Neotropical plants
Araceae
Monstera
systematics.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY041
Abstract ID:389


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