Melanthera (common name: squarestem), is a genus of perennialFlora of North America Vol. 21 Page 123 Melanthera Rohr, Skr. Naturhist.-Selsk. 2: 213. 1792. flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas.
Despite their general hardiness, leaves of Melanthera species are often attacked by rusts such as Uromyces columbianus and Uromyces martinii.
Taxonomy The classification of this genus was uncertain. At times it included species native North and South America, as well as Africa, Asia and Oceania, including Hawaii.Rohr, Julius Philip Benjamin von. 1792. Skrifter af Naturhistorie-Selskabet 2(1): 213–214Davidse, G., M. Sousa-Peña, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera. 2015. Asteraceae. 5(2): ined. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F.Parks, J. C. 1973. A revision of North American and Caribbean Melanthera (Compositae). Rhodora 75: 169–210.Pruski, J.F. 1997. Asteraceae. 3: 177–393. In J. A. Steyermark, P. E. Berry & B. K. Holst (eds.) Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. LouisWild, H. 1965. The African species of the genus Melanthera Rohr. Kirkia 5: 1–17 Further studies are needed to clarify its taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships.
The genus now includes three species native to the tropical Americas. Species formerly placed in genus Melanthera are now placed in Lipochaeta (Hawaiian species), Lipotriche (sub-Saharan African species), and Wollastonia (species from eastern Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific).Orchard, Anthony E. 2013. The Wollastonia/Melanthera/Wedelia generic complex (Asteraceae:Ecliptinae), with particular reference to Australia and Malesia. Nuytsia Volume 23 (25 July 2013):337-466.
Species Three species are currently accepted. Melanthera latifolia (Gardner) Cabrera - Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina Melanthera nivea (L.) Small – Pineland Squarestem, Snow Squarestem, Yerba de Cabra; SE United States (LA MS AL GA FL SC TN KY IL),Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map Caribbean, Mexico (from Tamaulipas to Quintana Roo), Central America, South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, northern Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia) Melanthera parvifolia Small – Small-leaf Squarestem - southern Florida
Unplaced names Melanthera cinerea Schweinf. - Africa
Formerly placed here Lipochaeta bryanii – Pili Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera bryanii (Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta fauriei – Olokele Canyon Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera fauriei (H. Lév.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta integrifolia – Kure Atoll Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera integrifolia (Nutt.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta kamolensis – Maui Nehe; MauI (as Melanthera kamolensis (O.Deg.) & Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta lavarum – Coastal Nehe; Hawaii. (as Melanthera lavarum (Gaudich.) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta micrantha - Hawaii (as Melanthera micrantha (Nutt.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta perdita – Kookoolau; Hawaii (as Melanthera perdita (Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta populifolia – Grassland Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera populifolia (Sherff) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta remyi – Annual Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera remyi (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta subcordata - Hawaii (as Melanthera subcordata (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta tenuis – Streambed Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera tenuis (O.Deg. & Sherff) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta tenuifolia – Waianae Range Nehe; Oahu (as Melanthera tenuifolia (A.Gray) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta venosa – Spreading Nehe; Hawaii (as Melanthera venosa (Sherff) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipochaeta waimeaensis – Waimea Canyon Nehe; KauaI (as Melanthera waimeaensis (H.St.John) W.L. Wagner & H.Rob.) Lipotriche abyssinica (as Melanthera abyssinica (Sch.Bip. ex A.Rich.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Vatke, M. djalonensis , and M. sokodensis ) Lipotriche elliptica (as Melanthera elliptica O.Hoffm. and M. chevalieri ) Lipotriche felicis (as Melanthera felicis C.D.Adams) Lipotriche gambica (as Melanthera gambica Hutch. & Dalziel) Lipotriche marlothiana (as Melanthera marlothiana ) Lipotriche pungens (as Melanthera pungens Oliv. & Hiern) Lipotriche rhombifolia ) (as Melanthera rhombifolia O.Hoffm. & Muschl.) Lipotriche richardsiae (as Melanthera richardsae Wild) Lipotriche robinsonii (as Melanthera robinsonii Wild) Lipotriche scaberrima (as Melanthera scaberrima Hiern) Lipotriche scandens (as Melanthera scandens (Schumach. & Thonn.) Brenan) Lipotriche tithonioides (as Melanthera tithonioides ) Lipotriche triternata (as Melanthera baumii , M. monochaeta , M. schinziana , M. triternata , and M. varians ) Wollastonia biflora (as Melanthera biflora (L.) Wild.) Wollastonia dentata (as Melanthera prostrata (Hemsl.) W.L.Wagner & H.Rob., M. robusta , or M. taiwanensis ) Wollastonia lifuana (as Melanthera lifuana )
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