Heliophila

Heliophila
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Heliophila
Burm.f. ex L.
Species

See text

Heliophila is a genus of flowering plants in the Brassicaceae family. Members of this genus are either annuals or perennials and some are popular as ornamental plants. Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert.[1]

Taxonomic history

The first recognised published description of Heliophila appears in the second edition of Species Plantarum by Carl Linnaeus, printed in 1763. He attributes his description, however, to Nicolaas Laurens Burman, a Dutch botanist.[2] The generic name Heliophila is Latin but originally derived from the Ancient Greek words hēlios (ἥλιος), meaning "sun", and phílos (φίλος), meaning "dear" or "beloved", and refers to the blooms opening in sun and closing at night or in overcast conditions, a habit of many of the species within the genus.[1][2]

In general, contention abounds regarding phylogenetic relationships in the family Brassicaceae. In the past, using morphological characters to establish tribes and genera was misleading and created dissension among systematists. The classification of species within Brassicaceae is gradually resolving through molecular phylogeny investigation, using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) data and other new-found sequencing knowledge.[3][4]

Previously within the tribe Heliophileae were six genera, all endemic to southern Africa: Heliophila, Cycloptychis, Schlechteri, Silicularia, Thlaspeocarpa, and Brachycarpaea. The latter five genera contained among them only seven species, having been differentiated from the Heliophila genus mainly on the morphological differences of the fruits they bore. Following extensive analysis of molecular evidence (nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnL-F) DNA sequence data), Heliophileae was found to be monophyletic and species of the five small genera were reduced to synonymy with Heliophila.[1][3][4]

Distribution

Heliophila is one of only two genera of Brassicaceae endemic to southern Africa. The majority of the species grow in the winter-rainfall Cape Floristic Region and the more arid Namaqualand, while a smaller portion extend to the rest of South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, and Lesotho. None of the members of this genus are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1][3][4][5]

Description and habit

Heliophila is regarded as one of the most diverse genera in the family Brassicaceae. Flower size, for example, varies greatly, with this genus containing both the largest of petals within the family (H. juncea) to the smallest (H. pectinata). There is a range of flower colour, with blue, white, and pink being the most common. Blue is an unusual colour for Brassicaceae, being known in only one other genus, the unrelated Solms-laubachia from the Himalayas.[1][3][4][5]

Within the genus are mainly herbs and subshrubs, although shrubs and lianas appear as well. They may be annual or perennial and the majority of the fruits produced by species in this genus are dehiscent, not woody, and lack a carpophore. The plants are generally either glabrous or possess simple hairs. Leaves are variable; they are narrow or broad, but usually simple, and may be entire, lobed, or pinnatipartite. The inflorescences are usually the raceme type.[1][3][4][5]

Species

[6]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Manning, John (2009). Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa. Random House Struik. pp. 192–195. ISBN 978-1770077584.
  2. 1 2 Linnaeus, Carl (1763). Species Plantarum (in Latin). Second (Second ed.). pp. 926–927.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mummenhoff, Klaus; Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A.; Bakker, Freek T.; H. Peter, Linder; Mühlhausen, Andreas (October 2005). "Phylogeny, morphological evolution, and speciation of endemic Brassicaceae genera in the Cape Flora of southern Africa". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden (Missouri Botanical Garden Press) 92 (3): 400–424. JSTOR 40035479.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A.; Mummenhoff, Klaus (September 2005). "Transfer of the south African genera Brachycarpaea, Cycloptychis, Schlechteria, Silicularia, and Thlaspeocarpa to Heliophila (Brassicaceae)". Novon (Missouri Botanical Garden Press) 15 (3): 385–389. JSTOR 3393479.
  5. 1 2 3 Marais, Wessel (1970). Cruciferae. Flora of Southern Africa 13. p. 17.
  6. ↑ "Heliophila". The Plant List. 1.1. 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
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