Stapelianthus

Stapelianthus
Stapelianthus pilosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Asclepiadoideae
Genus:	Stapelianthus Choux ex A.C.White & B.Sloane
Synonyms[1]
Stapeliopsis Choux non Pillans

Stapelianthus^[2] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asclepiadaceae, first described as a genus in 1933. The entire genus is endemic to Madagascar and is concentrated in the far south of the island.

The genus is defined by the unique corona structure of its flowers.^[3][4][5]

Species^[6]

1. Stapelianthus arenarius Bosser & Morat
2. Stapelianthus insignis Descoings
3. Stapelianthus keraudreniae Bosser & Morat
4. Stapelianthus madagascarensis Choux
5. Stapelianthus montagnacii (Boiteau) Boiteau & Jean Bertrand
6. Stapelianthus pilosus Lavranos & D.S.Hardy

formerly included^[6]

1. Stapelianthus baylissii, syn of Tridentea baylissii
2. Stapelianthus choananthus, syn of Tridentea choanantha

Taxonomy

The species are extremely close to each other genetically, however the genus overall is very divergent from its relatives on the mainland.

Phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be most closely related to a large and widespread branch of stapeliads from mainland Africa, comprising the genera Huernia, Tavaresia and a mixed sub-branch including Orbea, Piaranthus and Stapelia.^[7]

References

1. Tropicos.org, retrieved 11 March 2016
2. P. V. Bruyns & C. Klak (2004). "Revision of the Madagascan endemic Stapelianthus (Apocynaceae) based on molecular and morphological characters". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 91 (3): 410–437. JSTOR 3298618.
3. Tropicos
4. Bruyns, P. V. & P. I. Forster. 1991. Recircumscription of the Stapelieae (Asclepiadaceae). Taxon 40(3): 381–391
5. Schatz, G. E., S. Andriambololonera, Andrianarivelo, M. W. Callmander, Faranirina, P. P. Lowry, P. B. Phillipson, Rabarimanarivo, J. I. Raharilala, Rajaonary, Rakotonirina, R. H. Ramananjanahary, B. Ramandimbisoa, A. Randrianasolo, N. Ravololomanana, Z.S. Rogers, C.M. Taylor & G. A. Wahlert. 2011. Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden
6. The Plant List
7. P. Bruyns, C. Klak, P. Hanacek: Evolution of the stapeliads (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) - repeated major radiation across Africa in an Old World group. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2014. v. 77, no. 1, p. 251--263. ISSN 1055-7903.