Dissotis Explained

Dissotis is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae.[1] It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa.

Etymology

The generic name is based on the Greek word, which means 'twofold'.[2] This refers to the two types of anthers that is a characteristic of this genus.

Taxonomy

Until recently Dissotis contained dozens of species, organized into four sections – Dissotis, Macrocarpae, Sessilifoliae, and Squamulosae. A 2020 study found that the genus was polyphyletic, and most species formerly placed in Dissotis were placed in five new genera – Almedanthus (for Dissotis pachytricha), Eleotis (for former Dissotis sect. Sessilifoliae), Feliciotis (for former sect. Macrocarpae), Pyrotis (for D. gilgiana) and Rosettea (for former sect. Squamulosae) – or into the existing or revived genera Antherotoma, Derosiphia, and Nerophila.[3]

Species

As accepted by Kew;

Notes and References

  1. 2994789 . 21083876 . 10.1186/1472-6882-10-71 . 10 . Antidiarrhoea and toxicological evaluation of the leaf extract of Dissotis rotundifolia Triana (Melastomataceae) . BMC Complement Altern Med . 71 . Abere . TA . Okoto . PE . Agoreyo . FO. 2010 . free .
  2. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/dissotiscanes.htm
  3. Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Stone, R.D. and Kadereit, G. (2020), Towards a complete phylogeny of African Melastomateae: Systematics of Dissotis and allies (Melastomataceae). TAXON, 69: 946-991. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12317