Leptopus Explained

Leptopus, the maidenbushes, are a genus of plants in the family Phyllanthaceae native to southern Asia from the Caucasus east to China and Maluku.^{[1] [2]} The plants are monoecious herbs and shrubs with simple, entire leaves and small, green flowers.

Leptopus is one of eight genera in the tribe Poranthereae^[3] and comprises 9 species.^[4] It is the sister of Actephila. The type species is Leptopus cordifolius.^[5] The name is derived from two Greek words, leptos, "thin, slender, or small", and pous, "foot", a reference to slender pedicels.^[6] The genus was first described in 1836^{[7] [8]} and revised in 2009.^[9]

Leptopus fangdingianus had been placed by some authors in a separate genus, Archileptopus, but it was shown in 2007 that recognition of Archileptopus makes Leptopus paraphyletic.^[10] Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides has been placed in Leptopus as well as in Andrachne. In 2007, it was shown to not properly belong to either genus and in 2008 was assigned to a new genus, Phyllanthopsis.^[4]

Species^[1]

formerly included^[1] moved to other genera: Chorisandrachne Euphorbia Notoleptopus Phyllanthopsis

External links

• Leptopus At:
• Index Nominum Genericorum At:
• References At:
• NMNH Department of Botany

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=111056 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=118234 Flora of China Vol. 11 Page 169 雀舌木属 que she mu shu Leptopus Decaisne in Jacquemont, Voy. Inde. 4(Bot.): 155. 1835.
3. Petra Hoffmann, Hashendra S. Kathriarachchi, and Kenneth J. Wurdack. 2006. "A Phylogenetic Classification of Phyllanthaceae." Kew Bulletin 61(1):37-53.
4. [Maria Vorontsova (botanist)|Maria S. Vorontsova]
5. Leptopus In: Index Nominum Genericorum. In: Regnum Vegetabile (see External links below).
6. Umberto Quattrocchi. 2000. CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names volume II. CRC Press: Boca Raton; New York; Washington, DC;, USA. London, UK. .
7. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34667678#page/155/mode/1up Decaisne, Joseph. 1836. in Jacquemont, Venceslas Victor, Voyage dans l'Inde 4: 155, pl. 156
8. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40005145 Tropicos, Leptopus Decne.
9. [Maria Vorontsova (botanist)|Maria S. Vorontsova]
10. Maria S. Vorontsova, Petra Hoffmann, Olivier Maurin, and Mark W. Chase. 2007. "Phylogenetics of tribe Poranthereae (Phyllanthaceae)." American Journal of Botany 94(12):2026-2040.