Melanthera Explained

Melanthera (common name: squarestem), is a genus of perennial[1] flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to North and South America, as well as Africa, Asia and Oceania, including Hawaiʻi.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The most common species of this genus is Melanthera biflora, found in the coastal areas and islands of the tropical belt of the Indo-Pacific region.[7] Together with Portulaca oleracea, Ipomoea pes-caprae and Digitaria ciliaris, Melanthera biflora is usually one of the first species colonizing degraded or altered environments in tropical zones of the planet.[8]

Despite their general hardiness, leaves of Melanthera species are often attacked by rusts such as Uromyces columbianus and Uromyces martinii.[9]

Taxonomy

There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Further studies are needed to clarify its taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships.[10] [11]

Species

This is a list of species.[12]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=120111 Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 123 Melanthera Rohr, Skr. Naturhist.-Selsk. 2: 213. 1792.
  2. Rohr, Julius Philip Benjamin von. 1792. Skrifter af Naturhistorie-Selskabet 2(1): 213–214
  3. Davidse, 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.
  4. Parks, J. C. 1973. A revision of North American and Caribbean Melanthera (Compositae). Rhodora 75: 169–210.
  5. 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. Louis
  6. Wild, H. 1965. The African species of the genus Melanthera Rohr. Kirkia 5: 1–17
  7. http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/10/1551.full.pdf Response of Melanthera biflora to Salinity and Water Stress
  8. Heatwole, H., Done, T., Cameron, E. Community Ecology of a Coral Cay, A Study of One-Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Series: Monographiae Biologicae, Vol. 43, p. 102
  9. Book: George Baker Cummins . Rust Fungi on Legumes and Composites in North America . Tucson . University of Arizona Press . 1978 . 0-8165-0653-1. George Baker Cummins .
  10. https://archive.today/20120719132526/http://www.amjbot.org/content/86/3/413.full Phylogenetic relationships of subtribe Ecliptinae - American Journal of Botany
  11. Orchard, Anthony E. 2013. The Wollastonia/Melanthera/Wedelia generic concept (Asteraceae:Ecliptinae), with particular reference to Australia and Malesia. Nuytsia 23:337-466 (as Acunniana procumbens (DC.) Orchard),
  12. http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/Default.aspx?Page=AdvNameSearch Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
  13. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Melanthera%20nivea.png Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
  14. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250097975 Flora of China, Vol. 20-21 Page 871 卤地菊 lu di ju Melanthera prostrata (Hemsley) W. L. Wagner & H. Robinson, Brittonia. 53: 557. 2002.
  15. Web site: GRIN Species Records of Melanthera . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2011-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124016/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?7415 . 2015-09-24 . dead .

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