A REPORT ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF ACHIMENES, EUCODONIA, GLOXINIA, GOYAZIA, AND ANETANTHUS (GESNERIACEAE)

Abstract

One of the last major genera in need of some reconstruction before the publication of a new classification of the neotropical subfamily Gesnerioideae (Wiehler, 1976) is Achimenes Persoon. The name has been conserved recently over Achimenes P. Browne (Stafleu et aI., 1972; d. Taxon 18(4) :469. 1969; 19(5) :817. 1970). The genus consists of lithophytic or terrestrial herbs with scaly rhizomes which perpetuate the plants through the dry seasons. The same kind of underground rhizome occurs, however, in a number of other genera in the tribe Gloxinieae Fritsch of which Achimenes is a member. The type species, Achimenes erecta (Lamb.) H. P. Fuchs is native to Jamaica, Hispaniola, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico. The other 20 species of Achimenes sensu stricto have more limited distribution patterns in Central America and Mexico; 13 species are endemic to southern and central Mexico. These 21 species of Achimenes sensu stricto are listed in Table I. There are, however, several other groups of species which have been attribtuted to Achimenes. It is the purpose of this article to define these discordant elements and to propose their transfer to the genera EUCOd~nia Hanstein, Gloxinia L'Heritier, and Goyazia Taubert. These taxa within A himenes sensu lato are labelled in the subsequent discussion as "the Euco onia group," "the Gloxinia group," and "the Goyazia group."