Vanoverberghia, , Merrill, 1912

Recircumscription of Vanoverberghia View in CoL

The circumscription of Vanoverberghia by Merrill (1912) includes limited information because V. sepulchrei was monotypic at that time. The molecular and morphological data presented in this study highly justify the reinstatement of V. diversifolia and combination of A. vanoverberghii in Vanoverberghia . Both species share the following morphological characters with the three species currently included in Vanoverberghia :

1. terminal raceme and pendulous inflorescence;

2. spathaceous calyx;

3. lateral corolla lobes that are basally connate to the base of the bifid labellum;

4. filiform and ciliate lateral staminodes; and

5. canaliculate filament

(see Table 2 for morphological comparison between the five species of Vanoverberghia ).

Since this study now includes five species, the circumscription of the genus must be widened. The following characters of Merrill’s circumscription agree with the recent data:

1. inflorescence a terminal raceme;

2. bracteoles absent;

3. flowers single;

4. calyx in bud cylindrical, at anthesis spathaceous;

5. labellum connate to the base of lateral corolla lobes;

6. lateral staminodes filiform;

7. ovary trilocular; and

8. two compressed epigynous glands.

Table 3 enumerates characters by Merrill (1912), the variation of which needs to be updated. In addition, the canaliculate filament is recognised here as a new diagnostic character of Vanoverberghia .