Codonanthopsis

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Codonanthopsis
Codonanthe macradenia kz01.jpg
Codonanthopsis macradenia in cultivation
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Subfamily: Gesnerioideae
Genus: Codonanthopsis
Mansf. [1]

Codonanthopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is from southern Mexico through tropical America to Bolivia and most of Brazil. Codonanthopsis species are generally trailing epiphytes with pale flowers. Most have a mutualistic relationship with tree-living ants: the plants provide the ants with food, including nectar, and give their nests structure and support, while the ants disperse the plants' seeds. The genus was considerably expanded in 2013 when species were transferred from Codonanthe . Some Codonanthopsis species are cultivated as houseplants, when they may be grown in hanging baskets.

Contents

Description

Codonanthopsis species are subshrubs, generally growing as epiphytes, often in ant gardens (unlike Codonanthe species which never grow in ant gardens). They have stems usually 0.3–1 m (1–3 ft) long, occasionally 2 m (7 ft) long, with few branches. The stems are usually hanging or creeping, and sometimes produce roots along their length (adventitious roots). The fleshy leaves are variable in form, all the same in some species, or of two sizes in others. Reddish nectaries are often present on the underside of the leaves. The flowers, produced in the upper leaf axils on short pedicels, are either solitary or in groups of a few together, rarely in groups of up to 12. The flowers are funnel-shaped overall with five petals fused at the base, a short spur and spreading, rounded tips. They are white, yellowish or pinkish, often with yellow or red markings on the spur and in the throat. A nectary is present. The four stamens remain within the flowers, and have paired anthers joined by a narrow connective. The fruit is a variously coloured berrylike capsule with seeds that are 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) long. [2]

Taxonomy

The genus was created in 1934 by Rudolf Mansfeld. [3] He included two species, Codonanthopsis huebneri and Codonanthopsis ulei . [4] The first is now considered only to be a synonym of the second. [5] Another species, Codonanthopsis dissimulata , was transferred from the genus Codonanthe in 1978. [6]

For over 30 years, the genus contained only these two species, but then a series of molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the related genus Codonanthe was not monophyletic, with a group of its species more closely related to Codonanthopsis (as then circumscribed) than to the remaining Codonanthe species. In 2013, ten species were transferred from Codonanthe to Codonanthopsis. [2]

In one classification scheme for the family Gesneriaceae, Codonanthopsis is placed in the subfamily Gesnerioideae, tribe Gesnerieae, subtribe Columneinae. [7] Within the subtribe, it forms a clade with Nematanthus , Codonanthe and Lesia : [8] [2]

Lesia

Codonanthopsis

Codanthe

Nematanthus

Species

As of April 2021, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [1]

Distribution and ecology

Codonanthopsis species are native from southern Mexico south through Central America and Trinidad and Tobago to Bolivia and all but the very southern part of Brazil. [1] They have a mutually beneficial relationship with arboreal tropical ants. The fibrous roots of the plant support the ants' nests, and the plant provides food for the ants in the form of nectar produced by the flowers and the leaves, as well as the pulp of the fruit and the arils surrounding the seeds. The ants in turn disperse the seeds, which germinate inside their nests. [2] One study in the Brazilian Amazonia found a strong relationship between ants of the genus Azteca and Codonanthopsis species (then placed in the genus Codonanthe). The "ant gardens" produced by this relationship were relatively small, and often interconnected by tunnels. Azteca workers were strongly attracted to Codonanthopsis seeds, which were shown to germinate better when ants had removed the arils. [9]

Cultivation

Codonanthopsis species are cultivated as ornamental houseplants, although less popular than Codonanthe. They can be grown in hanging baskets. A well-drained soilless mix is recommended, and humidity levels over 50% improve flowering and fruiting. They are usually more tolerant of higher temperatures than Codonanthe species. [10] Codonanthopsis elegans has been exhibited at a convention of the Gesneriad Society, and is described as having pale yellow flowers that "contrast beautifully with the dark and shiny foliage". [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gesneriaceae</span> Family of flowering plants including African violets

Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World and the New World, with a very small number extending to temperate areas. Many species have colorful and showy flowers and are cultivated as ornamental plants.

<i>Columnea</i> Genus of epiphytes

Columnea is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – usually red, yellow, or orange – sometimes resembling a fish in shape. A common name is flying goldfish plants due to the unusual flower shape.

<i>Sinningia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Sinningia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. It is named after Wilhelm Sinning (1792–1874), a gardener of the Botanische Gärten der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. There are about 65 species of tuberous herbaceous perennials, all occurring in Central and South America, with the greatest concentration of species occurring in southern Brazil.

<i>Nematanthus</i> Genus of epiphytes

Nematanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. All of its species are endemic to Brazil. Compared to other gesneriads, Nematanthus has leaves that are small, succulent, and hard-surfaced. The plant has a trailing, branching, and spreading habit; it is generally an epiphyte in nature and a hanging-basket plant in cultivation. The flower has fused petals. In some species, the flower has a "pouch" at the bottom. The fancied resemblance of such flowers to a goldfish gives these plants the common name goldfish plant or guppy plant.

<i>Codonanthe</i> Genus of epiphytes grown as houseplants

Codonanthe is a genus of mainly epiphytic plants in the family Gesneriaceae, endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The botanical name comes from the Ancient Greek for 'bellflower'. They have white or pale pink flowers and somewhat fleshy leaves. In 2013, the genus was reduced in size when more than half of the species were transferred to Codonanthopsis. They can be grown as houseplants, particularly in hanging baskets. Artificial crosses with Nematanthus hybrids have produced the hybrid genus × Codonatanthus.

Codonanthopsis elegans is a plant species in the family Gesneriaceae. It is native to Belize.

An ant garden is a mutualistic interaction between certain species of arboreal ants and various epiphytic plants. It is a structure made in the tree canopy by the ants that is filled with debris and other organic matter in which epiphytes grow. The ants benefit from this arrangement by having a stable framework on which to build their nest while the plants benefit by obtaining nutrients from the soil and from the moisture retained there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alain Chautems</span>

Alain Chautems is research associate at the Geneva "Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland. He specialized in some of the most diverse Gesneriaceae of Brazil. Until 2016, he was researcher and curator at the Conservatory and Botanical Garden of the City of Geneva.

Rufodorsia is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus name refers to the reddish back of the upper lobes of the flower. The relationship of Rufodorsia with the genus Oerstedina is uncertain, as of April 2021. It is native to montane cloud forest in Central America.

Oerstedina is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. The relationship of Oerstedina to the genus Rufodorsia is uncertain, as of April 2021.

<i>Moussonia</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Moussonia is a genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range stretches from Mexico to Central America. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Panamá.

Codonanthopsis anisophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native in Guyana and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. The species was first described in the genus Paradrymonia from a specimen collected in 1960, and transferred to Codonanthopsis in 2013.

Codonanthopsis caribaea is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Guadeloupe to North Venezuela, and is a epiphyte and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. Codonanthopsis caribaea, along with other species in its genus, was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis chiricana is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Panama and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. Codonanthopsis chiricana was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis corniculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Peru and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. Codonanthopsis corniculata, along with its other species in its genus, was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis erubescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Ecuador and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. Codonanthopsis erubescens was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis luteola is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Panamá and mainly grows in wet subtropical biomes. Codonanthopsis luteola was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis macradenia is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panamá, and mainly grows in subtropical biomes. Codonanthopsis macradenia was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis uleana is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Mexico and America. Is an epiphyte and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. This species was first published in 2013.

Codonanthopsis ulei is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. This species is native to Mexico and America. It is an epiphyte and mainly grows in wet tropical biomes. This species was first published in 2013.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Codonanthopsis Mansf.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chautems, Alain & Perret, Mathieu (2013). "Redefinition of the Neotropical Genera Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst. and Codonanthopsis Mansf. (Gesneriaceae)" (PDF). Selbyana. 31 (2): 143–156. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Codonanthopsis Mansf.". The International Plant Names Index . Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Mansfield, R. (1934). "VIII. Gesneriaceae novae andinae. I". Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (in Latin). 36: 120–124. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Codonanthopsis huebneri Mansf.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Codonanthopsis dissimulata (H.E.Moore) Wiehler". The International Plant Names Index . Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. ↑ Weber, A.; Middleton, D.J.; Clark, J.L. & Möller, M. (2020). "Keys to the infrafamilial taxa and genera of Gesneriaceae". Rheedea. 30 (1): 5–47. doi: 10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.02 .
  8. ↑ Smith, James F. & Clark, John L. (2013). "Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Undiscovered Monospecific Genera in the tribe Episcieae (Gesneriaceae)" (PDF). Systematic Botany. 38 (2): 451–463. doi:10.1600/036364413X666723. JSTOR   24546074. S2CID   86397524 . Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Marini-Filho, Onildo J. (1999). "Distribution, composition, and dispersal of ant gardens and tending ants in three kinds of central Amazonian habitats". Tropical Zoology. 12 (2): 289–296. doi: 10.1080/03946975.1999.10539395 .
  10. ↑ Maxwell, Alcie. "Codonanthopsis". The Gesneriad Reference Web. The Gesneriad Society. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Codonanthopsis elegans". The Gesneriad Reference Web. The Gesneriad Society. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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