Emmotum
Encyclopedia
Emmotum is a genus
of flowering plant
s. It belongs to an informal group
of six genera known as the Emmotum group. These are: Calatola
, Ottoschulzia, Oecopetalum, Poraqueiba, Emmotum, and Platea. Platea is native
to Asia
, while the others are from the New World
. The Emmotum group has traditionally been included in the family
Icacinaceae
, but there is considerable doubt about whether it belongs there. Some authors have raised the Emmotum group to family rank
.
Emmotum is the largest genus of Icacinaceae in the Americas
, with 13 species
. One of these was described in 2007. The type species
for Emmotum is Emmotum fagifolium W. Hamilton. Emmotum is divided into two sections
: Emmotum and Brevistyla. Section Brevistyla comprises four species and had formerly been treated as a separate
genus.
Emmotum was named
by Desvaux
and Hamilton (1783–1856) in 1825. George Bentham
described the genus Pogopetalum in 1841, but John Miers
recognized that it was the same as Emmotum, described earlier. Because the earlier name has priority
, Pogopetalum is no longer a valid name
.
Emmotum is a genus of shrub
s and tree
s. The flower
s are small and white
. The inner surface of the petal
s is conspicuously hairy
. Emmotum is the only genus of Icacinaceae that has a 3-locular
ovary
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s. It belongs to an informal group
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
of six genera known as the Emmotum group. These are: Calatola
Calatola
Calatola is a genus of flowering plant in the family Icacinaceae. Its range is from Mexico to Ecuador. There are seven species. The type species is Calatola mollis. Calatola columbiana, Sleumer is endemic to Colombia....
, Ottoschulzia, Oecopetalum, Poraqueiba, Emmotum, and Platea. Platea is native
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, while the others are from the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. The Emmotum group has traditionally been included in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Icacinaceae
Icacinaceae
Icacinaceae is a family of flowering plants.It consists of trees, shrubs, and lianas, primarily of the tropics.The family was traditionally circumscribed quite broadly, with around 55 genera totalling over 400 species...
, but there is considerable doubt about whether it belongs there. Some authors have raised the Emmotum group to family rank
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
.
Emmotum is the largest genus of Icacinaceae in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, with 13 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. One of these was described in 2007. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
for Emmotum is Emmotum fagifolium W. Hamilton. Emmotum is divided into two sections
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
: Emmotum and Brevistyla. Section Brevistyla comprises four species and had formerly been treated as a separate
Segregate (taxonomy)
In taxonomy, a segregate, or a segregate taxon is created when a taxon is split off, from another taxon. This other taxon will be better known, usually bigger, and will continue to exist, even after the segregate taxon has been split off...
genus.
Emmotum was named
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
by Desvaux
Nicaise Auguste Desvaux
-Works:*Journal de Botanique, appliquée à l'Agriculture, à la Pharmacie, à la Médecine et aux Arts .*Observations sur les plantes des environs d'Angers ....
and Hamilton (1783–1856) in 1825. George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
described the genus Pogopetalum in 1841, but John Miers
John Miers (botanist)
John Miers, FRS FLS, knight grand cross of the Order of the Rose, was a British botanist and engineer, best known for his work on the flora of Chile and Argentina....
recognized that it was the same as Emmotum, described earlier. Because the earlier name has priority
Principle of Priority
thumb|270px|Boa manditraIn zoology, the scientific study of animals, the Principle of Priority is one of the guiding principles of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, defined by Article 23....
, Pogopetalum is no longer a valid name
Correct name (botany)
In botany, the correct name according to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is the one and only botanical name that is to be used for a particular taxon, when that taxon has a particular circumscription, position and rank. Determining whether a name is correct is a complex procedure...
.
Emmotum is a genus of shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s and tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are small and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
. The inner surface of the petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s is conspicuously hairy
Indumentum
The indumentum is a covering of fine hairs or bristles on a plant or insect.In plants, the indumentum types are:*pubescent*hirsute*pilose*villous*tomentose*stellate*scabrous*scurfy...
. Emmotum is the only genus of Icacinaceae that has a 3-locular
Locule
A locule is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism ....
ovary
Ovary (plants)
In the flowering plants, an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovule and is located above or below or at the point of connection with the base of the petals and sepals...
.
Species
|
External links
- Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France. 1897
- http://www.ipni.org/ipni/advPlantNameSearch.do?find_family=&find_genus=Emmotum&find_species=&find_infrafamily=&find_infragenus=&find_infraspecies=&find_authorAbbrev=&find_includePublicationAuthors=on&find_includePublicationAuthors=off&find_includeBasionymAuthors=on&find_includeBasionymAuthors=off&find_publicationTitle=&find_isAPNIRecord=on&find_isAPNIRecord=false&find_isGCIRecord=on&find_isGCIRecord=false&find_isIKRecord=on&find_isIKRecord=false&find_rankToReturn=all&output_format=normal&find_sortByFamily=on&find_sortByFamily=off&query_type=by_query&back_page=plantsearchEmmotum] At: Plant Names At: IPNI
- Emmotum In: Prodromus Plantarum Indiae Occidentalis