Phylogenetics, character evolution, and historical biogeography of the Neotropical genus Besleria (Gesneriaceae) Gabriel E Ferreira, John L Clark, Laura Clavijo, Alejandro Zuluaga, Alain Chautems, et al. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2024 Besleria, a genus of perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees growing in the understorey of rainforests, is one of the largest genera of neotropical Gesneriaceae, with over 165 species. Despite the ecological importance and ubiquity of Besleria in rainforest ecosystems, taxonomic and evolutionary studies of Besleria are limited. Here, we generated a phylogenetic analysis of Besleria using four nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions (ITS, matK, rps16, and trnL-trnF) covering more than 50% of the recognized species, along with two secondary calibration points to infer divergence times. Our results support the monophyly of Besleria and allowed us to revise the infrageneric classification and biogeographical history of the genus. We identified five major clades that do not correspond to sections or subsections in previous classifications. These clades are well circumscribed geographically but remain difficult to characterize using previously hypothesized morphological characters. Biogeographical reconstructions indicate an origin in the northern Andes during the Middle Miocene (ca. 15 Mya). The current distribution patterns of this plant group have been significantly shaped by geological and climatic events, particularly Andean uplift and the formation of the Panama Isthmus.
A new species and two new records of besleria (gesneriaceae) from Brazil Gabriel E. Ferreira, Andréa O. Araujo, Michael G. Hopkins, Alain Chautems Systematic Botany, 2019 —We describe and illustrate Besleria discreta, a new species from the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The new species has been found in a mountainous area in the southern part of the state and can be recognized by leaf blades that are slightly bullate on the adaxial surface and a short corolla. We also report the occurrence of two species that have not previously been recorded in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil: Besleria concinna and Besleria neblinae. Data on morphology, ecology, distribution, and preliminary conservation status of the three taxa are also provided.
Three new species of Besleria (Gesneriaceae) from the southeastern Brazilian atlantic rainforest GABRIEL E. FERREIRA, IDIMÁ G. COSTA, ANDRÉA O. ARAUJO, MICHAEL G. HOPKINS, ALAIN CHAUTEMS Phytotaxa, 2016 Besleria is a Neotropical genus of terrestrial herbs, shrubs and small trees growing in the understory of rainforests, with more than 160 recognized species, and is one of the larger and more diverse genera of Gesneriaceae. It belongs to the monophyletic tribe Beslerieae, and recent phylogenetic studies indicate that the genus is monophyletic. During field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, we collected specimens that could not be identified as any described species. After morphological analysis and comparison with related species, we assigned these specimens to three new species of Besleria. In this paper, we describe and illustrate Besleria aurea, B. brevicalyx and B. diabolica and provide data on their ecology, distribution and conservation status.
A new unexpected record of Sinningia bullata Chautems & M. Peixoto (Gesneriaceae) in Southern Brazil Gabriel Emiliano Ferreira, Alain Chautems, Jorge Luiz Waechter Rodriguesia, 2014 Sinningia bullata, a narrow endemic species in Santa Catarina was found at a new site in Rio Grande do Sul, c. 210 km southwards and c. 800 m.a.s.l. above the type location. The paper includes a description, illustrations and a dichotomous key to distinguish the species from other sympatric species. Environmental data comprise a distribution map, comments on ecology and geography, and the updated conservation status of the species.
