The identity of two water-dispersed species of Heteropterys (Malpighiaceae): H. leona and H. platyptera

Abstract

A complex in Heteropterys composed of water-dispersed species was found to comprise two species, H. leona (Cav.) Exell and H. platyptera DC., differing most notably in their samaras. Heteropterys leona occurs mostly in Atlantic coastal regions, in the New World from Belize to northern Brazil, and in Africa from Senegal to Angola. The synonyms H. reticulata (Poir.) Nied. and H. multiflora (DC.) Hochr. commonly have been applied to the New World populations and the superfluous name H. africana to the Old World representatives. Heteropterys platyptera, also known by the synonym H. longifolia (Sw.) Nied., is restricted to the Lesser Antilles. The morphology, distribution, and extensive nomenclature are reviewed, and illustrations of the samaras are provided.