Phylogeny and Circumscription of the Subfamily Olisbeoideae

Abstract

The Olisbeoideae are a pantropical group comprising six genera and ca. 557 currently recognized species. Members of this subfamily are shrubs or small- to medium-sized trees found mainly in the understory of humid, evergreen forests. The two largest genera, Memecylon and Mouriri, are unlike other melastomes in having apparently 1-nerved leaves. Other unusual features of this “memecyloid” group include a general lack of indumentum, the presence of a dorsal oil gland on the anther connectives (subsequently lost in certain species or species-groups), and baccate fruits with 1-few large seeds. In this chapter, I provide a historical account of classification, discussion of what is known about phylogenetic relationships, a review of important taxonomic evidence (morphology, anatomy), a key to the currently recognized genera, and prospects for future study.