No, Kevin, we recognized Ismene, Elisena and Pseudostenomesson as SUBGENERA of Ismene. Leptochiton (the former Hymenocallis quitoensis and H. heliantha) was recognzied as a distinct genus. Alan ----------------------------- Alan W. Meerow, Ph.D., Research Geneticist and Systematist USDA-ARS-SHRS, National Germplasm Repository 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33158 USA voice: (305) 254-3635 fax: (305) 969-6410 email: miaam@ars-grin.gov ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin D. Preuss (by way of Mary Sue Ittner<msittner@mcn.org>)" <hyline@tampabay.rr.com> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 2:06 AM Subject: [pbs] Hymenocallis--TOW-Part One > Hymenocallis--TOW Part One > > The New World genus Hymenocallis Salisbury (Amaryllidaceae), recognized as > a distinct genus since 1812, is composed of roughly 70 to 80 species with > plenty of room for debate. The native habitats range in the United States > from Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, south to the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, > Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mexico where the genus explodes; the > majority of the species occur in Central America and radiate down into the > northern portions of South America (Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil) as well. > > The closer one looks at the species and groups of species of Hymenocallis, > the harder it is to find the lines of distinction. Herbarium specimens are > valuable in providing locality information, primarily. Reticulate/hybrid > evolution would seem to play some role in speciation within the genus. > > A big problem in gaining an understanding of the genus is that populations > are being eradicated at alarmingly fast rates as wetlands are being > modified. Lost populations could be links to other taxa; once the various > populations are destroyed, the hybrid swarm populations become isolated. > It is like working on a puzzle with missing pieces. For example, H. > littoralis, the type specimen, is from a small island (Tera Bomba) on the > NE coast of Columbia. This could very well be one of the species H. > carribbeae or H. latifolia. > > The SE US has 15 species (roughly). The tropics (South America, West Indies > and Caribbean island) is host to a wide array of species with 4 species > occurring in Cuba, at least 3 or 4 species in Jamaica, a few species in the > West Indies. > > South America is host to another 5-6 species (e.g. H. venezuelensis, H. > tubiflora, H. speciosa, etc...). In Central America, H. latifolia occurs in > Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico (and uncommonly > coastal SE US). Mexico is another center of diversity for the genus with > many species native to the various climatic regions. Thad Howard, Dave > Lehmiller and Jim Bauml (he did his PhD on the Mexican species) have > experience with these plants. > These are a little more difficult to cultivate, as replicating their > habitat is difficult at sea level here in humid Florida. > > The three closely related genera once classified as Hymenocallis , > Ismene, Elisena, and Leptochiton , replace Hymenocallis in the Andean > regions. For practical purposes sometimes when referring to hybrids, the > genera Elisena, Ismene, and Leptochiton are recognized under the genus > Hymenocallis in a broad sense. They are distinct groups, not the true > spider lilies however. Meerow and Snijman recognize each group as distinct > genera; together the four genera comprise their tribe Hymenocallideae. The > taxonomy of the group seems in flux continuously. > > Interestingly, the taxa that offset prolifically do not readily set seeds > and the taxa that set seeds well are not typically prolific offsetters. In > some groups, rhizomes may occur in one population while in another of the > same species, some individuals in a population may have rhizome while most > others do not (H. palmeri, H. henryae, etc...). Some species rarely offset, > particularly within the Mexican group. > > Based upon my encounters with the genus in the United States, Hymenocallis > populations most often occur in or on the margins of wetland ecosystems > (marshes, lakes, rivers, forested swamps, wet prairies). Less often they > occur in dry woods (H. galvestonesis), flatwoods (H. henryae), or in > disturbed sites such as pastures and roadside ditches as do, for example, > some populations of H. palmeri and H. galvestonensis (H. ocidentalis var. > eulae) , or on coastal dunes as does H. latifolia var. keyensis (possibly > H. carribeae) on Bahia Honda key in Florida. They are most spectacular when > found blooming on many rivers and spring runs in the Southeast, such as > the Cahaba lilies (Hymenocallis coronaria) on the Cahaba River in Alabama > and the spider lilies (H. rotata) on the Santa Fe River of northern Florida > and its spring runs (H. franklinensis is another spring run spider lily) . > > A few of the southeastern US species are listed as threatened or endangered > and are protected in more than one state at the state level (H. coronaria, > H. godfreyi, H. henryae). > > Spider lilies are commonly cultivated throughout most of their range and > are grown in many tropical parts of the New World. They make excellent cut > flowers, even if short lived. A few of the tropical species hold their > flower for a few days, however. > > Kevin Preuss > St. Petersburg, FL > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >