2. Phyllanthopsis (Scheele) Vorontsova & Petra Hoffmann, Kew Bull. 63: 47. 2008.
Maidenbush [Genus Phyllanthus and Greek -opsis, resembling] Maidenbush [Genus Phyllanthus and Greek -opsis, resembling]
Maria S. Vorontsova
Phyllanthus Linnaeus subgen. Phyllanthopsis Scheele, Linnaea 25: 584. 1853; Andrachne Linnaeus sect. Phyllanthopsis (Scheele) Müller Arg.
Shrubs, monoecious or dioecious, glabrous or hairy, hairs simple; branching not phyllanthoid. Leaves persistent, alternate, simple, all well developed; stipules persistent; blade margins entire. Inflorescences unisexual, fascicles or flowers solitary. Pedicels present. Staminate flowers: sepals 5, distinct; petals 5; nectary extrastaminal, annular, crenate; stamens 5; filaments distinct; connectives not extending beyond anthers; pistillode of 3 distinct segments. Pistillate flowers: sepals persistent, 5, distinct; petals 5; nectary annular, crenate; pistil 3(–4)-carpellate; styles 3(–4), distinct, usually 2-fid to 1/2 length, very rarely 2-fid to base. Fruits capsules. Seeds 2 per locule, rounded-trigonous; seed coat dry, smooth; caruncle usually absent, sometimes present. x = 13.
Species 2 (2 in the flora): s United States, n Mexico.
Members of Phyllanthopsis resemble Andrachne and Leptopus Decaisne due to their habits, petals, and discs, and generally have been included in one or the other of these genera, neither of which (in their currently accepted senses) occurs in the flora area. Phyllanthopsis was given generic status in 2008 after molecular phylogenetic studies revealed it to be an independent North American lineage closely related to the Asian Leptopus and Actephila Blume (M. S. Vorontsova et al. 2007; Vorontsova and P. Hoffmann 2008).
SELECTED REFERENCE Hoffmann, P. 1994. A contribution to the systematics of Andrachne sect. Phyllanthopsis and sect. Pseudophyllanthus compared with Savia s.l. (Euphorbiaceae) with special reference to floral morphology. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 116: 321–331.
