Amphineuron

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Amphineuron

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), East Africa present, Pacific present, S.E. Asia present, Tahiti present
S.E. Asia; Malesia; Queensland; in the Pacific to Tahiti; East Africa; in all c. 12 species.

Taxonomy

This genus resembles Christella in its spores and in its mainly elongate glandular hairs; the latter are more varied than in Christella. The name Amphineuron is intended to indicate the fact that in several species the anastomosis of veins is inconstant.
The two most widely-distributed species, A. opulentum and A. terminans, are both variable, and both have a complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history. Hybrids between them probably exist, at least in Thailand. As indicated in the key, the species may be divided into two groups. Rather large glands, of varied form, occur on most species of the second group and are undoubtedly distinctive, but they are often not well preserved on herbarium specimens and are sometimes not detectable, so that such specimens are difficult to name with certainty, and I have found it impossible to be sure how many species can be recognized. The present arrangement is tentative. Specimens dried without heat retain their glands perfectly, as I have discovered when dealing with plants in cultivation at Kew. It may be that alcohol, sometimes used to preserve specimens temporarily, also has an effect on glands in this genus.

Cytology

Base chromosome number 36; A. opulentum (Singapore) and A. terminans (Ceylon) both tetraploid; no experimental work reported.

Citation

Holttum 1977 – In: Blumea: 205