[Dalbergaria]
Important notes
The genus Dalbergaria was reestablished by Wiehler (1973) when splitting the large genus Columnea into separate genera. However, this split was not approved by most other authors (particularly Kvist & Skog, Allertonia 6: 327-400, 1993), and Dalbergaria is thus presently considered as a synonym of Columnea. However, the genus is indirectly recognised under sect. Collandra, which name has priority over Dalbergaria at sectional level (Kvist & Skog l.c.).
The last species described under Dalbergaria was D. albivinosa M.Freiberg [Phyton (Horn) 37(1): 134 (1997)] which was then transferred to Columnea by Clark & Skog [Novon 21(4): 414 (2011)].
In the below entry the species names mentioned in the text and in the captions are given both for the placement in Dalbergaria and Columnea.
Dalbergaria (sensu Wiehler 1973, 1983, 1995)
Dalbergaria sanguinea (Pers.) Steud. = Columnea sanguinea (Pers.) Hanst. (= D. phoenicea Tussac, type)
Cult. BG Vienna, phot. A. Weber (1979)
Dalbergaria sanguinea (Pers.) Steud. = Columnea sanguinea (Pers.) Hanst. (= D. phoenicea Tussac, type)
Cult. BG Vienna, phot. A. Weber (1979)
Dalbergaria cruenta (Morley) Wiehler = Columnea cruenta Morley
Gloxinian 36(3), (1986)
Dalbergaria verecunda (Morton) Wiehler = Columnea verecunda Morton
Cult. BG Vienna, phot. A. Weber (1980)
Dalbergaria (sensu Wiehler 1973, 1983, 1995)
= Columnea sect. Collandra (Lem.) Benth. (see Kvist & Skog 1993).
Full name and orig. publication: Dalbergaria Tussac, Fl. Antill. 1: 141, pl. 19 (1808-1813).
Etymology: Named for Karl Theodor von Dalberg (1744-1817), grand duke of Frankfurt and archbishop and elector of Mainz, Germany
Synonyms: Collandra Lem. (1847), Columnea L. sect. Collandra (Lem.) Benth. (1876), Columnea L. subg. Collandra (Lem.) Hanst. (1865).
Infrafamilial position: Gesnerioid Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae) - Episcieae.
Description: Epiphytic suffruticose plants with strongly anisophyllous shoots, recalling to some extent fern-fronds. Leaves subsessile, in close-set, nearly distichous pairs; the large leaf oblanceolate or elliptic, the small leaf stipule-like; underside of the lamina often marked with species-specific red patterns. Axillary cymes few-flowered hidden from above. Corolla tubular, with a narrow subregular limb or somewhat inflated and with a bilabiate limb, rarely like in Columnea s.str.. Nectary of two large, connate dorsal glands, sometimes with an additional small ventral gland. Ovary superior. Fruit an ovoid, usually coloured berry.
Chromosome number: 2n = 18.
Species number: Over 90.
Species names (only given in case of few species).
Type species: Dalbergaria phoenicea Tussac = D. sanguinea (Pers.) Steud.
Distribution: Bolivia to the Guayana Highlands, north to Mexico, Greater Antilles;
Ecology: Growing epiphytically in lowland and (more frequently) montane rain forests.
Notes: Dalbergaria is different from the other columneoid taxa by (a) the strongly anisophyllous leaves, and (b) the ovoid and usually coloured berry. The pollen grains are suboblate to prolate spheroidal, with considerable differentiations around the colpi. Pollination is by hummingbirds. As the flowers are mostly hidden under the close-set leaves and inconspicuous (with yellow or white colour), attraction is apparently mainly the red or purple markings or red translucent windows on the leaves (see Jones & Rich 1978, as Columnea).
Selected references: Jones & Rich, Bull. South Calif. Acad. Sci. 71: 113-116 (1972), poll.; Wiehler, Selbyana 6: 189 (1983); Wiehler, Gesneriana 1: 29-97 (1995), nes spp.; Kvist & Skog, Allertonia 6: 327-400 (1993), reg. rev. (Ecuador).
Tax. details, cytology, and bibliography: Gesneriaceae Resource Centre (GRC). Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Page content and update responsibility/contact: Anton Weber.
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