Nomopyle

Full name and orig. publication: Nomopyle Roalson & Boggan, Selbyana 25(2): 232 (19 Dec. 2005).

Etymology: Anagram of Monopyle.

Synonyms: -

Infrafamilial position: Gesnerioideae-Gesnerieae-Gloxiniinae (Weber et al. 2013).

Description: Terrestrial perennial herbs with scaly rhizomes. Stems weak, erect or decumbent, glabrescent. Leaves opposite, isophyllous, petiolate, lamina with 5-8 pairs of veins, stomata in indistinct groups on lower side. Flowers axillary, solitary, ebracteolate. Sepals free. Corolla campanulate to almost rotate, white to lavender, lobes subequal, entire. Stamens 4; anthers coherent. Nectary a reduced annular disc or absent. Ovary inferior; stigma stomatomorphic. Fruit a cylindrical fleshy capsule, dehiscing along the dorsal side and splitting the hypanthium to the base. Seeds numerous, minute, subglobose.

Chromosome number: Unknown.

Species number: 2.

Type species: Nomopyle dodsonii (Wiehler) Roalson & Boggan.

Species names (given only in case of few species): N. dodsonii (Wiehler) Roalson & Boggan, N. peruviana (Wiehler) Roalson & Boggan.

Distribution: Ecuador and Peru.

Ecology: Terrestrial forest plants, seasonally dormant.

Notes: Based on molecular evidence, the genus Nomopyle was established to include two species that were formerly placed in different genera: Nomopyle dodsonii (formerly Gloxinia dodsonii), Ecuador, and N. peruviana (formerly Niphaea peruviana), Peru (Roalson et al. 2005a,b; Boggan 2006). Their fruits are very similar to those of Monopyle (opening by a dorsal slit), which is probably the closest related genus.

Selected references: Roalson et al., Taxon 54(2): 389-410 (2005a), molec. syst.; Roalson et al., Selbyana 25(2): 225-238 (2005b), tax.; Boggan, Gesneriads 56 (3): 26-32 (2006), surv.

Tax. details, cytology, and bibliography: Gesneriaceae Resource Centre (GRC). Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Page content and update responsibility/contact: Laurence E. Skog.
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