A Refined Classification of Acanthaceae Tribe Barlerieae Including Reinstatement of the Genera Acanthura, Lophostachys and Teliostachya

DOI

10.5642/aliso.ZBTX9645

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Abstract

The tribe Barlerieae of Acanthaceae comprises ca. 500 species distributed across the tropics and includes the species-rich genera Barleria and Lepidagathis. Based on a combination of morphological analyses and molecular phylogenetic data, including a recently published densely sampled RADseq dataset, a revised classification for Barlerieae is proposed. Three subtribes are recognized and circumscribed: Barleriinae, Crabbeinae and Lepidagathidinae. These subtribes are separated primarily by pollen characters but with supporting macro-morphological differences in the androecium, corolla, calyx, stigma and inflorescence form. At the generic level, phylogenetic results demonstrate that Lepidagathis s.l. is polyphyletic; the clades resolved in these results are supported by consistent morphological characters, in particular the make-up of the androecium and the inflorescence form. Therefore, Lepidagathis s.l. is separated into four genera, Lepidagathis s.s. plus the resurrected Acanthura, Lophostachys and Teliostachya. The revised generic circumscription requires 28 new combinations at the species rank (plus two new infraspecific combinations) and two new names, whilst seven accepted names are lectotypified. All accepted species in Lepidagathis s.l. are assigned to one of the four genera with the exception of nine poorly or incompletely known taxa; three other taxa are excluded from Lepidagathis s.l. With these taxonomic changes, Barlerieae now comprise 16 genera; keys to the subtribes and genera are provided. The need for species-level taxonomic revision in several of the genera and clades of Barlerieae is noted.

Recommended Citation

Darbyshire, Iain; Comito, Robert; Gnanasekaran, Gunadayalan; Kiel, Carrie A.; and McDade, Lucinda A. (2026) "A Refined Classification of Acanthaceae Tribe Barlerieae Including Reinstatement of the Genera Acanthura, Lophostachys and Teliostachya," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 44: Iss. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol44/iss1/2