Chomelia

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1967. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part VII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 17: 1-439.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Chomelia

  • Discussion

    Anisomeris Presl, Symb. Bot. 2:5,t. 54.1833.

    Type. Chomelia spinosa Jacq.

    I agree with Bremekamp (Rec. Trav. Bot. Neerl. 31: 272. 1934) that the differences between Chomelia and Anisomeris cannot be maintained, as they break down in such species as Chomelia tenuiflora Benth. and others which I have examined. Rusby (Bull. Torrey Club 52: 137-38. 1925) failed to clarify matters when he confused the differences between the two genera by juxtaposing the references to the respective plates published under Anisomeris spinosa and Chomelia spinosa. Since the anthers frequently manifest a small, free-lobed portion at the very base, it is difficult to decide to what extent the sagittate portion as such is developed. Moreover, there is insufficient correlation with respect to this character and the development of a corniculate appendage of the corolla-lobe to warrant the delimitation of two genera, and many species exhibit varying degrees of sagittate anthers or development of a corniculate appendage. It, therefore, seems best to unite all the species under Chomelia.

    Schumann (Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenf. 4(4): 98. 1897) adopted the generic name Anisomeris instead of Chomelia Jacq. because of an earlier Chomelia L. (Gen. ed. 1. 55. 1737). The latter generic name, (’homelia L., Schumann adopted instead of Webera Schreb., Tarenna Gaertn., Cupea DC., Ceriscus Necs, or Stylocoryne W & Arn. However, pre-Linnaean names are not to be considered when dates of publication are at stake, and the pre-Linnaean Chomelia L. of 1737 does not appear in Linnaeus’s Species Plantarum of 1753 nor in his Genera Plantarum of 1754. Jacquin’s description of Chomelia together with his plate 13 in 1763 is the legitimate starting date for the genus under present consideration.