……………………………………………………………………..1. G. parviflora

GRIFFINIA Subgenus GRIFFINIA RAVENNA Plant Life, 25: 62. 1969. TYPE: Griffinia hyacinthina (Ker Gawl.) Ker Gawl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 6 sub t. 444. 1820.

1. Griffinia parvifloraKER GAWLER. In Edward’s Bot. Reg. 6: sub t. 511. 1821. (Fig.4). TYPE: A type specimen has not been located.

2. Griffinia intermedia LINDLEY. in Edwards Bot. Reg. 7: sub t. 990. 1826. TYPE: A type specimen has not been located.

3. Griffinia alba K. PREUSS & MEEROW. In Novon, 10(3): 230-233. 2000. TYPE: BRAZIL. TAPÉRA, PERNAMBUCO: collected from wooded habitat, 16 Nov 1936, A. Pickel 2907 (HOLOTYPE: US!).

Leaves to 72 cm long; lamina ovate to elliptic, to 12–15 cm broad, solid green in color. Scape 35–38 cm tall; umbel 16–17-flowered. Perianth epiperigynous, forming a true hypanthium continuous with the pericarp; tube ca. 1.3–1.5 cm long; tepals entirely white, 4–5 cm long. Stamens 6, five declinate and one assurgent.

Griffinia alba is endemic to Northeastern Brazil and is known from a single locality in Tapéra, Pernambuco. Griffinia alba closely resembles G. hyacinthina, but differs from that species by its longer pedicels, pure white flowers, tepal segments more linear, cuneate leaf base gradually tapering into the petiole, and geographical distribution. Based upon a preliminary morphological-based cladistic analysis, G. alba is sister to G. hyacinthina. Griffinia alba is the first pure white-flowered species ascribed to the subgenus Griffinia.

 

4. Griffinia ornata MOORE in Gard. Chron. I: 266. 1876. TYPE: A type specimen has not been located.

Bulb to ca. 10–11 cm in diam.; neck 5 –10 cm long. Leaves elliptic, with distinctive venation: the parallel veins intersected diagonally by reticulate striae, solid green in color. Scape 30–45 cm tall, (18-) 20–24-flowered. Perianth epiperigynous; tepals lilac fading white in the center, tepal segments linear-lanceolate. Stamens 6, five declinate and one assurgent.

The original description of this species is rather vague. Detailed measurements, descriptions of the perigonal tube and collection and locality information are lacking. It is uncertain whether or not this is a valid species or a robust form of G. hyacinthina. Like that species, G. ornata is from Rio de Janeiro and has large, thick, broad leaves, large lilac and white flowers with acute apices. The flowers are reportedly larger and greater in number (18-24) than G. hyacinthina. The leaf venation pattern in G. ornata is reportedly different of that observed in G. hyacinthina (Moore, 1876).

 

5. Griffinia hyacinthina (KER GAWLER) KER GAWLER. In Edwards Bot. Reg. 6. Sub t. 444. 1820. (Fig. 5). TYPE: A type specimen has not yet been located. Amaryllis hyacinthina Ker Gawl. in Edward’s Bot. Reg. 2: sub t. 163. 1816. Lycoris hacinthina (Ker Gawl.) Herbert in Curtis’ Bot. Mag. 47: sub t. 2113. 1819. Amaryllis dryades Vellozo in Flor. Flum. Liber primus. 130, Icones, vol. iii. Sub t. 117. 1824. TYPE: not seen, undetermined. Griffinia dryades (Vell.) Vell. in Flor. Flum. Index, 3. 1827; Roemer in Syn Ensat. Fase. 4 (1) 32. 1847. Griffinia hookeri Kraenzl. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 1. Beibl. 112, 7. 1913.

   

Bulb to 7–8 cm in diam., subglobose; neck ca. 4–7 cm. Leaves 2-5, petiolate, ovate-elliptic, 18 to 45 cm long and 7 to 15 cm broad, solid green in color. Petiole and scape with reddish pigmentation near the bases. Scape stout, ca. 30–60 cm (taller than the leaves), 8–12 (-13)-flowered. Perianth epiperigynous, forming a true hypanthium continuous with the pericarp, to 10 cm long; tube variable in length, up to 2.5 cm.; tepals lilac with white in the center. Stamen 6, five declinate and one assurgent. Chromosome number 2n = 20.

 

Martius (1871) considered Griffinia dryades Hooker to be a synonym of G. hyacinthina. Based on the available evidence of the type specimen (KEW) of G. dryades, the recognition of G. dryades as a synonym of G. hyacinthina is justifiable. The description of G. draydes indicates that flowers are slightly larger in size and are borne on longer pedicels. Like Griffinia hyacinthina, which was described from the state of Rio de Janeiro, both are also known to occur in the state of São Paulo. The degree of natural variation of G. hyacinthina is uncertain. Baker mentions a small-flowered variety, G. hyacinthina var. micrantha. Griffinia ornata is another species of similar stature, but with an increased number of flowers per scape, and is also known from Rio de Janeiro.

 

Griffinia liboniana complex

Several species within this informally recognized group. The exact inter- and infraspecific relationships remain uncertain. This subgroup of subg. Griffinia is a monophyletic group in which Griffinia liboniana is the oldest named taxon. The diagnosis for the Griffinia liboniana complex is as follows: leaves petiolate to subpetiolate, solid green or variously speckled white; petiole and scape lacking reddish pigmentation; insertion of floral parts epigynous; perigonal tube reduced, not continuous with the pericarp; the upper episepal stamen typically lacking, when present not adpressed to the dorsal segment.

 

6. Griffinia liboniana MORREN. In Ann. Soc. Roy. Agr. Bot. 1: 143. 1845. (Fig. 6 & 7). TYPE: not seen, undetermined. Liboniana bicolor Lemaire in Jard. Fleur. vol. iii: sub t. 290. 1853.

Bulb 3–5 cm in diam., neck ca. 2 cm long. Leaves elliptic to broadly ovate, profusely speckled whitish or solid green. Petiole and scape lacking reddish pigmentation. Scape to ca. 20-38 cm tall, 4–9-flowered. Perianth epigynous; tepals lilac apically fading to white in the center and base, two lateral with two longitudinal zones of coloration: lilac on one side, white on the other side, white basally, oblanceolate, slightly unguiculate. Stamens 5 or 6, five declinate, the sixth assurgent or supressed. Chromosome number 2n = 20, 30.

      

Griffinia liboniana Morren was collected from the landlocked state of Minas Gerias and described with an accompanying illustration, possibly the holotype. Lemaire (1853) published another "more accurate" interpretation. The two plates vary considerably in the floral form and color. This could be due to the artists’ interpretations, natural variation, or, alternatively, a different "entity" was represented by each of the two plates. Both plates represent a subpetiolate, spotted-leaf Griffinia and are considered to represent , in part, the natural variation found in G. liboniana. This brings to point the issue of "what is Griffinia liboniana Morren (1845)?" A type specimen for G. Liboniana has not yet been determined. Ravenna reported the "Rediscovery of Griffinia Liboniana" from plants collected by A. P. Duarte, which were deposited into the personal herbarium of P. Ravenna (Herbarium Ravennae). Until further collections from Minas Gerais can be examined and compared to those from Bahia, this issue is unable to be resolved.

 

7. Griffinia aracensis RAVENNA. In Plant Life, 30: 69. 1974; and in Plant Life 34: 82. 1978. (Fig. 8). TYPE: BRAZIL: Minas Gerias, Serra dos Aracás, near Matozinhos, 26 Oct 1959 E. P. Heringer 72-40 (HOLOTYPE: UB!).

Bulb ca. 2 cm diam.; neck 6–10 mm. Leaves variable in length, from 7 – 25 cm long and to ca. 5 cm broad, lanceolate, lamina solid green or variously maculated whitish, margins undulate. Scape 7–12 (-15) cm. tall; 4–7-flowered. Perianth epigynous; tepals lilac in the upper portion and white in the lower portion, the two lateral tepals with two longitudinal zones of coloration: lilac on one side, white on the other side, tepal segments (narrowly) oblanceolate. Stamens 5 or 6, five declinate, the sixth assurgent or supressed. Chromosome number 2n = 20.



Griffinia aracensis was described from a single collection from Serra dos Aracás, near Matozinhos, Minas Gerais. Since that collection, there have been no other reports of collections from Minas Gerais for this species. However, the range of this species extends eastward into Bahia. This species is most easily identified by its narrow tepals and undulate leaves.

 

8. Griffinia espiritensis RAVENNA. In Plant Life, 25: 67. 1969. (Fig. 9). TYPE: BRAZIL, Espírito Santo, Sooretama Biological Reserve, on the way to the waterfall, Dec 1965, P. Ravenna 399 (HOLOTYPE: HERB. RAVENNAE).

Bulb 2–5 cm in diam.; neck to ca. 2 cm long. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate (-ovate), 4–8 cm broad, solid green or variously maculated whitish. Scape 9–38 cm tall; umbel 5-10 flowered. Perianth epigynous, to 3.3 cm long; tube ca. 2–3 mm long, tepals various shades of lilac with white in the center, tepal segments oblanceolate. Stamens 5 or 6, five declinate, the sixth assurgent or supressed. Chromosome number 2n = 20, 30.

This species group is a monophyletic group with in the G. liboniana complex (Preuss, 1999). Griffinia espiritensis was described from the state of Espírito Santo. The range of this species extends northward to Bahia. Griffinia espiritensis is polymorphic and a highly variable species. Leaves vary in form from narrowly lanceolate to ovate, and may be solid green in color in some forms or variously spotted in other forms. The flowers greatly vary in size and shape, and ranges in color from pale lilac to deep purple with white in the center. Several varieties (subspecies) have been described by Ravenna (2000) and also Preuss (2001)

 

9. Griffinia rochae MOREL. In Baileya, vol. 8: 133. 1960; Baileya, vol. 9: 28. 1961. (Fig. 10). TYPE: BRAZIL. Prov. Rio: Xerem, Cult. In greenhouse, Centre National de Recherches Agronomiques, Versailles, 15, Feb 1960, G.M. Morel, s.n. (HOLOTYPE : BH!).

Bulb globose, ca. 3 cm in diam.; neck ca. 1 cm. Leaves 10-16 cm long; lamina oblong, solid green. Scape ca. 20 cm tall; umbel 6–8 –flowered. Perianth epigynous; tube ca. 1–2 mm long; tepals bluish-lilac with white in the center. Stamens 5 or 6, five declinate, the sixth assurgent or supressed. Chromosome number 2n = 20.

Griffinia rochae is endemic to Rio de Janeiro and represents the southernmost limit of distribution for the small, blue-flowered taxa. This species is allopatric in respect to the other small, blue-flowered taxa. Griffinia rochae is the smallest species (in stature) of the genus. The character of leaf-spotting has not been reported or observed in this taxon. The previously reported chromosome 2n = 22 is dubious; upon closer examination, the number 2n = 20 was observed.

 

10. Griffinia itambensis RAVENNA. In Plant Life, 30: 70. 1974. TYPE: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais, mun. Itambe, about 5 km directly west and north of Santo Antonio do Itambe, south-eastern drainage of Pico de Itambe, Nov. 9, 1972, W. R. Anderson et al. (HOLOTYPE: HERB. RAV; ISOTYPE: NY!).

Bulb subglobose, ca. 2.5 – cm in diam.; neck almost obsolete. Leaves lanceolate, 12–25 cm long, 1.5 – 2.2 cm broad, solid green. Scape to ca. 19 cm tall; umbel 7–11-flowered, Perianth epigynous; tube ca. 15 mm long; tepal segments oblanceolate, lilac and white in the lower portion, ca. 14–16 mm long. Stamens 5 or 6, five declinate, the sixth assurgent or supressed

Griffinia itambensis Rav. has been recognized by its small flowers (the smallest of the genus) and narrow, lanceolate leaves, which lack speckling. It is likely that G. itambensis is a subspecies or variety of G. espiritensis. In a phylogentic analysis based on morphology, G. itambensis is part of the (monophyletic) G. espiritensis group. Unfortunately, an attempt to extract undegraded rDNA of an isotype (NY) for a phylogenetic study of the ITS regions was unsuccessful. This entity is represented by a single collection from a population located near the municipal of Itambé, Minas Gerais. The population occurred at an altitude of about 950 m on a hillside with secondary growth forest and bracken covered "campo" with blocky sandstone and sandy soil sloping down to a river.

 

GRIFFINIA Subgenus HYLINE (HERBERT) RAVENNA Plant Life, 25: 62-63. 1969. Hyline Herbert, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 66: sub t. 3779. 1841. TYPE: Griffinia gardneriana (Herb.) Rav., Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 66: sub t. 3779. 1841.

Bulb, ovate (-subglobose). Leaves deciduous; lamina oblanceolate to lorate, slightly falcate. Scape 2 – 3-flowered. Flowers nocturnal, ephemeral, scented. Perianth white in color, epiperigynous, forming a true hypanthium continuous with the pericarp, tube variable in length, tepal segments linear to oblanceolate. Stamens 6, in 3 ranks; fasciculate; filaments with style declinate; pollen yellow. Ovary with 12–16 ovules per locule. Seeds 2-3 per fruit. Chromosome number 2n = 20.

 

11. Griffinia gardneriana (HERBERT) RAVENNA in Plant Life, 25: 62-63. 1969. (Fig. 11). TYPE: BRAZIL, Ceará, dry woods, Oct 1838, Gardner 1854 (HOLOTYPE: K!).Hyline gardneriana Herbert in Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 66: sub t. 3779. 1841. Hyline Worsleyi Mallet in Gard. Chron. III: 26. 102. 1899.

Bulb ca. 4–7.5 cm in diam., subglobose; neck ca. 1.5 cm long. Leaves lorate to lanceolate, nearly 50 cm long and ca. 6 cm broad. Scape 17–35 cm tall, 2 (-3)-flowered; pedicels ca. 2–3 cm long. Perianth epiperigynous; tube short ca. 2 mm, continuous with the pericarp; tepals ca. 15 – 17 cm long, oblanceolate, the 5 upper ones strongly recurved, the lowermost straight and supporting the filaments. Chromosome number 2n = 20.

Griffinia gardneriana has rarely been collected. This species is endemic to the dry woods of the cerrado and caatingas of Ceará, Pernambuco and Maranhão. Its occurrence is allopatric with respect to the other species (G. nocturna) of subg. Hyline. Griffinia garderiana represents the northernmost limit of distribution for both the genus and subgenus. The indigenous peoples as an hemetico-purgative once used the bulbs.

 

12. Griffinia nocturna RAVENNA in Plant Life, 25: 62-63. 1969. (Fig. 12). TYPE: BRAZIL, Goiás, deciduous or semideciduous woods near the of Goiás, April 1966, Ravenna 531 (Holotype: Herb. Ravennae). Griffinia rostrata Ravenna in Plant Life, 34: 82. 1978. TYPE: BRAZIL, Mato Grosso, Vale dos Sonhos, ca. 93 km from Xavantina, on Aragarças road, evergreen forest; leg. Hartley et al. 10975, 9 Nov. 1968 (TYPE: UB, not seen; ISOTYPE: K!).

Recent publications in Griffinia taxonomy: