Notas sôbre os gêneros Polygonanthus e Anisophyllea

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to elucidate an obscure problem which involves relationship of a group of plants containing the genera Anisophyllea, Polygonanthus, Combretocarpus and Poga. Genus Anisophyllea is native in both the Old and New Worlds; Polygonanthus is exclusively Amazonian; and Combretocarpus and Poga are confined to the Old World. It is a very interesting subject relating to the problems of evolution, speciation and distribution of plants, and supports the theories which endeavour to explain the centuries-old story that South America and Africa were, at one time, connected geographically. Taxonomic position of genera Anisophyllea and Polygonanthus is discussed. A new species of genus Anisophyllea is described. General characteristics and macroscopic descriptions of the woods of Polygonanthus amazonicus and Anisophyllea manausensis are presented. Keys for identification of the genera of Section Anisophyllea and of Brazilian Rhizophoraceae are shown.