Piero Delprete - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Piero Delprete
Webbia
The tribe Sipaneeae (subfamily Ixoroideae) includes the genera Chalepophyllum (3 spp.), Dendrosip... more The tribe Sipaneeae (subfamily Ixoroideae) includes the genera Chalepophyllum (3 spp.), Dendrosipanea (3 spp.), Limnosipanea (3 spp.), Maguireothamnus (3 spp.), Neblinathamnus (2 spp.), Neobertiera (5 spp.), Pteridocalyx (1 sp.), Sipanea (17 spp.), Sipaneopsis (8 spp.), and Steyermarkia (1 sp.), for a total of 44 species. This tribe has its center of diversity on the Guiana Shield (northern South America), where 9 of the 10 genera occur. Only Sipanea and Limnosipanea are also present on the Brazilian Shield and the Orinoquía Region with a total of 4 species, while Steyermarkia, Sipanea and Limnosipanea are present in Central America with one species each. The genera Sipaneopsis, Chalepophyllum, and Dendrosipanea are endemic to white sand areas of the Amazon Basin. The habit in the tribe Sipaneeae ranges from herbs (terrestrial, amphibian or rarely aquatic), subshrubs, shrubs to treelets. Within the tribe, Chalepophyllum, Dendrosipanea, Neobertiera, Pteridocalyx and Sipanea are heter...
Phytotaxa, 2020
Giovanni Casaretto published Eugenia rotundifolia Casaretto (1842: 40) using material that he col... more Giovanni Casaretto published Eugenia rotundifolia Casaretto (1842: 40) using material that he collected in Restinga vegetation between Copacabana and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Berg (1857: 287) treated E. rotundifolia Casaretto as a distinct species, and recognized two varieties. However, the binomial E. rotundifolia (Walker-Arnott 1836: 335) Wight (1841: 17) was previously published for a taxon occurring in Sri Lanka. Therefore, Casaretto’s name is a later superfluous homonym and illegitimate. In a recent article on the typification of plant names published by Casaretto, Delprete et al. (2019) proposed E. casarettoana Delprete (2019: 25) as a substitute name for E. rotundifolia Casaretto. However, Delprete and his collaborators overlooked that the name E. casarettoana O. Berg (1857: 520) was previously published using material collected by Martius near the town of Coari, state of Amazonas, Brazil, and belongs to a distinct species occurring in the Brazilian A...
Phytotaxa, 2020
Martius described the genus Arariba, with two species, A. rubra and A. alba from material collect... more Martius described the genus Arariba, with two species, A. rubra and A. alba from material collected in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, which are here lectotypified. Twelve years later, Allemão and Saldanha described Pinckneya rubescens and P. viridiflora, also from material collected in Rio de Janeiro; the holotypes of these two Pinckneya names have recently been found in the Herbarium of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. After comparative studies of their types and recent collections, we concluded that these taxa are synonymous with Simira alba (Mart.) comb. nov. and Simira rubra. Comments on typification and critical historical collections of all taxa involved are also provided.
Phytotaxa, 2019
In a recent revision of Neobertiera, three new species were described and the distylous condition... more In a recent revision of Neobertiera, three new species were described and the distylous condition of this genus was reported for the first time. In the present paper, a new species, N. montedouradensis, from the state of Pará, Amazon Basin, is described, which represents a significant range extension and the first record of this genus for Brazil. This new species is unique within the genus by having hypanthia and fruits with trichomes conspicuously tuberculate at base. In addition, a new combination is proposed for a species from French Guiana recently named N. glomerata. A correction regarding the corolla size of N. pakaraimensis is included. In view of these taxonomic novelties, a key to the five species of Neobertiera is provided.
Phytotaxa, 2018
As a result of the ongoing taxonomic revision of the tribe Sipaneeae, a new species of Dendrosipa... more As a result of the ongoing taxonomic revision of the tribe Sipaneeae, a new species of Dendrosipanea and Sipaneopsis from the Brazilian and Colombian Amazon are here described and illustrated; both taxa are endemic to the Brazilian white-sand areas locally called campinas and campinaranas. Their conservation status is assessed, and all specimens examined are cited. A key to the three recognized species of Dendrosipanea is included.
Phytotaxa, 2019
The first part of this paper includes a short discussion on calycophylls in Rubiaceae, followed b... more The first part of this paper includes a short discussion on calycophylls in Rubiaceae, followed by a succinct overview of calycophyllous genera and their systematic position within the family (subfamilies and tribes). The second part is focused on Pteridocalyx, the sole genus of the tribe Sipaneeae with calycophylls, until recently only known by three historic collections (including two type gatherings) from Guyana. Recent field observations and collection of numerous herbarium specimens permitted a detailed study of this genus, which is here reported for the first time to have distylous flowers. Two species were described in the genus. As a result of a detailed morphological analysis, Pteridocalyx is here treated as monospecific, and is here illustrated for the first time.
As part of our continuing chemical and biological analyses of Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we ... more As part of our continuing chemical and biological analyses of Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we isolated novel alkaloids 1 and 2, along with known compounds epicatechin, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid, from Galianthe ramosa. Alkaloid 2 inhibited malate synthase from the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides spp. This enzyme is considered an important molecular target because it is not found in humans. Molecular docking simulations were used to describe the interactions between the alkaloids and malate synthase
Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2017
Abstract This study reports for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of V... more Abstract This study reports for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of Varronia schomburgkii (DC.) Borhidi cultivated in French Guiana. This essential oil was examined by a combination of GC/FID and GC-MS techniques and was further tested for antifungal activity against several Candida strains, as well as for anti-leishmanial activity against the reference strain Leishmania guyanensis. A total of 45 components accounting for 93.61% of the total GC/FID chromatogram were identified. The essential oil is dominated by sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes among which β-caryophyllene (46.99 ± 0.32%) is the major one. No anti-leishmania activity could be assessed, while a strong antimicrobial activity of this essential oil was evidenced in vitro against a Candida albicans strain by the definition of a MIC value of 250 μg/mL. V. schomburgkii essential oil might hence be considered in the future for the development of natural antifungal agents.
Phytotaxa, 2017
Simira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo stat... more Simira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo state, south-eastern Brazil, is here described and illustrated, and compared with similar species. It most resembles S. grazielae, from which it differs by the larger inflorescences, antrorse pubescent flowers and fruits, and by its larger fruits. Its habitat and conservation status are discussed. A key to the species of Simira from Espírito Santo state is provided.
Plants
We explored the concentration patterns of the bioactive metabolite plumericin produced by Himatan... more We explored the concentration patterns of the bioactive metabolite plumericin produced by Himatanthus tarapotensis (Apocynaceae) under different edaphic conditions and variations in rainfall intensity, as well as its potential role in the chemical defense against insect herbivores. Values of plumericin concentration from leaves were obtained by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, and evaluated as a function of differences in soil types, variation of precipitation, and variation of the abundance of insect herbivores, using first a Repeated Measures Correlation (rmcorr) and then a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) analysis. Plumericin concentration is highly variable among plants, but with a significantly higher concentration in plants growing on clay soil compared to that of the white-sand soil habitat (p < 0.001). Plumericin concentration is not affected by precipitation. The caterpillar of Isognathus leachii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is the most conspicuous herbivore of ...
his dissertation on evolutionary and reproductive biology of Labordia (Loganiaceae). While in Haw... more his dissertation on evolutionary and reproductive biology of Labordia (Loganiaceae). While in Hawaii, he developed a par-ticular interest for the Pacific islands flora and for ethnobotany, two passions that he pursued for the rest of his life. Shortly after finishing his doctorate, he worked at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) as Post-Doctoral Research Associate (1997−1998), Assistant Curator (1998−2004), Acting Chair (1999−2000; 2001−2002), and Project Head of Conservation
Some ethnobotanical aspects of the Cuban dioscoreas are analyzed. The interviews were conducted t... more Some ethnobotanical aspects of the Cuban dioscoreas are analyzed. The interviews were conducted to determine the uses of these plants in different regions of the country. The most frequent uses of species of the genus Dioscorea in Cuba are dietary supplement, against gastric affections (gastritis) and in Yoruba religious rituals. Values of use of the useful species of the genus were determined. Some ecological aspect as well as the distribution of the species were analysed.
Phytotaxa
The Chilean desert specimens of Ombrophytum (Balanophoraceae) reported in the literature as O. su... more The Chilean desert specimens of Ombrophytum (Balanophoraceae) reported in the literature as O. subterraneum (Asplund) Hansen differ structurally in several respects from that species, which was described from moist tropical forest in Bolivia. Therefore the Chilean specimens are treated as a narrowly endemic, separate species, Ombrophytum chilensis Kuijt & Delprete, on the basis of the type specimen and published photographs. Discussions on morphology, distribution and conservation status are provided for this species. Critical comments on the underground organs and reproduction in Neotropical Balanophoraceae are also presented.
Phytotaxa, 2016
The delimitation of Himatanthus (Apocynaceae) species has long been problematic, and much confusi... more The delimitation of Himatanthus (Apocynaceae) species has long been problematic, and much confusion remains as to which names and species delimitations should be adopted. In order to recognize and clarify the species of Himatanthus occurring in Peru, herbarium specimens were examined, coupled with detailed field observations. The present study recognizes three species in Peru: H. revolutus, H. tarapotensis and H. phagedaenicus. A key to identify the species, as well as descriptions, synonymy, specimens cited, and taxonomic comments are presented.
TAXON
was appointed by King Charles Albert of Savoy-Carignano, Kingdom of Sardinia, as the botanist and... more was appointed by King Charles Albert of Savoy-Carignano, Kingdom of Sardinia, as the botanist and mineralogist of a planned circumnavigation of the globe. After collecting in a few localities in southern Brazil and Uruguay, Casaretto collected for almost nine months, from April to December 1839, in Rio de Janeiro and its vicinity. While in Rio, he also bought about 100 collections from Riedel and about 500 collections from Clausen, which were made in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais, which he re-numbered and integrated into his collections. He also made significant collections in the state of Bahia, and a few collections in and around Recife (Pernambuco). Based on the preceding collections, Casaretto published a total of 101 names (in 36 plant families, delimited according to APG III), of which, according to the present study, 27 names are currently accepted, 12 serve as basionyms for currently accepted names, 7 are illegitimate due to superfluity, and 55 are heterotypic synonyms of previously published names. All the 101 names of Casaretto are hereby typified, and Eugenia casarettoana Delprete is here proposed as a substitute name for an illegitimate later homonym. In addition, a lectotype and an epitype for Couratari estrellensis Raddi are here designated.
Plant Ecology and Evolution
Background – Ongoing studies of Brazilian Rubiaceae revealed an undescribed species of Amaioua en... more Background – Ongoing studies of Brazilian Rubiaceae revealed an undescribed species of Amaioua endemic to Atlantic Forest (Restinga and Semideciduous forest) of the state of Bahia, which is here described and illustrated, and its morphological characters are discussed and compared with those of similar species. Methods – This study is based on examinations of herbarium specimens, samples preserved in 60% ethanol, field observations, and digital images. Herbarium specimens of the CAY, CEPEC, HBR, IBGE, K, MBM, NY, RB, U, UB, UFG, and US herbaria were directly studied. Additional images of herbarium specimens were studied online. Results – Amaioua longipedicellata Delprete & J.G.Jardim is here described, illustrated and compared with the two most similar species, i.e., A. glomerulata (Lam. ex Poir.) Delprete & C.H.Perss. and A. intermedia Mart. A table comparing the morphological characters of these three species, and an appendix with selected specimens studied of A. glomerulata and A...
Webbia
The tribe Sipaneeae (subfamily Ixoroideae) includes the genera Chalepophyllum (3 spp.), Dendrosip... more The tribe Sipaneeae (subfamily Ixoroideae) includes the genera Chalepophyllum (3 spp.), Dendrosipanea (3 spp.), Limnosipanea (3 spp.), Maguireothamnus (3 spp.), Neblinathamnus (2 spp.), Neobertiera (5 spp.), Pteridocalyx (1 sp.), Sipanea (17 spp.), Sipaneopsis (8 spp.), and Steyermarkia (1 sp.), for a total of 44 species. This tribe has its center of diversity on the Guiana Shield (northern South America), where 9 of the 10 genera occur. Only Sipanea and Limnosipanea are also present on the Brazilian Shield and the Orinoquía Region with a total of 4 species, while Steyermarkia, Sipanea and Limnosipanea are present in Central America with one species each. The genera Sipaneopsis, Chalepophyllum, and Dendrosipanea are endemic to white sand areas of the Amazon Basin. The habit in the tribe Sipaneeae ranges from herbs (terrestrial, amphibian or rarely aquatic), subshrubs, shrubs to treelets. Within the tribe, Chalepophyllum, Dendrosipanea, Neobertiera, Pteridocalyx and Sipanea are heter...
Phytotaxa, 2020
Giovanni Casaretto published Eugenia rotundifolia Casaretto (1842: 40) using material that he col... more Giovanni Casaretto published Eugenia rotundifolia Casaretto (1842: 40) using material that he collected in Restinga vegetation between Copacabana and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Berg (1857: 287) treated E. rotundifolia Casaretto as a distinct species, and recognized two varieties. However, the binomial E. rotundifolia (Walker-Arnott 1836: 335) Wight (1841: 17) was previously published for a taxon occurring in Sri Lanka. Therefore, Casaretto’s name is a later superfluous homonym and illegitimate. In a recent article on the typification of plant names published by Casaretto, Delprete et al. (2019) proposed E. casarettoana Delprete (2019: 25) as a substitute name for E. rotundifolia Casaretto. However, Delprete and his collaborators overlooked that the name E. casarettoana O. Berg (1857: 520) was previously published using material collected by Martius near the town of Coari, state of Amazonas, Brazil, and belongs to a distinct species occurring in the Brazilian A...
Phytotaxa, 2020
Martius described the genus Arariba, with two species, A. rubra and A. alba from material collect... more Martius described the genus Arariba, with two species, A. rubra and A. alba from material collected in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, which are here lectotypified. Twelve years later, Allemão and Saldanha described Pinckneya rubescens and P. viridiflora, also from material collected in Rio de Janeiro; the holotypes of these two Pinckneya names have recently been found in the Herbarium of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. After comparative studies of their types and recent collections, we concluded that these taxa are synonymous with Simira alba (Mart.) comb. nov. and Simira rubra. Comments on typification and critical historical collections of all taxa involved are also provided.
Phytotaxa, 2019
In a recent revision of Neobertiera, three new species were described and the distylous condition... more In a recent revision of Neobertiera, three new species were described and the distylous condition of this genus was reported for the first time. In the present paper, a new species, N. montedouradensis, from the state of Pará, Amazon Basin, is described, which represents a significant range extension and the first record of this genus for Brazil. This new species is unique within the genus by having hypanthia and fruits with trichomes conspicuously tuberculate at base. In addition, a new combination is proposed for a species from French Guiana recently named N. glomerata. A correction regarding the corolla size of N. pakaraimensis is included. In view of these taxonomic novelties, a key to the five species of Neobertiera is provided.
Phytotaxa, 2018
As a result of the ongoing taxonomic revision of the tribe Sipaneeae, a new species of Dendrosipa... more As a result of the ongoing taxonomic revision of the tribe Sipaneeae, a new species of Dendrosipanea and Sipaneopsis from the Brazilian and Colombian Amazon are here described and illustrated; both taxa are endemic to the Brazilian white-sand areas locally called campinas and campinaranas. Their conservation status is assessed, and all specimens examined are cited. A key to the three recognized species of Dendrosipanea is included.
Phytotaxa, 2019
The first part of this paper includes a short discussion on calycophylls in Rubiaceae, followed b... more The first part of this paper includes a short discussion on calycophylls in Rubiaceae, followed by a succinct overview of calycophyllous genera and their systematic position within the family (subfamilies and tribes). The second part is focused on Pteridocalyx, the sole genus of the tribe Sipaneeae with calycophylls, until recently only known by three historic collections (including two type gatherings) from Guyana. Recent field observations and collection of numerous herbarium specimens permitted a detailed study of this genus, which is here reported for the first time to have distylous flowers. Two species were described in the genus. As a result of a detailed morphological analysis, Pteridocalyx is here treated as monospecific, and is here illustrated for the first time.
As part of our continuing chemical and biological analyses of Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we ... more As part of our continuing chemical and biological analyses of Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we isolated novel alkaloids 1 and 2, along with known compounds epicatechin, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid, from Galianthe ramosa. Alkaloid 2 inhibited malate synthase from the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides spp. This enzyme is considered an important molecular target because it is not found in humans. Molecular docking simulations were used to describe the interactions between the alkaloids and malate synthase
Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2017
Abstract This study reports for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of V... more Abstract This study reports for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of Varronia schomburgkii (DC.) Borhidi cultivated in French Guiana. This essential oil was examined by a combination of GC/FID and GC-MS techniques and was further tested for antifungal activity against several Candida strains, as well as for anti-leishmanial activity against the reference strain Leishmania guyanensis. A total of 45 components accounting for 93.61% of the total GC/FID chromatogram were identified. The essential oil is dominated by sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes among which β-caryophyllene (46.99 ± 0.32%) is the major one. No anti-leishmania activity could be assessed, while a strong antimicrobial activity of this essential oil was evidenced in vitro against a Candida albicans strain by the definition of a MIC value of 250 μg/mL. V. schomburgkii essential oil might hence be considered in the future for the development of natural antifungal agents.
Phytotaxa, 2017
Simira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo stat... more Simira robusta (Rubiaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Rainforest of the Espírito Santo state, south-eastern Brazil, is here described and illustrated, and compared with similar species. It most resembles S. grazielae, from which it differs by the larger inflorescences, antrorse pubescent flowers and fruits, and by its larger fruits. Its habitat and conservation status are discussed. A key to the species of Simira from Espírito Santo state is provided.
Plants
We explored the concentration patterns of the bioactive metabolite plumericin produced by Himatan... more We explored the concentration patterns of the bioactive metabolite plumericin produced by Himatanthus tarapotensis (Apocynaceae) under different edaphic conditions and variations in rainfall intensity, as well as its potential role in the chemical defense against insect herbivores. Values of plumericin concentration from leaves were obtained by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, and evaluated as a function of differences in soil types, variation of precipitation, and variation of the abundance of insect herbivores, using first a Repeated Measures Correlation (rmcorr) and then a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) analysis. Plumericin concentration is highly variable among plants, but with a significantly higher concentration in plants growing on clay soil compared to that of the white-sand soil habitat (p < 0.001). Plumericin concentration is not affected by precipitation. The caterpillar of Isognathus leachii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is the most conspicuous herbivore of ...
his dissertation on evolutionary and reproductive biology of Labordia (Loganiaceae). While in Haw... more his dissertation on evolutionary and reproductive biology of Labordia (Loganiaceae). While in Hawaii, he developed a par-ticular interest for the Pacific islands flora and for ethnobotany, two passions that he pursued for the rest of his life. Shortly after finishing his doctorate, he worked at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) as Post-Doctoral Research Associate (1997−1998), Assistant Curator (1998−2004), Acting Chair (1999−2000; 2001−2002), and Project Head of Conservation
Some ethnobotanical aspects of the Cuban dioscoreas are analyzed. The interviews were conducted t... more Some ethnobotanical aspects of the Cuban dioscoreas are analyzed. The interviews were conducted to determine the uses of these plants in different regions of the country. The most frequent uses of species of the genus Dioscorea in Cuba are dietary supplement, against gastric affections (gastritis) and in Yoruba religious rituals. Values of use of the useful species of the genus were determined. Some ecological aspect as well as the distribution of the species were analysed.
Phytotaxa
The Chilean desert specimens of Ombrophytum (Balanophoraceae) reported in the literature as O. su... more The Chilean desert specimens of Ombrophytum (Balanophoraceae) reported in the literature as O. subterraneum (Asplund) Hansen differ structurally in several respects from that species, which was described from moist tropical forest in Bolivia. Therefore the Chilean specimens are treated as a narrowly endemic, separate species, Ombrophytum chilensis Kuijt & Delprete, on the basis of the type specimen and published photographs. Discussions on morphology, distribution and conservation status are provided for this species. Critical comments on the underground organs and reproduction in Neotropical Balanophoraceae are also presented.
Phytotaxa, 2016
The delimitation of Himatanthus (Apocynaceae) species has long been problematic, and much confusi... more The delimitation of Himatanthus (Apocynaceae) species has long been problematic, and much confusion remains as to which names and species delimitations should be adopted. In order to recognize and clarify the species of Himatanthus occurring in Peru, herbarium specimens were examined, coupled with detailed field observations. The present study recognizes three species in Peru: H. revolutus, H. tarapotensis and H. phagedaenicus. A key to identify the species, as well as descriptions, synonymy, specimens cited, and taxonomic comments are presented.
TAXON
was appointed by King Charles Albert of Savoy-Carignano, Kingdom of Sardinia, as the botanist and... more was appointed by King Charles Albert of Savoy-Carignano, Kingdom of Sardinia, as the botanist and mineralogist of a planned circumnavigation of the globe. After collecting in a few localities in southern Brazil and Uruguay, Casaretto collected for almost nine months, from April to December 1839, in Rio de Janeiro and its vicinity. While in Rio, he also bought about 100 collections from Riedel and about 500 collections from Clausen, which were made in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais, which he re-numbered and integrated into his collections. He also made significant collections in the state of Bahia, and a few collections in and around Recife (Pernambuco). Based on the preceding collections, Casaretto published a total of 101 names (in 36 plant families, delimited according to APG III), of which, according to the present study, 27 names are currently accepted, 12 serve as basionyms for currently accepted names, 7 are illegitimate due to superfluity, and 55 are heterotypic synonyms of previously published names. All the 101 names of Casaretto are hereby typified, and Eugenia casarettoana Delprete is here proposed as a substitute name for an illegitimate later homonym. In addition, a lectotype and an epitype for Couratari estrellensis Raddi are here designated.
Plant Ecology and Evolution
Background – Ongoing studies of Brazilian Rubiaceae revealed an undescribed species of Amaioua en... more Background – Ongoing studies of Brazilian Rubiaceae revealed an undescribed species of Amaioua endemic to Atlantic Forest (Restinga and Semideciduous forest) of the state of Bahia, which is here described and illustrated, and its morphological characters are discussed and compared with those of similar species. Methods – This study is based on examinations of herbarium specimens, samples preserved in 60% ethanol, field observations, and digital images. Herbarium specimens of the CAY, CEPEC, HBR, IBGE, K, MBM, NY, RB, U, UB, UFG, and US herbaria were directly studied. Additional images of herbarium specimens were studied online. Results – Amaioua longipedicellata Delprete & J.G.Jardim is here described, illustrated and compared with the two most similar species, i.e., A. glomerulata (Lam. ex Poir.) Delprete & C.H.Perss. and A. intermedia Mart. A table comparing the morphological characters of these three species, and an appendix with selected specimens studied of A. glomerulata and A...