Heliophila

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Orthokaryota
Cladus: Neokaryota
Cladus: Photokaryota
Cladus: Diaphoretickes
Cladus: CAM
Regnum*: Archaeplastida
Regnum: Plantae
Regnum*: Viridiplantae
Cladus: Streptophyta
Cladus: Phragmoplastophyta
Cladus: Embryophyta
Cladus: Polysporangiophyta
Divisio*: Tracheophyta
Cladus: Eutracheophyta
Cladus: Euphyllophytina
Cladus: Megaphylla
Cladus: Radiatopses
Cladus: Lignophyta
Cladus: Metalignophyta
Diviso*: Spermatophyta
Classis*: Angiospermae
Cladus: Mesangiospermae
Cladus: Eudicota
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Brassicales

Familia: Brassicaceae
Subfamilia: Brassicoideae
Tribus: Heliophileae
Genus: Heliophila
Species: H. acuminata – H. adpressa – H. affinis – H. africana – H. alpina – H. amplexicaulis – H. arenaria – H. arenosa – H. brachycarpa – H. brassicifolia – H. bulbostyla – H. callosa – H. carnosa – H. cedarbergensis – H. cinerea – H. collina – H. concatenata – H. cornellsbergia – H. cornuta – H. coronopifolia – H. crithmifolia – H. cuneata – H. descurva – H. deserticola – H. diffusa – H. digitata – H. dregeana – H. elata – H. elongata – H. ephemera – H. esterhuyseniae – H. eximia – H. filicaulis – H. gariepina – H. glauca – H. hurkana – H. integrifolia – H. juncea – H. katbergensis – H. laciniata – H. lactea – H. latisiliqua – H. leptophylla – H. linearis – H. linoides – H. macowaniana – H. macra – H. macrosperma – H. maraisiana – H. meyeri – H. minima – H. monosperma – H. namaquana – H. namaquensis – H. nubigena – H. obibensis – H. patenspectinata – H. pendula – H. pinnata – H. polygaloides – H. promontorii – H. pubescens – H. pusilla – H. ramosissima – H. refracta – H. remotiflora – H. rigidiuscula – H. rimicola – H. scandens – H. schulzii – H. scoparia – H. seselifolia – H. suavissima – H. suborbicularis – H. subulata – H. tabularis – H. tricuspidata – H. trifurca – H. tulbaghensis – H. variabilis
Source(s) of checklist:

Koch, M.A. et al. 2019. Heliophila in BrassiBase Tools and biological resources to study characters and traits in the Brassicaceae. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jun 04.

Name

Heliophila L., 1763

Type species: Heliophila integrifolia L.

Synonyms

Brachycarpaea DC.
Carponema (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Carpopodium (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Cycloptychis E. Mey. ex Sond.
Leptormus (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Ormiscus (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Orthoselis (DC.) Spach
Pachystylum (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Palmstruckia Sond.
Prisciana Raf.
Schlechteria Bolus ex Schltr.
Selenocarpaea (DC.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
Silicularia Compton
Thlaspeocarpa C.A. Sm.
Trentepohlia Roth (1800), non Martius (1817, nom. cons.), nec Pringsheim (1862), nec Harvey (1833)

References

Linnaeus, C. 1763. Species Plantarum, ed. 2, Tomus II: 926. Reference page.

Links

Koch, M.A. et al. 2019. Heliophila in BrassiBase Tools and biological resources to study characters and traits in the Brassicaceae. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jun 04.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Heliophila. Published online. Accessed: Jun 04 2019. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Heliophila in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jun 04. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2019. Heliophila. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 04 Jun 2019.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Heliophila in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Heliophila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Members of this genus are either annuals or perennials and some are popular as ornamental plants. Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert.[1]
Taxonomic history

The first recognised published description of Heliophila appears in the second edition of Species Plantarum by Carl Linnaeus, printed in 1763. He attributes his description, however, to Nicolaas Laurens Burman, a Dutch botanist.[2] The generic name Heliophila is Latin but originally derived from the Ancient Greek words hēlios (ἥλιος), meaning "sun", and phílos (φίλος), meaning "dear" or "beloved", and refers to the blooms opening in sun and closing at night or in overcast conditions, a habit of many of the species within the genus.[1][2]

In general, contention abounds regarding phylogenetic relationships in the family Brassicaceae. In the past, using morphological characters to establish tribes and genera was misleading and created dissension among systematists. The classification of species within Brassicaceae is gradually resolving through molecular phylogeny investigation, using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) data and other new-found sequencing knowledge.[3][4]

Previously there were six genera within the tribe Heliophileae, all endemic to southern Africa: Heliophila, Cycloptychis, Schlechteri, Silicularia, Thlaspeocarpa, and Brachycarpaea. The latter five genera contained among them only seven species, having been differentiated from the genus Heliophila mainly on morphological differences in the fruits they bore. Following extensive analysis of molecular evidence (nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnL-F) DNA sequence data), Heliophileae was found to be monophyletic and the five small genera were reduced to synonymy with Heliophila.[1][3][4]
Distribution

Heliophila is one of only two genera of Brassicaceae endemic to southern Africa. The majority of the species grow in the winter-rainfall Cape Floristic Region and the more arid Namaqualand, while a smaller portion extend to the rest of South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho. None of the members of this genus are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1][3][4][5]
Description and habit

Heliophila is regarded as one of the most diverse genera in the family Brassicaceae. Flower size, for example, varies greatly, with this genus containing both the largest of petals within the family (H. juncea) to the smallest (H. pectinata). There is a range of flower colour, with blue, white, and pink being the most common. Blue is an unusual colour for Brassicaceae, being known in only one other genus, the unrelated Solms-laubachia from the Himalayas.[1][3][4][5]

Within the genus are mainly herbs and subshrubs, although shrubs and lianas appear as well. They may be annual or perennial and the majority of the fruits produced by species in this genus are dehiscent, not woody, and lack a carpophore. The plants are generally either glabrous or possess simple hairs. Leaves are variable; they are narrow or broad, but usually simple, and may be entire, lobed, or pinnatipartite. The inflorescences are usually the raceme type.[1][3][4][5]
Species

Accepted species:[6][7]

Heliophila acuminata (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Steud, 1840
Heliophila adpressa O.E. Schulz
Heliophila affinis Sond., 1846
Heliophila africana (L.) Marais, 1970
Heliophila alpina Marais
Heliophila amplexicaulis L.f., 1782
Heliophila arenaria Sond.
Heliophila arenosa Schltr., 1899
Heliophila brachycarpa Meisn., 1842
Heliophila brassicaefolia Eckl. & Zeyh.
Heliophila brassicifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.
Heliophila bulbostyla Barnes
Heliophila callosa (L.f.) DC., 1821
Heliophila carnosa (Thunb.) Steud., 1840
Heliophila cedarbergensis Marais
Heliophila cinerea Marais, 1970
Heliophila collina O.E. Schulz
Heliophila concatenata Sond., 1846
Heliophila cornellsbergia B.J. Pienaar & Nicholas
Heliophila cornuta Sond., 1846
Heliophila carnosa (Thunb.) Steud., 1840
Heliophila coronopifolia L.
Heliophila crithmifolia Willd., 1809
Heliophila cuneata Marais
Heliophila decurva Schltr., 1913
Heliophila deserticola Schltr., 1913
Heliophila diffusa (Thunb.) DC.
Heliophila digitata L.f., 1782
Heliophila dissecta Thunb.
Heliophila dregeana Sond., 1846
Heliophila elata Sond.
Heliophila elongata DC.
Heliophila ephemera P.A.Bean
Heliophila esterhuyseniae Marais
Heliophila eximia Marais
Heliophila filicaulis Marais
Heliophila formosa Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
Heliophila gariepina Schltr.
Heliophila glauca Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila hurkana Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
Heliophila juncea (P.J.Bergius) Druce
Heliophila katbergensis Marais
Heliophila laciniata Marais
Heliophila lactea Schltr.
Heliophila leptophylla Schltr.
Heliophila linearis DC.
Heliophila linoides Schltr.
Heliophila macowaniana Schltr.
Heliophila macra Schltr.
Heliophila macrosperma Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila maraisiana Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
Heliophila meyeri Sond.
Heliophila minima (Stephens) Marais
Heliophila monosperma Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
Heliophila namaquana Bolus
Heliophila namaquensis (Marais) Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
Heliophila nubigena Schltr.
Heliophila obibensis Marais
Heliophila patens Oliv.
Heliophila pectinata Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila pendula Willd.
Heliophila pinnata L.f.
Heliophila polygaloides Schltr.
Heliophila promontorii Marais
Heliophila pubescens Burch. ex Sond.
Heliophila pusilla L.f.
Heliophila ramosissima O.E.Schulz
Heliophila refracta Sond.
Heliophila remotiflora O.E.Schulz
Heliophila rigidiuscula Sond.
Heliophila rimicola Marais
Heliophila scandens Harv.
Heliophila schulzii Marais
Heliophila scoparia Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila seselifolia Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila suavissima Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila suborbicularis Al-Shehbaz & Mumm.
Heliophila subulata Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila tabularis Dod
Heliophila thunbergii Steud.
Heliophila tricuspidata Schltr.
Heliophila trifurca Burch. ex DC.
Heliophila tulbaghensis Schinz
Heliophila variabilis Burch. ex DC.

References

Manning, John (2009). Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa. Random House Struik. pp. 192–195. ISBN 978-1770077584.
Linnaeus, Carl (1763). Species Plantarum (in Latin). Vol. Second (Second ed.). pp. 926–927.
Mummenhoff, Klaus; Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A.; Bakker, Freek T.; H. Peter, Linder; Mühlhausen, Andreas (October 2005). "Phylogeny, morphological evolution, and speciation of endemic Brassicaceae genera in the Cape Flora of southern Africa". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 92 (3). Missouri Botanical Garden Press: 400–424. JSTOR 40035479.
Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A.; Mummenhoff, Klaus (September 2005). "Transfer of the south African genera Brachycarpaea, Cycloptychis, Schlechteria, Silicularia, and Thlaspeocarpa to Heliophila (Brassicaceae)". Novon. 15 (3). Missouri Botanical Garden Press: 385–389. JSTOR 3393479.
Marais, Wessel (1970). Cruciferae. Flora of Southern Africa. Vol. 13. p. 17.
"Heliophila". The Plant List. 1.1. 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
"Heliophila". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.