Studies in Otiophora Zucc. (Rubiaceae): 4. The taxonomic position of the genus

Abstract

An evaluation of the characters of Otiophora provides conclusive evidence that the genus should be excluded from the Anthospermeae, the tribe in which it has traditionally been placed. Evidence from cytology, anatomy and morphology suggests a placement of the genus in the tribe Hedyotideae, in spite of some features pointing to a link with the Spermacoceae. It is, furthermore, pointed out that the tribes Spermacoceae and Hedyotideae are perhaps more closely related to each other than previously thought.