Rufodorsia

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Lamiales

Familia: Gesneriaceae
Subfamilia: Gesnerioideae
Tribus: Gesnerieae
Subtribus: Columneinae
Genus: Rufodorsia
Species: R. congestiflora – R. intermedia – R. major – R. minor
Name

Rufodorsia Wiehler, Selbyana 1(2): 139 (-140). (1975)

Type species: Rufodorsia major Wiehler, Selbyana 1(2): 140 (-142), fig. 1. (1975)

Note: Govaerts et al. (2020) subsume the type of Oerstedina into Rufodorsia leaving its other two species as unplaced. However, note Clark et al. (2012 & 2020) maintain the segregation of the genera and this is followed here.
References

Wiehler, H.J. 1975. Selbyana 1(2): 139 (-140).
Clark, J.L., Funke, M.M., Duffy, A.M. & Smith, J.F. 2012. Phylogeny of a Neotropical clade in the Gesneriaceae: more tales of convergent evolution. International Journal of Plant Sciences 173(8): 894-916. DOI: 10.1086/667229 Paywall PDF Reference page.
Clark J.L., Skog L.E., Boggan J.K. & Ginzbarg, S. 2020. Index to names of New World members of the Gesneriaceae (subfamilies Sanangoideae and Gesnerioideae). Rheedea: Official Journal of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy 30(1): 190-256. DOI: 10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.14 PDF Reference page.
Smith, J.F. & Clark, J.L. 2013. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal undiscovered monospecific genera in the tribe Episcieae (Gesneriaceae). Systematic Botany 38(2): 451-463. DOI: 10.1600/036364413X666723 Paywall PDF Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Rufodorsia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 July 25. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Rufodorsia. Published online. Accessed: July 25 2020.
Rufodorsia is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus name refers to the reddish back of the upper lobes of the flower. The relationship of Rufodorsia with the genus Oerstedina is uncertain, as of April 2021. It is native to montane cloud forest in Central America.

Description

Rufodorsia species are epiphytic perennial plants, with little-branched upright or hanging stems. The leaves are opposite and of similar sizes with a leathery blade. The inflorescence is an axillary cyme with one to ten flowers. The flowers are short, with fused petals forming a bell shape. The free ends of the petals (lobes) differ: the lowest is larger, making the flower appear two-lipped. The flower is whitish, except for the back of the upper two lobes which is reddish. There are four stamens, included within the flower. The fruit is an almost translucent white berry with fleshy pulp.[2]
Taxonomy

The genus was erected by Hans Joachim Wiehler in 1975 for four species, three new and one originally described in the genus Besleria. The genus name is derived from Latin rufus 'red' and dorsum 'back', referring to the reddish back of the flowers.[2] Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown a sister relationship to the genus Oerstedina,[3][4] and in 2010, Ricardo Kriebel transferred one species from Oerstedina to Rufodorsia as Rufodorsia cerricola.[5] However, the other two species of Oerstedina have not been formally transferred as of April 2021,[6][7] so the two genera are not fully synonymized.
Species

Four species were originally placed in the genus,[2] and are recognized in a 2020 list of New World members of the family Gesneriaceae,[8] as well as by Plants of the World Online as of April 2021:[1]

Rufodorsia congestiflora (Donn.Sm.) Wiehler
Rufodorsia intermedia Wiehler
Rufodorsia major Wiehler
Rufodorsia minor Wiehler

One additional species transferred from Oerstedina is accepted by Plants of the World Online as of April 2021:[1]

Rufodorsia cerricola (Wiehler) Kriebel = Oerstedina cerricola Wiehler

Distribution and habitat

The four original species of Rufodorsia are native to Central America, from Nicaragua through Costa Rica to Panama. They are found in montane cloud forest and sub-cloud forest at altitudes of 450–1,500 m (1,500–4,900 ft), R. major at the lowest levels and R. congestiflora at the highest.[2]
References

"Rufodorsia Wiehler", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2021-04-16
Wiehler, Hans (1975), "Rufodorsia, a new Central-American Genus in the Gesneriaceae", Selbyana (in English and Latin), 1 (2): 138–149, retrieved 2021-04-16
Clark, John L.; Funke, Mindie M.; Duffy, Aaron M. & Smithy, James F. (2012), "Phylogeny of a Neotropical Clade in the Gesneriaceae: More Tales of Convergent Evolution", International Journal of Plant Sciences, 173 (8): 894–916, doi:10.1086/667229
Möller, Michael & Clark, John L. (2013), "The State of Molecular Studies in the Family Gesneriaceae: A Review", Selbyana, 31 (2): 95–105, retrieved 2021-04-16, p. 109
"Rufodorsia cerricola (Wiehler) Kriebel", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2021-04-16
"Oerstedina suffrutescens L.E.Skog", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2021-04-16
"Oerstedina mexicana Wiehler", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2021-04-16
Clark, J.L.; Skog, L.E.; Boggan, J.K. & Ginzbarg, S. (2020), "Index to names of New World members of the Gesneriaceae (subfamilies Sanangoideae and Gesnerioideae)", Rheedea, 30 (1): 190–256, doi:10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.14