Sanjappa, a new genus in the tribe Ingeae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) from India

Abstract

Sanjappa E.R. Souza & Krishnaraj (Mimosoideae: Ingeae), a new genus is described here to accommodate a species excluded from Calliandra Benth. Morphological data were obtained from literature, herbarium specimens (ASSAM, CAL, DD, K, P, TBGT and W) and fresh collections made from Western Ghats of Kerala. India. Nuclear (ETS and ITS) and plastid (trnL, trnL-trnF and trnD-trnT) sequences were obtained from the genera belonging to Viguieranthus clade of tribe Ingeae including Calliandra cynometroides Bedd., to establish the phylogenetic relationships. Cladistic analyses based on morphological and molecular data show that C. cynometroides does not nest with the currently recognised species of Calliandra. However, C. cynometroides forms a well-supported distinct monophyletic lineage with Faidherbia A. Chev. and Thailentadopsis Kosterm. that share the same polyad type. Therefore, C. cynometroides is excluded from Calliandra and is established as a new genus.