Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Family Amaryllidaceae Higher classification Amaryllidaceae | Clade Angiosperms Order Asparagales Subfamily Amaryllidoideae Rank Genus | |
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Similar Amaryllidaceae, Rhodolirium, Placea, Rhodophiala pratensis, Rhodophiala montana | ||
Famatina is a small genus of South American bulbous plants identified by the Chilean botanist Ravenna in 1972. Five species have been described. The exact taxonomic relationship remains uncertain. Phylogenetically they are placed within the Amaryllidoideae tribe Hippeastreae.
Contents
Taxonomy
The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families does not accept Famatina as a separate genus, but rather considers the species as synonyms for either Rhodophiala or Phycella, which belong to different subtribes of Hippeastreae.
Molecular phylogenetic studies suggest the genus is polyphyletic. Of four species examined, one (F. maulensis) segregated in a clade together with members of the Traubiinae subtribe, while the remaining three (F. andina, F. cisandina, and F. herbertiana) segregated with members of subtribe Hippeastrinae. This implies that unlike the synonyms adopted at Kew, F. maulensis and F. herbertiana are genetically distinct.
Subdivision
Described species:
Distribution and habitat
Chile and Argentinean Andes in Mediterranean zones. Moreira-Muñoz considers 2 of the five species endemic to Chile.