CAPITULUM: The International Compositae Alliance Newsletter

An overview of Neurolaeneae

Vinicius Bueno

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9834-1951

Morgan Gostel

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3169-627X

Gustavo Heiden

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0046-6500

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53875/capitulum.01.1.03

Keywords: Calea, Enydra, Greenmaniella, Heliantheae Alliance, Heptanthus, Neurolaena

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Abstract

Neurolaeneae is a small but widely distributed tribe of Compositae whose circumscription and phylogenetic placement have shifted substantially since its original proposal. Early treatments recognized only Neurolaena and Schistocarpha(now placed in Millerieae), whereas subsequent classifications treated the group at subtribal rank within Heliantheae before reinstatement as a tribe and expansion to the current five-genus concept (Calea, Enydra, Greenmaniella, Heptanthus, Neurolaena). Recent family-wide molecular and phylogenomic evidence supports placement of Neurolaeneae within the “Heliantheae Alliance”, with the tribe resolved as sister to a clade including Heliantheae and Coreopsideae. Neurolaeneae comprises ca. 179 species in five genera, strongly dominated by Calea (154 spp.), and occurs across most continents (absent from Europe and Antarctica), with Enydra uniquely extending naturally beyond the Americas. Diagnostic features of the tribe include herbaceous to shrubby habits, discoid or radiate capitula, receptacles usually paleate (with notable epaleate lineages), ray florets pistillate when present and disc florets monoclinous or functionally staminate, blackish cypselae, and a pappus variously of bristles, scales, minute awns, or absent (Enydra). Generic distinctions are summarized and an identification key to genera is provided, highlighting morphological syndromes (e.g., 4-phyllary, epappose involucres in Enydra; rosette herbs with fimbriate scale pappus in Heptanthus). Despite available revisions for Enydra and Neurolaena, the tribe lacks a modern, tribe-wide systematic treatment, underscoring priorities for phylogenetic and taxonomic revision, particularly in species-rich Calea.