Geographic Range and Distribution Pattern of Psychotria(Rubiaceae)

Alea Ana Monica E. Rejuso 2009-55962 BS Biology Major in Systematics

March 12, 2012

_____________________________________________________________________________ A Term Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Botany 152: Phytogeography 2nd Semester Academic Year 2011-2012 University of the Philippines Los Banos

I.

INTRODUCTION

Kingdom Subkingdom Superdivision Division Class Subclass Order Family Genus

Plantae Plants Tracheobionta Vascular plants Spermatophyta Seed plants Magnoliophyta Flowering plants Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons Asteridae Rubiales Rubiaceae Madder family Psychotria L. wild coffee

Psychotria L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 929, 1364. 1759, nom. cons.
Shrubs to small or occasionally medium-sized trees. Stipules interpetiolar, often connate and sometimes forming campanulate sheath, caducous. Leavesopposite or rarely appearing whorled at ends of branches, usually glabrous.Inflorescences generally terminal but occasionally in upper axils, usually paniculateand many flowered, sometimes trichotomous from base. Calyx synsepalous,lobed to subentire, 4- or 5-merous; corolla sympetalous, usually withnarrow tube and

4- or 5-lobed, spreading or recurved limb, white to greenish,often pubescent within; stamens 4 or 5, epipetalous, subsessile or with shortfilaments, exserted or included; ovary inferior, 2-locular, each with single basalovule. Fruits with or without persistent calyx, fleshy, red, pink, or purple atmaturity, each containing 2 thick-walled, usually longitudinally ribbed pyrenes.

The family Rubiaceae is considered one of the largest families of angiosperms in the plant kingdom. It is known to contain the richest species of flowering plants. Members of Rubiaceae are recognized by possessing an opposite leaves with stipules, lacking internal phloem and having an inferior ovary (Bremer, 2009). Psychotria, a genus belonging in the family Rubiaceae, is one of the largest genera of angiosperm. It includes approximately 2,000 species and subspecies. The genus is generally a tropical species. This large insufficiently known genus has a high endemicity in the islands of Fiji, New Caledonia, Hawaii, New Guinea and the Philippines. This genus is often an obvious component of humid tropical forest in Southeast Asia and Africa. The great number of species and the complexity of the systematics made the genus inadequately Southeast Asia. Psychotria stands out among the members of Rubiaceae by the bioactive alkaloids that its species produce and for its taxonomic complexity. It has been confirmed in the recent studies that the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of Psychotria has an ecological and taxonomical importance (da Silva Moraes et.al, 2011). known especially in the

This paper aims to describe the phytogeography of the genus Psychotria, know its pattern of distribution, examine its phylogeny and taxonomy, discuss its diversity and ecology and determine whether the population is expanding or contracting.

II.

PHYLOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS

Rubiaceae is one of the largest families of flowering with approximately 13,000 species grouped in ~620 genera, more than 43 tribes and three subfamilies (Bremer, 2009). Species belonging to this family occupies almost every ecological niche. The family occurs mostly in subtropical and tropical region although one group is distributed throughout the temperate region. It is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. The diversity of this family is huge spanning from small weeds to tropical trees. A highly determined consensus tree has been generated through phylogenetic analysis supporting the clades corresponding the three subfamilies (Cinchonoideae, Ixoroideae, Rubioideae) and almost 40 tribes although there still remain some unresolved clades as presented by Bremer in 2009. Nine well-supported clades in the subfamily Cinchonoideae were resolved by Bremer and Erickson (2009) in their study of chloroplast region which corresponds to nine tribes. The interrelationship among these tribes is still unresolved. This is the smallest subfamily containing 1500 species. Among the nine tribes, seven are distributed in the New World covering North America to South and Central America while the other two are mainly distributed in paleotropics.

Members of this subfamily is describe by Bremer and Erickson as mostly small trees or shrubs, with imbricate or valvate corolla aestivation (several exceptions occur, e.g., right-contorted in Hamelieae and Hillieae). Two monogeneric tribes (Cremasporae and Retiniphyllae) are included in the subfamily Ixoroideae by Bremer and Erickson (2009). It also includes monotypic tribe represented by Alberteae and some taxa without a resolved phylogenetic relationship in the subfamily. Members range from shrub to trees with varying corolla aestivation. The subfamily Rubioideae was also reported to include monogeneric taxa, Schradereae and Theligoneae and some taxa that do not hold any tribal position. However, further study removed those taxa with unresolved phylogenetic relationships and transferred them to a newly described tribe Mitchellae (Bremer and Erickson, 2009). Members of this subfamily range from herbs or shrubs to low trees with calcium oxalate crystals called raphides (Bremer, 2009). Psychotria, type genus of the tribe Psychotrieae from the subfamily Rubioideae, is the largest genus in this tribe and one of the largest angiosperm genera. This genus contains approximately 2,000 species occurring both on the Old and New World with pantropical distribution varying in geographic range size. However, despite the varying magnitude of geographic range, species of Psychotria are generally similar ecologically (Paul, 2008). Psychotria forms the basal group of the Subfamily Rubioideae. The fossil of Faramea, a member of clade close to Psychotrieae Alliance is dated 40 million years ago. Paul (2008) stated that Psychotria diversified 17-16 million years ago with the subgenus diverging over 12 million years ago.

III.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION

The type genus of the tribe Psychotrieae, Psychotria, is one of the largest genera of angiosperm with approximately 2000 species. These species occur both in the Old World and New World. The genus has a pantropical distribution. Mesoamerican species and those found in the Neotropical Tropical Region belong to the subclade of Psychotria which includes subgenus Psychotria and subgenus Tetramerae. The other subclade is species Pacific in distribution.

Fig.1. Pantopical distribution of the genus Psychotria, present in both the Old World and the New World SOME REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES

A. Species Present in New Guinea

Psychotriahas 120 species in New Guinea and is considered as of the ten largest angiosperm genera in the island. All mainland Psychotria are unique to New Guinea and its islands. Among all the Papuasian species only two are known to range outside the area indicating that there is a high geographic endemism in the East Malesian region (Takeuchi, 2007).

1. Psychotria defretesiana (Takeuchi) Takeuchi, comb. et stat. nov. (Fig. 1) Basionym: Psychotria leptothyrsa Miq. var. defretesiana Takeuchi, Harvard Pap. Bot. 14: 176.
2009. Type:INDONESIA. Papua Province: Baitanisa (Kwaneha), margin of swampy forest, 213'53"S, 13719'10"E, 20 m, 10 May 2007, Takeuchi & Mogea 21645 (holotype: BO; isotypes: A, K)(1)

Figure 1. Psychotria defretesiana. A.fruiting stem B. immature fruit C. pyrene CHARACTERISTICS: Unbranched subshrubs, 1060 cm tall, glabrous. Stems erect, terete, 18 mm diam.; surfaces longitudinally (to transversely) wrinkled, brownish black, prominently marked by discoid abscission scars or not, lacking lenticels, periderm usually not flaking; internodes 4 20(60) mm long. Leaves cauline, 410 per stem, equal, horizontally spreading; stipules ovatedeltate, 3.56.5 24 mm, often attenuate, caducous; petioles 535(55) 0.52 mm, planoconvex; leaf-blades oblanceolate-obovate (or elliptic), 5.415(22) (2.2)4.212.5 cm, chartaceous; base cuneate; margin entire, reflexed or not; apex acuminate, obtuse or truncate; lamina surfaces brown or fuliginous, dull; raphides pusticulate; domatia absent; venation usually camptodrome, secondaries (5)813 per side, arcuate, (3)731 mm apart, at the lamina center with divergence angles of (50)6085; reticulum irregular, coarsely areolate; midribs prominulous on both sides; higher order nerves weakly raised (or impressed) above, more raised beneath. Inflorescence terminal, narrowly paniculate, ca. 10.5 6 cm, solitary (rarely 23 together), erect, axes compressed or angulate, nigrescent; peduncle 3063 0.41.5 mm; primary axis 937(53) 0.20.7 mm; lateral branches 34-verticillate, 5.515(22) 0.30.6 mm; primary bracts early-falling, the scarious base or its abscission scar persisting; floral bracts (if

present) scalelike, triangular; pedicels 12.5 mm long, not articulated. Flowers 4(5)-merous, heterostylous, black; calyx discoid-cupuliform, 0.51 1.52 mm, truncate or obscurely denticulate; corolla infundibular, tube length 2.53 mm, proximal tube diameter 0.71.2 mm, distal tube diameter (1.2)22.5 mm, pilose at the throat (hair-band 0.61.1 mm wide) otherwise glabrous, lobes triangular-ovate, ca. 1 1 mm, reflexed; stamens antesepalous, filaments 0.50.6 mm long, inserted within the hair-band, anthers oblongoid, 0.60.7 0.10.2 mm; disk domeshaped, ca. 0.5 mm across, fleshy; style cylindrical, ca. 1.5 mm long, with stigma below the hairband (short-styled form), or ca. 2.5 mm long and exserted (long-styled form); stigma 2-lobed, the lobes longer in the long-styled flower. Infructescence ca. 15.5 9 cm; pedicels ca. 3 0.3 mm. Fruits arranged in loose cymules, obovoid, (6)810 5.58 mm; exocarp black, usually furnished with pale raphides; calyx residue 45-toothed; pyrenes 2, conspicuously (2)34-ridged on the back; preformed germination slits 2, marginal, extending ca. 1/2 the pyrene length starting from the base; seed coat without ethanol soluble pigments; endosperm not ruminate.(1) Distribution:Originally discovered in the lower Mamberamo drainage of Papua Province (Indonesia) and more recently recorded from the Muller Range of PNG (Fig. 2).

Fig 2. A. collection locality and type locality for P. defretesiana.(Takeuchi,2011)

Habitat and ecology:Alluvial swamp understories at 2050 m (Mamberamo), and lowland hill forest from 420535 m (Muller Range). Occurring on seasonally inundated substrates, often rooted in mud, but also distributed across well-drained slopes. Restricted to densely shaded understories. Phenology:Fruiting in May (Mamberamo drainage); flowering and fruiting in September

2. Psychotria dieniensis Merr. & Perry var. banakii Takeuchi, var. nov. (Fig. 3)
A varietate typica arboribus 45 m altis (nec fructibus 0.52 m); laminis chartaceis subglabris (nec coriaceis pilosis) majoribus (10)15.526 (3.5)610.5 cm plerumque obovato-oblanceolatis (nec ellipticis) nervis lateralibus utrinsecus 1217 (nec 811); inflorescentiis majoribus usque ad 96 45 mm; corollis tubis extus glabris (nec pilosis); fructibus ellipsoideis (nec globosis) usque ad 9 5.5 mm differ(1).
Field characters:Trees 45 m tall; branchlets fleshy, smooth, green; stipules foliaceous, notched or cleft, light green; leaf-blades rugose, dark green above, pale green beneath; panicle axes light green, canescent; flowers sessile; calyx lobes elongate, linear-deltate; corolla obtuse in bud, lobes 5, white, recurved at anthesis, throat white-hairy; stamens 5, exserted, white; style included, much shorter than the filaments; stigma 2-fid; fruit (immature) ellipsoid, whitish green (1).

Distribution:Known only from the type locality Habitat and ecology:Lowland hill forest, natural-growth communities at 535 m. Phenology:Flowering and fruiting in September.

Fig 3. Developing flower of Psychotria dieniensis A. immature inflorescence B. anthesis C. post-anthesis

3.Psychotria stevedarwiniana Takeuchi, sp. nov. (Figs. 4)

Inter speciebus congeneribus Papuasiae stipulis connatis magnis usque ad 8.5 1.7 cm (in vivo) tubis cum appendicibus apicalibus 48 0.33 mm statim distinguitur.(1) Taxonomic Description:Understory subshrubs, 0.51 m tall, monoaxial or sparingly branched, erect. Stems compressed near the top, 1.53 mm diam., fuliginous, hollow or pithy, often furrowed, with or without adventitious roots; indument pilose, dense, reddish-brown (white in vivo), persisting, longest hairs ca. 1.5 mm long; older axes terete, transversely cicatricose, lenticels absent; internodes 2.59.5(12) cm long. Leaves cauline or in 14 pairs on short branches, equal, obliquely diverging; stipules ovoid-conoid (or subfusiform), (9)2060 (2)412 mm, connate, tubular, caducous, disclosing a nodal ring of appressed colleters after falling, surfaces black, glabrous inside, pilosulous outside, apically (2)4-lobulate (lobules 48 0.33 mm); petioles 10 32 12.5 mm, planoconvex or subcylindrical, indument as on stems; leaf-blades subcoriaceous, ovate-elliptic (or obovate), (7)9.215.6 (2.8)48(9.9) cm, base mostly obtuse, margin revolute, apex acuminate (acumen to ca. 1.5 1 cm); lamina surfaces fuliginous to rufescent; adaxially rugose, bullate, barbate at the petiole insertion otherwise glabrous; abaxially pilose on veins, velutinous between veins; raphides not seen; domatia absent; venation brochidodrome or camptodrome-reticulate, secondaries (6)814 per side, (2)616(21) mm apart, at the lamina center straight-diverging (40)5070 from midribs, parallel, closing by gradually looping nerves (or anastomosing to the margin); partial intersecondaries often present; crossing (tertiary) nerves subscalariform; all veins impressed on the upper side, prominent beneath; reticulum conspicuous, coarsely areolate, tessellate. Inflorescence not seen. Infructescence terminal (or subapical by shoot overtopping), paniculiform, 3560 mm long, ascending, ebracteate; primary axes 25 together, 2045 0.81.5 mm, terete; surfaces nigrescent, densely pilose; cymes 16 per primary axis, loose; secondary axes verticillately inserted or not; pedicels cylindrical, 24.5(6.5) 0.50.8 mm, not articulated. Fruits(immature) obovoid, 6.510 57.5 mm (exclusive of calyx), often asymmetric, hairy on all parts; exocarp jet black, raphides not seen; calyx persisting, united in the lower 0.21(1.5) mm, lobes 5, triangular, 12 1.21.5 mm, erect or reflexed; pyrenes hemispherical, dorsally smooth; preformed germination slits 2, marginal, extending the full

length of the pyrene or ending just below the apex; seed coat with ethanol soluble pigments; endosperm ruminate.(1)

Distribution:Known only from the type locality Habitat and ecology:Nothofagus-emergent montane forest on doline karst, 14251495 m. Occurring as scattered colonies restricted to dark understories, often in spatial association with P. stolonifera and P. ternatifolia. Phenology:Fruiting in September. Populations sterile except for two collections.

Fig 4. A. habit of Psychotria stevedarwiniana B. immature fruiting panicle

B. Samoan Species The genus Psychotria is consists of 20 species in Samoa. Thirteen of these are endemic to the area with one species having two subspecies and three non endemics. Most Samoan species are related to Fijian species. According to Whistler in 1986, unlike Hawaiian species which evolved from two or three original species, Samoan species descended from several original arrivals in the island, thus, it is hard to elucidate the phylogeny of the samoan taxa without first studying the genus in the entire region.

List of Samoan Species

P. insularum(non endemic) P. forsteriana(non endemic) P. bristolii P. christophersenii P. garberiana P. gigantopus P. juddii P. reineckei P. savaiiensis P. vaupelii

P. carnea(non endemic) P. apodantha P. chlorocalyx P. closterocarpa P. geminodens P. grandistipulata P. paclfica P. samoana P. sclerocarpa P. xanthochlora

1. Psychotria samoanaSchumann, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25: 685. 1898; Rech. Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., Math.-Naturwiss. KI. 85: 199. 19 10; Christoph. Bernice P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 154: 58. 1938. Var. typical Hochr. Candollea 5: 268. 1934. TYPE: Samoa, Savaii, Aopo, Reinecke 418 (lectotype, here designated, BISH!;i solectotype, G!).

Shrub or small tree 1-3 m tall. Stems glabrous; stipules linear or lanceolate with long-attenuate tip, connate at base, 7-1 5 mm long. Leaves with petiole 3-1 6 mm long, glabrous; blade lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 5-1 2 cm by 9- 30 mm, the apex attenuate, the base acute, the surfaces glabrous, glossy green when fresh. Inflorescences terminal, few-branched panicles 1 2.5 cm long, bearing 10 to 20 flowers. Flowers with pedicel 0.5-2 mm long; calyx shallowly cup shaped, 1-2 mm long, entire or divided into 5 shallow, rounded lobes; corolla campanulate, 2.5-4.5 mm long, divided about halfway into 5 ovate lobes, white, glabrous outside, densely pubescent within; stamens 5, anther oblong, ca. 1 mm long, subsessile; style ca. 2-3 mm long, bifid ca. halfway into stigma lobes. Fruits obovoid (2). Distribution: Endemic to Savaii and Upolu Psychotria samoana is closely related to P. forsteriana and to a Fijian endemic P. amoena. It is an understory tree in coastal to montane forest and grows near sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m. 2. Psychotria bristoliiWhistler, sp. nov Arbor 6-12 m alta. Folia elliptica, 14-26 cm longa et 2-8 cm lata; petioles 4-8.5 cm longus. Inflorescentia multiflora, axillaris, 15-25 cm longa; pedunculus crassus. Calyx cupulatus, 3-5 mm longus. Corolla salverformis, tub0 3-4 cm longo, lobis 5, 12-18 mm longis. Fructus ellipsoideus, compressus, 20-33 mm longus, 2-costatus; calyx persistens(2)

Small to medium-sized tree 6-12 m tall. Stems glabrous; stipules connate their entire length to form cup-shaped to cylindrical sheath with truncate to rounded apex, 3.5-5 cm long. Leaves with petiole 4-8.5 cm long, glabrous; blade elliptic, 14-26 by 4-8 cm, apex acute to mucronate, base acute, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences many-flowered, branching panicles 15-25 cm long on stout peduncle in upper axil. Flowers with pedicel 1-2 cm long, glabrous; calyx cup shaped, 3-5 mm

long, margin entire or finely serrate; corolla salverform with tube 3-4 cm long and 5 spreading, linear-lanceolate lobes 12-1 8 mm long, white, glabrous inside and out; stamens 5, epipetalous in upper throat, partially exserted, the anther linear-oblong, 4-6 mm long, the filament ca. 1 mm long; style 3.5-4.5 cm long, slightly exserted, stigma lobes 2-3 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid, 20-33 mm long, laterally compressed with single prominent transverse rib on each pyrene face, crowned by persistent calyx (2).

Distribution: Endemic to Savaii P. bristolii is an understory tree in montane to cloud forest and occur in 900 m alt. It is named in honor of Mel Bristol who collected plant specimens in Samoa in 1968.

3. Psychotria grandistipulata(Lauterbach) Whistler, comb. nov. Randiagrandistipulata h u t . Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 41: 236. 1908; Rech. Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., Math.-Naturwiss. KI. 85: 194. 19 10. TYPES: amoa, Savaii, above Aopo, Vaupel388 (holotype, WRSL!i;I sotypes, B!, BISH!K, !)(2).

Small to medium-sized tree up to 10 m tall. Stems distinctly marked by annular stipule scars and leaf scars; stipules obovate, with rounded tip often recurved, connate entire length to form persistent, cup-shaped involucre (enclosing stem tip, young leaves, and base of inflorescence) 2-3 by 2.5-3.5 cm, whitish green, glabrous, often more than 1 present at a time. Leaves with petiole 1.5-5 cm long, glabrous; blade elliptic to oblanceolate, 8-24 by 2.5-7.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base acute, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences panicles 3-10 cm long, arising in upper axil, with 3 to 10 flowers. Flowers with pedicel 3-20 mm long, with paired deciduous bracteoles up to 5 mm long at proximal end; calyx narrowly campanulate to urceolate, 10-1 5 mm long,

shallowly 5-lobed, glabrous; corolla salverform with narrow tube 2-4.5 cm long and 5 linearlanceolate, recurved lobes 2-3.5 cm long; stamens 5, epipetalous at top of throat, the anther linear-oblong, 4-6 mm long, subsessile; style shorter than tube, stigma lobes 2-4 mm long. Fruits ovoid to urceolate, 2.5-4.2 cm long including cylindrical, persistent calyx, dark purple at maturity, with single prominent transverse rib on each pyrene face when dry(2).

Distribution: Endemic to Savaii and Upolu P. grandistipulata occurs in elevation 500-1000m and is and understory tree in montane forest. It has the largest flower in all the species of Psychotria in Samoa. 4. Psychotria christopherseniiWhistler, sp. nov. Ad Psychotria garberianam affinis, a qua imprimis differt stipulis non fissis, corolla longiore, et fructu curvato longiore. Shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall. Stems glabrous; stipules obovate with apex obtuse to rounded, connate for over half their length, 15-25 mm long. Leaves with petiole 1-2 cm long, glabrous; blade usually oblanceolate, 6-12 by 1.5-4.5 cm, the apex short-acute, the base acute, the surfaces glabrous, often drying mottled reddish brown. Inflorescences terminal or upper-axillary panicles 25 cm long, divided at base into 3 branches, each bearing 3 to 10 flowers. Flowers with pedicel 1-7 mm long, glabrous; calyx campanulate, 2-4 mm long, shallowly divided into 5 lobes up to 1 mm long, glabrous; corolla tubular with narrow tube 22-45 mm long and 5 lanceolate lobes 5-9 mm long, white, glabrous on outside, villous within; stamens 5, epipetalous in upper throat, included, the anther linear-oblong, 3-4.5 mm long, the filament up to '/z as long; style shorter than tube, stigma lobes 2-4 mm long. Fruits narrowly ovoid and often somewhat curved, 12-1 8 mm long excluding persistent, cup-shaped calyx, pink at maturity, longitudinally ribbed when dry.

Distribution:Endemic to Savaii Psychotria christophersenii is an understory tree in cloud forest occurring 1300-1700m altitude. This species was named after Erling Christophersen in honor for his unparalleled work in Samoan botany.

C. HAWAIIAN SPECIES Hawaiian Psychotria consists of 11 endemic species which are an important and characteristic component of the native mesic to wet rain forests of Hawaiian. Recent taxonomic studies relate Hawaiian taxa with a group of western pacific species of Psychotria. A few representative species of Hawaiian taxa will be discussed here (3). 1. Psychotria mariniana (Cham. & Schltdl.) Fosberg Synonyms: Psychotria hawaiiensis (A. Gray) Fosberg var. glabrithyrsa Fosberg Common Name: forest wild coffee Growth Habit: Tree Duration: Perrenial

Fig 2. Growth habit of P. mariniana

Fig . Flower of P. mariniana

Distribution: Endemic to Hawaii

2. Psychotria hexandra

Habit: Tree, shrub Habitat: Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -4,496 meters (0 to -14,751 feet) Duration: Perennial

Fig . Flower of Psychotria hexandra

Fig . Growth habit of P. hexandra

Distribution: Endemic to Hawaii; cultivated in some areas in the US

Fig . distribution of P.hexandra(Hawaii)

Fig . Current artificial distribution of P. hexandra Mexico Paraguay United States ()

D.

FIJIAN SPECIES

1. Psychotria cordata A. Gray Description: sessile, capitate flowers initially enclosed by connate stipules forming a subglobose or ovoid bud, but differing in having its petioles longer (15-35 mm long) and its

leaf-blades deeply cordate at base and terminating in a slender, caudate acumen 10-25 mm long (4). Distribution: Endemic to Fiji, and thus far known only from Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

2. P. pickeringii A. Gray Description:it is characterized by having its flowers essentially sessile in a sessile terminal head enclosed when young by laterally connate, although not necessarily calyptrate, stipules; its calyces have comparatively short and ascending limbs(4). Distribution: Endemic to Fiji

Fig . Psychotria pickeringii A. Gray herbarium specimen

Some Non Endemic Species of Psychotria

1. Psychotria nervosa Common Name: Seminole Balsamo Description:2.5m shrub ; stipules on apical bud, to 15mm, splitting to form a sheath on stem then falling. Corolla tube 4mm, lobes 2mm, white, v, hairy inside; fruits 10-ribbed when dry, bright red, 6-7mm long, ovoid (5). Habit: Tree, shrub Phenology: Small white flower bloom during the month of April and May

Fig . Growth habit of P. nervosa showing the immature fruit

Distribution: Distributed throughout the tropics; found specifically in the countries of: United States: (Arizona California Florida Hawaii Puerto Rico Virginia Belize Colombia

Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras India Indonesia Indonesia:Kalimantan Jamaica Mexico Mexico:Morelos Mexico:Veracruz Nicaragua Panama United States Venezuela

(A)

(B)
Fig .Distribution of P. nervosa. A. United States: (Arizona California Florida Hawaii Puerto Rico Virginia) B. Belize Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras India Indonesia Indonesia:Kalimantan Jamaica Mexico Mexico:Morelos Mexico:Veracruz Nicaragua Panama United States Venezuela

Fig . Occurrence/ observation map of Psychotria nervosa

2. Psychotriacarthagenensis Description:This species geographic range is restricted in the New World. They occur in cloud forest and montane and even in subtropics. They can grow in clay, limestone, loam, sandy areas, sandy soil, thin soil. Destribution: Mexico to tropical America (Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil, Brazil:Bahia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras , Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela)

Fig . Occurrence overview of Psychotria carthagenensis. Present in the country of Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil, Brazil:Bahia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras , Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela

3. Psychotria viridis
Common Name: Amiruca Panga, Chacrona, Chacruna, Folha, Reinha, Sami Ruca Description: 4-6' tall. Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 4,936 meters (0 to 16,194 feet) Phenology: small white flower blooms on September

Fig . Fruit of Psychotria viridis

Distribution: Geographical range of Psychotria viridis if from South Mexico to Tropical America specifically found in California, Florida, Hawaii, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru.

(A)

(B)
Fig . Geograhic range of Psychotria viridis. A, shows distribution in California, Florida and Hawaii; B, shows the distribution in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru.

Fig . Specimen and observational data for Psychotria viridis from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Network

4. Psychotria deflexa DC. Common name: Garricillo (a Panamanian name), cachimbo Description:Evergreen shrub usually 1.5 to 2.0 m and 1.0 to 2.0 cm in basal diameter, sometimes reaching 3 m in height angular twigs and the foliage are glabrous, persistent, bilobed, long-pointed stipules; Paired, dark-green, elliptic to oblong lanceolate leaves are 5 to 18 cm long with 3- to 10-mm petioles; Inflorescences are few-flowered terminal panicles; Fruits are subglobose, 3 to 5mm in diameter, white or pale blue (6). Phenology: Flowers from May to July Distribution: Native to the Greater Antilles, Trinidad, southern Mexico, Central America, and South America to Bolivia

Fig .Flowering branch of Psychotria deflexa

IV. CONCLUSION
The genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae), being one of the largest angiosperm genera, remains understudied. Few studies were done to resolve the phylogeny of the taxon and to study the taxon itself. The genus occurs both in the New World and in the Old world. The taxon is present in tropical areas growing from coastal areas to cloud forest. Psychotria species are primarily found in wet to seasonal forests pantropically, with a few species occupying dryer habitats. . Thus, the genus is considered to have a pantropical distribution. High geographical endemism could be observed in the Pacific region in the islands of New Guinea, New Caledonia and Philippines. Central American species of Psychotria has a center of diversity in Costa Rica. On the other hand, the Indo-Malesian region could be considered as the center of diversity for pacific species. If the current trend in biodiversity projects to protect and preserve the environment, Psychotria species can be seen to exist in the foreseeable future. However, continued habitat destruction and forest degradation can cause extinction of the taxon specially those species like P. mariniana and P. grandiflora which are already considered to be threatened and endangered.

REFERENCES