Tovomita is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae. They are noted for having white-yellow latex and containing xanthones. The genus is distributed in the tropical Americas, with many occurring in Venezuela. Most are native to the forests of the Amazon.[1]

Tovomita
Flower of Tovomita mangle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae
Tribe: Clusieae
Genus: Tovomita
Aubl.
Species

~50, see text

Synonyms

Most Tovomita species are trees, and a few are shrubs. They sometimes have buttress roots. There are monoecious and dioecious species.[2]

Taxonomy

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The taxonomy of this genus and its relatives is a current topic of research. Phylogenetic analyses have helped to clarify relationships between the species, and many new species have been named and described in recent years.[3][4] The genus Tovomita is not monophyletic.[4]

As of 2019 there are about 50 species.[3] Species include:[5]

Threats

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Some species are considered to be threatened, but the conservation status for most Tovomita species is not known due to lack of data. The most significant threat to the species is the deforestation of the Amazon.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b BGCI publishes Red List of Neotropical genus Tovomita. Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
  2. ^ Cuello, N. L. Tovomita. In: J. A., et al., Eds. Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Missouri Botanical Garden.
  3. ^ a b Marinho, L. C. et al. 2019. A gold mine: four more new species of Tovomita (Clusiaceae: Clusieae) from Amazonia. Willdenowia 49(3) 343-50.
  4. ^ a b Marinho, L. C., et al. 2019. Plastomes resolve generic limits within tribe Clusieae (Clusiaceae) and reveal the new genus Arawakia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 134 142-51.
  5. ^ Tovomita. Plants of the World Online. Kew Science.
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