Schiekia Meisn., Pl. Vasc. Gen. 2(12): 300. 1842.

Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Hickman, Ellen J., Guttierrez, Jorge E., Smith, Rhian J. & Hopper, Stephen D., 2020, Revisiting the taxonomy of the Neotropical Haemodoraceae (Commelinales), PhytoKeys 169, pp. 1-59 : 1

4. Schiekia Meisn., Pl. Vasc. Gen. 2(12): 300. 1842. Figs 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20

Troschelia Klotzsch & M.R.Schomb. in Reisen, Br.-Guiana: 1066. 1849, nom. nud.

Type species.

Wachendorfia orinocensis Kunth. [≡ Schiekia orinocensis (Kunth) Meisn.].

Comments.

Schiekia is indisputably closely related to Wachendorfia ( Hopper et al. 1999, 2009; Hickman 2019; Pellegrini 2019; Hopper et al., in prep.), which is shown by its taxonomic history and due to several morphological characters. Schiekia and Wachendorfia share some unique floral traits, such as the perianth apertures (produced by the connation of five tepals, giving the flowers a peculiar bilabiate appearance and producing two basal pouches; Simpson 1990) and the infralocular septal nectaries with commissure slits which channel the nectar to the perianth apertures ( Simpson 1993; Pellegrini 2019). These features serve as strong morphological synapomorphies that support the clade composed by Schiekia + ( Wachendorfia + Barberetta ), with a posterior loss of the perianth apertures in Barberetta ( Pellegrini 2019). The nectary apparatus in Barberetta is also remarkably similar to that of Wachendorfia and Schiekia and only lacks the ducts that would carry the secreted nectar to the perianth apertures ( Simpson 1993). Furthermore, Schiekia and Wachendorfia share the presence of tapering trichomes, while Barberetta and Wachendorfia share the unifacially-plicate leaves, which are unique in the family and the order as a whole ( Simpson 1990; Pellegrini 2019). The staminode-like structures are synapomorphic to Schiekia ( Pellegrini 2019) and cannot be considered actual staminodes, in fact, representing a de novo structure ( Simpson 1990; Pellegrini 2019). These staminode-like structures seem to represent some kind of corona (i.e., a perianth projection), comparable to the ones observed in many Amaryllidaceae and Passifloraceae . Their function is most likely associated with the genus’ floral biology and could represent enlarged osmophores, which would aid in the attraction of pollinators, together with the nectar. Nonetheless, reproductive biology studies in Schiekia are entirely lacking and are necessary to understand the function of these staminode-like structures. Furthermore, ontogenetic studies are also necessary to understand the origin and to propose a more suitable and definite name to these structures.

Figures

Figure 13. Schiekia orinocensis (Kunth) Meisn A habitat B habit, showing an inflorescence from this flowering season and an old one from the previous year bearing dehisced capsules C root D leaf blade E inflorescence F, G flower: F side view of a flower showing the nectar drop (arrow) in the perianth aperture G frontal view of a flower H-L perianth segments: H upper perianth tepals showing their connate bases and the nectar guides I lower lateral tepal J side view of the lower lateral tepal showing the glandular pubescence K staminode-like projection L lower medial tepal M flower with perianth removed, showing the androecium and gynoecium. N, dehisced capsules. All photos by E. J. Hickman.

Figure 15. Schiekia silvestris (Maas & Stoel) Hopper et al. A habit of two flowering specimens B habit of a fruiting specimen C, D inflorescence: C inflorescence with flowers at anthesis D inflorescence with flowers at post-anthesis E, F flower: E side view of a flower showing the nectar drop (arrow) in the perianth aperture F frontal view of a flower G inflorescence bearing last few flowers and several capsules H detail of the cincinnus showing immature capsules. All photos by H. Galliffet, except for G by S. Sant.

Figure 16. Schiekia silvestris (Maas & Stoel) Hopper et al. Full colour whole plant illustration. Illustration by E. J. Hickman. Scale bar: 1 cm.

Figure 17. Schiekia silvestris (Maas & Stoel) Hopper et al. A, B rhizome: A rhizome, showing persistent leaf bases B longitudinal section C cincinnus D flower bud E flower in frontal view F hairs G-I perianth: G upper perianth lobes, showing the nectar guides H lateral outer perianth lobe with adnate staminode-like structure I medial inner perianth lobe J staminode-like structure K flower with the perianth removed, showing the androecium and gynoecium L, M stamens: L lateral stamen (frontal and dorsal view) M medial stamen (frontal and dorsal view) N, O gynoecium: N style O stigma P-T fruit: P immature capsule Q capsule in longitudinal section R capsule in cross-section S placenta with ovules T dehisced capsule U-W seed: U dorsal view V ventral view W longitudinal section. Illustration by E. J. Hickman. Scale bars: 1 cm (A, B, G-I, K); 1.5 mm (C-E, P-R, T); 0.3 mm (F); 0.75 mm (J, L-N, S, U-W); 0.15 mm (O);

Figure 19. Schiekia timida M. Pell. et al. A habitat B flowering habit C detail of the leaves D, E inflorescence: D inflorescence with many-flowered cincinni E inflorescence with 1 - flowered cincnni F inflorescence bearing young capsules G-I flower: G upper view of a flower showing both perianth apertures and their respective nectar drops (arrows) H side view of a flower I frontal view of a flower J mature capsules before opening K seeds. A by G. Antar, B by G. Davidse, C, F by M. E. Engels, D by C. Castro, E by V. A. O. Dittrich, G-I by P. L. Viana and J, K by S. E. Martins.

Figure 20. Schiekia timida M. Pell. et al. A whole plant B cincinnus C flower bud D hairs E, F flower: E side view F frontal view G-I perianth: G upper perianth lobes, showing the lack of nectar guides H medial inner perianth lobe I lateral outer perianth lobe with adnate staminode-like structure J flower with the perianth removed, showing the androecium and gynoecium K, L stamens: K lateral stamen L medial stamen M-N gynoecium: M ovary N stigma O-S fruit: O immature capsule covered by the persistent perianth P immature capsule with perianth removed Q capsule in longitudinal section R capsule in cross-section S dehisced capsule T-V seed: T dorsal view U ventral view V longitudinal section. Illustration by E. J. Hickman. Scale bars: 1.5 cm (A,); 0.35 mm (B); 2 mm (C, E, F); 0.25 mm (D); 1.75 mm (G-I); 1.25 mm (J, O-Q, S); 1 mm (K-M, R); 0.5 mm (N); 0.75 mm (T-V)