Blakea P.Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica 323. tab. 35. 1756.

Penneys, Darin S. & Judd, Walter S., 2013, A revised circumscription for the Blakeeae (Melastomataceae) with associated nomenclatural adjustments, PhytoKeys 20, pp. 17-32 : 20-21

Blakea P.Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica 323. tab. 35. 1756.

Topobea Aubl., Hist. Pl. Guiane 1: 476. 1775. Type: Topobea parasitica Aubl., Hist. Pl. Guiane 1: 476. 1775. TYPE. FRENCH GUIANA. Aublet s.n. (holotype: BM!).

Valdesia Ruiz & Pav., Fl. Peruv. Prodr. 67. 1794. Type: Valdesia repens Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 121. 1798. TYPE. PERU. Ruiz & Pav. s.n. (holotype: B (destroyed), photos at MO!, US!).

Pyxidanthus Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser 3 18: 150. 1852. Type: Pyxidanthus schlimii Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 3 18: 151. 1852. TYPE. VENEZUELA. Trujillo, Funck & Schlim 738 (holotype: G; (fragment), photos at MO!, US!; isotypes: BM!, BR!, MPU!).

Amaraboya Linden, Illustr. Hort. 34: 15. 1887. Type: Amaraboya princeps Linden, Illustr. Hort. 34: 15. 1887. (lectotype, designated here: pl. IV of the protologue).

Type.

Blakea trinervia L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10: 1044. 1759. TYPE. JAMAICA. P.Browne s.n. (holotype: LINN-612.1!).

Remarks.

Blakea is characterized by solitary or fasciculate axillary inflorescences, and flowers subtended by two (rarely three) pairs of decussate, (usually) expanded, subtending bracts. Additionally, Blakea may usually be distinguished from Chalybea by the species often being hemiepiphytic or epiphytic, mostly with rotate corollas, anthers that are usually laterally flattened and often connate and/or deflexed, with the connective appendages generally better developed and of diverse morphology, and many Blakea species have ovaries that are not entirely inferior, often possessing stylar collars. Cladistic analyses (Penneys et al. 2004, Penneys 2007, Penneys and Judd 2011, in press) have provided conclusive evidence that the recognition Topobea renders both that genus and Blakea polyphyletic, thus Topobea is here relegated to synonymy under Blakea .

Blakea comprises approximately 180 species distributed from Mexico (Chiapas) to Bolivia and Brazil, with two species in Jamaica and one in the Lesser Antilles.

Formal nomenclatural transfers to Blakea are made below for 62 species of Topobea that were not treated by earlier workers who made similar new combinations (e.g., Don 1823, Macbride 1941). Three of these include new specific epithets for names already occupied in Blakea .

Important references concerning the systematics of Blakea include ( Almeda 1990, 2000a, 2000b, 2001a, 2001b, 2009, Gleason 1945, Wurdack 1973, 1980, Penneys 2007, Penneys and Judd 2011, in press).