A revision of Calvoa Hook. f. (Melastomataceae)

A revision of the genus Calvoa Hook. f. (Melastomataceae) is presented. Pri ncipal Component Analyses (PCA) and Cluster Analyses (UPGMA) were performed to elucidate three cases of difficult species delimitation and infraspecif ic variation, with the following results. (1) The separation between C. cra ssinoda Hook. f. and C. grandifolia Cogn. was clear in the results obtained with both methods. (2) The group of the West-Central African species Calvo a angolensis A. Fern. & R. Fern., C. calliantha Jacq.-Fel., C. monticola A. Chev., C. pubcherrima Gilg ex Engl., C. sapinii De Wild., C. seretii De Wi ld., C. sinuata Hook. f. and C. subquinqueneruia De Wild. proved difficult to resolve with either analysis, but the Cluster Analysis produced results which are more consistent with the identification of the specimens. (3) Nei ther of the two analyses supported the recognition of infraspecific categor ies in Calvoa orientalis Taub. Eighteen species are recognized in the genus . The new species Caluoa jacques-felixii E. Figueiredo is described and the new combination Calvoa seretii subsp. wildemaniana (Exell) E. Figueiredo i s made. Four lectotypes are designated. The conservation status of some tax a is discussed. Six species are considered rare and possibly under threat. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of London.