The species of Menodora (Oleaceae) from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay

Abstract

This paper comprises a revision of the genus Menodora (Oleaceae) to be found in Argentina and neighbouring countries (Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay). The centre of the geographic distribution of this genus in South America is to be found in Argentina, where some of the species are very common and variable. A considerable part of this paper is the result of a study of the species in their natural habitat and, in order to appreciate their variability, under cultivation. The following new taxa are described: Menodora integrifolia var. odonelliana Meyer and Menodora pinnatiseta var. missionum Meyer; certain names have been passed to the synonymy.