Vellozia hirsuta and V. tubiflora belonged to Vellozia sect. Radia, a poliphyletic taxon. Due to different choices of characters for delimiting the species, from 21 species formelly included in the section, only three are now recognised. The hypanthial tube longer than ovary, and deciduous in fruit, distinguishes V. hirsuta and V. tubiflora from all other Velloziaceae. Although consistently delimited, they exhibit wide intraspecific variation. Thus, V. hirsuta encompasses four taxonomic synonyms, and V. tubiflora, 19. On the other hand, the many different populations of both species lead to the recognition of 14 morphological patterns within V. hirsuta and eight within V. tubiflora, although those patterns cannot receive taxonomic status.
patterns; populations; synonymy; taxonomic delimitation
