New combinations in the South American genera Lepidaploa and Lessingianthus (Vernonieae, Asteraceae)

The genera Lepidaploa (Cass.) Cass. and Lessingianthus H. Rob. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) were established to separate taxa initially placed in Vernonia Schreb. sect. Lepidaploa (Cass.) DC. subsect. Axilliflorae Benth. & Hook. and Vernonia sect. Lepidaploa subsect. Macrocephalae Benth. & Hook., respectively. As presently delimited, Lepidaploa is comprised of about 150 species widely distributed in South America, while Lessingianthus presents 120 species having a concentration in southeastern Brazil. It is estimated that a large amount of several species still included in Vernonia have not been examined and consequently their taxonomic position remains uncertain. We analyzed pollen morphology and floral microcharacters of several Vernonia species, which allowed the transfer of six taxa previously placed in this genus to Lessingionthus and other two species of the Vernonia to Lepidaploa.