Metteniusa
Encyclopedia
Metteniusa is a genus
of flowering plant
s in the monogeneric family
Metteniusaceae. It was named by Hermann Karsten
in 1860 for the German
botanist Georg Heinrich Mettenius
. It has seven species
. The type species
is Metteniusa edulis. In a molecular phylogenetic analysis in 2007, the authors found that Metteniusa forms one of the most basal
clade
s of the lamiids, but is not closely related to any of the lamiid families and does not fall into any of the recognized lamiid orders
. They recommended that the family Metteniusaceae be recognized. Several taxonomists
have done so since the name
"Metteniusaceae" was proposed by Adalbert Schnizlein and validated by Hermann Karsten in 1860.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the monogeneric family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Metteniusaceae. It was named by Hermann Karsten
Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten
Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten was a German botanist and geologist. Born in Stralsund, he followed the example of Alexander von Humboldt and traveled 1844-56 to the north of South America. He died 1908 in Berlin-Grunewald....
in 1860 for the German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
botanist Georg Heinrich Mettenius
Georg Heinrich Mettenius
Georg Heinrich Mettenius was a German botanist who was a native of Frankfurt am Main. He was son-in-law to botanist Alexander Braun ....
. It has seven species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is Metteniusa edulis. In a molecular phylogenetic analysis in 2007, the authors found that Metteniusa forms one of the most basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
s of the lamiids, but is not closely related to any of the lamiid families and does not fall into any of the recognized lamiid orders
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
. They recommended that the family Metteniusaceae be recognized. Several taxonomists
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
have done so since the name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
"Metteniusaceae" was proposed by Adalbert Schnizlein and validated by Hermann Karsten in 1860.