Studies in the Capparaceae XXX: Capparicordis, a new genus from the neotropics

Capparicordis, genus novum is established for Capparicordis crotonoides, C. tweediana, and C. yunckeri, all new combinations here established for three former species of the New World Capparis, Sect. Colicodendron. The first two are xerophytic shrubs or small trees easily separated by flower color, and the last is a grapple-hook scrambler of which flowers are unknown. They have allopatric distributions: C. crotonoides is found in Peru and Ecuador west of the Andes, C. tweediana from Argentina to Bolivia and Paraguay east of the Andes, whereas C. yunckeri is a rare, local endemic from the arid woodlands near Coyoles in northern Honduras. All have stellate pubescence, broadly cordate to subrotund-reniform leaves with (sub)palmate venation at the leaf blade base; a valvate calyx with closed aestivation; baccate subspherical fruits dehiscent by 2–4 valves (indehiscent in C. yunckeri?); cochleate-reniform seeds surrounded by a pulp-derived sarcotesta densely infiltrated by unbranched, unicellular hairs from the testa; and snow-white embryos. Capparicordis crotonoides has n=8 chromosomes.