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Thirty-seven South American species representing seven sections of Solanum subgen. Leptostemonum were analyzed. Andromonoecious as well as hermaphrodite species were considered. The length and width of their fruits was measured, and the number of seeds per fruit was counted. Medial cross sections of fresh, ripe fruits were observed with a stereoscopic microscope and illustrated. Six placentation patterns and three types of seeds were described. A relationship among seed number, fruit size, fruit color and sexual system was detected by means of statistical analysis. These results suggest that andromonoecy affects fruit size and placentation patterns, in order to contain a higher number of seeds per fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum delicatulum, a species only known to southern Brazil, is reported for the first time for Argentina and Paraguay. The species is described and illustrated, and a discussion about its synonymy is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycianthes (Dunal) Hassler is accepted as a genus more closely related to Capsicum L. and Witheringia L'Heritier, rather than to Solanum L.; the evidences are based on the structure and the inervation of the calyx. With a tropical and subtropical range, the genus is represented in the northern part of the Argentinian territory by the following 5 species: L. asarifolia (Kunth et Bouché) Bitter, L. australe (Morton) A. T. Hunz. et Barboza nov. comb., L. lycioides (L.) Hassler, L. rantonnei (Carrière) Bitter and L. saltensis Bitter. The key to facilitate the identification of these species includes androecium characters hitherto not mentioned in the literature, vgr.: heterodynamous versus homodynamous stamens, filaments with or without a basal hump in its free portion, etc. These characters, together with the remaining ones that are useful for the specific delimitation, are thoroughly discussed in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic survey of Aureliana Sendtner, a small neotropical genus of 5 species: A. fasciculata (Vellozo) Sendt. [with 3 varieties: var. fasciculata, var. tomentella (Sendt.) Barboza et A. T. Hunz. nov. comb., and var. longifolia (Sendt.) A. T. Hunz. et Barboza nov. comb.], A. brasillana (A. T. Hunz.) Barboza et A. T. Hunz. nov. comb., A. tomentosa Sendt., A. velutina Sendt. and A. wettsteiniana (Witas.) A. T. Hunz. et Barboza nov. comb. The 7 taxa grow in Brazil, but 3 of them deserve a special mention: A. fasciculata var. tomentella reaches southeastern Paraguay and Argentina (eastern Misiones); instead A. fasciculata var. longifolia and A. fasciculata var. fasciculata show a rather peculiar distribution because aside of their eastern area, both have been collected in Bolivia (Santa Cruz and Pando). After a discussion on the complicated taxonomical history of the genus, the authors point out its relationships with 6 allied genera of the Solaneae, above all with Capsicum L.; a key to identify these 7 genera is included as well. Each taxon is described together with remarks about their geographical distribution and affinities. Five plates and a map are included in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]