Mangleticornia (Amaranthaceae: Salicornioideae) - a new sister for Salicornia from the Pacific coast of South America

Mangleticornia ecuadorensis is a newly recognized monotypic genus from SW Ecuador and adjacent N Peru, where it had previously been identified as Salicornia fruticosa (Arthrocnemum fruticosum) or S. peruviana. It occurs on the coast adjacent to or in Equatorial-Pacific mangroves. Molecular phylogenetic evidence determines that this genus is distinct from and sister to Salicornia sensu lato, and is supported by morphological evidence. The genus is distinguished by a unique combination of characters that are otherwise rare in Salicornioideae: flowers without a visible perianth, anthers and stigmas exserted through pores in the fleshy cortical tissue of the segments, fruit included in the segments, which are dispersed by disarticulation of the infructescence, and large seeds.