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Passiflora subgenus Decaloba supersection Cieca is a monophyletic group of herbaceous to woody climbers found in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Two species, Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora pallida , are also naturalized in various regions of the Old World. The species of the supersection are recognized by their small, apetalous, usually greenish flowers with the filaments of the corona mostly in two series.
The plants commonly lack c-glycosylflavones but possess flavonol 3-O-glycosides. The supersection contains two problematic species complexes, Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora coriacea. The morphological and molecular data sets were analyzed separately because of incongruity due to taxon sampling and the complicated evolutionary history of entities within the Passiflora suberosa complex. All analyses confirm the monophyly of the supersection. They also show that the Passiflora suberosa complex is a non-monophyletic group of cryptic species, and inter-taxic hybridization and polyploidy have contributed to the confusing and complex pattern of variation evident within the group.
Four taxa that were formerly included in this complex are recognized: Passiflora pallida , Passiflora suberosa subsp. On the basis of molecular and morphological data, three species from the Passiflora coriacea complex are recognized: Passiflora coriacea , Passiflora sexocellata , and Passiflora megacoriacea. A key, detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and illustrations are included in the revision. Pollination, dispersal, and herbivory of the group are reviewed.
The distribution and ecology of the species within the supersection are also discussed. Passiflora L. Two species, Passiflora suberosa L. Friedrich Medikus Medikus was the first to recognize this group, and he proposed the generic name Cieca for the apetalous species of Passifloraceae. However, the species with tubular, flowers were often excluded and other species of uncertain relationship included.
