XVI International Botanical Congess

Rondeletia L. is one of the best represented genera of the madder family in the Cuban flora, with 65 endemic species. This genus has a great morphological variability, and to better understand the species systematically, after studying more than three thousands specimens, thespecies that occur in Cuba are here grouped in ten sections. Hypolencae is shown to be a heterogeneous section, that contains the greatest number of species which are characterized by having small distinctly coriaceous limbs, 1-3 flowers inflorescences, flowers 4-merus and small global capsules. The section is distributed in Cuba and Hispaniola,the species grow in different types of vegetation, they are found in the western part of Cuba or the central or eastern regions, having the greatest diversity in theeastern zone. Almost all species are narrow endemics.