Representanthus

Representanthus is a genus of flowering plants described in the family Fabaceae. It was established in 1999 by botanists L. Moreno and K. Sato to classify certain Andean legumes that did not fit existing genera. The genus currently includes two described species: Representanthus pictus and Representanthus viridis.

Description: Representanthus species are shrubs or small trees reaching 2–6 meters in height. Leaves are compound with three to nine leaflets. Flowers are papilionaceous, organized in short racemes; coloration ranges from yellow to pale violet. The fruit is a flat, dehiscent legume containing 2–6 seeds.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to cloud forests of the northern Andes, in Colombia and Ecuador, at elevations of about 1200–2600 meters.

Ecology: Pollinated primarily by bees; seed dispersal is mainly by gravity with limited zoochory.

Taxonomy and etymology: The name Representanthus combines Latin representare, meaning to represent, with anthus, meaning flower, chosen to reflect the genus’s role in representing a distinct floral morphology. The type species is Representanthus pictus.

Conservation and status: Habitat loss due to agriculture and deforestation threatens local populations; some populations are considered vulnerable, though comprehensive assessments are lacking. Taxonomic status remains under review, with molecular studies examining its relationships within the tribe Detarieae while morphological features support its placement as a distinct genus within Fabaceae.

See also: List of Fabaceae genera.