Resurrection of Angelesia, a Southeast Asian genus of Chrysobalanaceae

Licania subg. Angelesia is composed of only three species restricted to Southeast Asia and is currently delimited as one of four subgenera of Licania, a species-rich genus of mostly Neotropical taxa. Molecular phylogenetic studies involving Chrysobalanaceae have revealed that Licania is polyphyletic. Here we propose to re-establish Licania subg. Angelesia to generic rank based on molecular and morphological evidence and the three species currently placed in Licania subg. Angelesia (Licania fusicarpa, L. palawanensis and L. splendens) are here re-instated and transferred to Angelesia, as appropriate. This new generic delimitation renders Licania an exclusively Neotropical genus, and Angelesia an endemic Southeast Asian genus.