Taxonomic revision of Huidobria using Target Capture
Huidobria, an enigmatic genus in the Loasaceae family, has long puzzled botanists due to its unclear phylogenetic position and morphological distinctiveness within Loasaceae. Focusing on its two species, H. chilensis and H. fruticosa, we employed the Angiosperm353 target probe set alongside a comprehensive morphological evaluation to resolve their taxonomic status. Our analyses revealed significant divergence in seed, leaf, and flower morphology, supported by phylogenetic data indicating long independent evolutionary histories. Huidobria fruticosa, in particular, shows no close relationship to H. chilensis or other extant Loasaceae genera. Consequently, we propose the segregation of H. fruticosa into the new genus Prosa, together with a comprehensive taxonomic revision of both species. A phylogenetic tree encompassing all genera of Loasaceae illuminates the evolutionary relationships within the family.