Systematic positions of Lamiophlomis and Paraphlomis (Lamiaceae) based on nuclear and chloroplast sequences

Abstract Genera Lamiophlomis and Paraphlomis were originally separated from genus Phlomis s.l. on the basis of particular morphological characteristics. However, their relationship was highly contentious, as evidenced by the literature. In the present paper, the systematic positions of Lamiophlomis, Paraphlomis, and their related genera were assessed based on nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast rpl16 and trnL‐F sequence data using maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian methods. In total, 24 species representing six genera of the ingroup and outgroup were sampled. Analyses of both separate and combined sequence data were conducted to resolve the systematic relationships of these genera. The results reveal that Lamiophlomis is nested within Phlomis sect. Phlomoides and its generic status is not supported. With the inclusion of Lamiophlomis rotata in sect. Phlomoides, sections Phlomis and Phlomoides of Phlomis were resolved as monophyletic. Paraphlomis was supported as an independent genus. However, the resolution of its monophyly conflicted between MP and Bayesian analyses, suggesting the need for expended sampling and further evidence.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Italian Bellevalia species (Asparagaceae), inferred from morphology,karyology and molecular systematics

The seven Bellevalia species and subspecies known from Italy, representing about 10% of the genus and three out of six sections, were studied. An integrated morphological, karyological and molecular approach was used to infer phylogenetic and systematic relationships among them. B. romana (the generitype) is the most distinctive species on karyotype asymmetry grounds. B. boissieri and B.dubia, usually considered as subspecies of one species (the latter endemic to Sicily), deserve specific status based on biparental nrDNA markers (internal transcribed spacer, ITS), since they do not form a single clade. The allotetraploid endemic B. pelagica, morphologically similar to B. romana, is sister to the latter under parsimony, both in morphological and ITS trees; it is also related with B. dubia, based on karyotype asymmetry and a uniparental cpDNA marker (trnL^(UAA)–trnF^(GAA) IGS (intergenic spacer)). A second allotetraploid endemic, B. webbiana, is closely related, on morphological, karyological and molecular grounds, with B. boissieri and B. ciliata, and also with B. trifoliata, three species that might all involved in its origin. B. sect. Conicae Feinbr. and sect. Nutantes Feinbr. are here typified, the former (type: B. ciliata) is most likely a synonym of the latter (type: B. trifoliata).     

中国赤车属新分类

(1)根据该文中赤车属与楼梯草属各种形态学的区别,认为赤车属较为原始,在楼梯草属之前自冷水花属衍生而出。(2)将赤车属划分为5组;将C.B.Robinson描述的Elatostemoides属降为组级群,作为赤车属中接近原始群全缘赤车组sect.Pileoides的一个组处理,此外还描述了一个与sect.Elatostemoides近缘的1新组,羽脉赤车组sect.Leiolaena,并根据叶、叶的脉序、雌花序、雌花被片和瘦果等器官的演化趋势给出显示赤车属属下诸群间亲缘关系的系统发育树。(3)对中国赤车属的属下分类群进行了修订,共承认32种1亚种7变种,给出检索表、描述及多幅插图,并将它们划分为4组、2亚组和9系,其中除sect.Leiolaena之外,还新描述了2亚组、5系、2种和3变种;在2003年被归并为同物异名的长柄赤车、曲毛赤车、波缘赤车、小赤车和富宁赤车的种级地位得到恢复。此外,还写出了中国赤车属的分类学简史和地理分布。     

Species relationships and taxonomy inTulipa subg.Tulipa (Liliaceae)

Principal component and canonical variate analyses were used to analyse the variation of 34 morphological characters measured in 98 accessions ofTulipa subg.Tulipa, formerly known as sect.Leiostemones. In addition 43 accessions were analysed cytogenetically by means of C-banding methods. Based on the encountered variation and on geographical distribution data 30 species in five sections were recognized, of which the synonymy is stated. Seven new series in two different sections have been designated.     

Testa and seed appendage morphology in Aeschynanthus (Gesneriaceae): phytogeographical patterns and taxonomic implications

The current sectional classification of the genus Aeschynanthus Jack, essentially based on seed morphology, presents some problems of species placement. A comparative SEM survey of seed and seed appendages was undertaken in order to assess the value of this classification. Seeds of 99 taxa (that is about two‐thirds of the estimated total) were examined and found to fall into two types, A and B. Type A has spiral testa cell orientation, papillae formed from a single cell and short smooth appendages. Type B is recognized by the straight orientation of the testa cells, combined with the presence of papillae formed from the raised ends of two adjacent cells on the long hair‐like appendages and usually on the testa. Only six of the investigated species did not fall into either category. Three have straight testa cell orientation combined with single‐cell papillae and short smooth appendages; the papillae and appendage characters place them in type A. Three have spiral testa cell orientation and short smooth appendages but the testa cells have slightly raised ends; these are also placed in Type A. The three subtypes in Type A are equivalent to the sections Haplotrichium s.s., Microtrichium and Aeschynanthus, but the divisions are less clear than those within Type B. However, other morphological characters support sectional separation. Type B subdivides into three: two subtypes equivalent to sections Polytrichium and Diplotrichium, and a third encompassing section Xanthanthos together with part of the current sect. Haplotrichium, and here referred to as sect. X. There is sufficient morphological correlation with seed type to make the sectional position of many species clear without recourse to seed, particularly in sects Polytrichium, Diplotrichium, Haplotrichium S.S. and Aeschynanthus. There is strong correlation between seed type and geographical distribution. Sects. Microtrichium and Aeschynanthus, with Type A seed, are essentially Malesian. Groups with Type B seed are largely confined to mainland south and south‐east Asia, except for sect. Polytrichium which is more widespread, possibly due to the greater effectiveness of a coma of hairs in wind dispersal. It is suggested that Type A seed, probably sect. Microtrichium, is the least determined and Type B sect. Polytrichium the most derived seed type. Based on these findings a revised key to the sections is provided.     

Relationships and divergence of some taxa of the subfamily Lycodinae (Zoarcidae,Pisces) based on molecular-genetic and morphological data

An integrated molecular-genetic and morphological study of 14 species of 6 genera of Zoarcidae of the subfamily Lycodinae was performed. A high coincidence of study results obtained using both methods was found. The generic independence of the genus Petroschmidtia that includes species P. albonotata and P. toyamensis was justified. It was shown that species L. schmidti and L. nigrocaudatus belong to the genus Lycogrammoides; and the generic status of the genus Bothrocarichthys with species B. microcephalus and of the genus Allolepis with species A. hollandi was restored. The studied taxa fall into three large monophyletic groups that include species of the genus Petroschmidtia, species of the genus Lycodes, and species of the genera Bothrocara, Allolepis, Bothrocarichthys, and Lycogrammoides. Taxa of the last group are characterized by a large complex of morphological differences from the first two groups, including the absence of ventral fins. A key to species and genera of Lycogrammoides and Bothrocarichthys was compiled. The problem of determination of the time of divergence of the studied zoarcid-like fish using the concept of “molecular clock” and its calibration according to paleontological and paleogeographic data is discussed.     

Phenetic studies in Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae):variation in sect. Nuphar

Previous taxonomic assessments of the hydrophytic genus Nuphar Sm. (Nymphaeaceae) have inadequately considered the range of morphological variation existing in the genus. A comprehensive statistical analysis of morphological features among the recognized taxa of Nuphar is presented here, first using 10 fruit characters to delimit the separation of two infrageneric groups of taxa, and secondly using 31 characters to quantify the morphological variation found within sect. Nuphar. Results from combined phenetic analyses provided empirical support for recognition of two infrageneric groups of species in the genus (largely by fruit, stigmatic disk margin, neck, and stigmatic disk size) and for separation of taxa within sect. Nuphar (by leaf size, and fruit disk and neck size). Statistical analyses demonstrate that extensive variation in ranges of character states exists among sect. Nuphar taxa. However, a suite of qualitative and quantitative characters can be used to recognize five species and three subspecies within this predominantly Old World assemblage.     

FLAVONOID SURVEY OF OENOTHERA (ONAGRACEAE): SECTS. GAUROPSIS,HARTMANNIA, KNEIFFIA,PARADOXUS, AND XYLOPLEURUM

An analysis of 60 populations of Oenothera sects. Gauropsis, Hartmannia, Kneiffia, Paradoxus, and Xylopleurum showed that 29 flavonols and 4 glycoflavones were present among 19 of the 20 species studied in these five sections. The four glycoflavones, representing the first report for this class of compounds for Oenothera, were present only in O. canescens, a highly specialized and isolated species within the genus. The most closely related species, O. dissecta, had a flavonoid profile more similar to species of sect. Hartmannia and sect. Kneiffia. The most striking feature of the analysis is that roughly 70% of the known flavonoids in the family were found in the group of sections studied. The large number of compounds in this one lineage of Oenothera contrasts sharply to the relatively low numbers found in most other genera of the family. Further, the occurrence of glucuronides and sulfates within Oenothera is restricted to these sections. Each species examined had a unique flavonoid profile, except O. deserticola and O. multicaulis (both sect. Hartmannia) which had identical profiles. This finding contrasts sharply with the uniform profiles of other sections of Oenothera and other genera in Onagraceae, such as Epilobium and Ludwigia. By contrast, O. havardii, a phyletically isolated species of the monotypic sect. Paradoxus, had only five flavonol glycosides, compared with 11–19 compounds in the other species. Based on morphological and seed anatomical data, O. havardii is only distantly related to sects. Gauropsis, Hartmannia, Kneiffia, and Xylopleurum, although along with sect. Lavauxia, it appears to represent the sister group to them. Overall, with the exception of O. havardii and O. canescens, the flavonoid profiles support the hypothesis recently suggested by seed anatomy that these four sections are more closely related to each other than any one of them is to another section of the genus.     

Echidnopsis thulinii sp. nov. (Apocynaceae–Asclepiadoideae) with a review of the infrageneric classification of the genus

Echidnopsis thulinii M. G. Gilbert is described from northern Somalia. The infrageneric classification of Echidnopsis Hook. f. is reviewed in the light of recently published molecular phylogenies. The new species belongs to E. sect. Echidnopsis and a key to the species of this section is provided. A lectotype, supported by an epitype, is designated for E. virchowii K. Schum. Echidnopsis sect. Profundicoronata Bruyns is included within sect. Vadosicoronata Bruyns and two new sections recognised: E. sect. Pseudopectinaria (Lavranos) M. G. Gilbert, based on the genus Pseudopectinaria Lavranos, and E. sect. Sobolifera M. G. Gilbert. A key is given to the sections of Echidnopsis.     

New species and combinations in Vernonia sections Leiboldia and Lepidonia (Asteraceae), with a revisional conspectus of the groups

The wholly North American sectionLeiboldia ofVernonia as revised by Jones (1979) included six species. The present treatment recognizes only three species inLeiboldia, including one newly described from recent collections. The remainder of what Jones consideredLeiboldia has been transferred into a new sect.Lepidonia (Blake) Turner which was first proposed as a monotypic genus. A key to the two sections and 10 species is provided along with an account of their interrelationships. Morphological evidence suggests that sect.Lepidonia is one of the more primitive sections ofVernonia, being as close to certain African sections as they are to the mostly American sect.Vernonia. Consideration is given to the phyletic significance and generic value of receptacular pales in the Vernonieae from which it is concluded that these have persisted in three or more quite unrelated lines of this tribe and undue weight should not be accorded these in generic considerations. Consequently, the paleaceous, monotypic generaLepidonia andBolanosa are sunk into synonymy underVernonia, the former as a distinct section, the latter into the sect.Vernonia.     

Molecular and ultrastructural characterization of two ascomycetes found on sunken wood off Vanuatu Islands in the deep Pacific Ocean

A new genus of a deep-sea ascomycete with one new species, Alisea longicolla, is described based on analyses of 18S and 28S rDNA sequences and morphological characters. A. longicolla was found together with Oceanitis scuticella, on small twigs and sugar cane debris trawled from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu Islands. Molecular and morphological characters indicate that both fungi are members of Halosphaeriaceae. Within this family, O. scuticella is phylogenetically related to Ascosalsum and shares similar ascospore morphology and appendage ontogeny. The genus Ascosalsum is considered congeneric with Oceanitis and Ascosalsum cincinnatulum, Ascosalsum unicaudatum and Ascosalsum viscidulum are transferred to Oceanitis, an earlier generic name.     

Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of subfamily Zygophylloideae (Zygophyllaceae) based on molecular and morphological data

Phylogenetic analysis of noncoding trnL plastid DNA sequences and morphological data for 43 species of Zygophylloideae, representing most of the morphological and geographical variation in the subfamily, indicates that the currently recognised genera Augea (monotypic, southern Africa), Tetraena (monotypic, China), and Fagonia (c. 30 species, widespread), are embedded in Zygophyllum (c. 150 species, widespread). A generic classification based on six monophyletic and morphologically distinctive entities is proposed: Roepera with c. 60 species in Australia and southern Africa, Zygophyllum with c. 50 species in Asia, Tetraena with c. 40 species in Africa and Asia, Augea with a single species in southern Africa, Melocarpum with two species in the Horn of Africa region, and Fagonia with c. 30 species in both the Old and the New World. Scanning electron microscopy studies of testa structure provided important characters for the delimitation of some genera. New combinations (61) are made in Roepera, a resurrected genus originally described from Australia, one new name is proposed in Zygophyllum, 35 new combinations are made in Tetraena, and two new combinations are made in Melocarpum (previously Zygophyllum sect. Melocarpum).     

Phylogenetic systematics of New WorldIpomoea (Convolvulaceae) based on chloroplast DNA restriction site variation

Chloroplast DNA restriction site variation was studied in 31 New World species ofIpomoea, representing a majority of the New World sections and series within the genus. Using 14 endonucleases, a total of 124 phylogenetically informative restriction sites was detected. Dollo parsimony, Wagner parsimony, and bootstrap methods were employed to construct phylogenetic trees and evaluate confidence intervals of monophyletic groups. With a few exceptions, groups circumscribed on the basis of morphological variation are in agreement with groupings based on restriction site variation. Relationships between subgeneric groupings, however, disagree substantially with those proposed in the past. Although conflicting hypotheses for some intersectional relationships are not presently resolvable, cpDNA restriction site analyses propose the following refinements of existing classification schemes.Ipomoea ser.Setosae is divided into distantly related groups, as is sect.Pharbitis. SeriesTyrianthinae, a proposed segregate of sect.Pharbitis, is associated with sect.Calonyction and the Tricolor complex (subg.Quamoclit).Ipomoea sect.Batatas is segregated from other herbaceous groups of the heterogeneous subg.Quamoclit sensu lato and aligned as a derivative ofI. setosa, subg.Eriospermum. To test for homology of key characters weighted in traditional schemes, morphological features were studied with respect to their distribution on lineages defined by restriction site data. Characters such as setose sepals, foliose-pubescent sepals, and erect growth habit, among others, are interpreted as having multiple origins, while 3-locular ovaries, 4-locular ovaries, and long-haired seeds have evolved only once.     

nrDNA internal transcribed spacer data reveal that Rhodoplagiochila R.M. Schust. (Marchantiophyta: Jungermanniales) is a member of Plagiochila sect. Arrectae Carl

The monospecific genus Rhodoplagiochila, previously known only from the type collected in the Venezuelan Andes, has been collected at a second site close to the type locality. Up to now, generic status of Rhodoplagiochila has been accepted by most authors, but the taxon had been alternately assigned to Plagiochilaceae or Lophoziaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of nrITS sequences from Rhodoplagiochila and other representatives of the Plagiochilaceae clearly reveal the former to be in a clade with members of the Neotropical–Atlantic European Plagiochila sect. Arrectae. Within the Arrectae, Rhodoplagiochila is positioned in a robust clade made up of several accessions of Plagiochila bifaria. Morphologically, Rhodoplagiochila differs from other phenotypes of P. bifaria by the papillose leaf surface and a leaf margin which is ciliately toothed all-around. As an outcome of the molecular and morphological investigations, Rhodoplagiochila rosea is treated as a variety of P. bifaria, and the new combination P. bifaria var. rosea comb. et stat. nov. is proposed. In tropical America the family Plagiochilaceae seems to be represented only by Plagiochila.     

Nomimoscolex suspectus n. sp. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea: Zygobothriinae) with morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the genus

We describe a new species of Nomimoscolex from the Amazon siluriform fishes Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, B. flavicans and B. vaillanti. It differs from N. piraeeba in a lower mean number of testes, the paramuscular position of the vitelline follicles, the ovarian width/proglottis width ratio and the cirrus-pouch length/proglottis width ratio. Protein electrophoresis assays performed for 25 enzymatic systems showed that specimens of N. suspectus n. sp. from the three host species form a homogenous population which was genetically isolated from N. piraeeba and N. dorad. Moreover, the latter two species, synonymised by Rego (1991) because of their close morphological similarity, could be separated at eight loci. We thus restore N. dorad as a valid species. We finally examined the composition of the genus Nomimoscolex using DNA sequences from the 5.8S rRNA, ITS-2 and 28S rRNA nuclear ribosomal genes and a matrix of 24 morphological characters. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred for nine species of the genus, five members of other monticelliid genera and two outgroup species. The results of the phylogenetic analyses performed on morphological and molecular characters converged with those from allozyme studies and showed that N. suspectus, N. piraeeba and N. dorad clustered in a distinct clade that excluded other members of the genus. We therefore recognised them as an aggregate of species to reflect an isolation supported by both morphological and genetic data. Because relationships among the remaining Nomimoscolex representatives and other genera were generally poorly resolved, regardless of the database analysed, no action was taken to reorganise them into alternative groupings.