rbcL sequences support exclusion ofRetzia,Desfontainia, andNicodemia from theGentianales

The taxonomic positions ofRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia have been much discussed, and all three genera have been included inLoganiaceae (Gentianales). We have made a cladistic analysis ofrbcL gene sequences to determine the relationships of these taxa toGentianales. Four newrbcL sequences are presented; i.e., ofRetzia, Desfontainia, Diervilla (Caprifoliaceae), andEuthystachys (Stilbaceae). Our results show thatRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia are not closely related toLoganiaceae or theGentianales. Retzia is most closely related toEuthystachys and is better included inStilbaceae. The positions ofDesfontainia andNicodemia are not settled, butDesfontainia shows affinity for theDipsacales s.l. andNicodemia for theLamiales s.l.     

Relation of Intergroup Variation in Allogrooming to Group Social Structure and Ectoparasite Loads in Red Howlers (Alouatta seniculus)

We compare the allogrooming behavior of 5 troops (average size = 8.2) of red howlers (Alouatta seniculus) from the Venezuelan Llanos with that of other A. seniculus and Alouatta spp. of the genus. In 126.9 observation hr, we recorded 118 allogrooming events, with an average bout length of 109 sec. Females groomed more frequently than males did, but as groomees there is no significant differences between sexes. Adult males groomed adult females mostly in a sexual context (before copulation). Allogrooming rates differ significantly among groups. There are also significant differences among members of the same troop both as groomers and groomees, which we explain in the context of the social behavior and history of each troop. There is no significant correlation between weight of the groomee and duration of the grooming bout. However, the examination of grooming rates and ectoparasite load suggests that allogrooming may have hygienic consequences. Differences in allogrooming rates among species of Alouatta are related to differences in group kin structure and patterns of female competition, in particular, coalition formation. We conclude that the social structure and the degree of relatedness among individuals within a group (or among individuals in a population in interpopulation comparisons) is a more important determinant of allogrooming rate than body size or group size. Our results emphasize the importance of considering intergroup and interpopulational variation in behavior.     

Taxonomical study ofAster leiophyllus complex (Compositae) in Kanto district,Japan, with special reference to ploidy level

TheAster leiophyllus complex is complicated taxonomically and includes many related taxa representing polyploid series. It has been reported that this group is diversified throughout the Kanto district, central Japan, and there are three taxa endemic to the Kanto district. However, as neither morphological variation range nor distribution pattern is sufficiently investigated, taxonomic confusion sometimes occurs. In this study, morphological variation was examined in relation to the ploidy level, and taxonomic consideration was given. As a result, four morphologically recognized taxa occur in the Kanto district;A. leiophyllus (2x, 6x),A. leiophyllus var.sawadanus (2x, 3x, 4x),A. semiamplexicaulis (2x), andA. sugimotoi (4x, 5x). The distribution ranges ofA. leiophyllus var.sawadanus, A. semiamplexicaulis andA. sugimotoi are small, whileA. leiophyllus is distributed over most of the Kanto district. Morphological and cytological observations indicate that one of the reasons of the taxonomic confusion is the presence of presumed hybridization betweenA. leiophyllus and other taxa.     

Phylogenetic analysis ofUlmaceae

A phylogenetic analysis of theUlmaceae, Cannabaceae, Barbeyaceae, andBroussonetia of theMoraceae produced nine equally parsimonious trees with 127 steps. TheUlmoideae (Ulmaceae, sensuGrudzinskaya) are a monophyletic group and distinct from theCeltidoideae. The genusAmpelocera occupies an isolated taxonomic position among the celtidoids. The similarity ofAmpelocera to the fossil celtidoid flowerEoceltis of North America suggests thatAmpelocera posesses an archaic suite of characters, and occupies a primitive position among the celtidoids, theCannabaceae and theMoraceae. The relationships among the other celtidoid taxa,Cannabaceae, andBroussonetia are problematic. TheCannabaceae andBroussonetia of theMoraceae are nested within the celtidoids suggesting that this is a paraphyletic group. The close, but unresolved, relationship of the celtidoids to theMoraceae andCannabaceae observed in this analysis, and the appearance of the celtidoids in the fossil record prior to the ulmoids suggests that the evolutionary relationship of the ulmoids and celtidoids may be more distant than current taxonomic treatments reflect.     

The taxonomy ofVaccinium sectionHemimyrtillus

In view of their awnless stamens and pseudo-10-loculed berries borne on short racemes several NE Asian species ofVaccinium (includingV. hirtum, V. smallii, V. versicolor, andV. yakushimense) were transferred toVaccinium sectionCyanococcus by Sleumer (1941). Subsequently, however, Stevens (1969) and Vander Kloet (1972, 1981) argued on the basis of further study that these taxa should be transferred instead to sectionHemimyrtillus. Phenetic analyses of data from representatives of sectionsCyanococcus andHemimyrtillus, including NE Asian taxa transferred by Sleumer, demonstrate the distinctness of the two sections and support the assignment of the NE Asian taxa to sectionHemimyrtillus. A revised taxonomic treatment and key to the species ofVaccinium sectionHemimyrtillus is provided.     

Peroxidasemuster und Systematik vonArgyranthemum undChrysanthemum s. str. (Asteraceae-Anthemideae)

Leaf extracts of several taxa ofArgyranthemum (nanophaneroand chamaephytes endemic to the Macaronesian Islands) andChrysanthemum s. str. (therophytes of the West Mediterranean region) were subjected to polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and analysis of peroxidase isoenzymes. The differences between the two genera are small; this points to their close affinity. The taxonomic subdivision ofChrysanthemum s. str. is confirmed. ForArgyranthemum the inclusion ofA. callichrysum andA. ochroleucum into sect.Ismelia is suggested.A. foeniculaceum may fit better into the otherwise isolated sect.Monoptera but somewhat approaches sect.Ismelia. Isoenzyme patterns inA. frutescens s. l. seem to reflect a geographical differentiation of the group on 5 Canary Islands.

     

Different levels of morphometric variation in three heterogamous dogrose species (Rosa sect.Caninae, Rosaceae)

Difficulties in delimiting well-defined entities in the dogroses (Rosa sect.Caninae) has resulted in very variable taxonomic treatments. The present study was undertaken to provide a background for taxonomy as well as plant breeding. Morphometric diversity was analysed on seedlings obtained from field collections in South Sweden of three species,Rosa dumalis, R. rubiginosa andR. villosa. A canonical variates analysis showed that the three species are relatively distinct whereas two subspecies ofR. dumalis were less well discriminated. Analyses of variance demonstrated that intraspecific variation is pronounced inR. dumalis and, to a lesser extent, inR. villosa.     

A new point of view on the taxonomy ofPottia starckeana agg. (Musci,Pottiaceae)

A new taxonomic treatment is proposed for thePottia starckeana species complex. The peristome development is not considered to be a useful feature to separate the taxa. On the basis of spore morphology only two species are accepted:P. starckeana, with spores wavy in outline, andP. davalliana, with variously-shaped and developed processes on the spores.Pottia starckeana var.brachyoda is reduced to synonymy withP. starckeana; P. conica andP. commutata are treated as synonyms ofP. davalliana. The speciesP. mutica, P. affinis, P. salina, P. microphylla, P. texana, andP. arizonica (included var.mucronulata) are considered taxa of doubtful affinity, as they have spore features intermediate between the two spore types established for the group. The identity ofP. appertii andP. recurvifolia has not been elucidated because the type material has been destroyed.     

Nutritional physiology of type isolates of currently accepted species ofExophiala andPhaeococcomyces

Nutritional physiological and tolerance tests were performed for all type strains of species currently classified in the black yeast generaExophiala andPhaeococcomyces, including some additional type strains of taxa recently reidentified asExophiala species. Most describedExophiala species can be distinguished by physiological characters.Exophiala jeanselmei with its varieties, andE. castellanii should all be retained as separate taxa. The pairs of strainsMycotorula schawii/Exophiala dermatitidis, Hormodendrum negronii/Exophiala jeanselmei var.lecaniicorni andSporotrichum gougerotii/Torula bergeri were found to be conspecific. Phenetic analyses of physiological data support the identity ofPhaeococcomyces exophialae as a yeast-like synanamorph ofExophiala spinifera. The taxonomic positions of the generaNadsoniella, Phaeoannellomyces andWangiella are discussed. The generaExophiala andPhaeococcomyces are unrelated.     

Chromosome comparison among five species of platyrrhini (Alouatta caraya,Aotus azarae,Callithrix jacchus,Cebus apella,andSaimiri sciureus)

Karyotypes of 82 individuals from five Platyrrhini species (Alouatta caraya, Aotus azarae, Callithrix jacchus, Cebus apella, andSaimiri sciureus) were studied and compared using a G-banding technique. Cytogenetic analysis showed full chromosome or full arm homologies among these geographically neighbouring species. A small number of chromosomal rearrangements (inversions, deletions, and translocations) could be detected among these taxa. These five species are closely related in chromosomal evolution. An interesting correspondance was found betweenCebus apella chromosomes and those of the other four species.Alouatta caraya andCebus apella are the closest species.Callithrix jacchus andAotus azarae would have the most separated karyotypes.     

The phylogenetic relationships ofByblis andRoridula (Byblidaceae-Roridulaceae) inferred from partial 18S ribosomal RNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of the angiosperm generaByblis andRoridula have been the subject of ongoing taxonomic controversy. Twenty-eight taxa of varying degrees of alleged relationship, including 3 members of theWinteraceae (as an outgroup), were investigated using partial sequences of 18S rRNA (small subunit) and also compared against the morphological data set fromHufford's (1992) cladistic treatment of 80 members of theRosidae-Asteridae. The morphological analysis placed the two genera in a clade with theSarraceniaceae in theCorniflorae-Asterid group as a sister taxon to anEricales-Hydrangeales clade. The 18S rRNA analysis supports the recently publishedrbcL DNA analysis ofAlbert & al. (1992), withRoridula joined to taxa in the lowerRosidae, butByblis joining instead to members of theAsteridae near theSolanaceae. Comparisons for congruence between the three analyses placeByblis in the higher Asterid group near theSolanaceae, andRoridula possibly nearer theSarraceniaceae andEricales. These results imply that the traditional morphological characters used to relate the two genera are possibly the result of convergence towards similar ecological and life-history strategies rather than synapomorphies.     

Taxonomy of theAlouatta seniculus group: Biochemical and chromosome data

Wild populations ofAlouatta belzebul andA. seniculus from Brazil were surveyed in relation to 20 protein loci. Estimates of genetic variability demonstrated thatA. seniculus presents the highest level of heterozygosity among several New World monkey species studied for the same loci. Additional information from DNA and chromosomes suggest thatA. seniculus andA. belzebul are not the closest species in theHershkovitz’sAlouatta seniculus group.     

Molecular phylogeny of JapaneseAmanita species based on nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The molecular phylogeny of 36 specimens of JapaneseAmanita species was studied based on nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. The phylogenetic tree obtained supported the traditional classification systems of Bas (1969) and Singer (1986), which are based on morphological characters, in the division of the genusAmanita is divided into subgeneraAmanita andLepidella by the amyloidity of basidiospores. However, at section-level, we suggest that subgenusAmanita should be divided into three sections (Amanita, Vaginatae, andCaesareae). Our results also showed the necessity to modify the taxonomic treatments at section-level in the subgenusLepidella. It appears that the establishment ofA. muscaria andA. pantherina from a common ancestral species might be a very recent event, or these might be lower taxa of same species. As for three subspecies ofA. hemibapha and three varieties ofA. vaginata, it is necessary to grade up their taxonomical ranks from subspecies/variety to species. A new combination,A. javanica, is proposed forA. hemibapha subsp.javanica.     

Taxonomic status of Cuscuta nevadensis and C. veatchii (Convolvulaceae) in North America

The taxonomy ofCuscuta nevadensis andC. veatchii is investigated.Cuscuta nevadensis is more closely related toC. veatchii andC. denticulata than toC. salina, and the former two taxa are accepted as species. A summary of relevant taxonomic and biological information is provided, including synonymy, distribution and ecology, keys, and a comparison of the morphology of flowers and seeds are examined. The morphological basis of vivipary inC. nevadensis is discussed. The status ofCuscuta vivipara, an invalid name in recent use, is clarified.     

Fire-survival strategy — a character of taxonomic,ecological and evolutionary importance in fynbos legumes

Variation in the fire-survival strategy of the fynbos, legume tribesPodalyrieae andLiparieae was studied, since it is often the only conspicuous difference between morphologically similar taxa. Two main strategies are apparent: sprouters, taxa which are able to sprout from a woody rootstock after fire and non-sprouters, those which only recruit from seed after fire. In fynbos legumes sprouting and non-sprouting taxa differ in their habitat specificity, population densities, relative regional abundance, and in seed germination tempo. Speciation patterns, as inferred from an analysis of the geographical distribution and habitat specificity of the species, are discussed. Problems relating to the use of sprouting versus non-sprouting as a taxonomic character in fynbos legumes are addressed and possible solutions are given.     

Insect natural enemies of coffee green scales [Hemiptera: Coccidae] in Kenya and their potential for biological control ofCoccus celatus andC. viridis in Papua New Guinea

Coffee green scales,Coccus celatus De Lotto andC. viridis (Green), are major pests of coffee in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Surveys for insect natural enemies of coffee green scales were conducted in Kenya to find species suitable for introduction to PNG. Natural enemy communities in Kenya were found to be diverse, particularly those located in the central highlands where 3 primary parasitoids,Metaphycus stanleyi Compere,M. baruensis Noyes andDiversinervus stramineus Compere (Encyrtidae), were dominant onC. celatus andC. alpinus De Lotto. It is suggested that these 3 parasitoids may be potential biological control agents forC. celatus. Several insect predators were found associated withC. celatus in the central highlands but most were only common in ant-free scale populations. An aphelinid primary parasitoid,Coccophagus rusti Compere, was the only natural enemy ofC. viridis located. This species, however, could be of potential as a biological control agent, especially in view of its previous use in biological control against soft scales.      

Three new species and a new combination in the genusTorulomyces from soil

Seven isolates ofTorulomyces from Asian and Australian soil samples were studied in comparison with known taxa of the genus and withMonocillium indicum, the type species ofMonocillium. Three new species,Torulomyces parviverrucosus, T. laevis, andT. ovatus, are described, andT. brunneus is described as a new combination. Conidial characteristics, especially their shape and surface structure, are useful taxonomic criteria for distinguishing species ofTorulomyces. Monocillium is considered to be a distinct genus.     

Multivariate morphometric and allozymic analysis of theConospermum taxifolium (Proteaceae) species complex

A morphometric analysis of 18 attributes of 110 plants of theConospermum taxifolium complex suggests that it consists of three polythetically distinct taxa, corresponding to the traditional concepts ofC. taxifolium Smith s. str.,C. ericifolium Smith andC. ellipticum Smith. Discrimination is possible on the basis of leaf but not flower attributes. Analysis of allozymic variation indicates that the taxa are also genotypically differentiated.C. ericifolium andC. ellipticum are geographically isolated from each other but not fromC. taxifolium, andC. taxifolium is usually ecologically segregated from the other two taxa. Where this ecological segregation breaks down, morphological intermediates sometimes occur as the result of hybridization.