A phylogenetic analysis of the Illiciaceae based on sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were determined for 15 species ofIllicium (Illiciaceae) to examine phylogenetic relationships. The ITS trees show a major dichotomy between the two North American species (I. floridanum andI. parviflorum) and the remaining east Asian species. This suggests that the existing division between two sections (sect.Illicium and sect.Cymbostemon) ofIllicium based on tepal characters in unnatural. The ITS phylogeny shows congruence with palynology: of the species examined, the three species (I. angustisepalum, I. anisatum andI. fargesii) from sect.Illicium that possess trizonocolpate pollen consistently form a clade, although nesting within a clade consisting of the species of sect.Cymbostemon, which generally have trisyncolpate pollen. The low ITS sequence divergence and the close relationship among east Asian species suggest a recent diversification of this group of species or an unusual slowdown of sequence mutations.     

New species and a new combination in Myrtaceae from northeastern South America

Three new species of Myrtaceae (Calyptranthes bracteata, Eugenia gonglycocarpa, andMyrcia rupta) from northeastern South America are described and illustrated, and a new combination (Eugenia tetramera) is proposed. The closed-calyx and the completely or partially fused cotyledons ofMyrcia rupta, unusual features for the genus, are discussed and compared with related species inMyrcia andMarlierea.     

A new species of Cestrum (Solanaceae) from the Cordillera de Mérida, Venezuela

A new species ofCestrum from the Cordillera de Mérida in Trujillo state is described and illustrated.Cestrum darcyanum, morphologically similar toC. microcalyx Francey, is distinguished by dendritic pubescence on its branchlets and leaves, larger corolla, stamens distended and geniculate above their point of adnation to the corolla, and larger calyx. A key is provided for species of VenezuelanCestrum possessing dendritic pubescence.     

Two new species of Haplopappus (Astereae, Asteraceae) from Mendoza, Argentina

A review of the Argentinean specimens ofHaplopappus Cass. has revealed two new species from Mendoza province, both of the sectionHaplopappus:H. boelkei, unique by its caespitose habit and long petiolate leaves, andH. mendocinus, related toH. macrocephalus (Less.) DC.,H. ochagavianus Phil. andH. tiltilensis Phil.     

Floral ontogeny of five species ofTalinum and of related taxa (Portulacaceae)

The floral development of five species ofTalinum is studied. Each flower is surrounded by two involucral bracts. The perianth consists of five tepals initiated in a 2/5 phyllotaxis. In all species studied a first whorl of 10–13 stamens is initiated, except inT. napiforme where this whorl is reduced to five stamens. In multistaminate androecia, additional whorls develop centrifugally. InT. paniculatum, T. portulacifolium andT. napiforme the first stamens are initiated in pairs opposite the outer tepals. In several flowers ofT. paniculatum andT. portulacifolium ten stamens are incepted in spiral sequence resembling diplostemony. Similar ontogenetic patterns are present in several species ofPhytolacca. However, within the genusTalinum the ontogenetic pattern of the firstly initiated stamens is not consistent with traditional diplostemony. InT. triangulare the firstly initiated stamens are incepted in sectors on a ring meristem, resembling the early inception in several species ofAnacampseros andPortulaca. The nectaries are associated with the filament bases and can be defined as caducous nectaries of the staminal type. The development of the tricarpellate, syncarpous gynoecium is very similar in all species studied; it is characterised by a leptate carpel-form.     

Floral scent chemistry and pollination ecology in phytelephantoid palms (Arecaceae)

The subfamilyPhytelephantoideae comprises three genera (Ammandra, Aphandra, andPhytelephas) and seven species of dioecious palms. The floral scents ofAmmandra dasyneura, A. decasperma, Aphandra natalia, Phytelephas aequatorialis, P. macrocarpa, andP. seemannii were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We studied the pollination biology ofA. natalia, P. aequatorialis, andP. macrocarpa, and tested how the synthetically produced main constituents of the floral scents ofAphandra andPhytelephas attracted insects in two natural populations ofPhytelephas. The genera are distinct in terms of floral scents.Ammandra has sesquiterpenes,Aphandra (+)-2-methoxy-3-sec-butylpyrazine, andPhytelephas p-methyl anisol. These constituents dominated the scents quantitatively and qualitatively. The similarity between scents of male and female inflorescences was 76.5% inAmmandra, 84.2% inAphandra, and >99% inPhytelephas. Different species ofAleocharinae (Staphylinidae) pollinateAphandra natalia andPhytelephas species and reproduce in their male inflorescences.Derelomini (Curculinoidae) andMystrops (Nitidulidae) only visit and pollinatePhytelephas in which male inflorescences they reproduce. A species ofBaridinae (Curculionidae) only visits and pollinatesAphandra natalia, and reproduces in its female inflorescence. The apparent reliance on one or a few floral scent constituents as attractants and few and specific pollinators may indicate co-evolution. Sympatric species ofPhytelephantoideae have different scents. We suggest that species with similar scents have allopatric distributions due to the absence of a pollinator isolation mechanism.     

Some foliicolous ectoparasites and associated fungi from Jabalpur (M.P.) II

Summary In this paper the author has described eight more interesting foliicolous ectoparasites from Jabalpur (M.P.) India. Out of thesePyrenochaeta mitteriellae Sahni an hyperparasite onMitteriella zizyphina Syd. colonising leaves ofZizyphus xylopyra Willd.,Chaetothyrium jasminicola Sahni onJasminum sambac Ait., andMyiocopron parviflorae Sahni onIxora parviflora Vahl are reported as new species.Micropeltis ekmanii Petr. &Cif. on leaves ofCarissa spinarum L.,Asterinella ixorae Ryan on leaves ofIxora parviflora Vahl andPlenotrichum sp. on leaves ofCasearia tomentosa Roxb. are three new fungus records for this country. The remaining two fungi viz.Asterina tonduzi (Speg.)Syd. onFlacourtia ramontchi L'Herr. andBalladynopsis negrii (Cast.) M. B.Ellis onRandia dumetorum Lamk. are new state reocrds.     

Anchusella, a new genus ofBoraginaceae from the Central-Eastern Mediterranean

The two closely related speciesLycopsis variegata andAnchusa cretica, formerly placed inAnchusa subg.Rivinia, were compared with the type species ofLycopsis andAnchusa, on the basis of a set of macro and microcharacters. The presence of only two fertile stamens as well as other peculiar characters in flower structure, androecium, gynoecium, pollen and fruit, supports the institution of the new genusAnchusella, consisting ofA. variegata andA. cretica. Karyological and eco-chorological aspects are consistent with morphological data in pointing to the autonomy of this genus, which appears characterized by autapomorphic, advanced traits.     

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.     

Generic delimitation of Aralia (Araliaceae)

Aralia, described by Linnaeus, remains a poorly defined genus. Many satellite genera ofAralia have been proposed, and some have been accepted without critical evaluation. These genera includeCoudenbergia, Megalopanax, Parapentapanax, andPentapanax. This study examined the historical background of the establishment of these genera and their diagnostic characters. It was found that (1)Aralia s. str. is a relatively diverse genus; (2) the separation ofPentapanax andParapentapanax fromAralia is unsubstantiated; (3)Megalopanax is synonymous withCoudenbergia; and (4) the boundaries betweenAralia and bothCoudenbergia andPentapanax intergrade. It is proposed, therefore, to mergeCoudenbergia, Parapentapanax, andPentapanax withAralia, which has nomenclatural priority.Aralia is herein defined as consisting of those species in Araliaceae with pinnate leaves, articulated rachises, five to eight-merous flowers, petals imbricate in buds, and articulated pedicels. The revised generic concept requires the following new combinations or new names:Aralia castanopsisicola, A. franchetti, A. gigantea, A. laevis, A. leschenaultii, A. parasitica, A. rex, A. subcordata, A. verticillata, andA. warmingiana.     

Notes on Galianthe (Spermacoceae, Rubiaceae) in the Bolivian flora

Four new species ofGalianthe (G. boliviana, G. chiquitosana, G. sudyungesis, andG. kempffiana) for Bolivia are described and illustrated.Galianthe kempffiana is also known from Brazil.Galianthe laxa andG. bisepala are reported for the first time for Bolivia.     

Two new species of Myrsinaceae from French Guiana

Herbarium studies leading to a treatment of the Myrsinaceae for the Flora of Central French Guiana resulted in the discovery of two heretofore undescribed species,Cybianthus prevostiae andStylogyne incognita. The species are described and illustrated, and hypotheses regarding phylogenetic relationships with their respective congeners are provided.Cybianthus prevostiae is unusual among members ofCybianthus subgen.Weigeltia owing to its monoaxial habit and ellipsoid pistil, and deeply cupuliform calyx.Stylogyne incognita, a taxon often confused withS. micrantha, is most closely related toS. sordida but is separated from it by the corymbose inflorescence, entire leaves, longer petioles, and membranaceous perianth.     

The taxonomy of some Swartzieae (Leguminosae, subfam. Papilionoideae) from southeastern brazil

Three new species of Swartzieae are described and illustrated:Swartzia alternifoliolata, S. capixabensis, andZollernia cowanii. Swartzia apetala var.blanchetii and var.subcordata are considered to be synonyms ofS. apetala var.apetala, andS. grazielana a synonym ofS. macrostachya var.macrostachya. Keys to southeastern Brazil members ofSwartzia andZollernia are provided.     

Passiflora tacanensis, a new species of Passiflora subgenus Decaloba supersection Cieca from Mexico

Passiflora tacanensis, a new species from southern Mexico, is described and illustrated. It was discovered during the course of a taxonomic revision ofPassiflora subgenusDecaloba supersectionCieca and is assigned to that group of apetalous passion flowers.Passiflora tacanensis is known only from one fruiting herbarium specimen that was collected in southern Mexico on Volcán Tacaná in a high mesophytic forest. It is distinguished from its closest relatives,P. coriacea, P. sexocellata, P. mcvaughiana, andP. xiikzodz, by its foliose stipules, leaves that lack laminar nectaries but possess petiolar nectaries, and wide seeds with a chalazal beak that is not well developed.     

Heterostyly in species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) andHugonia (Linaceae) and other disputed cases

The hypothesis ofHenriques andFernandes that several Iberian species ofNarcissus (Amaryllidaceae) are tristylous is reconsidered. Contrary to the opinion ofBateman and most subsequent authors, we believe that the available evidence indicates that some populations ofN. triandrus andN. fernandesii, at least, are tristylous; other populations ofN. triandrus are distylous.Hugonia cf.penicillanthemum (Linaceae) from new Caledonia is distylous, but it remains possible that other species ofHugonia are tristylous. The disputed occurrence of heterostyly in S. African species ofBauhinia (Leguminosae),Cleome (Capparaceae) andAneilema (Commelinaceae), and inAgelaea (Connaraceae) is discussed.     

Neue Beobachtungen zur Bestäubung vonOphrys (Orchidaceae) in Südspanien,mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des FormenkreisesOphrys fusca agg.

An investigation of pseudocopulation behaviour in species ofOphrys from southern Spain confirms the close relationship betweenCampsoscolia ciliata (Scoliidae) andOphrys speculum, and betweenEucera nigrilabris (Apoidea) andOphrys tenthredinifera. It could be demonstrated thatEucera barbiventris is the pollinator ofOphrys scolopax subsp.scolopax, whereas other species ofEucera andTetralonia which are active at the same time show no interest at all for the flowers of this species. Special attention was paid to the forms of the taxonomically confusedOphrys fusca group:O. fusca s. str.,O. iricolor, O. omegaifera andO. atlantica. WhileO. fusca s. str. is widespread, small-flowered and has late anthesis,O. iricolor has very large flowers and early anthesis. Each of the four members ofO. fusca agg. in S. Spain is pollinated by a different bee, and selective experiments show that each of these four species of bees is specifically attracted only to one of theOphrys species:Andrena flavipes is the pollinator ofO. fusca s. str.,Colletes cunicularius infuscatus ofO. iricolor, Anthophora atroalba ofO. omegaifera, andChalicodoma parietina ofO. atlantica. These four pollinators belong to 4 different bee families (Andrenidae, Colletidae, Anthophoridae, Megachilidae). As this type of pollination represents a very effective pregamic isolation mechanism, these four taxa ofOphrys fusca agg., at least in southern Spain, behave and should be regarded as genuine species.

     

Ecological patterns in theBromeliaceae of the lomas formations of Coastal Chile and Peru

Studies of geographic distribution and physiological adaptations in theBromeliaceae of coastal Chile and Peru provide insights into the ecological patterns of habit selection and speciation. The hyperarid coastal Atacama and Peruvian Deserts along the Pacific coast of South America contain a surprisingly rich flora of bromeliad species. These include representatives of all threeBromeliaceae subfamilies: two terrestrialBromelioideae and two terrestialPitcairnioideae, all with rooted growth morphologies, and 14 species ofTillandsioideae (allTillandsia) with epiphytic and unrooted, terrestraial representatives. TheBromelioideae are represented by two species ofPuya Molina, one each in Peru and Chile. ThePitcairnioideae are represented by two genera,Deuterocohnia andPitcairnia, with one species each. The 14Tillandsia species are distributed in five subgenera which have successfully invaded the coastal deserts, and include both widespread and local endemics with xeromorphic adaptations. All theTillandsia species are epiphytic in the broad sense, but in addition to growing on plants, they are found growing on rocks (i.e. saxicolous or epilithic). Six species (T. purpurea, T. latifolia, T. capillaris, T. marconae, T. werdermanii, andT. landbeckii) have evolved a highly specialized substrate ecology where they grow essentially unrooted on sand (i.e. epiarenic). Nowhere in the world are bromeliads more dominant or have more biomass than in these coastal species growing on sand. Many of these species grow at the absolute limits of vascular plant tolerance, with the entire community consisting of a singleTillandsia species. Rooted, terrestrial bromeliads in the coastal lomas formations (allPitcairnioideae) include CAM, C₃, and C₃-CAM flexible taxa in their metabolic systems, the CAM species growing in the most arid sites along the coast and C₃ species growing in the most mesic habitats within the center of the coastal fog belt where fog moisture input is highest. All of the epiphyticTillandsia species of the coastal desert region utilize CAM metabolism entirely or in part. At least two species,T. latifolia andT. tragophoba, utilize a flexible C₃-CAM mode of carbon fixation. Whereas most of the desert-inhabitingTillandsia species have relatively narrow leaves covered by water absorbing trichomes on their surface,T. multiflora in northern Peru andT. tragophoba in northern Chile are tank-forming species where the bases of the leaves form a water-containing reservoir. The occurrence of the latter as a local endemic in hyperarid northern Chile is remarkable since it occurs thousands of kilometers south of its closest potential relatives in the central Andes.     

Floral development and systematics ofCistaceae

The floral development of representatives of six genera ofCistaceae has been studied. Calyx development involves the formation of a ring primordium in several taxa. Androecium development in species with intermediate or higher stamen numbers starts with the formation of a ring meristem on which the stamens are initiated in a centrifugal direction. In many taxa five alternipetalous leading stamen primordia can be observed. In the apetalous (cleistogamous) flowers ofTuberaria inconspicua androecium development appears to be unordered; this is probably due to the lack of petals. InLechea intermedia (also cleistogamous) the corolla is trimerous and three complex stamen primordia are produced, which give rise either to one or three stamens. Relationships withinCistaceae are discussed. Floral development inCistaceae is compared with that in otherMalvanae. Among the eight families ofMalvanae from which information on floral development is availableCochlospermaceae andBixaceae exhibit the greatest similarities toCistaceae. InCistaceae the leading stamen primordia are alternipetalous. InBixa the same condition seems to be present. InMalvales s. str. mostTiliaceae also show earliest stamen initiation in alternipetalous sectors, whereas the stamens of the innermost alternipetalous position are retarded early or even suppressed inSterculiaceae, Bombacaceae, andMalvaceae. WithinMalvales s. str. the diversity of androecial developmental patterns seems to decrease inBombacaceae andMalvaceae due to increasing synorganization in the mature androecium. The derivation of polyandry inMalvanae from diplo- or obdiplostemony is discussed by comparison with the sister clades ofMalvanae as shown in recentrbcL studies (i.e.Sapindales, Rutales, the glucosinolate producing clade, andMyrtales).     

Taxonomic notes on Mexican Ruellia (Acanthaceae)

The new nameRuellia comonduensis is provided for the species previously known asR. cordata Brandegee.Ruellia chilpancingana, a new species known only from Guerrero in southwestern Mexico, is described and compared to morphologically similar species. It is unique among Mexican species ofRuellia based on the following combination of characters: caducous bracteoles and secondary bracteoles, multiflowered dichasia from leaf axils, yellowish and cylindric-funnelform corollas, exserted stamens, and few (four or fewer) seeds per capsule. Macromorphological features and pollen ofR. chilpancingana are illustrated.