Molecular reexamination of korean umbelliferae based on internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA:Ligusticum tenuissimum (Nakai) Kitagawa andLibanotis coreana (Wolff) kitagawa

The taxonomic status ofLigusticum tenuissimum (Nakai) Kitagawa andLibanotis coreana (Wolff) Kitagawa has been controversial in Korea. We examined their phylogenetic relationships by comparing the internal transcribed spacer (=ITS) sequences of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (=rDNA) with another seven species in the Korean Umbelliferae. Our results support the legitimacy of the nomenclatural combination withL. tenuissimum Kitagawa rather than withAngelica tenuissima Nakai. We also suggest usingL coreana (Wolff) Kitagawa instead ofSeseli coreanum Wolff becauseL. coreana has been completely separated from most taxa of the genusSeseli. In addition, we have confirmed at least three phylogenetic lines in the genusLigusticum. One is the core group ofLigusticum that comprisesL tenuissimum and four other species. This clade includes theLigusticum hultenii line andLigusticum scothicum, known as an anomaly ofLigusticum. The second clade is composed ofLigusticum physospermifolium withSeseli monatum, which indicates the polyphyly ofLigusticum. The third line isLigusticum acutilobum, clustered as a sister grade ofDystaenia.     

Two new species ofIsoetes (Isoetaceae) from Jeju Island, South Korea

We name and describe two new species,Isoetes jejuensis and I.hallasanensis, from Jeju Island, South Korea. These taxa are compared with related species in East Asia, including I.coreana andI. sinensis. The rugulate megaspore ornamentation ofI. jejuensis differs from those otherIsoetes species. Furthermore,I. hallasanensis varies fromI. asiatica in its microspore ornamentation and chromosome number, although both species have an echinate megaspore ornamentation. These new species are tetraploid (2n = 44), whereasI. coreana is hexaploid (2n = 66).     

Two new fossil woods ofAcer and a new combination ofPrunus from the Tertiary of Japan

Two new species ofAcer fossil woods,A. momijiyamense andA. Watarianum, are described and a short review of fossil wood of this genus from the Tertiary of Japan is given. In the course of a study on three fossil wood species which have been described asAcer andAcernium from Japan, it is noticed thatAcernium iwatense Watari does not belong toAcer but toPrunus of the Rosaceae, and is therafore transferred intoPrunus asPrunus iwatense comb. nov.     

Quararibea (Bombacaceae): Five new species from moist and wet forests of Costa Rica and Panama

Five new species ofQuararibea from costa Rica and Panama are described and illustrated, with notes on their ecology and relationships.Quararibea gomeziana, Q. pendula, andQ. santaritensis are from the Caribbean lowlands of the Provinces of Limón, Costa Rica, and of Bocas del Toro and Colón, Panama.Quararibea aurantiocalyx andQ. costaricensis are from montane habitats of Panama and Costa Rica. The exceptionally long pedicels ofQ. pendula far exceed those of other known members ofQuararibea and may prove to be the most striking example of adaptation to bat pollination and fruit dispersal in the genus.Quararibea costaricensis, a relatively common species, has long been erroneously identified asQ. platyphylla, a much rarer inhabitant of the same region.     

New species and new combinations in Briquetia and Hochreutinera,and a discussion of the Briquetia generic alliance (Malvaceae)

Two new species ofBriquetia,B. sonorae andB. inermis, are described from northern Mexico, and another species that ranges from Mexico to Bolivia is transferred into the genus asB. spicata. The genus (previously known as monotypic, Paraguayan-Brazilian) is thereby enlarged from one species to four, and its geographical and morphological limits are greatly expanded. Also, a Mexican species ofAbutilon is transferred toHochreutinera, asH. amplexifolia, enlarging that genus from one to two species. On the basis of this new information, the limits of the informalBriquetia alliance are reconsidered; it is considered to include onlyBriquetia, Dirhamphis, andBatesimalva.     

Gynostemium structure and relationships of theCorallorhizinae (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae)

Several types of pollinium stalk are present in theCorallorhizinae. Govenia has a cellular epidermal pollinium stalk, whileTipularia has a unique stipe that results from prolongation and detachment of the rostellum.Dactylostalix andEphippianthus have no stipe, but do have a detachable viscidium.Aplectrum, Corallorhiza, Cremastra, andOreorchis have hamuli. Cladistic analysis of morphological characters suggests that these four genera form a coreCorallorhizinae, and are sister group to a clade includingTipularia, Calypso, andYoania (the latter two possessing a true tegula).Govenia is shown to be most closely related to cymbidioid genera (such asEulophia), sharing with them the cellular epidermal pollinium stalk andCymbidium type velamen, and indicating that removal ofGovenia fromCorallorhizinae is appropriate.Dactylostalix andEphippianthus appear to occupy a more basal position in the subfamily, further arguing that the subtribe as previously recognized is paraphyletic.     

Molecular evidence for the inclusion of the Korean endemic genus “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinosophora</Emphasis>” in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sophora</Emphasis> (Fabaceae), and embryological features of the genus

Although Echinosophora Nakai has been known as a monotypic and endemic genus of Papillionoideae of Fabaceae in Korea, it has been controversial whether it is distinct from or merged with Sophora. To resolve this matter, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequence data from the plastid rbcL gene and trnL (UAA) intron. Parsimony analysis, using a total of 53 taxa of the Papillionoideae (including E. koreensis [Nakai] Nakai and several species of Sophora and related genera) and using 20 taxa of Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae as outgroups, showed that, although the examined species of Sophora are split into two clades, E. koreensis formed a common clade with S. tomentosa (the type species of the genus) and S. flavescens. E. koreensis therefore should be treated as S. koreensis Nakai, and the generic name Echinosophora be eliminated. We also investigated the embryology of S. koreensis (=E. koreensis) and S. flavescens and found that no differences existed between them. Our molecular study, like other studies, strongly suggested that Sophora is polyphyletic. In this study we presented a summary of embryological features of the core Sophora for future critical comparison with related and unrelated taxa.     

The generic classification of Fayum anthropoidea

The early anthropoid species initially described asAegyptopithecus zeuxis Simons, 1965, from the Oligocene of Egypt, although retained by many authors in the monotypic genusAegyptopithecus, has been lumped by others into the genusPropliopithecus. Similarly, the species originally described asParapithecus grangeri Simons, 1974, has been ranked by some authors in a monotypic genusSimonsius, while others retain it inParapithecus. Criteria to be considered in resolving these taxonomic debates are (1) the adequacy and consistency of proposed morphological differences between species; (2) analogy with the degree of morphological variation tolerated within extant genera; and (3) nomenclatural conservatism. A philosophy that would require strict monophyletic classification is of insufficient practical value for assessing the validity of Fayum genera. Characters cited as distinguishing vetweenAegyptopithecus andPropliopithecus, and betweenSimonsius andParapithecus, are reviewed and evaluated. The results indicate thatA. zeuxis is generically distinct from species ofPropliopithecus, based on differences in the crown structure and proportions of the molars.Pa. grangeri cannot be shown to differ at the generic level from the type and only known specimen ofPa. fraasi, thus establishing Simonsius as a junior synonym ofParapithecus.     

Morphology,ultrastructure and taxonomy of the raphidophycean algaHeterosigma akashiwo

Heterosigma akashiwo and its related algae were re-examined by light and electron microscopes using cultured materials including type cultures of bothH. akashiwo andH. inlandica as well as specimens referred to asOlisthodiscus luteus maintained in CCAP and UTEX. All the strains examined were similar to one another in appearance and ultrastructural features. They can be accommodated in a single species,H. akashiwo, which has been invalidly published. In this paper, the genus is validly desribed by providing a Latin diagnosis and designating a type species. Ultrastructural characteristics are also given for the genus.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the generaCladonia andCladina (Cladoniaceae, lichenizedAscomycota)

A cladistic analysis of 44 species of the generaCladina andCladonia is presented.Pycnothelia papillaria, Cladia aggregata andC. retipora were used as outgroup taxa. The consensus of all equally parsimonious trees suggests a common ancestral origin for species inCladonia andCladina while the generaPycnothelia andCladia cluster outside this group. The results do not support distinction ofCladina at genus level although it is distinguished as a monophyletic group but within the genusCladonia. The current sectional division ofCladonia is not supported. SectionsCocciferae andHelopodium are best supported but even these groups as currently delimited seem to in include elements that are more closely related to species of the other sections, e.g.C. carneola of sect.Cocciferae andC. pityrophylla of sect.Helopodium. Sections such asUnciales andPerviae seem to be artificial assemblages. In general the evolutionary scheme of the genus seems to be more complicated than revealed by the current sectional division.     

A revision of Schimperella (Brachytheciaceae)

Schimperella is a small African genus related toRhynchostegium. It is characterized by noncomplanate plants with erect capsules and reduced endostomes. Two species are recognized:S. katalensis andS. rhynchostegioides. A proposed synonym ofS. rhynchostegioides, Rhynchostegium nervosum, is best placed inIsothecium, asIsothecium nervosum.     

Species delimitation in the Luziola peruviana (Poaceae) complex

Luziola is a small genus from aquatic environments of the New World. The most widespread species in the genus isL. peruviana. Morphological variation has been documented for this species throughout its entire range of distribution, however this variation has been difficult to characterize. A population aggregation analysis was performed in order to determine how many species can be identified when analyzing characters from the individuals of this taxon as well as with individuals from closely related taxa such asL. divergens, L. doelliana, andL. pittieri. Multivariate analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses were also performed to detect if quantitative morphological variation is related to altitude and latitude. Results indicate that within this complex only one species should be recognized, referable toL. peruviana, and that plants near the equator are larger, and have larger lemmas and paleas in both female and male flowers. An identification key for the nine species now recognized inLuziola is included.     

Four new species of yeast isolated from insect frass in bark ofTsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sargent

Summary In a study of the yeasts associated with insect frass underneath the bark ofTsuga heterophylla (the Pacific Coast hemlock) four new species of yeast were found. These were described asSporobolomyces singularis, Bullera tsugae, Cryptococcus skinneri andCandida oregonensis. Sporobolomyces singularis is a non-pigmented species, which required an amendment of the genus definition. Ballistospore formation of the new species ofSporobolomyces and ofBullera was absent on malt agar and on potato glucose agar, but positive on corn meal agar. An unusual case of quantitative transgalactosylation by growing cells ofSporobolomyces singularis on lactose has been described. It has been proposed to establish a “Candida parapsilosis Group” of species to whichC. oregonensis was assigned. Supported by a fellowship of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal.     

Ubiquinone system,GC contents and cellular fatty acid composition of species of the form-genusMalbranchea andCoccidioides immitis for chemotaxonomic study

Ubiquinone system, GC contents and cellular fatty acid (CFA) composition were analyzed as criteria for chemotaxonomy ofMalbranchea species andCoccidioides immitis, which are suggested to be phylogenetically related. Based on the major ubiquinone,Malbranchea spp. were divided into two groups, of which one group possessed the same major ubiquinone asC. immitis. Similar GC contents and CFA profiles were obtained for the species ofMalbranchea andC. immitis. On the basis of these criteria the relationships between the fungi are discussed.     

Towards a phylogeny of the actinomycetes and related organisms

The method of 16S ribosomal RNA oligonucleotide cataloging has been used to establish phylogenetic relationships among a number of genera of actinomycetes and related organisms. The findings serve as a starting point for a restructuring of actinomycete taxonomy. Several genera, such asThermoactinomyces andEubacterium, do not belong with the group, and the species of at least one atypical genus,Micrococcus, must be included therein. The general tendency to classify within the group according to morphological complexity was shown to be phylogenetically invalid.     

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.

     

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.     

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. III. DUMONTIACEAE,WEEKSIACEAE, KALLYMENIACEAE1

The female reproductive structures and their development, and the vegetative structure are studied in 17 species of red algae in the Cryptonemiales (Rhodophyceae). Three genera, Weeksia, Constantinea, and the type species of Leptocladia, are removed from the Dumontiaceae to a newly created family, the Weeksiaceae, because of differing postfertilization events leading to the development of the gonimoblast from a cell of the carpogonial branch. Three genera of Dumontiaceae are studied: Pikea, including P. californica, the type species, and Pikea robusta a newly described species; Dilsea californica, and a newly described species of Neodilsea, a genus heretofore known only from the northwestern Pacific. Two transfers are made from the genus Leptocladia, 1 to Farlowia, as F. conferta, and 1 to Rhodophyllis (Gigartinales) as R. peruviana. Three species in the Kallymeniaceae are redescribed: Kallymenia pacifica, a rare and nearly unknown species from southern California and adjacent Pacific Mexico; K. norrisii from central California; and K. oblongifructa from Washington, Oregon, and northern California.     

Highly repeated DNA analysis and systematics of the Lemuridae,a family of Malagasy prosimians

Hybridization of highly repeated DNA sequences ofEulemur fulvus mayottensis, Lemur catta, andVarecia has been performed on blots of different species of Lemuridae (L. catta, Hapalemur griseus, Varecia variegata variegata, V. v. rubra, E. macaco macaco, E. coronatus, E. mongoz, andE. rubriventer). The probe ofE. fulvus only hybridized with the differentEulemur species, whereas that ofVarecia hybridized with the two subspecies ofVarecia and that ofL. catta with bothL. catta andHapalemur. These results were used to confirm the classification ofVarecia in a separate genus and to review the separation of theL. catta/Hapalemur group from the other species ofEulemur. Comparison of the migration patterns from DNA fragments of these different species has been used to propose a cladogram of the differentEulemur species.