Cytological studies on some representative species of the tribe Orchideae (Orchidaceae) from China

Cytological studies were carried out on 14 taxa belonging to Amitostigma , Chusua , Galearis , Habenaria , Hemipilia , Hemipiliopsis , Herminium , Peristylus and Ponerochis , collected mostly from the south-eastern part of the Hengduan Mountain Region, south-west China. Cytological data on 11 of the taxa are reported for the first time. The interphase nuclei were either of the simple chromocentre type or intermediate between simple and complex chromocentre types. The nuclear morphology of Hemipiliopsis at interphase supports the conclusion that it is related more closely to Chusua and Ponerochis than to Habenaria . At the whole tribe level, however, the results did not indicate a clear correlation between morphological features of the interphase nuclei and phylogeny. The somatic chromosome numbers were 2 n  = 42 in ten species and 2 n  = 32, 38, 40, 64 and 72 in four species. The chromosome counts of 2 n  = 32 and 64 in Habenaria aitchsonii are rare in the genus. It is proposed that the repeated change of chromosome number from x  = 7 to x  = 8 has played an important role in the evolution of the tribe Orchideae. This change has occurred mainly in the European subtribe Orchidinae, but also in the Asian subtribe Habenariinae.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 231–238.     

Floral morphology of southern African Orchideae. II. Habenariinae

The floral morphology of the southern African genera of Orchideae-Habenariinae (Bonatea, Cynorkis, Habenaria, Platycoryne, Stenoglottis, Centrostigma and Roe-perocharis) is surveyed paying special attention to the gynostemium. Ontogenetic data are provided for the species from which adequate material was available. It is shown that the floral architecture is essentially an elaboration and complication of that found in the better known Orchidinae. The structural similarities are particularly evident in the early ontogeny. Although the tribe Orchideae is commonly said to have gynostemia with erect anthers, a few Habenariinae are reported here to have reflexed anthers. In most cases both 'auricles' (filament excrescences) and 'basal bulges' (staminodes) are united to form the lateral gynostemium appendages. The primordia of both structures are clearly recognizable in the early ontogeny in all species studied. In Habenaria dregeana the basal bulges are only basally fused to the auricles, but in their main portion become adnate to the lip and petal bases: the auricles then solely form the lateral gynostemium appendages. It is suspected that this occurs also in other species not studied here. Systematic and phylogenetic aspects of the southern African representatives of the Habenariinae are discussed: the generic separation of Bonatea, Platycoryne and Centrostigma from Habenaria does not appear justified. Cynorkis, Roeperocharis and Stenoglottis are morphologically dissimilar to Habenaria. Based on the findings in the southern African taxa the status of the Habenariinae, Orchidinae, Orchideae and Diseae is discussed: there is no clear distinction between Habenariinae and Orchidinae; while the Diseae seem to represent a monophyletic group, the Orchideae are possibly polyphyletic.     

Preliminary checklist of the orchids of Chile

This article provides a preliminary checklist of the orchids occurring in Chile, based on historical and recently published literature. Data compilation was assisted by using databases available on the Web (IPNI, W³Tropicos and KR). The list comprises seven genera ( Aa , Bipinnula , Brachystele , Chloraea , Codonorchis , Gavilea and Habenaria ) and 50 taxa (49 species and one variety), 25 of which are believed to be endemic to Chile. It includes the publication of a new combination, Gavilea feuilleana comb. nov.   © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 449−451.     

Morphological analysis, phylogenies and classification in Velloziaceae

A morphological (non-molecular) cladistic analysis of the Velloziaceae is presented. The terminal taxa are 47 species of Velloziaceae plus four taxa as outgroups: Acanthochlamys bracteata (Acanthochlamydaceae), Encholirium scrutor (Bromeliaceae), Thoracocarpus bissectus (Cyclanthaceae) and Pandanus racemosus (Pandanaceae). The species of Velloziaceae sampled represent a significant proportion of the morphological diversity of the family, including all recognized genera and sections. The analysis revealed two major groups within Velloziaceae, supported mainly by stomata, vascular bundles in the pedicel, aquiferous tissues, filaments, anthers, pollen, stigma, seeds, ploidy and chemical characters. Comparison between this and the previous phylogenetic hypotheses for Velloziaceae, together with the two conflicting current classifications, suggests that there is incompatibility concerning the support of current genera and sections. The only three groups supported in all phylogenies are Barbacenioideae sensu Menezes (= Barbacenia sensu Smith & Ayensu), Xerophyta sect. Barbacenioides and Xerophyta sect. Xerophyta sensu Smith & Ayensu.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 157–173.     

Gynoecium, fruit and seed structure of Paullinieae (Sapindaceae)

Despite an emphasis on fruit characters in Paullinieae taxonomy, few detailed morphological and anatomical studies of the gynoecia, fruits and seeds exist. The aims of the present study were (1) to provide a detailed documentation of gynoecium, fruit and seed structure and ontogeny in selected Paullinieae taxa; (2) to determine whether the gynoecium, seed and seedling provide additional characters of systematic value within the tribe; and (3) to relate the structural findings to mechanisms of fruit dehiscence and dispersal within these taxa. Newly described characters of systematic value within Paullinieae are shape and surface of the obturator, type of pollen tube transmitting tract, indumentum of the inner and outer surface of the carpels, ovary wall anatomy, aril anatomy, pseudo-hilum form, seedling germination mode and structure of first leaves. The fruits of Paullinia are septifragal, and conspicuous colour contrasts between the pericarp, aril and seed in most species of this genus are suggestive of a bird dispersal syndrome. Interestingly, it appears that relatively minor structural changes are associated with switches to rodent dispersal in Paullinia sphaerocarpa and water dispersal in P. clathrata and P. hystrix. Anemochorous fruits are septifragal ( Cardiospermum and Urvillea ) or schizocarpic ( Houssayanthus , Lophostigma , Serjania ). They are structurally similar and Cardiospermum with septifragal capsules may also show septicidal dehiscence.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 159–189.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blenniids

The phylogenetic relationships of 27 north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blennioids are analysed based on a total of 1001 bp from a combined fragment of the 12S and 16S mitochondrial rDNA. The most relevant results with implications in current blenniid taxonomy are: (1) Lipophrys pholis and Lipophrys (=  Paralipophrys ) trigloides are included in a well-supported clade that by the rule of precedence must be named Lipophrys ; (2) the sister species of this clade are not the remaining species of the genus Lipophrys but instead a monotypic genus comprising Coryphoblennius galerita ; (3) the smaller species of Lipophrys were recovered in another well-supported and independent clade, which we propose to be recognized as Microlipophrys ; (4) although some authors included the genera Salaria and Lipophrys in a single group we have never recovered such a relationship. Instead, Salaria is more closely related to the genera Scartella and Parablennius ; (5) the genus Parablennius , which was never recovered as a monophyletic clade, is very diverse and may include several distinct lineages; (6) the relative position of Aidablennius sphynx casts some doubts on the currently recognized relationships between the different blenniid tribes. Meristic, morphological, behavioural and ecological characters support our results and are also discussed. The possible roles of the tropical West African coast and the Mediterranean in the diversification of blenniids are discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 86 , 283–295.     

A new species of Oxalis section Corniculatae (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands

A new species, Oxalis ferae Llorens, Gil & Cardona (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands (Spain) is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to Mallorca. The morphological differences between the more closely related taxa of Oxalis section Corniculatae are discussed. IUCN threatened category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 489–493.     

A review of the lower actinopterygian phylogeny

A review of lower actinopterygian phylogeny has led us to the conclusion that the Cladistia are the sister group of Recent actinopterygians (Actinopteri) and that the extinct Palaeonisciformes are a paraphyletic group, comprising stem-group actinopterygians (e.g. Cheirolepis ), stem-group actinopterans (e.g. Moythomasia ) and relatives of higher actinopterans such as Pteronisculus . Our analysis further concluded that the Acipenseriformes formed a clade together with Saurichthys and Birgeria , which was most parsimoniously resolved when the Acipenseriformes and Saurichthys were sister groups.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 144 , 511−525.     

Molecular systematics of the suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea: 'Psocoptera')

Phylogenetic relationships among extant families in the suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea: 'Psocoptera') were inferred from partial sequences of the nuclear 18S rDNA and Histone 3 and mitochondrial 16S rDNA genes. Analyses of these data produced trees that largely supported the traditional classification; however, monophyly of the infraorder Psocathropetae (= Psyllipsocidae + Prionoglarididae) was not recovered. Instead, the family Psyllipsocidae was recovered as the sister taxon to the infraorder Atropetae (= Lepidopsocidae + Trogiidae + Psoquillidae), and the Prionoglarididae was recovered as sister to all other families in the suborder. Character states previously used to diagnose Psocathropetae are shown to be plesiomorphic. The sister group relationship between Psyllipsocidae and Atropetae was supported by two morphological apomorphies: the presence of a paraproctal anal spine and an anteriorly opened phallosome. Based on these sequence data and morphological observations, we propose a new classification scheme for the Trogiomorpha as follows: infraorder Prionoglaridetae (Prionoglarididae), infraorder Psyllipsocetae (Psyllipsocidae), infraorder Atropetae (Lepidopsocidae, Trogiidae, Psoquillidae).  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 287–299.     

A new species of Selaginella from Hainan Island, China, with a key to the Hainan species

Selaginella hainanensis X.C.Zhang & Noot. sp. nov. , a new species from Hainan Island, South China, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic notes and a key to the species distributed in Hainan are also provided.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 323–327.     

A morphometric and molecular study in Tortula subulata complex (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta)

Specimens belonging to Tortula subulata complex ( T. inermis , T. mucronifolia and T. subulata ) were analysed using a combination of morphometric methods based on quantitative characters [principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA); 76 samples)] and molecular methods (ITS1 – 5.8S rRNA gene and ITS2; 47 samples) to assess patterns of morphological and molecular differentiation within this complex of taxa. The study shows that four species can be recognized: T. mucronifolia , T. subulata , T. inermis and T. subulata var. angustata with bistratose border, which is elevated to the species rank as T. schimperi nom. nov. The most valuable quantitative characters for identification of these species are the strata number of the marginal laminal cells, the ratio of middle marginal laminal cell width/middle marginal laminal cell length, basal membrane of peristome length, middle laminal cell width and papillae number on the middle laminal cells. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) data suggest that this group of taxa is not monophyletic, T. mucronifolia being close to Protobryum bryoides (= Tortula protobryoides ). The remaining species seem to be a monophyletic group, T. schimperi being the sister group of the clade composed by T. inermis and T. subulata . T. subulata is considered to be of high morphological variability, for which ITS sequences did not resolve the internal relationships.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 333–350.     

A new species of Ornithogalum (Liliaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ornithogalum chetikianum Uysal, Ertugrul & Dural sp. nov. (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated from Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on alpine steppe and stony places in Bozkır (C4 Konya province) in South Anatolia. It is closely related to O. nutans L. and O. demirizianum Malyer & M.Koyuncu, an endemic confined to South Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters are discussed. Notes are also presented on the ecology, biogeography and conservation status of the new species.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 501–504.     

A new species of Ferula (Apiaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ferula coskunii H. Duman & M. Sağıroğlu sp. nov. from the Amanos Mountains (C6: Hatay-Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to F. drudeana Korovin, from which it differs mainly in habit, basal leaves, stem and mericarp features.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 357–361.     

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms of the house mouse Mus musculus domesticus from Greece, focusing on the Robertsonian chromosomal system of north-west Peloponnese

This study focused on the sequence variation in a mitochondrial region in house mice Mus musculus domesticus from chromosomally variable populations in the north-west Peloponnese, Greece. The mitochondrial molecular variation revealed was among the highest found so far for M. m. domesticus populations. The haplotype distribution pattern was rather complex. There was no clear differentiation between the populations characterized by Robertsonian chromosomes and standard all-acrocentric populations. There is therefore no indication that the Robertsonian populations were formed during a prolonged period of geographical isolation.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 84 , 643–651.     

Astragalus sect. Astragalus (Fabaceae) in Iran

Astragalus rahiminejadii , a new species endemic to Iran, is described and illustrated. This species, which belongs to section Astragalus , is confined to the western part of Iran (Prov. Kermanshah) and is known only from a single population. Seed testa morphology as viewed under the scanning electron microscope is discussed and photomicrographs are provided. In addition, the geographical distribution and ecology of the species belonging to this section are discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 363–368.     

New data on the Cainotheriidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from the early Oligocene of south-western France

The Cainotheriidae are small artiodactyls that suddenly appeared in the late Eocene of western Europe. A revision of early Oligocene cainotheriid lineages is proposed on the basis of newly dated material from the Quercy Phosphorites (south-western France). A significant diversification of the group occurred at the end of the Eocene. Few species seem to have persisted through the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, but the Cainotheriidae subsequently diversified rapidly during the early Oligocene.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 144 , 145−166.     

The genetic population structure of Buthus occitanus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) across the Strait of Gibraltar: calibrating a molecular clock using nuclear allozyme variation

I assess here the importance of the Strait of Gibraltar as a barrier to gene flow for populations of the scorpion Buthus occitanus . This polytypic buthid scorpion occurs in Europe and in North Africa where it is morphologically more diverse. The phylogenetic relationship between B. occitanus populations across the Strait of Gibraltar is investigated by nuclear allozymes analysis (15 loci scored). Phylogenetic analysis based on estimated gene frequency data results in a tree topology that divides the populations into three clades, i.e. a European, an Atlas (= Morocco samples) and a Tell-Atlas clade (= Tunisian samples). The Tell-Atlas clade grouped with the European clade with a rather high bootstrap support of 70%. Within these clades low levels of genetic variability are observed. Calibrating a molecular clock under the assumption that the European populations are autochthonous and have been isolated from the North African for at least 5.33 Myr reveals a divergence rate of 0.060 genetic distance (D) per Myr estimated between European and Moroccan samples and 0.036D Myr⁻¹ between European and Tunisian samples, respectively.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 81 , 519–534.