The genus Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) in south-west Europe and North Afkica

A multivariate morphometric study of the genus Pyrus in south-west Europe and North Africa shows that five species may be recognized in the area: P. bourgaeana Decne., P. communis L., P. cordata Dew., P. spinosa Forssk, and P. nivalis Jacq. Some valuable characters for identification of these species are proposed. In particular the width of fruit peduncle, petal size, leaf width and petiole length served to discriminate the taxa. Several names such as P. gharbiona Trab., P. cossonii Rehder (|M= P. longipes Balansa ex Coss. & Durieu) and P. boisseriana Buhse, are regarded as synonyms of P. cordata , while P. marnormis Trab. of P. bourgaeana. Consequently a check-list and a key to these species are provided.     

The genus Rhanteriopsis (Asteraceae–Inuleae)

The genus Rhanteriopsis Rauschert, belonging to the f/iula–group of the Asteraceae–Inuleae, is monographed in a study based on herbarium material. Rhanteriopsis has a disjunct distribution with a westerly occurrence in Lebanon and Syria and an easterly distribution in Iran and Iraq along the Iranian border. Eour species are recognized: R. hombvcina (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Rauschert, R. lanuginosa (DC.) Rauschert, R. microcephala (Boiss.) Rauschert and R. puberula (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Rauschert. The morphology and phytogeography of the genus are discussed, a cladogram is proposed and a taxonomic treatment is provided.     

Effect of Seasonal and Regional Variations on Phenolic Compounds of Deverra scoparia (Flowers/Seeds) Methanolic Extract and the Evaluation of Its in Vitro Antioxidant Activity

The widespread use of Deverra scoparia Coss. & Durieu in Algerian folk‐medicine as a remedy can be relatively attributed to its total phenolic compounds. The current study aimed to provide a scientific basis for optimal collection and usage of Deverra scoparia Coss. & Durieu plant. Hence, 37 samples were gathered from nine sites in Algeria during two seasons 2016 and 2017, then exposed to a green extraction. Total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (FC) and condensed tannins (CTC) content were estimated spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activity was measured using five different methods, DPPH^., ABTS^.+, FRAP, CUPRAC and Fe²⁺‐chelating. The results have revealed considerable amounts of TPC varied from 804 to 1544 mg GAE/100 g dry matter, FC started from 187 up to 410 mg QE/100 g dry matter and CTC varied from 111 to 394 mg CE/100 g dry matter. The best IC₅₀ values (μg/mL) of DPPH^., ABTS^?+, FRAP, CUPRAC and Fe²⁺‐chelating tests were 56.62, 5.41, 21.26, 52.93 and 78.10, respectively. Moreover, high correlations were found between CTC and most of the antioxidant tests. Hence, CTC are suggested to be the principal group of antioxidant activity in Deverra scoparia Coss. & Durieu extracts.     

Ighermia, a new genus of the Asteraceae – Inuleae

An aberrant species of the genus Asteriscus (Asteraceae–Inuleae), A. pinifolius from SW Morocco, is here proposed to be removed and placed in a separate, monotypic genus Ighermia. The systematic position and morphology of the new genus are also discussed.     

A new species of Lavatera Sect. Olbia (Medik.) DC. (Malvaceae) from north-east Morocco

As a result of recent fieldwork in north-east Morocco, a new woody Malvaceae species, Lavatera valdesii Molero & J.M. Monts., is described here. The morphological characters that link it to other species in Sect. Olbia (Medik.) DC. are discussed, as are those traditionally used in defining the species that make up this section. A recently described species of this group, Lavatera plazzae Atzei, is established here as a synonym of L. stenopetala Coss. & Durieu ex Batt., a species previously considered as an endemic of east Algeria. On the basis of morphological characters, we propose the exclusion of both L. thuringiaca and L. cashmiriana Cambess. from Sect. Olbia.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 445–454.     

Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the vascular plants of Morocco

ROMO, A. M., 1992. Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the vascular plants of Morocco. As a result of studies on the flora of Morocco, a number of new taxa and a series of new nomenclature combinations are proposed which are more in line with current knowledge. Three new taxa are described: Dianthus atlantica from the Great Atlas; Ranunculus spicatus Desf. subsp. fontqueri Romo, endemic to Er Rif, and a hybrid: Saxifraga × fontqueri Romo (= S. crenata Psau & Font Quer × Saxifraga globulifera Desf.). The following new combinations are made: Astragalus gombo Cosson & Durieu subsp. pseudogombo (Fernandez Casas) Romo, Avenula bromoides (Gouan) H. Scholz subsp. cincinnatus (Ten.) Romo, Chaenorrhinum origanifolium (L.) Fourr. subsp. flexuosum (Desf.) Romo, Digitalis laciniata Lindley subsp. riphaea (Pau & Font Quer) Romo, Digitalis purpurea subsp. mauretanica (Humbert & Maire) Romo, Lavandula pedunculata Miller subsp. atlantica (Braun-Blanquet) Romo, Paeonia coriacea Boiss. var. maroccana (Pau & Font Quer) Romo, Sideritis arborescens Bentham subsp. antiallantica (Maire) Romo.     

A new species of Anisopappus (Asteraceae, Inuleae) and its phylogenetic relationships within the genus

A new species of the genus Anisopappus (Asteraceae, Inuleae) from Angola, A. fruticosus , is described. The principal differences with respect to A. chinensis are discussed, and phylogenetic relationships with the other species of the genus are investigated by means of a cladistic analysis using morphological characters.     

A cladistic analysis ofAnisopappus (Asteraceae: Inuleae)

A cladistic analysis of the genusAnisopappus (Asteraceae: Inuleae) has been undertaken. A hypothesis of species interrelationships in the genus is presented for the first time. The analysis also includedArctotis (Arctoteae), used as outgroup, and five additional genera from theInuleae: Geigeria, Calostephane, Asteriscus, Buphthalmum, Pulicaria, andInula. It is concluded thatAnisopappus is a monophyletic group situated at the base of the tribe, diagnosed by, e.g., their obtuse stylar sweeping-hairs. The species with acute sweeping-hairs were found to be derived within the genus. Problems concerning species delimitation, biogeography and character evolution in the genus are briefly discussed.     

The genus Anvillea (Compositae)

The genus Anvillea (Compositae–Inuleae–Inulinae) is found to contain two species which occur in N Africa and the Middle East. Anvilleina Maire is reduced to a synonym of Anvillea and the following two new combinations are made: A. platycarpa (Maire) A. Anderb. and A. garcinii (Burm. f.) DC. ssp. radiata (Coss. & Dur.) A. Anderb. The chromosome number 2n = 14 of A. garcinii ssp. radiata is reported.     

The genus Asteriscus (Asteraceae-Inuleae)

Asteriscus Mill. is a genus belonging to the Inula -group of the Asteraceae-Inuleae. It is here delimited to contain three species, A. maritimus (L.) Less., A. hierochunticus (Michon) Wikl. (generally known as A. pygmaeus (DC.) Coss & Dur.) and A. spinosus (L.) Sch. Bip. (generally known as Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass.), growing largely in the Mediterranean and N African regions. The morphology, phytogeography, phylogeny and systematic position of all three species are discussed and a cladogram of the genus is presented.     

Origin and evolution of the endemic Macaronesian Inuleae (Asteraceae): evidence from the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The tribe Inuleae (Asteraceae) has 10 species endemic to the Macaronesian islands, including the three endemic genera Allagopappus, Schizogyne, and Vierea. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of 47 taxa were performed using all Macaronesian endemics and representative species from 21 of the 36 genera of the Inuleae. The resulting ITS phylogeny reveals that Allagopappus is sister to a large clade that contains all genera with a predominantly Mediterranean distribution. This finding suggests that Allagopappus may represent an ancient lineage that found refuge in the Canary Islands following the major climatic and/or geologic changes in the Mediterranean basin after the Tertiary. The Macaronesian endemic genus Schizogyne is sister to Limbarda from the Mediterranean. The third Macaronesian endemic genus, Vierea, is sister to Perralderia, which is restricted to Morocco and Algeria. Pulicaria canariensis is sister to P. mauritanica, a species endemic to Morocco and Algeria. In contrast, P. diffusa from the Cape Verde Islands is sister to a broadly distributed species, P. crispa, that occurs from North Africa to the Arabian peninsula. Based on the ITS data, the genera Blumea, Inula, and Pulicaria are not monophyletic. The ITS trees suggested that Blumea mollis belongs to the tribe Plucheeae, a finding that is congruent with recent morphological evidence. A possible southern African origin for the core of the Laurasian taxa of the Inuleae is also suggested.     

A revision of the genus Nomocharis Franchet

SEALY, J. R, 1983. A revision of the genus Nomocharis Franchet. A taxonomic revision of the genus Nomocharis Franchet is presented, recognizing seven species. Notes are given on the species and hybrids in cultivation. A key for identification of the species and an index to specific epithets, including synonyms, are given, together with species excluded from the genus. Herbarium specimens are cited.     

Vegetation dynamics under variable conditions in the famous sandy steppe of southern Tunisia

During last decades, the natural vegetation cover in southern Tunisia, mainly dominated by dwarf and sparse shrub, was continuously disturbed under various human activities especially on sandy soil (easily eroded). The ecological characteristics (soil structure and texture, vegetation, topography…) of sandy steppes, with Rhanterium suaveolens Desf., enhanced their sharp decline. This study aims to investigate the vegetation status of two R. suaveolens steppes (R: protected; r: degraded) under different conditions in five sites belonging to southern Tunisia using the quadrat point method and some ecological indicators. Main results show that vegetation cover is related to climatic conditions. Plant density is mainly affected by rainfall and human activities. The annual and perennial density and cover are high during the rainy season (spring) compared with the dry one (fall). The degraded steppes (r) are mainly dominated by annual plants but the protected steppes (R) contain more perennials. This work can be very useful for the sustainable sandy steppes management under different stress and human disturbances in dry area. It presents a great national and international importance (economic, social, nature conservation…) such as job creation and limiting rural exodus.     

Chromosome numbers in the tribes Anthemideae and Inuleae (Asteraceae)

Twenty-two chromosome counts of 19 taxa (21 populations) in the tribe Anthemideae and one member (one population) of the tribe Inuleae of the family Asteraceae are reported. The Anthemideae studied belong to the subtribes Artemisiinae (14 Artemisia taxa, and one species each of the genera Dendranthema , Filifolium and Neopallasia ) and Tanacetinae (one species each of the genera Lepidolopha and Tanacetopsis ). From the Inuleae, we studied one Inula species. Five counts are new reports (including two at generic level), six are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very limited (one to four records) previous data. Most of populations of Anthemideae studied have the basic chromosome number x  = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2 x to 10 x . Dysploidy is also present, with two x  = 8 diploid taxa. The species of Inuleae studied is a diploid with x  = 10, also indicating dysploidy, other members of the same genus Inula having basic numbers of x  = 9 or 8.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 77–85.     

Endogenous cytokinin levels and metabolism of zeatin riboside in genetic tumour tissues and non-tumourous tissues of tobacco

The cytokinin content of stem tissues, primary genetic tumours (excised from 2-month-old plants) and 3-week-old in vitro cultured genetic tumour tissues derived from Nicotiana glauca (Grah.) × langsdorffii (Weinm.) and N. suaveolens (Lehm.) × langsdorffii (Weinm.) hybrids and stem tissues derived from 2-month-old N. suaveolens and N. langsdorffii plants has been analysed by radioimmunoassay. Stem tissues of tumour-prone hybrids contain high cytokinin levels (3–3.7 nmol g⁻¹). This increase is caused mainly by increased levels of cytokinin nucleotides, particularly those of zeatin nucleotide (0.5 nmol g⁻¹) in stem tissues of parent plants and 2.4 nmol g⁻¹ in stem tissues of hybrids). All other tissues contain lower cytokinin levels (0.7–1.7 nmol g⁻¹). Cytokinin bases and ribosides are major compounds in cultured tumour tissues while the nucleotides are dominant cytokinins in all freshly excised tissues from parent plants and their hybrids. In a separate study, the metabolic fate of supplied [³Hj-zeatin riboside. which is inactivated mainly by sidechain cleavage, has been studied. The results collectively suggest that cytokinins may be involved in tumourigenesis.     

Two new taxa of Geigeria (Asteraceae, Inuleae) from Angola, with a multivariate analysis of Geigeria aspalathoides

Comparison of the morphological characters of specimens of Geigeria aspalathoides (Asteraceae, Inuleae), with the aid of cluster analysis, indicates the existence of two subspecies endemic from Angola: subsp. aspalathoides and subsp. chorleyana. In addition, we describe a new species of this genus, Geigeria decurrens , from Angola.     

An outline of the genus Geigeria (Asteraceae, Inuleae)

We present a synopsis of the genus Geigeria (Inuleae, Asteraceae). Particular attention is paid to the taxonomic characterization and phylogenetic relationships of the genus, to possible supraspecific groupings, and to the delimitation of taxa, especially at the infraspecific level. Until recently 25 species, 20 subspecies, and 7 varieties have been recognized. In this study we recognize only 20 species, 12 subspecies, and 7 varieties. We describe a new subspecies and variety, and propose 5 new nomenclatural combinations.