Phylogeny inLabiatae s. l., inferred from cpDNA sequences

Sequences ofrbcL andndhF were analysed independently and in combination to resolve phylogenetic relationships inLabiatae s. l. Monophyly ofLabiatae s. l was supported by all three analyses.Congea tomentosa (Symphoremataceae) is nested withinLabiatae s. l. in therbcL analysis, but emerges as the sister group ofLabiatae s. l. in thendhF and combined analyses. Four noteworthy clades ofLabiate s. l. also are supported by all analyses corresponding to subfamiliesNepetoideae, Lamioideae, Pogostemonoideae andScutellarioideae. Monophyly of subfamiliesChloanthoideae andViticoideae is not supported. A clade comprisingTeucrioideae plusAjuga is supported byndhF and the combined analysis.     

Multimodal pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles arabiensis, and Anopheles funestus s.s. in western Kenya

Anopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles arabiensis, and Anopheles funestus s.s. are the most important species for malaria transmission. Pyrethroid resistance of these vector mosquitoes is one of the main obstacles against effective vector control. The objective of the present study was to monitor the pyrethroid susceptibility in the 3 major malaria vectors in a highly malaria endemic area in western Kenya and to elucidate the mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance in these species. Gembe East and West, Mbita Division, and 4 main western islands in the Suba district of the Nyanza province in western Kenya were used as the study area. Larval and adult collection and bioassay were conducted, as well as the detection of point mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel (1014L) by using direct DNA sequencing. A high level of pyrethroid resistance caused by the high frequency of point mutations (L1014S) was detected in An. gambiae s.s. In contrast, P450-related pyrethroid resistance seemed to be widespread in both An. arabiensis and An. funestus s.s. Not a single L1014S mutation was detected in these 2 species. A lack of cross-resistance between DDT and permethrin was also found in An. arabiensis and An. funestus s.s., while An. gambiae s.s. was resistant to both insecticides. It is noteworthy that the above species in the same area are found to be resistant to pyrethroids by their unique resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, it is interesting that 2 different resistance mechanisms have developed in the 2 sibling species in the same area individually. The cross resistance between permethrin and DDT in An. gambiae s.s. may be attributed to the high frequency of kdr mutation, which might be selected by the frequent exposure to ITNs. Similarly, the metabolic pyrethroid resistance in An. arabiensis and An. funestus s.s. is thought to develop without strong selection by DDT.     

Comparative wood anatomy of Andromedeae s.s., Gaultherieae, Lyonieae and Oxydendreae (Vaccinioideae, Ericaceae s.l.)

The wood anatomical structure of 11 out of 13 genera from four tribes of the Vaccinioideae, namely Andromedeae s.s. , Gaultherieae, Lyonieae and Oxydendreae (Ericaceae s.l. ), is described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Several features of the secondary xylem support the tribal classification based on molecular data: arrangement of vessel-ray pitting, height of multiseriate rays and the shape of the body ray cells. Oxydendreae are clearly defined from the other representatives by various wood anatomical features. Gaultherieae can be distinguished from Lyonieae by differences in vessel perforation plates, vessel-ray pitting, height and structure of multiseriate rays, and occurrence of prismatic crystals, but the wood of Andromedeae s.s. is similar to Gaultherieae. Moreover, Andromedeae s.s. , Oxydendreae and Vaccinieae are characterized by their pith structure, whereas considerable variation in the pith cells is found in Lyonieae and Gaultherieae.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 161–179.     

Floral development of Kingdonia (Ranunculaceae s. l., Ranunculales)

The flower of Kingdonia has a terminal position, thus the rhizome is sympodial. The floral organs initiate in spiral phyllotaxis. The androecium is centripetal in initiation but the sterile stamens are retarded in development compared with the fertile ones. The apex of the young carpel does not participate in the conduplication. The floral organs have single vascular traces and unilacunar nodes.The study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 30370095 and 30130030).     

A revision of Chinese Thuidiaceae (s. l., Musci)

The study on Chinese Thuidiaceae was started in 19th century. However the present paper deals with the first revision of the family in China. There are 17 genera and 71 species in total including one subspecies. In this paper, several nomenclatural problems are treated, mainly involving 7 genera: Leptocladium Broth., Anomodon Hook. et Tayl., Haplocladium ( C. Muell. ) C. Muell., Claopodium (Lesq. et Jam. ) Ren. et Card., Bryonoguchia Iwatsuki et Inoue, Helodium (Sull.)Warnst. and Actinothuidium (Besch.)Broth. One new species, 3 new synonyms, includingone generic synonym and two specific synonyms, and one Chinese new name are reported.     

中国羽藓科植物修订

中国羽藓科植物自19世纪起即有报道,但迄今才进行首次全面校订,现知中国有17属和71种 (包括1亚种)。本文主要就其中7个属：薄羽藓属、牛舌藓属、小羽藓属、麻羽藓属、毛羽藓属、沼羽藓属及锦丝藓属中的一些种属名称作修订和新增补。文内涉及1新种、3新异名(含1属的新异名和2个种的新异名)和1新中文名。     

Phylogeny of the bee subtribe Caenohalictina Michener (Hymenoptera,Apidae s.l., Halictinae s.l.)

Gonçalves, R. B. & Melo, G. A. R. (2009). Phylogeny of the bee subtribe Caenohalictina Michener (Hymenoptera, Apidae s.l., Halictinae s.l.). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 187–197. Recently, Caenohalictina Michener, 1954 was formally proposed as a group within Halictini based on a phylogenetic analysis using DNA data. Morphological synapomorphies for the subtribe are not stabilized and the relationships among its attributed genera were not completely reconstructed. Also, there are different propositions for the scope and classification of the genera. This study investigates the monophyly of Caenohalictina based on morphological characters and presents a hypothesis for the relationships among its genera and subgenera. For this purpose, a matrix of 36 terminals and 96 characters was coded. The cladistic analysis using character equal weighting resulted in one most parsimonious tree with 189 steps. According to this hypothesis, the subtribe is monophyletic with five synapomorphies supporting it. The relationships among Caenohalictina taxa are: Habralictus(Caenohalictus (((Agapostemon s.s. + Notagapostemon) (Agapostemonoides (Rhinetula (Paragapostemon + Dinagapostemon)))) + ((Ruizanthedella (Ruizantheda + Oragapostemon)) + (Brasilagapostemon (Pseudagapostemon s.s. + Neagapostemon))))). The subgenus Habralictus s.s. is paraphyletic with respect to Habralictus (Zikaniella) crassipes, hence both subgenera are not recognized. Comments on alternative generic classifications and biogeographic patterns are presented.     

Tinocladia sanrikuensis sp. nov. (Ectocarpales s.l., Phaeophyceae) from Japan

The new species Tinocladia sanrikuensis sp. nov. H.Kawai, K.Takeuchi & T.Hanyuda (Ectocarpales s.l., Phaeophyceae) is described from the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, northern Japan based on morphology and DNA sequences. The species is a spring–summer annual growing on lower intertidal to upper subtidal rocks and cobbles on relatively protected sites. T. sanrikuensis has a slimy, cylindrical, multiaxial erect thallus, slightly hollow when fully developed, branching once to twice, and resembles T. crassa in gross morphology. The erect thalli are composed of a dense medullary layer, long subcortical filaments, and assimilatory filaments of 11–35 cells, up to 425 μm long and curved in the upper portion. Unilocular zoidangia are formed on the basal part of assimilatory filaments. The species is genetically most closely related to T. crassa and has the same basic thallus structures but differs in having thinner and longer assimilatory filaments. DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 and cox3, chloroplast atpB, psaA, psbA and rbcL genes support the distinctness of this species.     

Leaf structure of species from three closely related genera from tribe Crotoneae Dumort. (Euphorbiaceae s.s., Malpighiales)

Euphorbiaceae s.s. is one of the largest angiosperm families, comprising nine major lineages. Molecular analysis indicated a polyphyletic condition in the subfamily Crotonoideae s.l., with four lineages identified, including one termed inaperturate crotonoids, which encompasses the tribe Crotoneae. Anatomical data were obtained from 15 species of Croton sect. Cyclostigma (Griseb.) Müll. Arg., Brasiliocroton P. Berry & I. Cordeiro and Astraea Klotzsch, which belongs to this lineage. The presence and protodermal origin of the idioblasts with lipophilic content and the interruption of the palisade by collenchyma layers on the adaxial side of the mid vein are common to the Croton L. species analysed and Brasiliocroton. The presence of dorsiventrality, paracytic stomata, collateral vascular bundles, branched non-articulated laticifers and crystal idioblasts in the species studied indicates morphological similarities among the three genera. The interpretation of the stipite of the complex trichomes as emergences is a structural novelty for the group. Leaf anatomy provided an excellent source of characters for future studies of the tribe Crotoneae (Euphorbiaceae s.s., Malpighiales).     

Centaurea forojuliensis,della sect. Jacea DC. s. str., nuova entità dal Friuli

Abstract

Centaurea forojuliensis, sect. Jacea DC. s. str., new entity from Friuli.—The new endemic entity Centaurea forojuliensis present in the marshes of Friuli (Northeastern Italy), is described. It is probably an ecotypical differentiation inside the polymorphic cycle of Centaurea Jacea due to the particular habitat. A taxonomic account of the whole cycle in the Southeastern Alps and Northadriatic carstic regions is also given.