Taxonomy and cytology of the genus Ornithogalum (Liliaceae) in East Africa

The following taxa are represented in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): Ornithogalum donaldsonii (Rendle) Greenway (2n=20), O. gracillimum R. E. Fries, O. tenuifolium Delaroche ssp. sordidum (Bak.) Stedje comb. nov. (2n=16), and O. tenuifolium Delaroche ssp. robustum Stedje ssp. nov. (2n = 12).     

A taxonomìc revision of Hordeum sect. Critesion

Eight taxa are treated, viz. Hordeum pubiflorum ssp. pubiflorum (2n=14), ssp. halophilum (comb. nov.) (2n=14), H. comosum (2n=14), H. jubatum ssp. jubatum (2n = 28), H. jubatum ssp. intermedium (2n = 28), H. lechleri (2n=42), H. procerum (2n=42), and H. arizonicum (2n=42). Information about morphological variation, cytology, and genome relationship, ecology and distribution is presented.     

The delimitation of Gelasine (Iridaceae), and G. uruguaiensis sp. nov. from Uruguay

The generic concept of Gelasine Herb. (Iridaceae) is reviewed, and the characters discussed in connection with Sphenostigma Bak., a synonym of Gelasine. The reduction of Sphenostigma is further justified on account of overlapping features. A new species from Uruguay, G. uruguaiensis Rav. sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This is shown to include two subspecies: ssp. uruguaiensis , and ssp. orientalis ssp. nov. The chromosome number of the latter is 2n = 14.     

Meiotic and morphological analysis in Hordeum pubiflorum (sect. Critesion, Triticeae)

Morphological and hybridization studies were carried out in H. pubiflorum s. 1. (2n= 14). Chromosome pairing observed at MI in the hybrids was high, but indications of weak sterility barriers were observed. It is concluded that (i) hybridization is fairly easy to perform, and the populations studied belong to the same species, (ii) no divergence in the ssp. halophilum genome was observed, except in (iii) a population with at least one reciprocal translocation, (iv) the halophilum × breviaristatum hybrids had lowered pairing with an increased frequency of univalents, (v) the pairing combined with morphology suggest recognition of H. pubiflorum ssp. breviaristatum (Parodi & Nicora) C. Baden (comb. nov.).     

A revision of the genus Drimiopsis (Hyacinthaceae) in East Africa

The following taxa of Drimiopsis (Hyacintheceae) are recognized for East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): D. barteri (2n=44), D. botryoides ssp. botryoides (2n=44, 55, 66), D. botryoides ssp. prostrata ssp. nov. (2n = 22), D. maculata and D . sp. A.     

Karyotype Analysis of Hippophae L. in China

The present paper reports karyotypes in 4 species and 5 subspecies of Hippophae L. in China. It is found that all of the species and subspecies are diploid, with 2n=24, their complements are made of m and sm chromosomes and of them only H. thibetana has a pair of satellites. All of these karyotypes are symmetrical and primitive. It can be simplied as follows: Hippophae neurocarpa 2n = 2x = 24 = 18m+6sm, H. thibetana 2n = 2x = 24 = 14m (2sat)+ 8sm, H. rhamnoides L. ssp. gyantsensis 2n=2x=24= 18m+ 6sm, H. salicifolia 2n = 2x = 24 = 10m + 14sm, H. rhamnoides L. ssp. sinensis 2n=2x= 24 = 18m + 6sm, H. rhamnoides L. ssp. turkestanica 2n = 2x = 24 = 20m + 4sm; Hi. rhamnoides L. ssp. yunnanensis 2n = 2x = 24 = 14 + 10sm, H. rhamnoides L. ssp. mongolica 2n = 2x = 24 = 16m + 8sm.     

New taxa and combinations in Calceolaria (Scrophulariaceae) from Peru and Bolivia

As a result of field work in Peru and Bolivia 1982–83, and herbarium studies, 21 new taxa are described and two new combinations are made in Calceolaria. The following species are described as new: C. sclerophylla, C. arbuscula , and C. crassa of sect. Sa–licifoliae; C. rupestris of sect. Revolutae; C. micans, C. laevis, C. rariflora , and C. concava of sect. Teucriifoliae; C. bullata and C. neglecta of sect. Parvifoliae; C. amoena and C. ramosa of sect. Polyclada; C. pilosa, C. incana, C. hirsuta , and C. cordifolia of sect. Urticopsis; C. cumbemayensis of sect. Lobatae; and C. caespitosa of sect. Scapiflorae. Three new subspecies are described: C. deflexa R. & P. ssp. cuneata and C. salicifolia R. & P. ssp. nigricans of sect. Salicifoliae , and C. hispida Benth. ssp. acaulis of sect. Lobatae. Two new combinations are proposed: C. melissifolia Benth. ssp. pseudoscabra (Edwin) Molau of sect. Teucriifoliae , and C. llamaensis (Edwin) Molau of sect. Anacyrta. The taxon Revolutae is raised to the sectional level, and the sections Polyclada and Parvifoliae are emendated. Chromosome numbers are reported for C. sclerophylla (2n = 36), C. micans (2n = 72), C. laevis (2n = 72), C. melissifolia ssp. pseudoscabra (2n = 36), C. neglecta (2n = 36), C. cumbemayensis (2n = 36), and C. hispida ssp. acaulis (2n = 36).     

Chromosome numbers in plant taxa endemic to the Balearic Islands

Mitotic chromosome numbers are reported from 20 vascular plant taxa that are endemic to the Balearic Islands and poorly known cytogenetically. The chromosome numbers of Arenaria grandiflora L. ssp. glabrescens (Willk.) G. López & Nieto Feliner (2 n  = 44), Dianthus rupicola Viv. ssp. bocchoriana L. Llorens & Gradaille (2 n  = 30), Solenopsis minuta (L.) C. Presl. ssp. balearica (E. Wimm.) Meikle (2 n  = 28), Romulea asumptionis Font Quer & Garcías Font (2 n  = 56), Scutellaria balearica Barceló (2 n  = 22) and Galium balearicum Briq. (2 n  = 22) have been determined for the first time. A new chromosome number was found in two populations of Helictotrichon crassifolium (Font Quer) Holub (2 n  =  c. 98) suggesting that this species is a high polyploid (14 x ), in contrast to an earlier report of a lower chromosome count (2 n  = 12 x  = 84). Cytogenetic observations suggest that Naufraga balearica Constance & Cannon has a diploid chromosome complement of 2 n  = 20, with 0–2 accessory chromosomes. The banded karyotype (chromomycin A₃) of Crepis triasii (Cambess.) Fries was determined for individuals belonging to eight populations from three islands. Two chromomycin A₃-positive regions were recorded in the diploid complement. These are present on the telomeric regions of the shortest subtelocentric chromosomes. This species is karyologically stable in chromosome number, karyotype and fluorochrome-banding pattern among populations from separate islands.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 219–228.     

Meiotic pairing behaviour reveals differences in genomic constitution between Hystrix patula and other species of the genus Hystrix Moench (Poaceae, Triticeae)

Interspecific and intergeneric hybridizations were carried out to evaluate the genomic relationships among species of Hystrix Moench and to study the relationships between Hystrix species and Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n=2x=14, Ns^h). Meiotic pairing in hybrids of Hystrix duthiei ssp. duthiei × P. huashanica (2n=3x=21), Hystrix duthiei ssp. longearistata × P. huashanica (2n=3x=21) and H. patula × P. huashanica (2n=3x=21) averaged 5.18, 5.11 and 0.29 bivalents per cell, while H. patula × H. duthiei ssp. longearistata (2n=4x=28) averaged 25.36 univalents and 1.32 bivalents per cell, respectively. The results indicate that (i) H. duthiei ssp. duthiei and H. duthiei ssp. longearistata have one set of Ns genome from Psathyrostachys; (ii) H. patula has no Ns genome; (iii) genomes of H. duthiei ssp. duthiei and H. duthiei ssp. longearistata are non-homologous to those of H. patula. The genomic relationships between H. patula and other Hystrix species are also discussed.     

Karyological and dental identification of Microtus limnophilus in a large focus of alveolar echinococcosis (Gansu, China).

A study of voles (Arvicolidae, Rodentia) from Gansu (China) designed to identify a potential host of Echinococcus multilocularis, responsible for human alveolar echinococcosis, leads to a general analysis of Microtus limnophilus population karyotypes, M1 of M. oeconomus populations from all of Eurasia and of M. limnophilus of Mongolia. The Microtus of Gansu belonging to the nominal subspecies M. limnophilus limnophilus (2n = 38; NF = 58) differs markedly in size and shape of M1 from the M. limnophilus of Mongolia, which must therefore be considered as a new subspecies M. limnophilus of malygini nov. ssp. (2n = 38; NF = 60) and the M. oeconomus of Mongolia should be ranked as M. oeconomus kharanurensis nov. ssp. (2n = 30; NF = 60).     

Karyological observations on plant taxa endemic to the Balearic Islands

Mitotic chromosome numbers are reported from 35 vascular plant taxa endemic to the Balearic Islands that are poorly known cytogenetically. The chromosome numbers of Chaenorhinum rodriguezii (2 n  = 14), Coristospermum huteri (2 n  = 22), Carduus ibicensis (2 n  = 26), Filago petro-ianii (2 n  = 26), Ononis crispa ssp. zschackei (2 n  = 30), and Ophrys bertolonii ssp. balearica (2 n  = 36) were determined for the first time. New chromosome numbers are reported in Pimpinella bicknellii (2 n  = 22), Calamintha rouyana (2 n  = 46), Vicia bifoliolata (2 n  = 14), and Teucrium asiaticum (2 n  = 30). A new diploid cytotype (2 n  = 16) was found in Ranunculus paludosus ssp. barceloi , which is restricted to populations from the western Balearics (Eivissa and Formentera), whereas tetraploid plants are known from the eastern Balearics (Mallorca). It is suggested that the tetraploid cytotype arose from the diploid cytotype through autopolyploidy. The idiograms of Coristospermum huteri , Pastinaca lucida , Pimpinella bicknellii , Carduus ibicensis , Helianthemum scopulicolum , Helichrysum crassifolium , Vicia bifoliolata , p aeonia cambessedesii , Helleborus lividus , Ranunculus paludosus ssp. barceloi , and Linaria aeruginea ssp. pruinosa are determined for the first time.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 463–476.     

Notes on the Chenopodiaceae of Ethiopia, Somalia and Southern Arabia

Atriplex griffithii is divided into two subspecies, ssp. griffithii and ssp. stocksii , stat. nov. Atriplex farinosa is typified and divided into two subspecies, ssp. farinosa and ssp. keniensis , stat. nov. A new species of Atriplex, A. nogalensis is described from Somalia. The subtribe Sevadinae is revised and found to consist of the two monotypic genera Sevada and Fadenia and the genus Lagenantha with two species, L. cycloptera , comb. nov. (which includes the types of Gyroptera and Cycloptera) , and L. gillettii , comb. nov.     

Classification of Primula sect. Auricula (Primulaceae) based on two molecular data sets (ITS, AFLPs), morphology and geographical distribution

On the basis of the study of c . 1100 herbarium specimens, field observations and molecular (ITS, AFLPs) evidence, Primula sect . Auricula is classified into two subsections, 25 species and six subspecies. Primula auricula L. ssp. widmerae (Pax) L. B. Zhang stat. nov. , P. auricula Linn. ssp. tatriaca L. B. Zhang ssp. nov. , and P. latifolia Lapeyr. ssp. cynoglossifolia (Widmer) L. B. Zhang stat. nov. are newly described or combined; P. auricula s.l. is divided into two species: P. auricula Linn. and P. balbisii Lehm., representing the northern and the southern populations of P. auricula s.l. resolved in the molecular study, respectively; P. cottia Widmer and P. balbisii Lehm. are recovered from synonymy; P. grignensis D. M. Moser and P. pedemontana E. Thomas ex. Gaudin ssp. iberica Losa et P. Monts. are synonymized with P. hirsuta All. and P. pedemontana , respectively; P. clusiana is postulated to be an allopolyploid species. Phylogenetic relationships in the section are discussed based on morphological and molecular variation and geographical distribution.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 1–26.     

TAXONOMY OF ZEA (GRAMINEAE). I. A SUBGENERIC CLASSIFICATION WITH KEY TO TAXA

The genus Zea is here divided into the Sect. Luxuriantes Doebley & litis sect. n., including the perennials Z. diploperennis (2n = 20) and Z. perennis (2n = 40) and the annual Z. luxurians (2n = 20); and Sect. Zea , including the wild Z. mays ssp.parviglumis and Z. mays ssp. mexicana (both 2n = 20), and Z. mays ssp. mays (2n = 20), the highly domesticated and tremendously variable derivate of the latter. This division is verified by a multivariate analysis of a large number of morphological characters of the male inflorescence. Cytogenetic and chemotaxonomic evidence supports the morphological conclusions. A consideration of the phylogeny of Zea within the conceptual framework offered by this new sectioning of the genus points convincingly to annual teosinte (Z. mays ssp. mexicana) as the ancestor of cultivated maize.     

Chromosome numbers of flowering plants from northern Norway and Svalbard

Chromosome numbers of 25 taxa of flowering plants from northern Norway and Svalbard are reported. Four species and one subspecies, Carex halophila F. Nyl. (2n = ca. 78), C. stenolepis Less. (2n = ca. 80), Salicorniapojarkovae N. Sem. (2n = 36), Alnus incano (L.) Moench ssp. kolaensis (Orlova) Love (2n = 28), and Saxifraga svalbardensis D. O. Øvstedal (2n = ca. 64), have not been studied karyologically before. Chromosome numbers of four additional species are reported for the first time from Norway; those of another six species for the first time from northern Norway. The hybrid Salix herbacea L. (2x) x 5. polaris Wahlenb. (6x) is proved tetraploid and may be fertile. A possible hybrid between Saxifraga hyperborea R. Br. and S. rivularis L. was revealed.     

Festuca vivipara (Poaceae) in the North Atlantic area

Viviparous Festuca especially from the North Atlantic area have been examined. Based on especially the chromosome numbers they are divided into three subspecies and a number of hybrids: 1) F. vivipara (L.) Sm. ssp. vivipara , 2) F. vivipara ssp. hirsuta (Schol.) Frederiksen stat. nov., 3) F. vivipara ssp. glabra Frederiksen ssp. nov. Hybrids between F. vivipara on the one hand and F. rubra L. or F. ovina L. on the other were found to be common.