Revision of the subspecies ofAustralopithecus africanus (primates: Hominidae), including a new subspecies from the late pliocene of Ethiopia

The subspecies ofAustralopithecus africanus Dart, 1925 have been revised in a morphological and statistical analysis. Four subspecific names were previously proposed, but only one was found to be valid. The subspeciesA. africanus transvaalensis (Broom, 1936), from the Plio/Pleistocene of South Africa, cannot be sustained due to an insufficient sample, and is combined with the nominate race,A. a. africanus. The type ofA. africanus afarensis Tobias, 1980 is a mistake in identification and notA. africanus, but a pongid. The population ofA. africanus from the late Pliocene of Ethiopia does indeed represent a relatively small-toothed geographical race for which the nameA. africanus aethiopicus was conditionally proposed; and the lectotype for it, A.L. 288-1, is notA. africanus, but the type ofHomo antiquus Ferguson, 1984. The trinominalaethiopicus is thus unavailable for the Ethiopian race, which is redescribed as a new subspecies,A. africanus miodentatus n. ssp., and the mandible A.L. 266-1 is designated as the holotype.     

Critique of ‘Australopithecus afarensis’ as a single species based on dental metrics and morphology

Leonard andHegmon (1987) compare a series of dental metrics of ‘Australopithecus afarensis Johanson, White, andCoppens, 1978’ with criteria for modern apes, to test the hypothesis that ‘A. afarensis’ represents a single species. They also compare the morphology of the lower third premolar. The dental breadth of ‘A. afarensis’ shows a wide range of variation, particularly in the lower third premolar morphology which displays greater variation than in modern apes—yet the study concludes that the single species hypothesis cannot be rejected. The study is flawed by applying criteria for pongids inappropriate for a hominid. When ‘A. afarensis’ is compared with criteria for hominids, the range of variation in dental size, breadth, and third premolar morphology is greater than that in any hominid species. The single species hypothesis is, therefore, once again rejected. Moreover, the name ‘A. afarensis’ is preoccupied byPraeanthropus africanus (Weinert) and must be dropped.     

Reappraisal of the taxonomic status of the cranium Stw 53 from the Plio/Pleistocene of Sterkfontein,in South Africa

A fossil skull, Stw 53, from the Plio/Pleistocene of Sterkfontein, in South Africa, has been referred toHomo habilis Leakey, Napier, andTobias, 1964. Reappraisal of its putative hominine affinity reveals a closer resemblance toAustralopithecus africanus Dart, 1925. The skull, as reconstructed, is too small forH. habilis; with no indication of brain expansion overA. africanus; has a facial angle outside the hominine range, but identical with that ofA. africanus; and whose teeth are not elongated but display buccolingual expansion. Although it was found in the same strata (Member 5) as stone tools, there is no causal connection. It has been dated faunistically at 2–1.5 my BP, but due to an unconformity it is suggested that it could be older. In spite of its late date, Stw 53 shows no intermediate characters which could support a trend towardsH. habilis orA. robustus Broom, 1938. It may, therefore, represent a relict population ofA. africanus.     

Neue Taxa vonTillandsia subgenusDiaphoranthema (Bromeliaceae) aus Bolivien und Argentinien

5 new taxa are described and illustrated; their position within the subgenus is discussed:T. hirta W. Till & L. Hromadnik,T. cotagaitensis L. Hromadnik,T. caliginosa W. Till, andT. gilliesii Baker subsp.polysticha W. Till & L. Hromadnik are members of a group includingT. myosura Grisebach exBaker,T. mandonii E. Morren exMez in DC.,T. retorta Grisebach exBaker em.Grisebach andT. andicola Gillies exBaker. T. brealitoensis L. Hromadnik is related toT. angulosa Mez in DC. but distinct and possibly of hybrid origin.

     

Chemical variation in two species of theLecanora subfusca group (Lecanoraceae,lichenizedAscomycotina)

The chemical variation inLecanora epibryon andL. subimmersa, two species of theL. subfusca group, has been examined. In both species the chemical differences are correlated with geographical distribution, but not with morphological differences. As a consequence the chemotypes are recognized at subspecific level. InL. epibryon three chemical races are segregated according to the various chemosyndromes present. Subspeciesepibryon, containing atranorin and triterpenoids, occurs in the northern hemisphere and South America, while the other two subspecies occur only in the southern hemisphere. The subsp.broccha (Nyl.)Lumbsch, comb. nova, contains atranorin, the stictic acid and the 2,5,7-trichloro-3-O-methylnorlichexanthone chemosyndromes, while subsp.xanthophora Lumbsch, subsp. nova, is similar but lacks the stictic acid chemosyndrome. Two chemical races occur in the pantropical speciesL. subimmersa. While subsp.subimmersa contains atranorin and zeorin, subsp.ramboldii Lumbsch & Elix, subsp. nova, contains an additional ten chlorinated xanthones.L. impressa is reduced to synonymy toL. subimmersa.     

Cephalodiate Arten der GattungLecidea sensu lato (Ascomycetes lichenisati)

(1) The ability to produce cephalodia is usually a genus-specific character in lichens. (2)Lecidea shushanii Thoms., is a member of the genusTephromela, closely related toT. aglaea. It is not clear, whether or not the cephalodia of this taxon are true cephalodia or colonies of epiphytic cyanobacteria and whether or notLecidea shushanii is an independent species. (3)Lecidea dovrensis Nyl., is, in contrast to the traditional concept, not conspecific withLecidea alpestris Sommerf., but an earlier name forLecidea pallida Th. Fr. (4)Lecidea dovrensis is described in some detail. Chemically the species is characterized by the presence of isousnic acid (previously unknown in lecideoid lichens). It is restricted to areas north of the 60th parallel with an oceanic climate. (5) In connection with the attempt to clarify the taxonomic relationships ofLecidea dovrensis, figures of ascus apical structures of the following species are given (marked by an asterisk are genera where we found discrepancies with published data):Austrolecia antarctica, Catillaria chalybeia, Lecidea alpestris, L. caesioatra, L. limosa, Lecidoma demissum, Koerberiella wimmeriana, Micarea assimilata, M. crassipes, M. melaenida, M. prasina, Pilophorus robustus, Placodiella olivacea, Placolecis opaca, Porpidia trullisata, Protoblastenia rupestris, Psilolechia lucida, Psorula rufonigra, Squamarina gypsacea, Xanthopsorella texana. (6) Among crustaceous lichens we find no groups related toLecidea dovrensis. We supportTimal's concept of including this species in the genusPilophorus. Pilophorus, as well asLecidea dovrensis is characterized by the same ascus type, by a similar structure of thallus, cephalodia, paraphyses, and ascocarp (although there is no pseudopodetium developed inLecidea dovrensis), and the presence of isousnic acid. In addition, both taxa are restricted to cool oceanic climates and non-calciferous substrates. The following combination is proposed:Pilophorus dovrensis (Nyl.)Timdal, Hertel & Rambold, comb. nova. (7) The species of theLecidea alpestris-group form an independent genus, probably near toAustrolecia Hertel.

Frau Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess zu ihrem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Chromosome numbers of the European seagrasses

The chromosome numbers of the five European seagrasses have been determined in material from several sites along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean:Zostera marina L., 2n = 12;Z. noltii Hornem., 2n = 12;Posidonia oceanica (L.)Delile, 2n = 20;Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria)Aschers., 2n = 14, 2n = 28;Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.)Aschers., 2n = 18. The difference in chromosome morphology betweenZ. marina andZ. noltii supports the division of the genus into two subgenera.     

Cynoglossopsis somaliensis,sp. nov., und die GattungCynoglossopsis (Boraginaceae)

Cynoglossopsis somaliensis H. Riedl, sp. nov., is described as a new species of the hitherto monotypic genusCynoglossopsis Brand which is closest related toCynoglossum L. but has to be included inBoraginoideae-Eritrichieae from the way the nutlets are attached to the gynobasis.

     

The genusAntennaria (Asteraceae: Inuleae) in western North America: Morphometric analysis ofAntennaria alborosea,A. corymbosa,A. marginata,A. microphylla,A. parvifolia,A. rosea,andA. umbrinella

Multivariate analysis of vegetative and reproductive characters was used to examine morphological relatedness amongAntennaria alborosea A. E. Porsild,A. corymbosa E. Nels.,A. marginata Greene,A. microphylla Rydb.,A. parvifolia Nutt.,A. rosea Greene, andA. umbrinella Rydb. Both pistillate and staminate plants were examined. Some of the characters examined were variable in one species, but stable in another (i.e., presence or absence of papillae on the achenes). Our analyses indicate that the seven species are morphologically distinct. It is hypothesized that theA. rosea agamic complex arose through hybridization amongA. corymbosa, A. microphylla, A. umbrinella, and possiblyA. dioica (L.)Gaertn. However, hybridization between the three former species and others, as well as their subsequent morphological responses to different environmental conditions causes confusion in recognizing the taxa.Antennaria angustifolia Rydb.,A. arida E. Nels.,A. confinis Greene,A. scariosa E. Nels.,A. foliacea humilis Rydb.,A. concinna E. Nels., andA. viscidula E. Nels. are considered to represent F 1 hybrids.     

On the taxonomic position ofSilene thebana (Caryophyllaceae)

Silene thebana Orph. exBoiss. is transferred as a subspecies toS. fabaria (L.)Sm., resulting in the new combinationS. fabaria (L.)Sm. subsp.thebana (Orph. exBoiss.)Melzh. The chromosome count of 2n = 24 is recorded for the first time for this taxon.Dedicated to Prof. DrK. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 16th October 1986.     

Weitere Untersuchungen über Proteinkörper in Zellkernen und ihre taxonomische Bedeutung

In 83 species of the familiesMonotropaceae, Apocynaceae, Oleaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Bignoniaceae, Martyniaceae, Myoporaceae, Verbenaceae, Lamiaceae, Campanulaceae, andLiliaceae, protein bodies in the cell nuclei have been found, in 68 of these species for the first time. On the basis of their structure in accordance with morphological characters the generaBurgsdorfia, Hesiodia, Olisia, andPhlomoides of theLamiaceae are accepted;Lamium is divided intoLamium, Lamiastrum andOrvala; two new combinations are established:Kickxia campyloceras (Rech. fil. &Esfandiari)Speta andEtornotus papilionaceus (Burm. in L.)Speta. Deviating shape or lack of protein bodies corroborate former taxonomic decisions, e.g. the transfer ofMonotropa toMonotropaceae or the separation ofGaleopsis andLadanum; Veronica schmidtiana should not be included inPseudolysimachion. Systematic affinities are discussed primarily withinScrophulariaceae because nuclear protein bodies have been studied already in many species of this family. ForCampanula patula two 2 x populations are reported.

Herrn Professor Dr. L.Geitler zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Relationships in theAcanthaceae and related families as suggested by cladistic analysis ofrbcL nucleotide sequences

A parsimony analysis of DNA sequences of the chloroplast-encoded generbcL from twelve members of theAcanthaceae s.l., including members of the sometimes segregateThunbergioideae andNelsonioideae, and other families in theBignoniales sensuThorne (1992) is presented. The results largely agree with the classification of theAcanthaceae presented byBremekamp (1965) andThorne (1992) and supportNelsonioideae as a sister group to the rest of theAcanthaceae. Thunbergioideae are placed as a sister toAcanthaceae s.str.Acanthus andAphelandra, both representatives ofAcanthoideae, form a sister group toRuellioideae. An analysis of branch support found that many branches throughout theBignoniales are weakly upheld. This points to the need for further studies in the group using more sequences ofrbcL as well as other data. None of the families ofBignoniales as presently circumscribed (includingAcanthaceae s.l.) were strongly supported, although the larger clade containing the families of theBignoniales was robust.     

Revision der GattungLoxonia (Gesneriaceae)

Within the genusLoxonia Jack, currently regarded as monotypic, three species are recognized:L. hirsuta Jack (Sumatra, Mentawai-Islands, Java, Borneo, Anambas-Islands, Malay Peninsula),L. discolor Jack (Sumatra) andL. burttiana A. Weber, spec. nova (Borneo). [Key with English translation p. 203.] There is evidence thatL. discolor is the most primitive species within the genus, the two others being derived from it.

Teil V der Beiträge zur Morphologie und Systematik derKlugieae undLoxonieae (Gesneriaceae).     

Pollen morphology ofSonchus and related genera,and a general discussion

The pollen morphology of the taxa belonging to the generaAetheorhiza Cass.,Launaea Cass.,Reichardia Roth andSonchus L. in the Iberian Peninsula has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The pollen is 3(-4)-zonocolporate and echinolophate (without polar lacunae, but in general with prelacunae), with equatorial ridges and 15–20 lacunae: 3–4 poral, 6–8 abporal and 6–8 paraporal. Small to medium size, P × E = 19–36 × 23–42 µm; sometimes two different sizes have been found. Exine 3–9 µm thick and ornamentation microreticulate and echinate. The results clearly show the relationships between genera. Moreno-Socías, E., Mejías, J. A., Díez, M. J., 1994: Morfología polínica deLactuceae (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica, I.Lactuca y géneros relacionados. — Acta Bot. Malacitana.19: 103–113.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the lichen familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales); a new generic classification and notes on character evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of the familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales, lichenized ascomycetes) has resulted in a new generic classification. Notes on character evolution are given. The generaSphaerophorus s. str.,Bunodophoron andLeifidium, gen. nov., are accepted.Pleurocybe andPseudosphaerophorus are considered synonyms ofBunodophoron andThysanophoron is considered synonym toSphaerophorus. The following new combinations are proposed:Bunodophoron coomerense (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. diplotypum (Vain.)Wedin,B. dodgei (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. flaccidum (Kantvilas & Wedin)Wedin,B. formosanum (Zahlbr.)Wedin,B. imshaugii (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. insigne (Laurer)Wedin,B. kinabaluense (M. Satô)Wedin,B. macrocarpum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. madagascareum (Nyl.)Wedin,B. microsporum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. murrayi (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. notatum (Tibell)Wedin,B. ohlssonii (Wedin)Wedin,B. patagonicum (C. W. Dodge)Wedin,B. ramuliferum (I. M. Lamb)Wedin,B. scrobiculatum (C. Bab.)Wedin,B. tibellii (Wedin)Wedin,B. whakapapaense (Wedin)Wedin, andLeifidium tenerum (Laurer)Wedin.     

Vergleichende cytotaxonomische Untersuchungen anRanunculus seguieri und der Artengruppe desR. alpestris (Ranunculaceae)

Morphological and cytological investigations as well as crossing experiments were carried out withRanunculus seguieri Vill. and 4 species of theRanunculus alpestris L. group (R. alpestris L.,R. traunfellneri Hoppe,R. bilobus Bertol.,R. crenatus Waldst. & Kit.). ForR. seguieri andR. alpestris, localities and distribution are given in addition to extensive diagnoses. A key to the species includes morphological characteristics and distribution data forR. traunfellneri, R. bilobus, andR. crenatus. New diagnostic characters are described. Crossing experiments betweenR. seguieri and the species of theR. alpestris group were unsuccessful. All 5 species have a chromosome number of 2n = 16, the record forR. bilobus is new. There is no statistically significant difference between the karyotypes ofR. seguieri andR. alpestris s. str. Nevertheless, according to morphological evidence and crossing experiments,R. seguieri is not closely related to theR. alpestris group.

     

Subdivision ofPelargonium sect.Cortusina (Geraniaceae)

The sect.Cortusina (Dc.)Harv. s.l. is divided into the sectt.Cortusina (Dc.)Harv. s. str. andReniformia (Knuth)Dreyer, comb. nov.,P. cortusifolium L'Hérit.,P. crassicaule L'Hérit.,P. echinatum Curt.,P. magenteum J. J. A. Van der Walt, andP. sibthorpifolium Harv. remain in the sect.Cortusina s. str., while the speciesP. album J. J. A. Van der Walt,P. dichondrifolium Dc.,P. odoratissimum (L.)L'Hérit.,P. reniforme Curt., andP. sidoides Dc. are removed from the sect.Cortusina s.l. and included in the revised sect.Reniformia. Both sections are well characterized by morphological, anatomical, karyological and palynological features. The chromosomes ofCortusina s. str. are small and based upon x = 11; those ofReniformia are larger and based upon x = 8. The size and surface sculpture of the pollen grains differ markedly between the two sections. Flavones and hydrolysable tannins occur in sect.Reniformia, but are absent in sect.Cortusina s. str. After hydrolysis hydroxybenzoic acids, which are present in large amounts inReniformia, occur only in traces inCortusina. The two sections also occupy distinctly different geographical areas. A close relationship between sect.Reniformia and some species of sect.Ligularia (Sweet)Harv. is indicated by the occurrence of artificial hybrids.     

Buzz-pollination in three nectariferousBoraginaceae and possible evolution of buzz-pollinated flowers

Buzz-pollination was observed in three nectariferousBoraginaceae spp.:Onosma gigantea Lam.,Trichodesma africana (L.)R. Br. andT. boissieri Post. An evolutionary pathway from usual nectariferous flowers to typical buzz-pollinated flowers is suggested.     

Stachys beckeana (Labiatae) in Albanien und Jugoslawien

Morphological and cytological investigations were carried out inStachys beckeana Dörfler & Hayek andS. recta L. subsp.sarajevensis sensuHayek. These two taxa have the same morphological characteristics (shape and indumentum of leaves; morphology of sepals, petals and fruits) and both have 2n = 2x = 34 chromosomes. They cannot be considered as different taxa;S. beckeana Dörfler & Hayek is the valid name (synonyms:S. recta L. subsp.sarajevensis sensuHayek,S. hayekii Malý,S. recta L. subsp.hayekii Malý).

Erster Beitrag zur Neubearbeitung der Artengruppe derStachys recta L.     

The annual species ofAdonis (Ranunculaceae)—a polyploid complex

The five annual species ofAdonis L., sect.Adonis, growing in Israel, form a series of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid species. Their somatic chromosome numbers are 2n = 16 inA. annua L.,A. dentata Del. andA. palaestina Boiss., 2n = 32 inA. microcarpa DC., 2n = 48 inA. aestivalis L.; counts forA. dentata, A. palaestina andA. microcarpa are new records. There are indications that alloploidization may have been involved in the process of speciation in sect.Adonis. A taxonomic survey of the 8 species of the section reveals that a higher ploidy level is usually combined with a larger distribution area.