New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Ricerche embriologiche e cariologiche sul genere “Euphorbia„

Riassunto

L'A. stabilisce che in Euphorbia Paralias L., in E. falcata L. var. acuminata (Lam.) Fior, E. pubescens Vahl ed E. Pithyusa L. var. ovalifolia Fiori lo sviluppo del gametofito femminile è di tipo Normale S-nucleato; in Euphorbia Characias L. il gametofito femminile può svilupparsi secondo il tipo Normale e il tipo Scilla con una frequenza di sviluppo del primo rispetto al secendo del valore approssimativo percentuale del 7%; in Euphorbia amygdaloides L. il gametofito si sviluppa sempre secondo lo schema del tipo Scilla. Stabilisce inoltre che il numero aploide dei cromosomi è n=S in Euphorbia Paralias L., n = 18 in E. falcala var. acuminata (Lam.) Fiori, n = 7 in E. pubescens Vahl, n = 18 in E. Pithyusa L. var. ovalifolia Fiori, n = 10 in E. Characias L. ed n = 9 in E. amygdaloides L. Fenomeni di associazione secondaria dei cromosomi del corredo aploide potrebbero indicare che il numero aploide n = 7 di Euphorbia pubcscens Vahl sia derivato dal numero aploide 6. Si prospetta quindi la possibilità dell'esistenza nel genere Euphorbia di una serie poliploide secondaria con termini 7 - 14 - 21 - 28, rispettivamente diploidi, tetraploidi, esaploidi ed ottoploidi.     

Contributo All'Embriologia Delle Plumbaginaceae (con 103 figg. nel testo)

Riassunto

L'A. stabilisce che in Plumbago capensis Thunb., accanto allo sviluppo secondo lo schema del tipo Plumbago, si riscontra, con bassissima frequenza, un nuovo tipo di sviluppo di gametofiti 7-nucleati bipolarizzati con oosfera di natura sporiale.

Stabilisce inoltre che in Statice Limonium L. lo sviluppo del gametofito femminile avviene esclusivamente secondo il tipo Euphorbia dulcis, mentre in Armeria vulgaris W. var. maritima (Miller) Willd. esiste associazione dei due tipi di sviluppo Adoxa ed Euphorbia dulcis nel rapporto approssimativo del 3%.

Mette in evidenza che la triploidia dei nuclei calazali, caratteristica dei gametofiti di tipo Euphorbia dulcis, può determinarsi secondo due distinte modalità : o per coalescenza dei tre fusi calazali durante la terza divisione dello sviluppo (Statice Limonium), o per un processo di vera e propria cariogamia dei tre nuclei sporiali quiescenti durante lo stadio di polarizzazione 1+3 con conscguente formazione durante la storia dello sviluppo di uno stadio binucleato secondario (Armeria vulgaris var. maritima).

Riconferma infine per questa ultima pianta il numero aploide dei cromosomi n = 9.     

Sulla cariologia del Genere Carlina L.

Riassunto

L'A. ha studiato i cariogrammi di 6 specie italiane del genere Carlina L. (C. gummifera Less. var. Fontanesii (DC.) Fiori, C. acaulis L. var. alpina (Jacq.) Fiori, C. acanthifolia All., C. lanata L., C. vulgaris L., C. carymbosa L.).

Il corredo cromosomico è 2n = 20 per tutte le specie. Per la presenza di un gruppo di cromosomi della lunghezza superiore a 4 μ nelle specie a grossi capolini, si rende possibile distinguere auche cariologicamente nel genere Carlina L. due sezioni, corrispondenti alla possibile distinzione morfologica delle Carline in Macrocefale (C. gummifera Less. var. Fontanesii (DC) Fiori, C. acaulis L. var. alpina (Jacq.) Fiori, C. acanthifolia All., C. latana L.) e Microcefale (C. vulgaris L. e C. eorymbosa L.).     

Flora e Vegetazione Dell'Isola Di Pianosa (Isole Tremiti)

Abstract

Flora and vegetation of the Isle of Pianosa (Isles Tremiti). – The flora and vegetation of the Isle of Pianosa are here described. The flora is composed of common mediterranean species with some adriatic endemics. The vegetation has a halophilous-nitrophilous character. The plant formations identified on this isle are shown in the map (fig. 1).     

Biosystematic studies on the genus Heloniopsis (Melanthiaceae) I. Phylogeny inferred from plastid DNA sequences and taxonomic implications

Based on a combined dataset of plastid DNA sequences (atpB‐rbcL, trnG, trnL‐trnL‐trnF, trnK 5' intron and matK) from 60 individuals, we conducted parsimony and likelihood analyses to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among the six species and three varieties that are commonly recognised in Heloniopsis, in addition to the related genera Ypsilandra and Helonias, using Chamaelirium and Chionographis as an outgroup. According to the single most parsimonious tree, which was identical to the maximum‐likelihood tree in topology, Helonias, Ypsilandra and Heloniopsis are all monophyletic with 100% bootstrap support (BS). In Heloniopsis, there are two highly supported clades (BS 94–97%): a clade of Korean species and a clade of Japanese and Taiwanese species. The latter clade comprised the following four subclades (BS 99–100%): 1) H. orientalis var. orientalis, 2) H. orientalis var. breviscapa and var. flavida, 3) H. kawanoi and 4) H. leucantha and H. umbellata. Because subclades 1 and 2 did not form a monophyletic group, and do show clear morphological differences – including nectary position, nectary‐sac structure and leaf margin undulation – they should be distinguished at the species level: H. orientalis for subclade 1 and H. breviscapa for subclade 2. In subclade 2, neither var. breviscapa nor var. flavida was monophyletic; instead, var. breviscapa plus var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) was monophyletic (BS 62–63%) and var. flavida (thin‐leaved entity) was monophyletic (BS 86–87%). As var. breviscapa and var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) share basally ± pinkish wide tepals and dark‐coloured thick leaves, in contrast to var. flavida (thin‐leaved entity), which has completely white narrow tepals and light‐coloured thin leaves, the two varieties should may be kept distinct after the merge of var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) with var. breviscapa.     

Molecular phylogeny of relict-endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liquidambar orientalis</Emphasis> Mill based on sequence diversity of the chloroplast-encoded <Emphasis Type="Italic">mat</Emphasis>K gene

The genetic diversity and evolutionary divergence in Liquidambar species and Liquidambar orientalis varieties were compared with respect to the matK gene. A total of 66 genotypes from 18 different populations were sampled in southwestern Turkey. The matK region, which is about 1,512 bp in length, was sequenced and studied. L. orientalis, L. styraciflua, and L. formosana had similar magnitude of nucleotide diversity, while L. styraciflua and L. acalycina possessed higher evolutionary divergence. The highest evolutionary divergence was found between L. styraciflua and eastern Asian Liquidambar species (0.0102). However, the evolutionary divergence between L. orientalis and other species was of a similar magnitude. The maximum-parsimony phylogenetic tree showed that L. styraciflua and L. orientalis formed a closer clade while East Asian species were in a separate clade. This suggests that the North Atlantic Land Bridge through southern Greenland may have facilitated continuous distribution of Liquidambar species from southeastern Europe to eastern North America in early Tertiary period. The maximum-parsimony tree with only 18 Oriental sweetgum populations indicated that there were two main clusters: one with mainly L. orientalis var. integriloba and the other with var. orientalis and undetermined populations. High nucleotide diversity (0.0028) and divergence (0.00072) were found in L. orientalis var. integriloba populations and Muğla-1 geographical region. This region could be considered as the major refugium and genetic diversity center for the species. The low genetic diversity and divergence at intraspecies level suggest that L. orientalis populations in Turkey share an ancestral polymorphism from which two varieties may have evolved.     

Escursione Floristica Nelle Isole Pelagie

Abstract

Floristic excursion in the Pelagie Islands. — This is the result of the Author's researches in the Pelagie Islands. He points out the geobotanic interest of Limoniastrum monopetalum growing in the island of Linosa, and states that though it is widely present in the Mediterranean world, Limoniastrum monopetalum grows in districts which are very far from one another, so that its area results fragmentary.     

Einige für die bulgarische Flora neue und seltene Arten

The author reports new for the science and new and rare plants species for the Bulgarian Flora. The new species for the science are Ranunculus stojanovii sp. nov. and Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. ovatum var. nov. R. stojanovii grow wild near Ravnogor village, Pazardžik district (Rhodopi mountain at 1200 m.s.l.). O. vulgatum L. var. ovatum is collected in the meadows at Banja village near by Karlovo town, Plovdiv district. The new species for the Bulgarian Flora are Erythronium dens-canis L. ssp. niveum (Baumg.) Buia et Paun, collected at Radovci village, Tarnovo district, and Parentucellia latifolia L. f. albiflora (Raul) Hall, collected at Banja village, Plovdiv district. The remaining 21 species are rare for the Bulgarian Flora. New localities are indicated for them.     

Characterisation of Phenolics in Flor‐Essence®—a Compound Herbal product and its Contributing Herbs

Introduction – Commercially available herbal mixture FE, a proprietary natural health product manufactured by Flora Manufacturing and Distributing Ltd (Flora), is a unique North American traditional herbal product. FE is a chemically complex mixture of eight herbs and has not been subjected to phytochemical analysis. Objective – To develop analytical methods to undertake detailed phytochemical analyses of FE, and its eight contributing herbs, including burdock (Arctium lappa L.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), Turkish rhubarb (Rheum palmatum L.), slippery elm Muhl. (Ulmus rubra), watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L.) and kelp (Laminaria digitata Lmx.). Methodology – The identification was undertaken by a combination of reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation–mass selective detection (RP‐HPLC‐DAD‐APCI‐MSD) analysis and phenolics metabolomic library matching. Results – New separation methods facilitated the identification of 43 markers in the individual herbs which constitute FE. Sixteen markers could be identified in FE originating from four contributing herbs including four caffeoyl quinic acids, three dicaffeoyl quinic acids and two caffeic acid derivatives from A. lappa, luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside, luteolin, five apigenin glycosides and apigenin from R. acetocella and N. officinale and sissostrin from T. pretense. A validated method for quantitative determination of three markers is reported with good intraday, interday and interoperator repeatability using a reliable alcohol based extraction technique. Conclusion – FE and its contributing herbs predominantly contain phenolics. This methodology can be applied to further develop full‐scale validation of this product. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The non-native vascular flora of the Falkland Islands

Summary

Non-native species form a significant, but under-recorded, component of the Falkland Islands vascular flora. With this in mind a comprehensive re vie w of the non-native flora of the Falkland Islands was undertaken for the first time since the publication of the definitive Flora in 1968. We have recorded 175 non-native taxa, from 46 families, from the Falkland Islands which are listed with accompanying notes on habitat, status and distribution. Twenty-nine of these are likely to be commonly encountered, though only Aira praecox, Cerastium fontanum, Rumex acetosella and Sagina procumbens are near ubiquitous throughout. The origins of much of the non-native flora are obscure, however most species seem to be of European descent, and a significant proportion of taxa seem to have become established after introductions for agricultural and horticultural purposes.     

Conspectus of Italian Selaginella (Selaginellaceae), with some typifications

An annotated synonymic inventory of Italian Selaginella taxa, a practical key for their identification and their dot distribution maps are presented, as a result of our work on the Selaginellaceae account for the Flora Critica d'Italia. The names Lycopodium helveticum L. and Selaginella denticulata var. platystachya Hieron. are typified.     

Nachweis der Chlorotischen Blattfleckung des Apfels und der Verzwergung von Malus platycarpa in ringfleckiger Chaenomeles (Kurze Mitteilung)

Die Insel Vilm liegt südöstlich der Insel Rügen im Rügenschen Bodden und umfaßt annähernd 94 ha. Sie ist 2,5 km lang und erhebt sich bis zu 37,5 m über den Meeresspiegel. Die Insel Vilm ist seit 1990 ein Teil des Biosphärenreservates Südost‐Rügen. Das Bundesamt für Naturschutz unterhält hier die Außenstelle Internationale Naturschutzakademie (INA). Angesichts der relativ isolierten Lage der Insel und der durch Kulturmaßnahmen kaum beeinflußten oder veränderten Flora erschien es aus ökologischer und epidemiologischer Sicht interessant, das Vorkommen pflanzenpathogener Viren zu untersuchen.

Die folgenden Viren wurden in verschiedenen Pflanzenarten bestimmt: cherry leafroll virus in Betula pendula Roth.; ash mosaic virus in Fraxinus excelsior L.; tobacco rattle virus in Galium mallugo L.; cucumber mosaic virus in Malva sylvestris L. und Rhamnus cathartica L.; plum pox virus in Prunus spinosa L. und sorbus ring pattern mosaic virus in Sorbus aucuparia L.

Virusverdächtige Symptome wurden auch an anderen Pflanzenarten gefunden. Wildäpfel und Wildbirnen waren virusfrei. In Wasserproben aus Sümpfen und dem ufernahen Bereich der See wurde ein tobamovirus isoliert.     

Distichophyllum chenii B.C.Ho sp. nov. (Daltoniaceae) from Southeast China

Abstract

Despite the genus Distichophyllum having been revised recently for the Moss Flora of China, upon examination of a wide range of both Chinese and non-Chinese material a distinct new species was found among existing specimens collected from China. The new species, Distichophyllum chenii, is described based on specimens previously misidentified and reported as Distichophyllum cirratum var. cirratum. Published illustrations of D. cirratum var. cirratum based on a misidentified collection of D. collenchymatosum are highlighted to avoid further future taxonomic confusion.     

Philip Miller and the plants from the Chelsea Physic Garden presented to the Royal Society of London, 1723–1796

Summary

From 1723 to 1796 the Society of Apothecaries of London presented annually to the Royal Society of London 50 dried specimens of plants grown the previous year in the Chelsea Physic Garden, this being a condition of Sir Hans Sloane's deed of gift of the Garden to the Apothecaries in 1722. These herbarium specimens are now in the Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), London. Many represent plants recorded in successive editions of Philip Miller's Gardeners Dictionary and, together with Miller's own specimens also in the British Museum (Natural History) and Ehret's drawings, may serve to typify binomials published in the 8th edition (1768) of his Dictionary. They were listed from 1723 to 1774 in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society; the lists here contain six long-overlooked binomials Galium verrucosum Huds. (syn. G. valantia Weber), Gypsophila pilosa Huds. (syn. G. porrigens (L.) Boiss), Briza pinnata Huds. (= Demazeria sicula (Jacq.) Dumort.) Euphorbia hispanica Huds. (= E. esula var. lanceolata Gren. & Godron), Pteris cheusanica Curtis (= P. ensiformis Burm. f.) and Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis (syn. S. sarmentosa L.). The deed of conveyance is printed as an appendix.     

Stipa Trichotoma Nees nella selva di San Rossore,nuovo inquilino della flora toscaista

Summary

The Author discovers and describes a new station of Stipa trichotoma Ness (Nassella trichotoma Hackel) in the «Selva di S. Rossore » (Pisa), where it represents an adventitious and probably newly naturalized species for the Tuscan Flora.

The Author refers on the preceedind foundings of this south-American plant in Italy, discussing the complicated sinonimy, and points out the opportunity for the constitution of-a new section Nassellopsis and the interest to include the species in the new edition of «Nuova Flora Analitica d'ltalia» of Adriano Fiori.     

Alcune specie e varietà nuove per la flora della Sardegna

Abstract

New species for Flora of Sardinia. — The Author remarks the presence of new species for Sardinia with some observations on the distribution and habitat.     

Hybrid swarms: catalysts for multiple evolutionary events in Senecio in the British Isles

Background: Introgressive hybridisation is an evolutionary catalyst producing novel variants able to explore new ecological niches and evolve as new hybrid taxa. However, the role of ‘hybrid swarms’ – highly variable populations produced following interspecific hybridisation – in generating this evolutionary novelty has been poorly studied.

Aims: We examine the alternative origins of tetraploid hybrid derivatives of Senecio vulgaris and S. squalidus, via local polytopic formation or long-distance dispersal from a single perennial hybrid swarm around Cork, Ireland.

Methods: Morphometric, isozyme and chloroplast DNA analysis.

Results: The Cork hybrid swarm and UK hybrid swarms exhibited a broad range of morphological variation and contained individuals similar to the stable tetraploid hybrid derivatives; S. eboracensis and S. vulgaris var. hibernicus. Chloroplast DNA analysis shows that S. eboracensis did not evolve from the Cork hybrid swarm. However, UK S. vulgaris var. hibernicus populations exhibit a broad range of variation for both chloroplast and isozyme markers, but were not distinguishable from Cork material.

Conclusions: Our study confirms that S. eboracensis did not evolve from the Cork hybrid swarm, and while our analyses could not demonstrate this conclusively for S. vulgaris var. hibernicus the ease with which hybrid swarms have been generated in the past makes a polytopic origin for S. vulgaris var. hibernicus the most likely scenario.