A new species of Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) from Central Spain

CARRETERO, J. L., 1992. A new species of Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) from Central Spain. A new species of Anthemis is described from the eastern Toledo Mountains. The morphological relationships to other taxa, as well as the chorology and ecology of the new species are presented.     

Genetic relationships and population structure within taxa of the endemic Sideritis pusilla (Lamiaceae) assessed using RAPDs

RAPD analysis has been performed for 15 plant populations, covering eight different infraspecific taxa of Sideritis pusilla (Lange) Pau, member of the Lamiaceae endemic to southeastern Spain, and their putative parental species Sideritis hirsuta L. and Sideritis Uucantha Cav. Genetic distances, together with the presence of numerous fixed molecular markers differentiating S. pusilla from its putative ancestors, indicate that it should be considered as a true species. Cladistic and populational analysis led to the allocation of S. pusilla populations into three major groups– osteoxylla, jlavovirens and pusilla/almeriensis –which include taxa previously described as ranging from the varietal to the specific level. Low genetic differentiation among groups revealed by a reduced number of specific molecular markers justify their assignment under the infraspecific range. Moreover, the existence of both morphological and biogeographical differences, supports a status for these groups as subspecies of S. pusilla. Highly significant ( P <0.002) variance partitioning data (AMOVA) extracted from the analysis of individuals within S. pusilla populations show that, of the total genetic diversity, 68.8% was attributable to individual differences within populations, 19.9% to populational differences within groups, and only 11.3% to divergence between groups. This distribution is in agreement with the outcrossing nature of these plants. Comparative analysis of variance within populations reveals a reduced genetic variation for the osteoxylla group, thus supporting its previous consideration as an endangered taxon.     

Morphometric analyses and new taxonomic circumscription of South American species of Flourensia (Asteraceae,Heliantheae, Enceliinae)

Flourensia (Asteraceae, Heliantheae, Enceliinae) is an amphitropical genus of resinous subshrubs, shrubs and small trees with 13 North American and 20 South American species among which disagreement on the species limits of some members still exists. To resolve the taxonomy of the South American taxa, we carried out a combination of clustering (Ward's method with Gower distance coefficient) and ordination analyses (Principal Coordinate Analyses) based on 34 vegetative and reproductive characters scored from herbarium material, including types. Based on the results, we recognize 12 South American species: F. angustifolia, F. cajabambensis, F. fiebrigii, F. heterolepis, F. hirtissima, F. macrophylla, F. niederleinii; F. peruviana, F. polycephala, F. thurifera, F. tortuosa and F. suffrutescens. A number of species are placed in synonymy: Flourensia blakeana and F. hirta are synonymized under the name F. fiebrigii; Flourensia campestris, F. leptopoda, F. oolepis and F. riparia are synonymized under F. thurifera; Flourensia macroligulata is synonymized under F. tortuosa, and Flourensia polyclada is synonymized under F. suffrutescens. A taxonomic treatment of four redefined species as well as a key and distribution maps to all South American Flourensia species are provided.     

枸杞属(茄科)新类群杂交起源初探

为探讨枸杞属新类群的起源及国产枸杞属植物的亲缘关系,该文使用核基因颗粒性结合淀粉合成酶基因(GBSSI)片段,对国产7个类群的枸杞属植物进行了分子系统学研究.结果表明:中国分布的枸杞属植物属于旧世界类群并分为4个强烈支持的分支,而新类群的形成与杂交密切相关.此外,初步分析还显示宁夏枸杞有较高的遗传分化.     

高茎紫菀(菊科)形态描述补充及细胞学和分子系统学研究北大核心CSCD

结合在模式产地采集的高茎紫菀(Aster procerus Hemsley)以及查阅文献资料,发现原始文献对其形态描述不充分且缺乏细胞学和分子系统学方面的报道。本研究对高茎紫菀的形态特征进行了补充描述以及核型特征和系统位置分析,为紫菀属的修订提供资料。结果表明:(1)依据观察结果,补充了高茎紫菀新的形态特征:基生叶羽状分裂,成熟的基生叶较大,长可达26 cm,宽可达8 cm;花序托圆锥状。(2)高茎紫菀的染色体数目为2n=18;核型公式为2n=2x=16 m+2 M,核型属于1 A。(3)基于ITS和ETS标记的分子系统发育树分析表明,高茎紫菀不同居群的2个个体在同一进化支上(LP=100,PP=1.00),且位于核心紫菀属(LP=100,PP=1.00),与女菀[Turczaninovia fastigiata(Fischer)Candolle]构成姐妹类群(LP=52,PP=0.99)。研究认为,高茎紫菀基生叶和花序托的特征可为紫菀属的分类提供新的证据,支持高茎紫菀位于紫菀属(Aster L.)内,建议将女菀并入紫菀属。     

Flowering and fruiting phenology of a xerochamaephytic shrub community from the mountain of Mallorca (Balearic islands,Spain)

A study of the flowering and fruiting phenology was undertaken for twenty species of the xerochamaephytic communities that characterize the mountain-crest areas of the island of Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The flowering period of the species considered extends from March to November, with the majority flowering during the spring and early summer, and a peak in June. The flowering duration at the species level is longest for Rosmarinus officinalis var. palaui (which flowered in spring and autumn) and was shortest for Genista majorica and Rubia balearica. In this community, three strategies were observed that may serve to reduce interspecific competition between pollinators: 1) pollination specialization of white-pink flowers; 2) high diversification of yellow flower pollinators; and 3) the divergence in flowering time of less common flower colours. The flowering duration of individual plants and whole populations are positively correlated, which may indicate that individuals of each population optimize the time which is phenologically useful. The flowering of the spiny cushion species of the community is characterized by a smaller intraspecific overlap in comparison to the other species examined. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Integrative taxonomy of Flatbill Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) reveals a new species from the Amazonian lowlands

Integrative taxonomic studies continue to reveal that many current polytypic species of birds are in fact constituted by two or more species and therefore have been central in uncovering ‘hidden’ or ‘cryptic’ biodiversity. The Olivaceous Flatbill (Aves: Tyrannidae: Rhynchocyclus olivaceus) currently has nine recognized subspecies distributed throughout the Neotropics, but so far, no complete phylogenetic hypothesis exists to test the validity and evolutionary relationships among them. To remedy this, we conducted a multi-character integrative taxonomic revision of the genus Rhynchocyclus, focusing on the polytypic R. olivaceus. The combination of a taxonomically dense sampled multilocus phylogeny (including three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes) with phenotypic analyses including morphological and vocal characters pointed to several taxonomic inconsistencies within R. olivaceus. The analyses strongly support that R. olivaceus is paraphyletic, with an exclusively cis-Andean clade (where the topotypic R. olivaceus is found) clustering as sister to Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus, to the exclusion of a clade grouping trans-Andean and western Amazonian populations currently placed in R. olivaceus—one of which is unnamed and fully diagnosable based on vocal and genetic characters. Consistent with the phylogenetic results, our vocal analyses identified at least four morphologically cryptic lineages within R. olivaceus that can be mutually diagnosed from each other by different loudsongs and call parameters. Therefore, we provide evidence for splitting these four groups into separate species, two of which are sympatric but not syntopic in western Amazonia, including an unnamed species described herein—Rhynchocyclus cryptus, sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2DC17190-2BDD-49EC-88E6-4CF2FC2562A3.     

Two new species of Agatea (Violaceae) endemic to New Caledonia, with some taxonomic notes and a key to New Caledonian species

While working on a treatment of Violaceae for the Flore de Nouvelle-Caledonie et dependences , two new species were recognized, Agatea veillonii Munzinger and A. lecointei Munzinger. These species are here described and illustrated. Some taxonomic notes and a regional identification key are provided.     

A new endemic species of Epipactis (Orchidaceae) from north-east Portugal

A new species, Epipactis duriensis Bernardos, D. Tyteca, Revuelta & Amich is described and illustrated from north-east Portugal. Notes on its distribution, ecology, karyology, micromorphology and taxonomic relationships are presented as well as molecular data based on ITS analysis. A list of diagnostic differences between E. duriensis and the closely related species E. lusitanica and E. tremolsii is provided.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 239–249.     

Patterns of morphometric variation and a new supraspecific classification of apomictic taxa of Hieracium (Asteraceae) from Denmark and southern Sweden

Patterns of variation among all micro-species of Hieracium sect. Hieracium and H. sect. Vulgata known from Denmark and southern Sweden are investigated. Forty-three, possibly independent morphological characters are used. Significant correlations were revealed among the majority of the characters. Multivariate analyses did not reveal any discontinuities in the variation or any discrete groups of species. However, there were obvious correlations between previous taxonomic classifications and the result of the multivariate analyses. Based on the statistical analyses, three sections and 38 informal species aggregates are recognized. H. sect. Bifidum T. Tyler is described anew. The characters that turned out to be most influential in the multivariate analyses, and thus most important for the classification, were the distribution of stellate tomentum on the phyllaries, the amount of glandular hairs and the amount and pigmentation of simple hairs on the phyllaries, the shape of the leaf-base and the regularity of the leaf dentation. The evolution of the group and the taxonomic treatment is thoroughly discussed in the light of the results.     

A new endemic lineage of the Andean frog genus Telmatobius (Anura,Telmatobiidae) from the western slopes of the central Andes

The amphibian genus Telmatobius is a diverse group of species that inhabits the Andes. This study analysed the phylogenetic relationships of 19 species described from the central Andes of Chile and Bolivia, and 12 undescribed populations of Chile. A molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA 16S and cytochrome b shows that the Chilean species belong to three groups: (1) the Telmatobius marmoratus group, widespread in the Chilean and Bolivian Altiplano; (2) the Telmatobius hintoni group, including the species Telmatobius philippii, Telmatobius fronteriensis, and Telmatobius huayra, occurring in the south‐western Altiplano of Chile and Bolivia, and (3) the Telmatobius zapahuirensis group, a new clade which also includes Telmatobius chusmisensis, Telmatobius dankoi, and Telmatobius vilamensis, restricted to western slopes of the Andes, and which was recovered as more closely related to the T. hintoni group than the T. marmoratus group. The divergence times between clades were traced to the late Pleistocene. The molecular phylogeny also confirmed that the groups of the Altiplano and western Andes slopes form a clade separated from the species that inhabit the eastern Andes (Telmatobius verrucosus and Telmatobius bolivianus groups), supporting the forest origin of the Altiplano groups proposed by several previous authors. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

An extraordinary new genus of spiders from Western Australia with an expanded hypothesis on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae (Araneae)

We describe Pinkfloydia Hormiga & Dimitrov gen. nov. , a new genus of tetragnathid spiders from Western Australia and study its phylogenetic placement. The taxon sampling from our previous cladistic studies was expanded, with the inclusion of representatives of additional tetragnathid genera and outgroup taxa. Sequences from six genetic markers, 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, and histone 3, along with morphological and behavioural data were used to infer tetragnathid relationships. These data were analysed using parsimony (under both static homology and dynamic optimization) and Bayesian methods. Our results indicate that Pinkfloydia belongs to the ‘Nanometa’ clade. We also propose a revised set of synapomorphies to define this lineage. Based on the new evidence presented here we propose a revised hypothesis for the intrafamilial relationships of Tetragnathidae and show that Mimetidae is most likely the sister group of Tetragnathidae. The single species in this genus so far, Pinkfloydia harveii Dimitrov& Hormiga sp. nov. , is described in detail and its web architecture documented and illustrated. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161 , 735–768.     

The Parvidrilidae – a diversified groundwater family: description of six new species from southern Europe,and clues for its phylogenetic position within Clitellata (Annelida)

The Parvidrilidae Erséus, 1999 constitute the most recently described family of oligochaete microdriles. Prior to this study, Parvidrilus strayeri Erséus, 1999, and Parvidrilus spelaeus Martínez‐Ansemil, Sambugar & Giani, 2002, found in groundwaters of the USA (Alabama) and Europe (Slovenia and Italy), respectively, were the only two species in this family. In this paper, six new species – Parvidrilus camachoi , Parvidrilus gianii , Parvidrilus jugeti , Parvidrilus meyssonnieri , Parvidrilus stochi , and Parvidrilus tomasini – and Parvidrilus gineti (Juget, 1959) comb. nov. are added to the family. With all species being stygobiont, the Parvidrilidae is unique in being the only family of oligochaetes worldwide comprising taxa that are restricted to groundwater habitats. Parvidrilids are exceedingly small worms whose principal morphological characteristics are the presence of hair setae in ventral bundles, the markedly posterior position of setae within the segments, the presence of mid‐dorsal glandular pouches in mesosomial segments, the lateral development of the clitellum, the presence of a single male pore in segment XII, and the presence (or absence) of a single spermatheca. The phylogenetic relationships of the Parvidrilidae within the Clitellata were investigated using the nuclear 18S rRNA gene, and the most representative and taxonomically balanced data set of clitellate families available to date. The data were analysed by parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Irrespective of the method used, Parvidrilidae were placed far from Capilloventridae, one family once suggested to be closely related to parvidrilids. Although closer to Enchytraeidae than Phreodrilidae, two other suggested putative sister families, the exact position of Parvidrilidae within Clitellata still remained uncertain in the absence of branch support. The examination of reproductive structures, together with the similarity of other important anatomical traits of the new species herein described, reinforced the idea that phreodrilids were the best candidate to be the sister group to parvidrilids on morphological grounds. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene, used as a barcode, also genetically characterized a few Parvidrilus species. The observation that two species diverge from each other by high genetic distances, even though their type localities are more or less only 100 km apart, is interpreted in the context of low dispersal abilities of inhabitants of the subterranean aquatic ecosystem, and habitat heterogeneity. The Parvidrilidae appear to be a diversified, Holarctic, and probably widely distributed family in groundwater, but very often overlooked because of the small size and external similarity with the polychaete family Aeolosomatidae of its members. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 530–558.     

Comparative analysis of biological and ecological differentiation of Anemone palmata L. (Ranunculaceae) in the western Mediterranean (France and Spain): an assessment of rarity and population persistence

The western Mediterranean geophyte Anemone palmata L. is one of the most endangered angiosperm taxa in France. The biological and ecological characteristics of French populations are contrasted with those of populations from near the centre of the species distribution in east Spain. A Correspondence Analysis discriminates the French and Spanish populations according to substrate and the composition of the plant communities where they grow. The karyological study reveals that east Spanish plants are autotetraploid, whilst the French are all diploid. In addition, morphological differences were registered, Spanish plants generally being more vigorous. French populations consist mostly of senile plants, without or with very low rates of sexual reproduction, whereas the populations from Spain include all age groups with an important percentage of juvenile plants. The main factors which could affect the French populations are habitat destruction and modification of plant communities due to land-abandonment. Conservation measures should be supported by immediate protection of the French localities and habitats to prevent the total decline of this rare species.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 95–114.     

High genetic and morphological diversity despite range contraction in the diploid Hieracium eriophorum (Asteraceae) endemic to the coastal sand dunes of south‐west France

Endemic plants inhabiting coastal sand dunes show augmented extinction risks due to the dynamic nature of dunes and strong human pressure on coastal areas. To investigate the survival strategies and threats to long‐term survival of such species, we combined genetic, morphological and biogeographical approaches, using the example of Hieracium eriophorum (Asteraceae) and its putative cryptic sister species H. prostratum, which are endemic to the longest coastal sand dune in Europe. An analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism revealed high within‐population genetic variability, and slight isolation by distance was the only indication of genetic population structure. Thus, no signs of genetic threats to survival were found. Furthermore, genetic and morphometric data provided no evidence for the existence of two species. Therefore, we propose to synonymize H. prostratum with H. eriophorum and provide a nomenclatural overview with typification. Finally, an analysis of historical distribution records showed that, during the last 100 years, the species was lost from its range margins, where its habitat became fragmented. Taken together, our results suggest that one successful survival strategy of narrow endemics may be the achievement of large local population sizes on a small geographical scale, thus avoiding the genetic problems inherent to small and fragmented populations. Dune management policies should thus take care that the current tendencies to allow more erosion will not result in too severe fragmentation of the remaining continuous stretches of dune habitat. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 169 , 365–377.