A phylogenetic analysis of the Arecoid Line of palms based on plastid DNA sequence data

A phylogenetic analysis of the Arecoid Line (sensu Moore) of palms was conducted using 7 kb of coding and noncoding plastid DNA sequence data. Recovered maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood phylogenies support monophyly for the Arecoid Line relative to the rest of the family but paraphyly for subfamily Arecoideae and polyphyly for subfamily Ceroxyloideae (sensu Dransfield and Uhl). Tribes Cocoeae, Geonomeae, Hyophorbeae, and Iriarteae and subfamily Phytelephantoideae were identified as monophyletic as were subfamily Phytelephantoideae + Ravenea (tribe Ceroxyleae of Ceroxyloideae), Podococcus (tribe Podococceae of Arecoideae) + Pseudophoenix (tribe Cyclospatheae of Ceroxyloideae), Reinhardtia (tribe Malortieinae) + tribe Cocoeae (both of Arecoideae), and a clade containing all IndoPacific pseudomonomerous genera of tribe Areceae (Arecoideae). A few taxa show spurious resolution with noncoding plastid DNA data but noncoding data are generally congruent with protein-coding data. Biogeographic interpretation suggests a Gondwanan origin for the Arecoid Line with several lineages found on more than one fragment of the former supercontinent and primary diversification in these groups possibly due to continental breakup vicariance. Three groups involving Cocos, Orania, and the IndoPacific clade demonstrate independent dispersals into the IndoPacific region from a Gondwanan origin.     

Pollen morphology in the family Asphodelaceae (Asphodeleae,Kniphofieae)

Pollen of 72 species from 7 genera of the Asphodelaceae was studied by means of LM and SEM in order to investigate their taxonomic relationships. The pollen of all the genera investigated is heteropolar, monosulcate, non-operculate and differs in size, form and exine ornamentation. The species of Eremurus are homogenous palynologically and studies of this genus do not support the segregation of the genera Henningia, Selonia, and Ammolirion. The pollen of Bulbinopsis mainly differs from the pollen of Bulbine species in having a perforate-areolate exine surface (B. bulbosa) but the genera are close in their other palynological features. The genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline have the largest, almost spheroidal grains with the thickest exine but differ in details of exine ornamentation. The species of Kniphofia are very close palynologically.     

Raphides in palm embryos and their systematic distribution

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Raphides are ubiquitous in the palms (Arecaceae), where they are found in roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits. Their occasional presence in embryos, first noticed over 100 years ago, has gone largely unexamined. METHODS: Embryos from 148 taxa of palms, the largest survey of palm embryos to date, were examined using light microscopy of squashed preparations under non-polarized and crossed polarized light. RESULTS: Raphides were found in embryos of species from the three subfamilies Coryphoideae, Ceroxyloideae and Arecoideae. Raphides were not observed in the embryos of species of Calamoideae or Phytelephantoideae. The remaining subfamily, the monospecific Nypoideae, was not available for study. CONCLUSIONS: Within the Coryphoideae and Ceroxyloideae, embryos with raphides were rare, but within the Arecoideae, they were a common feature of the tribes Areceae and Caryoteae.     

Phylogenetic utility of the nuclear gene malate synthase in the palm family (Arecaceae)

There is currently a shortage of DNA regions known to be useful for phylogenetic research in palms (Arecaceae). We report the development and use of primers for amplifying and sequencing regions of the nuclear gene malate synthase. In palms the gene appears to be single-copy, with exon regions that are phylogenetically informative within the family. We constructed a phylogeny of 45 palms and five outgroup taxa using 428 bp of malate synthase exon regions. We found that some major clades within the family were recovered, but there was a lack of resolution among the genera in subfamilies Arecoideae, Ceroxyloideae, Coryphoideae, and Phytelephantoideae. In a second analysis, malate synthase exon regions totaling 1002 bp were sequenced for 16 palms and two outgroup taxa. There was increased bootstrap support for some groups and for the placement of the monotypic genus Nypa as sister to the rest of the family. A comparison with data sets from noncoding regions of the chloroplast genome indicates that malate synthase sequences are more variable and potentially contain more phylogenetic information. We found no evidence of multiple copies of the malate synthase gene in palm genomes.     

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF CHAROPHYTA: II. THE AXIAL NODAL COMPLEX—AN APPROACH TO THE TAXONOMY OF LAMPROTHAMNIUM12

The present investigation on the axial nodes of 32 taxa belonging to the genera Chara, Lamprothamnium, Nitellopsis, Nitella and Tolypella confirms previous reports that within a given taxonomic group the structure of the main axial nodal complex is highly consistent. Besides the genera Nitella and Tolypella of the tribe Nitelleae, Lamprothamnium of the tribe Chareae is the only genus in which the central cells of the main axial nodal complex subdivide. This anatomical feature of the main axial nodal complex thus clearly separates the genus Lamprothamnium from the other genera of the tribe chareae. In 2 controversial species of the genus Chara, C. hornemannii and C. buckellii, the present study reveals that the central cells of their main axial nodal complexes do not subdivide. The transfer of these two species to the genus Lamprothamnium by Daily (1) may not be appropriate.     

Mitochondrial phylogeny of the deep-sea squat lobsters, Munidopsidae (Galatheoidea)

The Munidopsidae, one of three squat lobster families in the Galatheoidea, contains the deepest dwelling squat lobsters, with some occurring at abyssal depths. Munidopsids were formerly divided into two subfamilies: Shinkaiinae, for the unusual hydrothermal vent genus Shinkaia; and Munidopsinae for remaining taxa. Four munidopsid genera are currently recognised (Shinkaia, Leiogalathea, Galacantha and Munidopsis) but the largest genus, Munidopsis, is highly diverse morphologically, with multiple genera or subgenera currently in its synonymy. Phylogenetic studies of galatheoids focussed on high level relationships indicate that Leiogalathea is sister to other munidopsids, but the position of Shinkaia with respect to Munidopsis and Galacantha is unclear, as is the reciprocal monophyly of the latter two genera. Phylogenetic analyses of the Munidopsidae based on mitochondrial 16S and COI sequences, sampling all current genera (including the majority of the formerly recognised subgenera), indicate that the generic and former subfamily classifications do not reflect the phylogeny. Shinkaia and Galacantha clades are nested within Munidopsis rendering the genus paraphyletic and the bi-subfamily classification phylogenetically invalid. Many of the Munidopsis clades recovered, however, correspond well to formerly recognised genera or subgenera, indicating good prospects for a natural subdivision of Munidopsis.     

Relationships and divergence of some taxa of the subfamily Lycodinae (Zoarcidae,Pisces) based on molecular-genetic and morphological data

An integrated molecular-genetic and morphological study of 14 species of 6 genera of Zoarcidae of the subfamily Lycodinae was performed. A high coincidence of study results obtained using both methods was found. The generic independence of the genus Petroschmidtia that includes species P. albonotata and P. toyamensis was justified. It was shown that species L. schmidti and L. nigrocaudatus belong to the genus Lycogrammoides; and the generic status of the genus Bothrocarichthys with species B. microcephalus and of the genus Allolepis with species A. hollandi was restored. The studied taxa fall into three large monophyletic groups that include species of the genus Petroschmidtia, species of the genus Lycodes, and species of the genera Bothrocara, Allolepis, Bothrocarichthys, and Lycogrammoides. Taxa of the last group are characterized by a large complex of morphological differences from the first two groups, including the absence of ventral fins. A key to species and genera of Lycogrammoides and Bothrocarichthys was compiled. The problem of determination of the time of divergence of the studied zoarcid-like fish using the concept of “molecular clock” and its calibration according to paleontological and paleogeographic data is discussed.     

Chromosomal similarities and differences between tamarins,Leontopithecusand Saguinus (Platyrrhini,Primates)

The karyotypes of two taxa of genus Leontopithecus(rosalia and chrysomelas) are studied. Their G-, C- and NOR-banding patterns are compared with those of representatives of the genus Saguinus to determine chromosomal similarities and differences between the two genera and thus contribute to explaining phylogenetic relations between the tamarins. Leontopithecus, like the Saguinus, presents 2n = 46, 14 autosomes plus the Y acrocentric and 30 autosomes plus the X biarmed. No chromosomal rearrangement distinguishes the karyotypes of the representatives of genus Leontopithecus or genus Saguinus. The two genera are distinguished from each other by a paracentric inversion and pericentric inversions on at least four pairs of acrocentric autosomes, displacing the NORs of the small short arms in Leontopithecus to the proximal region of the long arms in Saguinus or vice versa. The tamarins are also distinguished by the distribution of noncentromeric constitutive heterochromatin. The data obtained indicate that the two tamarin genera are closely related chromosomally, suggesting that they probably originated from the same ancestral branch. Am. J. Primatol. 43:265–276, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SPHENOPHYLLALEAN CONES

The range of variability in the taxonomic characteristics traditionally used to establish genera and species of Sphenophyllum cones is studied from specimens of Bowmanites dawsoni, B. trisporangiatus, B. bifurcatus, Litostrobus, and Sphenostrobus. Taxonomic criteria examined include configuration of the cone stele, number of sporangiophores per bract, anatropous vs. orthotropous sporangium attachment, number of appendages per node, and spore morphology. Because of the large degree of variability observed, these characteristics do not appear to adequately differentiate between the genera Litostrobus and Sphenostrobus, so these genera are combined under Sphenostrobus. A new combination, S. iowensis, is proposed for specimens previously described as L. iowensis, L. paulus, and B. moorei. It is suggested that species currently placed in the genus Bowmanites may represent several distinct natural genera of sphenophyllalean cones.     

OLMECA,A NEW GENUS OF MEXICAN BAMBOOS WITH FLESHY FRUITS

Olmeca, a new bamboo genus of two species is described from southern Mexico. It is unique among New World bamboos in its production of fruits that are large and fleshy, in contrast to the smaller, dry type—caryopsis or achene—that characterizes the other genera. The fleshy fruit is found in few other bamboos, among them Dinochloa, Melocanna, and Ochlandra. These Asiatic genera are not all closely related to each other nor to the new American genus, but do share a similar type of habitat: the tropical lowland rain forest, where ample water is available throughout the year. Besides the rare type of fruit found in Olmeca, the rhizomes of this genus develop necks up to 8 m or more long, an uncommon feature among any world bamboo of the sympodial type. The solitary culms of Olmeca grow widely spaced from one another because of these elongated, intervening necks. One species. O. recta, is known only from the mountain range of Los Tuxtlas, in Veracruz, where it grows on acidic soils derived from basalt; the other, O. reflexa, occurs on calcareous soils and has a wider range that encompasses parts of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.     

The mangrove palm Nypa in the geologic past of the New World

The paleontological history of Nypa, known today as the mangrovepalm, is traced through geological time back to the Late Cretaceous. Emphasis is laid on the New World occurrences, especially in NorthAmerica, where Nypa is known from fossil fruits and pollen. In SouthAmerica, the stratigraphic range of this palm extends from theMaastrichtian to the late Eocene, whereas in North America, Nypa isrestricted to only the Eocene. Nypa occurs as pollen all along theAmerican Gulf Coast from the early Eocene (Ypresian) to the late Eocene(Priabonian), while fruit records come from the early and middle Eoceneof Maryland and Texas, respectively. The floristics of these Eocenemangroves, including possible mangrove associates, and the developmentof mangrove vegetation in the neotropics through the Tertiary andQuaternary, are discussed. New paleobotanical evidence from a middleEocene faunal and floral assemblage in Texas, the Casa Blanca flora (LaredoFormation, Claiborne Group), which contains fossil Nypa pollen andfruits, is described in detail.     

Mixoscyphus antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Sertulariidae), the first truly endemic genus of Antarctic benthic hydroids

A genus and species of Antarctic benthic hydroids new to science, Mixoscyphus antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov., is described and figured. Its systematic position amongst allied genera of the family Sertulariidae is discussed. The studied material originates from the South Shetland Islands area (West Antarctica), which was collected by several Spanish and US Antarctic expeditions. Mixoscyphus gen. nov. currently represents the only complete endemic genus of Antarctic benthic hydrozoans. A discussion of other genera of benthic hydroids that are largely endemic to the Antarctic is also provided.     

Floral microcharacters in Lessingianthus (Vernonieae,Asteraceae) and their taxonomic implications

Micromorphological characters of 113 species of the South American genus Lessingianthus H.Rob. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) were analyzed to evaluate their reliability as taxonomic markers. The corolla pubescence was studied in detail for the first time in the genus. Glandular and non-glandular trichomes were studied and described. The trichome types allow differentiation among related species, but do not reflect the relationships among species groups. On the other hand, the basal stylar node only occurs in a distinctive group of species within the genus. The apical appendage of the anthers is non-glandular in all species of the genus. Several character states analyzed in Lessingianthus are often widespread in other related genera of Vernonieae. Therefore, Lessingianthus can be circumscribed only by a combination of micro- and macromorphological features.     

Kritische Revision der „Thlaspi”︁-Arten Europas,Afrikas und Vorderasiens I. Geschichte,Morphologie und Chorologie

In the general introduction of a taxonomical revision of the genus Thlaspi L. from Europa, the Near East and Africa — a conspectus of the species till now comprised within this genus has already been published — a historical survey of the genus Thlaspi is given. Morphological resp. anatomical characters have been judged. The structure of the seedtesta inter alia exhibited a different pattern which proved to be valuable for differentiation. In Thlaspi s. str. this pattern revealed to be well distinguishable from all the other Thlaspi-species hitherto put in this genus; thus showing Thlaspi s. str. a species-complex of its own. The characteristical differences of the numerous species out of the Thlaspi s. str.-complex allow further separation of different genera, so that the hitherto existing genus Thlaspi has been found to be a mosaic of different genera. The degree of their closer or wider relationship, however, could be investigated after extensive studies in different genera of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). A subordination of these complexes of closer relationship as subgenera of the genus Thlaspi is impossible, because the morphological and anatomical differences are too great. A persistency in the hitherto scope of a heterogenous genus Thlaspi is considered unreasonable and would encourage a greater humping of many genera within the family Brassicaceae which are well separated till now. This would not reflect the natural conditions. Additional figures of fruits and seedtestas of different species support this view. Finally the geographical distribution of the several genera has been described which in Noccaea Moench shows shortly the wide extension of this genus throughout northern Asia and the extratropical America.     

Pathways of karyological differentiation in palms (Arecaceae)

Karyological data are given for 56 palm taxa coming from all 6 palm subfamilies. In 11 genera and 17 species, chromosome numbers are reported for the first time. Most chromosome numbers in palms range between 2n = 36 and 2n = 26 in dysploid series. Species of the same genus usually exhibit identical chromosome numbers which additionally may be constant in larger groups of closely related genera (Coryphoideae trib.Corypheae with nearly always 2n = 36,Arecoideae subtribesEuterpeinae andRoystoneinae with 2n = 36,Arecoideae subtrib.Butiinae with mostly 2n = 32). Polyploidy among palms is of minor significance but the endemic Madagascan genusVoanioala (2n = 606 ± 3) is the most striking exception. — With respect to structure of interphase nuclei and longitudinal differentiation of prophase and metaphase chromosomes, the palm family is highly differentiated. Euchromatin types with different prophase condensation properties and fluorochrome and C-banding patterns of heterochromatin permit a discrimination of several subfamilies on the nuclear level (Arecoideae, Ceroxyloideae, Nypoideae, Phytelephantoideae, Calamoideae).Arecoideae andCeroxyloideae, andNypoideae andPhytelephantoideae have some features in common. Subfam.Coryphoideae s. l. is a non-uniform group. — Nuclear characters among palms exclusively found in recentCoryphoideae subtrib.Thrinacinae link palms with other monocotyledons. Most probably, such a nuclear condition represents an ancestral state in the evolution of palm genomes within subfam.Coryphoideae s. l., but also the conspicuous nuclear characters of the other modern palm subfamilies appear to be derived from a similar starting point, since transitional character states are still present in subfam.Calamoideae and some taxa of subfam.Arecoideae. Early karyoevolution in palms obviously did not involve numerical change of the ancient chromosome number of 2n = 36 which started subsequently, as a dysploid reduction in numerous parallel series, independent in subfam.Coryphoideae (2n = 36 to 2n = 28),Calamoideae (2n = 36 to 2n = 26),Ceroxyloideae (2n = 34 to 2n = 26), andArecoideae (2n = 36 to 2n = 28). Possible mechanisms of karyological change are discussed. — Karyological characters are compared to morphological, ecological, taxonomical, and chorological features, and give some new insight into older and more recent phases of palm evolution. (1) Strong deviations in vegetative or floral morphology are often accompanied by major karyological differences, and sometimes the direction of advancement can be traced through intermediate stages. (2) Apart fromCoryphoideae subtrib.Thrinacinae, the strongest concentration of apparently original karyological traits is found in the more basal members of each subfamily. (3) The most successful and actively radiating colonizers of the forest floors in evergreen tropical forests which belong to completely different subfamilies (Old WorldLicuala, New WorldChamaedorea andGeonoma), appear to be very advanced karyologically.     

Changes in the suprageneric classification of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera) based on the nucleotide sequence of gene EF-1α

The nucleotide sequences of nuclear gene EF-1α were determined for 49 species of Lasiocampidae from Eurasia and Africa. Based on these data, the phylogeny of the family was reconstructed using the minimum evolution, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. The molecular genetic research confirms the monophyly of Malacosominae which is treated as a separate subfamily. The genus Euthrix appears to be paraphyletic. The group of genera similar to Arguda, previously united with Odonestis in the tribe Odonestini, proved to be a separate lineage; contrary to the earlier assumption, the genera do not seem to be related. On the other hand, the genera Argonestis and Odonestis were found to be closely related and therefore were placed in the same tribe. The position of the genus Macrothylacia remains obscure. The genus Stoermeriana de Fr. et Witt is also para- or polyphyletic and consists of several independent lineages whose status remains to be determined. The new classification supports synonymization of Pinarinae with Lasiocampinae. The rank of subfamily is not supported for the Neotropical Macromphaliinae, which is downgraded to a tribe, Macromphaliini stat. n., within Poecilocampinae. The genus Hypopacha, previously considered within Macromphaliinae, is transferred to Poecilocampini; the close relation between Poecilocampini and Macromphaliini is additionally supported by the presence of a member of Poecilocampini in the New World. A new tribe, Argudini Zolotuhin trib. n., is established.     

Taxonomic rearrangement of the genus Ulkenia sensu lato based on morphology, chemotaxonomical characteristics, and 18S rRNA gene phylogeny (Thraustochytriaceae, Labyrinthulomycetes): emendation for Ulkenia and erection of Botryochytrium, Parietichytrium, and Sicyoidochytrium gen. nov.

The genus Ulkenia is characterized by the naked protoplast stage within its life cycle. However, the 18S rRNA gene tree clearly shows that this genus is not a natural taxon, because our own isolates and reported strains separately form four well-supported monophyletic groups. These four groups are clearly distinguishable by their profiles of polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoid pigments and cell and colony morphology, e.g., persistence of sporangial wall, manner of the cell cleavage at the zoospore formation, and development of the ectoplasmic nets. Therefore, the four groups are assigned to four genera including three new genera, i.e., Ulkenia sensu stricto, Botryochytrium, Parietichytrium, and Sicyoidochytrium gen. nov.     

Carbohydrate composition and taxonomy of Geotrichum,Trichosporon and allied genera

The yeast-like genera Geotrichum and Trichosporon are heterogeneous and are related with anamorphs of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi. A rearrangement can be obtained using carbohydrate composition of intact cells, studied with the aid of gas-liquid chromatography.The genus Geotrichum is restricted to ascomycetous species with a dominance of galactomannans, whereas Trichosporon is reserved for basidiomycete-like, xylose-containing species. Consequently, some new combinations are introduced in both genera. Representatives of related genera are included for comparison: e.g. Dipodascus, Hyphopichia, Cryptococcus and Filobasidium.