Reassessment of phylogenetic relationships in Clarkia sect. Sympherica

Clarkia (Onagraceae) is a genus of 42 annual species, mostly native to California, that has served as a model for many studies of plant evolutionary biology, particularly morphological, cytological, and genetic divergence; reproductive isolation; and speciation. Section Sympherica is the largest section with eight diploid and one allotetraploid species. Species in the section have provided important evidence about the evolution of reproductive isolation (C. lingulata derived from C. biloba) and large morphological change (C. dudleyana thought to be sister to the morphologically distinct C. heterandra, recently transferred into Clarkia from the monotypic Heterogaura). Clarkia epilobioides, another diploid species in the section, was previously shown to be one parent of the allotetraploid C. delicata, the other parent being C. unguiculata from sect. Phaeostoma. Lewis and Lewis (1955) interpreted the parentage of C. delicata and other evidence of intersectional hybridization to mean that the diploid sections of the genus, though highly diverse, were closely related and should be maintained in the single genus Clarkia. Here we assess phylogenetic relationships among the species of sect. Sympherica and related species by analyzing the nucleotide sequences of PgiC1 and PgiC2, a pair of paralogous genes that encode the cytosolic isozyme of phosphoglucose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9). The major results were the following: (1) C. unguiculata and both genomes of C. delicata are within a well-defined "Sympherica" clade; thus, C. delicata should not be considered an intersectional hybrid; (2) C. heterandra belongs in the clade and is closely related to C. unguiculata; and (3) on the evidence of PgiC1, C. dudleyana is not in the clade and is not closely related to C. heterandra.     

Molecular Phylogeny of the Papilionoideae (Family Leguminosae): RbcL Gene Sequences versus Chemical Taxonomy

Total DNA was extracted from 67 species (30 genera) of the subfamily Papilionoideae (family Leguminosae). The rbcL gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced directly. RbcL sequences were evaluated with character-state (maximum parsimony; PAUP) and distance methods (neighbour-joining; MEGA). Morphology-based classifications of tribes and subtribes are mostly congruent with rbcL phylogeny. Differences occur for members of the genus Sophora and for intratribal relationships within the Genista/Cytisus complex: Sophora appears in two clades; one clade with S. japonica at the base of the Papilionoideae and a second more advanced group (with S. davidii, S. jaubertii, and S.flavescens) which represents a sister clade of the Thermopsideae. The Cytisus complex includes the genera Cytisus, Chamaecytisus, Calicotome and Spartocytisus but not Cytisophyllum which appears as a distinct member of the Genista complex. Chamaespartium sagittale is very close to Genista supporting the view that it does not represent an independent genus but should be treated as Genista sagittalis. Close to Genista are Teline and Spartium, whereas Argyrolobium, Retama, Cytisophyllum, Ulex, Petteria, Adenocarpus, Chamaespartium tridentatum and Laburnum can be considered as “outliers” of the Genista-group sensu stricto. RbcL phylogeny is compared with profiles of alkaloids and other natural products. First results indicate that secondary metabolite profiles, if compared with morphology or rbcL sequences, are of limited value as a taxonomic marker.     

Different fates of island brooms: contrasting evolution in Adenocarpus, Genista, and Teline (Genisteae, Fabaceae) in the Canary Islands and Madeira

Analysis of sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S region of nuclear ribosomal DNA show that Canarian and Madeiran brooms (Genisteae) of the genera Teline, Adenocarpus, and Genista are related to Mediterranean species and not to species from adjacent parts of Morocco. Each separate colonization of the islands has resulted in contrasting patterns of adaptation and radiation. The genus Teline is polyphyletic, with both groups (the "T. monspessulana group" and the "T. linifolia group") separately nested within Genista. Genista benehoavensis (La Palma) and G. tenera (Madeira) form, with G. tinctoria of Europe, a single clade characterized by vestigially arillate seeds. The Canarian species of Adenocarpus have almost identical sequence to the Mediterranean A. complicatus and are likely to be the result of island speciation after a very recent colonization event. This Canarian/Mediterranean A. complicatus group is sister to the afrotropical montane A. mannii which is probably derived from an earlier colonization from the Mediterranean, possibly via the Red Sea hills. The independent colonization and subsequent radiation of the two Teline groups in the Canary Islands make an interesting comparison: the phylogenies both show geographical structuring, each with a central and western island division of taxa. Within the "T. monspessulana group" there is some evidence that both continental and Madeiran taxa could be derived from the Canary Islands, although it is likely that near contemporaneous speciation occurred via rapid colonization of the mainland and islands. The finding of two groups within Teline also has implications for patterns of hybridization in those parts of the world where Teline species are invasive; in California members of the T. monspessulana group hybridize readily, but no hybrids have been recorded with T. linifolia which has been introduced in the same areas.     

Systematics of Gagea and Lloydia (Liliaceae) and infrageneric classification of Gagea based on molecular and morphological data

Our study represents the first phylogenetic analyses of the genus Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae), including 58 species of Gagea and 6 species of the closely related genus Lloydia Salisb. ex Rchb. Our molecular results support the infrageneric classification of the genus Gagea in sections according to Levichev and demonstrate that Pascher's subdivision of this genus into two subgenera can no longer be upheld. Certain Gagea sections (e.g., Gagea, Minimae, and Plecostigma) are well supported by cpDNA and nrDNA data. Gagea sect. Fistulosae is closely related to G. sect. Didymobolbos. Gagea sect. Graminifoliae and G. sect. Incrustatae are closely related to G. sect Platyspermum. The analyses support the monophyly of Gagea and Lloydia collectively. The molecular analyses reveal the basal position of G. graeca in proportion to all other species of Gagea and Lloydia investigated. Minor morphological differences could be established between both genera which support their close relationship.     

AFLP markers as a tool to reconstruct complex relationships: A case study in Rosa (Rosaceae)

The genus Rosa has a complex evolutionary history caused by several factors, often in conjunction: extensive hybridization, recent radiation, incomplete lineage sorting, and multiple events of polyploidy. We examined the applicability of AFLP markers for reconstructing (species) relationships in Rosa, using UPGMA clustering, Wagner parsimony, and Bayesian inference. All trees were well resolved, but many of the deeper branches were weakly supported. The cluster analysis showed that the rose cultivars can be separated into a European and an Oriental cluster, each being related to different wild species. The phylogenetic analyses showed that (1) two of the four subgenera (Hulthemia and Platyrhodon) do not deserve subgeneric status; (2) section Carolinae should be merged with sect. Cinnamomeae; (3) subsection Rubigineae is a monophyletic group within sect. Caninae, making sect. Caninae paraphyletic; and (4) there is little support for the distinction of the five other subsections within sect. Caninae. Comparison of the trees with morphological classifications and with previous molecular studies showed that all methods yielded reliable trees. Bayesian inference proved to be a useful alternative to parsimony analysis of AFLP data. Because of their genome-wide sampling, AFLPs are the markers of choice to reconstruct (species) relationships in evolutionary complex groups.     

毛茛科铁线莲属的叶表皮特征及其系统学意义(英文)

用光学显微镜和扫描电镜 ,较全面地观察了铁线莲属 (Clematis)植物和邻近类群的叶表皮特征 ,并对其系统学意义进行了讨论。在光学显微镜下 ,观察了铁线莲属 12组 6 3种 5变种及其同族邻近类群 3属 9种 ;在扫描电镜下 ,观察了铁线莲属 7组 2 7种 2变种及其邻近类群 2属 6种植物的成熟叶表皮细胞及气孔器的特征。在光学显微镜下可见 :叶表皮细胞形状 (表面观 )为多边形、不规则形 ,垂周壁式样为较平直、浅波状和波状 ,气孔器普遍存在于下表皮 ,少数种的上表皮也有分布 ,其类型均为无规则型。在扫描电镜下可见 :叶片通常具有条纹或有颗粒状或鳞片状附属物 ,气孔器外拱盖内缘通常为浅波状或近平滑。在黄花铁线莲组 (sect.Meclatis (Spach)Tamura)和灌木铁线莲组 (sect.FruticellaTamura)中 ,叶表皮具有双面气孔器的特征对于组下亚组的划分有一定意义。并且叶表皮特征对于一些种的分类学处理也有一定的价值 ,同时也为属下组间的系统进化关系提供了一些线索     

A phylogenetic analysis of the fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini) based on morphological characters of the larvae

A phylogenetic hypothesis of the fungus-growing ants (subfamily Myrmicinae, tribe Attini) is proposed, based on a cladistic analysis utilizing forty-four morphological characters (109 states) of the prepupal worker larva. The fifty-one attine species analysed include representatives of eleven of the twelve currently recognized attine genera, excluding only the monotypic workerless parasite Pseudoatta ; the non-attines include two outgroups (species of the basal myrmicine genera Myrmica and Pogonomyrmex ), two myrmicine species presumed to be distantly related to the attines, and twelve species representing taxa that have been proposed by prior workers as possible sister groups of the Attini. There is strong character support for the monophyly of the Attini and for a sister-group relationship of the Attini and the Neotropical Blepharidatta brasiliensis. The Attini are divided into two distinct lineages, an 'apterostigmoid' clade (containing Apterostigma and Mycocepurus) and an 'attoid' clade (containing all other attine genera except Myrmicocrypta). The attine genus Myrmicocrypta appears to be paraphyletic with respect to these two groups; the species M.buenzlii in particular retains many attine plesiomorphies.
These results indicate that the fungus-growing behaviour had a single evolutionary origin in the ants. They also indicate that mycelium cultivation is plesiomorphic and that yeast cultivation is derived within the Attini, overturning the long-standing assumption that the yeast-growing Cyphomyrmex species are the most primitive Attini. Behavioural and ecological investigations into the origin and evolution of the fungus-growing behaviour might more profitably focus on species in the attine genus Myrmicocrypta , as well as those in the closely related non-attine genera Blepharidatta and Wasmannia.     

基于ITS和matK序列的獐牙菜亚族 (龙胆科龙胆族)分子系统学

为探讨獐牙菜亚族（subtribe Swertiinae）各属之间和一些属内的系统关系,本研究选取了该亚族14属68种1变种,采用最大简约法（maximum parsimony）和贝叶斯法（Bayesian inference）对样品核基因ITS和叶绿体基因matK的两个片段进行独立和联合分析。结果显示：Bartonia位于亚族的最基部;喉毛花属（Comastoma）、肋柱花属（Lomatogonium）和假龙胆属（Gentianella）都非单系,处于同一个较为进化的分支中;獐牙菜属折皱组（Swertia sect. Rugosa）和獐牙菜组（S. sect. Swertia）亲缘关系最近,宽丝组（S. sect. Platynema）和藏獐牙菜组（S. sect. Kingdon Wardia）亲缘关系最近;口药花属（Jaeschkea）与獐牙菜属多枝组（S. sect. Ophelia）的大籽獐牙菜（Smacrosperma）亲缘关系最近。同时讨论了獐牙菜亚族形态分类与分子数据不一致的原因。     

Genetic divergence in the tribe Electronini (Myctophidae)

To reveal evolutionary relationships and the rate of divergence of lanternfishes in the tribe Electronini (Myctophidae), analysis of sequence of cox 1 mtDNA fragment in three genera (12 species) of the tribe and in a closely related genus Myctophum (9 species) was performed. The results support the tribe monophyly; however, the divergence within it appeared to be not profound: genetic distances between genera and subgenera are smaller than between species within Myctophum and other genera of myctophids. In subgenera of Protomyctophum, species formation has obviously not completed since interspecies distances in them (0.5–4.7%) are comparable to estimates of intraspecific variation in other lanternfishes. Minimal genetic differences were found between species P. (Hierops) arcticum and P. (H.) subparallelum, whose ranges at the present time are isolated in the northern and southern hemispheres. After calibration of the molecular clock, the time of isolation of these two species can be dated to the Middle Pleistocene. Weak tribe diversification indicates its evolutionary youth, which can be related to the absence of efficient hydrographic barriers for isolation. The data obtained do not permit to consider tribe members as the most primitive in the family Myctophidae.     

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of invasive and ornamental brooms and their relationships within the Genistoid legumes

The Cytisus-Genista complex includes species that have become invasive following introduction into new geographic ranges as ornamental shrubs. Despite their impacts, the evolutionary relationships among invasives, ornamentals, and native-range species have never been investigated. Our objective was to examine relationships within the Cytisus-Genista complex to determine (1) the taxonomic identity of invasive "French broom" and ornamental "sweet broom" and (2) whether "sweet broom" contributes to "French broom" populations directly or via hybridization. We used sequence data from chloroplast and nuclear regions to gain insight into evolutionary origins and to confirm taxonomic status. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest a complex evolutionary history that includes hybridization events. Placement of invasive and ornamental individuals within the Cytisus-Genista complex resolves taxonomic uncertainty in these groups, as our phylogenetic analyses recovered separate "French broom" and "sweet broom" clades within the G. monspessulana clade in the genus Genista. Extensive cloning and sequencing of the ITS region revealed that, although the majority of invasive "French broom" in California is Genista monspessulana, hybridization with individuals from the ornamental "sweet broom" clade likely occurs in populations throughout the state.     

Phylogeny and quaternary history of the European montane/alpine endemic Soldanella (Primulaceae) based on ITS and AFLP variation

Soldanella contains 16 species of herbaceous perennials that are endemic to the central and south European high mountains. The genus is ecogeographically subdivided into forest/montane and alpine species. Evolutionary relationships and large-scale biogeographic patterns were inferred from parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA, and genetic distance analyses based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The ITS region proved useful for examining subgeneric relationships and testing hypotheses on genus-wide divergence times, whereas the AFLP markers were suitable for studying relationships among closely related taxa and biogeographic patterns of divergence. Neither ITS nor AFLP data supported sectional delimitations, particularly those related to the grouping of S. alpina (sect. Soldanella) with S. pusilla (sect. Tubiflores), which may be the result of hybridization. Additional results and conclusions drawn are (1) Soldanella is derived from an ancestor of Asian origin with a montane ecology; (2) estimates of divergence times suggest a late Quaternary origin of the genus; (3) alpine species of sect. Tubiflores diverged from within a paraphyletic sect. Soldanella of mainly montane species; (4) alpine and montane species of Soldanella experienced different cycles of range expansion and contraction during late Quaternary climatic changes, resulting in differential patterns of geographic distribution; and (5) AFLP divergence among montane species from eastern Europe was lower than between alpine species; we hypothesize that the latter differentiated in allopatric regions of expansion during glacials, while the former experienced secondary contact at lower elevations in more southern refugia.     

根据叶表皮特征试论国产三齿稃亚族的属间关系

根据植物叶片表皮结构,尤其下表皮特征,对国产三齿稃亚族6个属(包括1个引进属)进行了属间关系的分析。结果表明：国产三齿稃亚族中固沙草属最原始,草沙蚕属最高级,双稃草属、千金子属、三齿稃属和隐子草属演化居于其间;隐子草属可能直接起源于固沙草属,并在自身基础上派生了较为高级的三齿稃属;双稃草属与千金子属渊源关系直接,前者可能通过后者问接起生于固沙草属;草沙蚕属具有别于它属的性状级次,可能是起源于固沙草属、独树1支的顶级类群。这一结果不仅修正了前人演化理论的差误,而且为今后探讨该亚族的地理起源、散布路线提供了资料。     

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of China Seas groupers based on cytochrome b gene fragment sequences

The classification and evolutionary relationships are important issues in the study of the groupers. Cytochrome b gene fragment of twenty-eight grouper species within six genera of subfamily Epinephelinae was amplified using PCR techniques and the sequences were analyzed to derive the phylogenetic relationships of the groupers from the China Seas. Genetic information indexes, including Kimura-2 parameter genetic distance and Ts/Tv ratios, were generated by using a variety of biology softwares. With Niphon spinosus, Pagrus major and Pagrus auriga as the designated outgroups, phylogenetic trees, which invoke additional homologous sequences of other Epinephelus fishes from GenBank, were constructed based on the neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and minimum-evolution (ME) methods. Several conclusions were drawn from the DNA sequences analysis: (1) genus Plectropomus, which was early diverged, is the most primitive group in the subfamily Epinephelinae; (2) genus Variola is more closely related to genus Cephalopolis than the other four genera; (3) genus Cephalopolis is a monophyletic group and more primitive than genus Epinephelus; (4) Promicrops lanceolatus and Cromileptes altivelis should be included in genus Epinephelus; (5) there exist two sister groups in genus Epinephelus.     

A phylogenetic study of the Plantaginaceae

In a study based on morphological, embryological and chemical data of the Plantaginaceae, within the subclass Sympetalae or Asteridae, the superorder Lamianae is shown to be monophyletic. However, it was not possible to reconstruct the phylogeny within Lamianae or to find a sister-group for the monophyletic Plantaginaceae – Hydrostachyaceae for the latter is rejected. Three or rarely four genera have previously been recognized within Plantaginaceae, but in both cases Plantago appears as polyphyletic, which is considered unacceptable. Six clades are recognized as subgenera within Plantago: subgen. Plantago (c. 131 species), subgen. Coronopus (c. 11 species), subgen. Littorella (three species), subgen. Psyllium (c. 16 species), subgen. Bougueria (one species), and subgen. Albicans (51 species). Within P. subgen. Plantago, the paraphyletic sect. Plantago (c. 42 species) is found in all parts of the world except South America, New Zealand, Australia, and New Guinea, where sect. Oliganthos and sect. Mesembryniae vicariate. It is not possible to infer the phylogeny within sect. Plantago, for example between the endemic species from distant Pacific Islands; their common ancestor might be a species that once had a very wide distribution. Keys to genera, subgenera, sections and series are given. Only one genus, Plantago L., is recognized. The following proposals are made in the Appendix: P. ser. Oliganthos Rahn, ser. nov.; P. ser. Carpophorae (Rahn) Rahn, stat. nov. (= sect. C.); P. ser. Microcalyx (Pilg.) Rahn, stat. nov. (= sect. M.); P. unibrackteata Rahn, nom. nov. (=P. uniflora Hook.f. non L.); P. subgen. Littorella (P. J. Bergius) Rahn, stat. nov. (=Littorella P. J. Bergius); P. araucana Rahn, nom. nov. (=Littorella australis Griseb. non Plantago australis Lam.); P. americana (Fernald) Rahn, comb. nov.(=Littorella a.); P. subgen. Bougueria (Decne.) Rahn, stat. nov. (=Bougueria Decne.); P. nubicola (Decne.) Rahn, comb. nov. (=Bougueria n. Decne.); P. subgen. Albicans Rahn, subgen. nov. Ten lectotypes are selected.     

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on a new taxon of budding, hyphal Proteobacteria, Hirschia baltica gen. nov., sp. nov

Four strains of budding, hyphal bacteria, which had very similar chemotaxonomic properties, were isolated from the Baltic Sea. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, indicated that three of the new isolates were closely related, while the fourth was only moderately related to the other three. Sequence signature and higher-order structural detail analyses of the 16S rRNA of strain IFAM 1418T (T = type strain) indicated that this isolate is related to the alpha subclass of the class Proteobacteria. Although our isolates resemble members of the genera Hyphomicrobium and Hyphomonas in morphology, assignment to either of these genera was excluded on the basis of their markedly lower DNA guanine-plus-cytosine contents. We propose that these organisms should be placed in a new genus, Hirschia baltica is the type species of this genus, and the type strain of H. baltica is strain IFAM 1418 (= DSM 5838).     

Phylogeny and character evolution in Medicago (Leguminosae): Evidence from analyses of plastid trnK/matK and nuclear GA3ox1 sequences

? Premise of the study: The genus Medicago, with about 87 species, includes the model legume species M. truncatula, and a number of important forage species such as M. sativa (alfalfa), M. scutellata (snail medic), and M. lupulina (black medic). Relationships within the genus are not yet sufficiently resolved, contributing to difficulty in understanding the evolution of a number of distinguishing characteristics such as aneuploidy and polyploidy, life history, structure of cotyledons, and number of seeds per fruit. ? Methods: Phylogenetic relationships of 70-73 species of Medicago and its sister genus Trigonella (including Melilotus) were reconstructed from nucleotide sequences of the plastid trnK/matK region and the nuclear-encoded GA3ox1 gene (gibberellin 3-β-hydroxylase) using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. ? Key results: Our results support certain currently recognized taxonomic groups, e.g., sect. Medicago (with M. sativa) and sect. Buceras. However, other strongly supported clades-the "reduced subsection Leptospireae clade" that includes M. lupulina, the "polymorpha clade" that includes M. murex and M. polymorpha and the "subsection Pachyspireae clade" that includes M. truncatula-each of which includes species presently in different subsections of sect. Spirocarpos, contradict the current classification. ? Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that some characters considered important in existing taxonomies, for example, single-seeded fruits that have arisen more than once in both Medicago and Trigonella, are indeed homoplastic. Others, such as the 2n = 14 chromosome number, have also arisen independently within the genus. In addition, we demonstrate support for the utility of GA3ox1 sequences for phylogenetic analysis among and within closely related genera of legumes.     

The Origin,Dispersal and Formation of the Distribution Pattern of Swertia L. (Gentianaceae)

The genus Swertia is one of the large genera in Gentianaceae, including 154 species, 16 series and 11 sections. It is disjunctly distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and N. America, but entirely absent from Oceania and S. America. According to Takhtajan’s (1978) regionalization of the world flora, Swertia is found in 14 regions. Eastern Asiatic region with 86 species, of which 58 are local endemics, 13 series and 9 sections, ranks the first among all the regions. The highest concentration of the taxa and endemics in Eastern Asiatic region occurs in SW China-Himalayan area (Sikang-Yunnan P. , W. Sichuan, W. Yunnan-Guichou Plateau of China and NE. Burma, N. Burmense P. , E. Himalayan P. and Khasi-Manipur P. ). In this area there are 74 species (48 endemics), 12 series, and 9 sections; thus about half species of the world total, three quarters of series and 82% of sections occur in this small area. Besides, the taxa at different evolutionary stages in Swertia also survive here. It is an indication that SW. China-Himalayan area is a major distribution centre of the genus Swertia. In addition, Sudan-Zambezian Region in Africa, with 22 species, 4 series and 2 sections, is a second distribution centre. The primitive type of the genus Swertia is Sect. Rugosa which consists of 2 series and 23 species. It is highly centred in the mountains of SW. China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and SE. Xizang) where 2 series and 16 species occur. Among them 15 species of Ser. Rugosae were considered as the most primitive groups in this genus. From our study, the outgroup of Swertia is the genus Latouchea Frahch. , which is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. The two groups overlap in distribution in SW. China. According to the principle of common origin, the ancestor of two genera ap peared most probably in this overlapping area. It was inferred that SW. China Was the birth-place of the genus Swertia. Four sections of Swertia have different disjunct distribution patterns: Sect. Ophelia is of Tropic Asia, Africa and Madagascar disjunct distribution; sect. Swertia is of north temperate distribution; sect. Spinosisemina is in Tropical Asia (Trop. India to S. China and Philipines); sect. Platynema also is in Tropical Asia (Java, Sumatra, Himalayas to SW. China). These disjunct patterns indicate that the Swertia floras between the continents or between continent and islands have a connection with each other. From paleogeographical analysis, Swertia plants dispersed to Madagascar before the Late Cretaceous, to SE. Asian Islands in the Pleistocene, to North America in the Miocene. The distribution of Swertia in Madagascar might be later than that in Asia. Therefore the origin time of the genus Swertia was at least not later than the Late Cretaceous, and might be back to the Mid-Cretaceous. The genus Swertia first fully developed and differentiated, forming some taxa at different evolutionary stages (Rugosa, Swertia, Poephila, Ophelia and Platynema etc. ) in the original area, and these taxa quickly dispersed in certain directions during the Late Cretaceous-Middle Tertiary when the global climate was warm and no much change. There seem to be three main dispersal routes from the origin area to different continents; (1) The westward route i. e. from SW. China, along the Himalayas area to Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, and then southwestwards into Africa throuth Arabia. Four sections (Poephila, Macranthos, Kingdon-Wardia and Ophelia) took this dispersal route. Most species of sect. Ophelia dispersed along this route, but a few along southern route and north ern route. Sect. Ophelia greatly differentiated in Africa and the African endemic sectionSect. Montana was derived from it. The two sections form there a second distribution center of Swertia. (2) The southward route, i. e. towards S. India through the Himalayas, and towards SE. Asian islands through C. and S. China, Indo-China. Along this dispersal route sect. Platynema, Sect. Spinosisemina and a few species of Sect. Ophelia dispersed; (3) The northward rout, i. e. northwards across N. China, C. Asia to a high latitude of Euasia, and also through E. Asia into N. America. The following groups took this route: sect. Rugosa, sect. Swertia, sect. Frasera, sect. Heteranthos and sect. Ophelia ser. Dichotomae. Therefore, it seems that the genus Swertia originated in SW. China and then dispersed from there to N. and S. Asia, Africa, Europe and North America and formed the moderndistribution pattern of this genus.     

中国赤车属新分类

(1)根据该文中赤车属与楼梯草属各种形态学的区别,认为赤车属较为原始,在楼梯草属之前自冷水花属衍生而出。(2)将赤车属划分为5组;将C.B.Robinson描述的Elatostemoides属降为组级群,作为赤车属中接近原始群全缘赤车组sect.Pileoides的一个组处理,此外还描述了一个与sect.Elatostemoides近缘的1新组,羽脉赤车组sect.Leiolaena,并根据叶、叶的脉序、雌花序、雌花被片和瘦果等器官的演化趋势给出显示赤车属属下诸群间亲缘关系的系统发育树。(3)对中国赤车属的属下分类群进行了修订,共承认32种1亚种7变种,给出检索表、描述及多幅插图,并将它们划分为4组、2亚组和9系,其中除sect.Leiolaena之外,还新描述了2亚组、5系、2种和3变种;在2003年被归并为同物异名的长柄赤车、曲毛赤车、波缘赤车、小赤车和富宁赤车的种级地位得到恢复。此外,还写出了中国赤车属的分类学简史和地理分布。     

Phylogenetic relationships of Danio within the order Cypriniformes: a framework for comparative and evolutionary studies of a model species

The evolutionary relationships of species of Danio and the monophyly and phylogenetic placement of the genus within the family Cyprinidae and subfamily Rasborinae provide fundamentally important phyloinformatics necessary for direct evaluations of an array of pertinent questions in modern comparative biology. Although the genus Danio is not one of the most diverse within the family, Danio rerio is one of the most important model species in biology. Many investigations have used this species or presumed close relatives to address specific questions that have lasting impact on the hypothesis and theory of development in vertebrates. Largely lacking from this approach has been a holistic picture of the exact phylogenetic or evolutionary relationships of this species and its close relatives. One thing that has been learned over the previous century is that many organismal attributes (e.g., developmental pathways, ecologies, behaviors, speciation) are historically constrained and their origins and functions are best explained via a phylogenetic approach. Herein, we provide a molecular evaluation of the phylogenetic placement of the model species Danio rerio within the genus Danio and among hypothesized closely related species and genera. Our analysis is derived from data using two nuclear genes (RAG1, rhodopsin) and five mitochondrial genes (ND4, ND4L, ND5, COI, cyt b) evaluated using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. The family Cyprinidae is resolved as monophyletic but the subfamily Rasborinae (priority over Danioinae) is an unnatural assemblage. Danio is identified as a monophyletic group sister to a clade inclusive of the genera Chela, Microrasbora, Devario, and Inlecypris, not Devario nor Esomus as hypothesized in previous studies. Danio rerio is sister to D. kyathit among the species of Danio evaluated in this analysis. Microrasbora and Rasbora are non-monophyletic assemblages; however, Boraras is monophyletic.     

A new approach to the phylogeny of the order Boletales (Basidiomycotina)

An analysis employing parsimony and character compatibility methods is carried out for selected species in the various families constituting the order Boletales s.l. The results indicate that Paxillaceae is polyphyletic, actually representing a primitive matrix from which many of the other families have evolved. Gyrodontaceae is also polyphyletic, and its various genera should be included within other families. The analysis does not support that Xerocomaceae and Boletaceae should be regarded as two separate families. It indicates that the genus Suillus should be included within Gomphidiaceae. On the other hand, it strongly contradicts any relationship between Suillus and Chalciporus on one hand, and Strobilomyces on the other. The latter genus must be very isolated from the other genera analysed. The gastroid families Rhizopogonaceae and Chamonixiaceae seem to have derived from progenitors related to Boletaceae and Gyroporus (here regarded within Paxillaceae) respectively. Coniophoraceae is probably derived from precursors related to the more primitive representatives in Paxillaceae.