Systematics of Pseudorchis albida s.l. (Orchidaceae) in Europe and North America

In Scandinavia Pseudorchis albida (Orchidaceae)usually divided into the lowland and subalpine P. albida s.s. and the more or less alpine P. straminea. There have been some uncertainties and conflicting views concerning die taxonomic treatment of diese taxa. To address this issue, herbarium specimens of P. albida s.l. were studied for variation in morphological characters. A small-scale population study approach was used, as herbarium sheets with two or three plants were used as population samples. Canonical Variates Analysis (CVA) indicated a distinction between taxa in population means, corresponding to P. albida s.s. and P. straminea , respectively. Principal Components Analysis (PCA), however, revealed an overlap between individuals of the two taxa. The PGA analysis, furthermore, revealed that the overlap was considerably larger in material from Central Europe man in material from Fennoscandia. Student t -tests on separate characters confirmed the picture, wim more characters significantly different in Fennoscandian than in Central European material. Furthermore, a Tukey-Kramer test revealed that there were small differences between regional populations of P. albida s.s. , while there were several significant differences in single characters between the Norm American regional population of P. straminea , as compared with the Central European and Fennoscandian regional populations. In Central Europe there is no clear separation between taxa, while in Fennoscandia the taxa are more clearly separated. This probably means that there is a difference in the time of establishment in the different regions. The author suggests a distinction of taxa at the subspecies level, and argues that the clear distinction seen in Fennoscandian material is due to separate immigration histories for die two subspecies into Fennoscandia after the last period of glaciation.     

Allozyme differentiation between lowland and alpine populations of Pseudorchis albida s.lat. (Orchidaceae) in Sweden

Two taxa are usually recognized in Scandinavian Pseudorchis albida s.1. (Orchidaceae), the lowland to subalpine P. albida s.s., and the alpine P. straminea . We used allozymes to study the genetical differentiation within and among populations and taxa. Four populations of P. albida s.s. and two populations of P. straminea , all from Sweden, were included in the study. Eighteen loci of thirteen different enzyme systems were analyzed. Five loci were variable within, or between, the taxa. The taxa had different alleles at one of the five variable loci, whereas there was overlap at four loci. In all, 22 different alleles were found. Two of these alleles were confined to P. albida s.s., while four alleles were confined to P. straminea . In P. albida s.s., one locus out of 15 (6.7 %) was polymorphic. In P. straminea , three loci out of 18 (16.7 %) were polymorphic. In both taxa, the average number of alleles per polymorphic locus was 2.0 (each polymorphic locus had two alleles). Nei's genetic identity was 0.81 between taxa, and about 1 among populations of P. albida s.s., while the identity between the two populations of P. straminea was 0.98. Although the differentiation is small, present-day distributions of taxa suggest that the divergence probably started before the Weichselian glaciation. The low within-taxon and within-population variation in Scandinavia may be due to ancient founder events. The association of P. albida s.s. with anthropogenic hay-meadows and open woodland and the association of P. straminea with open mountain habitats suggest that taxa may have immigrated into Scandinavia at different times.     

Variation in morphological characters and habitat requirements in Carex capitata and Carex arctogena (Cyperaceae) in Norway and Sweden

Norwegian and Swedish populations of Carex capitata s. lat. were studied for variation in morphological characters. Canonical variates analysis (CVA) arranges populations in two discrete groups, corresponding to C. capitata s. str. and C. arctogena , respectively. In principal components analysis (PCA) of the total material a small overlap could be seen. However, separate PCA: s for the two regions in Scandinavia where the two taxa are sympatric show perfect separation. Student's t-test revealed significant differences in all morphological characters studied. Studies of companion plants, analysed with detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), indicate that the taxa have rather similar habitat demands in Oppland, Central Norway, although C. capitata s. str. seems to prefer wetter, and C. arctogena drier sites, respectively. Since the two taxa are distinct in morphology, they are best treated as separate species. The name Carex capitata is lectotypified.     

Differentiation patterns in the Scutellaria albida group (Lamiaceae) in the Aegean area

An experimental investigation of the mainly white-flowered Scutellaria albida group in the Aegean area was carried out. Eight populations representing maximum morphological variation as well as geographic separation were chosen for crosses between populations. Strong sterility barriers were observed in the Cretean endemic species, S. sieberi Benth., which also deviated morphologically and is probably an ancient relic. Strong crossing barriers were also found in plants from Euboea, and, in spite of little morphological differentiation from S. albida L. s. str., they are treated as a separate species, S. goulimyi Rech. fil. Crossing barriers of intermediate strength were present in morphologically distinct material from N Sporades, which is also treated as a separate species, S. sporadum Bothmer sp. nov. All other populations showed high compatibility in crosses among themselves, viz. populations from Bulgaria, Thrace, Andros, Naxos, and Rodhos. These were treated as the same species, S. albida , having large local as well as clinal variation. Three subspecies are retained: ssp. albida in the north; ssp. perhispida (Bornm.) Bothmer in E Macedonia, Thrace and on the islands; and the mainly purple-flowered, ssp. vacillans (Rech. fil.) Bothmer, endemic to the peninsula of Athos. Evolutionary pathways and phytogeographical patterns are discussed.
S. sporadum is mainly inbreeding and, in S. sieberi , indications of a self-incompatibility system were found. The other taxa have a more versatile system.     

A review of the genus Semele (Ruscaceae) systematics in Madeira

The present study attempts to review the systematics of Semele (Ruscaceae) in Madeira, based on phenotypic diversity. The variation in some vegetative (climbing shoot, second-order branches or 'phylloclades') and sexual (inflorescence and flowers) characters was analysed in 115 plant specimens from 30 field populations, herbaria of the Costa collection and Madeira Botanical Garden (MADJ) and certain gardens. Thirty-one quantitative and qualitative characters have been utilized in the analysis. Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) analysis indicates adequate sampling. Principal component analysis (PCA) reveals that the spatial distribution of individuals has a discontinuous behaviour. Principal coordinate analysis (PCO) utilizing the Gower coefficient on standardized data revealed a significantly discontinuous distribution of individuals, such that two different clusters can be defined. The Student's t -test and Tukey test on separate characters, when individuals were classified according to the Costa classification, confirms the significant differences between grouping accessions. This leads to the recognition of two species within the genus in Madeira. Literature and herbarium studies show that these two taxa are conspecific with Semele androgyna (L.) Kunth sensu stricto (s.s.) and Semele menezesi Costa sensu lato (s.l.) . A separated statistical analysis of the S. androgyna cluster shows the possible existence of additional subgroups. Based on field population distribution, ecological behaviour and variation in features, we propose the recognition of two species, S. androgyna (L.) Kunth and S. menezesi (Costa) Pinheiro de Carvalho, and two subspecies S. androgyna (L.) Kunth androgyna Pinheiro de Carvalho and S. androgyna (L.) Kunth pterygophora Pinheiro de Carvalho.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 483–497.     

Morphometrical analyses of Secale (Triticeae, Poaceae)

Some fifteen taxa ranked as species or subspecies have generally been recognized within Secale. However, most of these seem impossible to separate on morphology alone. Based on 14 morphological characters considered of diagnostic value and scored on 44 specimens representing most of the taxa a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was carried out. Limited correlation was found between the characters and consequently the first three principal axes account for only about 60% of the total variation. The PCA shows only a weak separation of annual and perennial taxa. Further analyses mainly of spikelet characters support merging of most of the previously accepted taxa within each of these two groups. A total of three species with five infraspecific taxa are here proposed within the genus and a key is provided to the taxa.     

Evolution of the Portulaca oleracea L. aggregate in Egypt on molecular and phenotypic levels revealed by morphology,inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and 18S rDNA gene sequence markers

Molecular markers including inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and 18S rDNA gene sequence markers were combined with a detailed morphological analysis to seek characters that discriminate four taxa of Portulaca oleracea s.l. These taxa were identified as the microspecies Portulaca nitida, Portulaca oleracea, Portulaca rausii and Portulaca granulatostellulata. Morphological characters did not provide a clear distinction among the four taxa of P. oleracea s.l. It was found that mixed populations of the taxa occur in several locations and morphological similarities between the microspecies were detected. ISSR analysis indicates that gene flow among populations of different taxa was high and most of the genetic variation (61.9%) occurs within population. These results are inconsistent with the general characteristics of P. oleracea as a self- or 5% cross-pollinated species. A close relationship between P. oleracea, P. rausii and P. granulatostellulata was supported by ISSR and 18S rDNA gene sequence. The ISSR and 18s data support the specific status of P. nitida as a recently evolved taxon. We conclude that P. oleracea exists as a polymorphic species and is not divisible into microspecies based on seed surface as the primary morphological trait, and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and 18S rDNA gene sequence markers. We suggest that the taxa do not merit specific rank as morphological characters and absence of a breeding barrier fail to separate the different populations when they become sympatric.     

Chemical differences in volatiles between Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. melissophyllum and subsp. albida (Guss) P. W. Ball (Lamiaceae) determined by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC/FID and GC/MS

Melittis melissophyllum (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb, typical of woody places, occurring in Italy with two subspecies, i.e., melissophyllum and albida. So far, the classification of these two taxa was only based on morphology, i.e., the presence of glandular trichomes, the dimension of the leaves, and the number of teeth on each side as the main discriminant characters. To find marker compounds to chemically discriminate the subsp. melissophyllum with respect to the subsp. albida, a solid-phase microextraction SPME analysis coupled with GC/FID (=flame ionization detector) and GC/MS was carried out. SPME proved to be a chemotaxonomically useful technique that permitted a clearly differentiation of the two subspecies at headspace level. The subsp. melissophyllum was characterized by high amount of the mushroom alcohol oct-1-en-3-ol and the phenolic coumarin, whilst the subsp. albida exhibited a high content in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, α-pinene, sabinene, and (E)-caryophyllene being the major compounds. Multivariate chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal-component analysis (PCA), were used to support chemical data and characterize the population according to the taxonomy. In addition, the micromorphology and distribution of glandular trichomes of both subspecies were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

The genus Cyclops (Copepoda,Cyclopoida) in Europe

Although copepods of the genus Cyclops are among the most common and dominant plankton taxa of lakes in the northern temperate zone, their taxonomy is still unclear. We analysed an extensive array of Cyclops populations from Europe by means of molecular methods and evaluated morphological characters. Altogether, 68 populations of Cyclops species were sampled, assigned to morphospecies and sequenced for the 12S rRNA gene. Selected populations of each morphospecies were additionally sequenced for three mitochondrial (16S rRNA, cytochrome b, COI) and two nuclear genes (18S rRNA, ITS1) and analysed for micromorphological traits. Our analysis revealed fifteen lineages that can be regarded as separate species. Thirteen of these match currently accepted species, while the remaining two lineages were distinct from the other described species. Thus, their taxonomic status is open to further studies. Besides taxonomy, our study gives new insights into the ecology, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of these species. Finally, a set of morphological traits was selected to facilitate identification.     

ACACIA CONSTRICTA (FABACEAE: MIMOSOIDEAE) AND RELATED SPECIES FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN U.S. AND MEXICO

Vegetative, fruit, and floral characters of more than 200 herbarium specimens of Acacia constricta and closely related species from the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico were scored and analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA) and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA). The results show that all of the 5 species of this group are distinct and form nonoverlapping groups in plots of the first three principal components. All taxa were found to be quite homogeneous as indicated by the tight clusters formed in the PCA plots. Acacia pacensis, whose relationship to the species of this group has been questioned, is confirmed to be more closely related to A. farnesiana and related species. Some specimens with a combination of characters from A. constricta, A. neovernicosa, and A. schottii were positioned intermediate to the putative parental species groups in the PCA and SDA plots, suggesting hybridization among these taxa.     

Morphological and pollen differentiation in Solanum cardiophyllum ssp. cardiophyllum and S. cardiophyllum ssp. ehrenbergii

A multivariate analysis to differentiate morphologically the populations of wild potatoes Solanum cardiophyllum ssp. cardiophyllum and S. cardiophyllum ssp. ehrenbergii was carried out. An analysis of the morphology and the viability of pollen of these potato populations was also made. The results of the morphometric analysis indicate that both subspecies are phenetically different. The pollen grain shape and size in ssp. cardiophyllum are different in northern and southern populations. Pollen diameter is significantly different between subspecies. Based on these results we propose that these taxa should be considered as two separate species.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 415–426.     

大眼华鳊和伍氏华鳊的形态差异及其物种有效性

分别对大眼华鳊和伍氏华鳊 137尾标本 7个可数性状和 18个可量性状进行主成分分析 ,以探讨这两个种之间的形态差异及其物种有效性。研究结果显示 :无论是在可数性状上还是可量性状上 ,大眼华鳊和伍氏华鳊之间的形态差异并不显著 ,而且大眼华鳊大陆的标本和台湾的标本无明显的不同。此表明 ,大眼华鳊和伍氏华鳊应该为同一个种。根据国际动物命名法规 ,伍氏华鳊应是大眼华鳊的次定同物异名。     

Late-flowering dune populations of Dactylorhiza incarnata (Orchidaceae): variation patterns and taxonomic inferences

Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to summarize variation in 23 morphological characters scored from nine late-flowering dune populations of Dactylorhiza incarnata (Orchidaceae) in Wales, The Netherlands, and Denmark. The Dutch and Danish groups of populations were vaguely separated in a PCA conducted on populations, and a very broad overlap between them was found in a PCA conducted on individual specimens. On the other hand, a clear morphological distinction between the Welsh and continental groups of populations appeared from both PCAs. The probability of each character to distinguish correctly between the main groups of populations was estimated. Three characters were found to distinguish reliably (success ≥ 90 %) between the Welsh and continental groups of populations, while no character was found to distinguish reliably between the Dutch and Danish groups of populations. It is concluded that the Welsh and Dutch/Danish populations represent two distinct taxa distributed in the British Isles and in continental Northwestern Europe, respectively. The British taxon is recognized as D. incarnata subsp. coccinea and the continental one as D. incarnata subsp. lobelii (stat. nov.). Brief taxonomic accounts are provided.     

Festuca inops and Festuca gracilior (Poaceae): are they two different species?

According to current systematics, Festuca inops and F. gracilior are two distinct species. However, they are hardly distinguishable from each other on the basis of their morphological characters. Festuca inops is considered a diploid species endemic to Italy, while F. gracilior has a discontinuous distribution area, apparently related to chromosomal levels: diploid populations in Italy and south-east France, tetraploid populations in north-east Spain. The diploid populations of both taxa from Italy and south-east France are investigated in the present study. Nearly 1000 exsiccata were examined and morphometric analysis was carried out on macro- and micromorphological features of 119 specimens (including type-specimens) and on 20 natural populations (including loci classici ). All these data showed that the two species should be referred to a single taxon, for which the rank of species seems to be appropriate. This result is supported by karyological, ecological and chorological data and was confirmed by the results of ISSR analysis. According to nomenclatural rules, the legitimate name for the species is Festuca inops De Not.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 239–258.     

Morphometric analysis of four species of Eubothrium (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) parasites of salmonid fish: an interspecific and intraspecific comparison

Four species of the genus Eubothrium (E. crassum, E. fragile, E. rugosum and E. salvelini) were subjected to morphometric comparison. Discriminant analysis was conducted utilising 17 characters measured on the scolex and strobila of 101 specimens. Univariate statistics were first used to detect features that were useful for separating individual Eubothrium species and two different host populations of E. salvelini. Subsequent multivariate discriminant analysis, combining all the measured variables, made it possible to separate all four species. A comparison of the four taxa revealed that (1) E. fragile is the most distinct species, possessing a much smaller scolex than the other congeners, and its similarity with the other marine species E. crassum is not proven; (2) the two freshwater taxa, E. rugosum and E. salvelini are the most similar; (3) the characters most suitable for species differentiation are the length of the scolex, the width of the apical disc, the width of the neck and its area, the width of eggs and the number of testes; (4) the width of the apical disc was confirmed to be the most stable character at the intraspecific level (within E. salvelini host populations) and is therefore considered to be a trait of the highest discriminative power in the subset of four Eubothrium species.     

COLEOFASCICULUS GEN. NOV. (CYANOBACTERIA): MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CRITERIA FOR REVISION OF THE GENUS MICROCOLEUS GOMONT1

Species currently classified within the cyanobacterial genus Microcoleus were determined to fall into two distinct clades in a 16S rDNA phylogeny, one containing taxa within the Oscillatoriaceae, the other containing taxa within the Phormidiaceae. The two lineages were confirmed in an analysis of the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences and secondary structures. The type species for Microcoleus is M. vaginatus Gomont, and this taxon belongs in the Oscillatoriaceae. Consequently, Microcoleus taxa in the Phormidiaceae must be placed in separate genera, and we propose the new genus Coleofasciculus to contain marine taxa currently placed in Microcoleus. The type species for Coleofasciculus is the well‐studied and widespread marine mat‐forming species Microcoleus chthonoplastes (Mert.) Zanardini ex Gomont. Other characters separating the two families include type of cell division and thylakoid structure.     

Delimitation of morphologically similar sponge crab species of the genus Pseudodromia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Dromiidae) from South Africa

Stewart, B. A., Gouws, G., Daniels, S. R. & Matthee, C. A. (2004). Delimitation of morphologically similar sponge crab species of the genus Pseudodromia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Dromiidae) from South Africa. — Zoologica Scripta , 33 , 45–55.
Presently, three Pseudodromia sponge crab species are recognized, all of which are endemic to the continental shelf off the coast of South Africa. Two of these differ only in the morphology of their rostral teeth, making them difficult to distinguish, and can thus be considered as cryptic species. In addition they have very similar distribution ranges, thus raising doubts as to their specific status. Discriminant function analysis of morphometric data, differentiation at 10 allozyme loci, and sequence data derived from the 12S rRNA mitochondrial gene were used to test whether specimens identified as P. latens and P. rotunda are morphological forms of a single, widespread species, or represent two, distinct, reproductively isolated species, and to establish whether these two taxa are sister species, and thus form a monophyletic entity. The presence of fixed allele differences at three, and strong genetic heterogeneity at five other allozyme loci, indicating no gene flow occurring between sympatric populations, as well as the relatively high degree of 12S rRNA and allozyme genetic differentiation observed, supported the recognition of P. latens and P. rotunda as separate species. The 12S rRNA topology suggested that the genus Pseudodromia , as presently constituted, is paraphyletic, thus inferring that the morphological characters used to define this taxon might not be useful for phylogenetic inferences. It was concluded that in view of the uncertainties raised regarding the designation and composition of certain genera within the family Dromiidae, further rigorous analyses of morphological and genetic data are needed to further our understanding of the taxonomy of the sponge crabs.     

Genetic variation within and between Iliamna corei and I. remota (Malvaceae): implications for species delimitation

Iliamna corei and I. remota are classified as endangered species; however, their designation as separate species has been questioned. In order to address this problem, intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) data were generated to examine patterns of genetic differentiation within and between these two taxa. ISSRs were used to screen individuals for genetic diversity of I. corei from the single known natural population and two garden populations, and individuals of I. remota from the six natural populations and four garden populations. Using ten primers, 140 informative markers were generated. Ninety-four percent of loci detected revealed polymorphisms. Cluster analysis (neighbour-joining, NJ) revealed that the two species are genetically distinct and that the Illinois populations of I. remota were genetically distinct from the Virginia populations of I. remota . Ordination by Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) supported the findings of the NJ, with a separation of I. corei and I. remota . Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) revealed that the majority of variation detected was within populations, which is consistent with other self-incompatible plants. The results indicate a correlation between the geographical distributions of the species and gene flow.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 345–354.