THE FOURTEEN SPECIES OF ZIZIPHUS INCLUDING SARCOMPHALUS (RHAMNACEAE) INDIGENOUS TO THE WEST INDIES

Taxonomic treatment is presented for the 14 species of Ziziphus P. Mill. (Rhamnaceae: Dicotyledoneae) recognized in the West Indies, with key, synonymies, and statements of distribution. New combinations include Z. crenata (Sarcomphalus crenaius Urb.), Z. microdictya (S. microdictyus Urb. & Ekm.), Z. acutifolia (S. acutifolius Griseb.), Z. bidens (S. bidens Urb.), Z. obovata (S. obovatus Urb.), Z. havanensis var. bullata (S. bullatus Urb.), and Z. taylori (S. taylori Britt.). New names include Z. urbani (S. parvifolius Urb. & Ekm.) and Z. grisebachiana (S. divaricatus Griseb.). The available evidence of evolutionary relationships is assessed.     

Islands within islands: a molecular phylogenetic study of the Leucocroton alliance (Euphorbiaceae) across the Caribbean Islands and within the serpentinite archipelago of Cuba

Aim Our aim was to investigate the historical biogeography of the three genera of the Leucocroton alliance (i.e. Garciadelia Jestrow & Jiménez Rodr., Lasiocroton Griseb., and Leucocroton Griseb., Euphorbiaceae). Location  The alliance is restricted to the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica. Methods Members of the Leucocroton alliance, along with representatives from tribe Adelieae (Adelia L. and Philyra Klotzsch.), were included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis based upon nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and the non‐coding chloroplast regions psbM–trnD and ycf6–pcbM. The program s‐diva was used to calculate ancestral areas based on the phylogenetic trees and present species distributions. Results Phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the three genera. The ancestral area of the Leucocroton alliance is eastern Cuba and Hispaniola. Ancestral forms of Leucocroton arose on eastern Cuba and underwent two migrations across the island. The ancestor of Lasiocroton also originated on eastern Cuba followed by later dispersal to and speciation events on the other islands. Our study also suggests that ancestral forms of the Leucocroton alliance probably occurred on limestone soils. Main conclusions Our study concurs with previous hypotheses suggesting that the flora of serpentinite regions of the Caribbean derives from other types of soils. The serpentine endemics of the Leucocroton alliance have a single origin and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of speciation in this unique environment of the New World. The high colonization success achieved by the members of Leucocroton on serpentine soils was not attained by the other genera of the alliance, which occur on limestone areas.     

Dioecy inMikania (Compositae:Eupatorieae)

For the first time dioecy inMikania and in the tribeEupatorieae is described and discussed. The condition is known only in members of theMikania swartziana Griseb. complex, a group of eight species, all endemic to the Greater Antillean Islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica.     

Genetic diversity and conservation of Ipomoea microdactyla (Convolvulaceae): an endemic vine from the Bahamas,Cuba, and southeastern Florida

Ipomoea microdactyla Griseb. (Convolvulaceae) is restricted to the Bahamian archipelago, Cuba, and southeastern Florida. The species is listed as a state endangered species in Florida, where it is mostly restricted to the hyperfragmented pine rockland of Miami‐Dade County. Using seven DNA microsatellite loci, we assessed levels of genetic diversity for 12 populations of this species from Andros Island in the Bahamas (six sites), Cuba (one site), and Florida (five sites). We found significantly greater mean numbers of alleles, and higher mean values for both observed and expected heterozygosity in populations from the continuous forest on Andros than those from the habitat fragments in Florida. It is unknown if these patterns of genetic diversity in the Florida populations are the result of habitat fragmentation or founder effects. The population from Cuba exhibited relatively high levels of genetic variation, suggesting that this island is a major center of diversity and dispersal for this species. It appears that hybrid introgression for I. carolina alleles within I. microdactyla individuals occurred at a single site on Andros Island. Overall, the mean inbreeding coefficient value was 0.089, suggesting low levels of inbreeding. The highest inbreeding coefficient values were mostly recorded in Florida. Two groups were revealed, one containing the populations from Florida, and the second one encompassing those from the Bahamas and Cuba. Our results highlight the negative genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation and support initiatives recently established to establish corridors to connect the remnants of the pine forest of the Miami‐Dade County.     

The effect of prolonged flooding on the bark of mangrove trees

Growth and physiological response of woody plants to flooding have been analyzed in detail; however, relatively few studies have been oriented towards the effects of water immersion on cambial activity and wood and bark anatomy of trees that are growing in prolonged flooding conditions. These studies are important to understand the possible effects of predicted sea level rising in mangroves as a consequence of global warming. We studied five species growing in a mangrove forest, sampling three to six trees of each species, in sites that have the longest flooding period. Differences in bark appearance and phloem structure between the submerged stem portion and the portion of the stem above the water surface exist in all species. Although aerenchyma formation and stem hypertrophy are the most common events related to flooding, each type of tissue responded differently. Annona glabra L., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn f. and Hibiscus tiliaceus L. developed rythidome. Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn developed rythidome only in the submerged stem portion. Phyllanthus elsiae Urb., developed one periderm in both stem portions. Species that developed rythidome also developed aerenchyma between periderms and in the phellem. H. tiliaceus and P. elsiae, showed the highest values for anatomical phloem and periderm characters below water surface, while an inverse tendency was observed in A. glabra and L. racemosa, suggesting that prolonged flooding modifies vascular cambium and phellogen differently. Results indicate that sea level rising would affect distribution of the species according to their specific flooding tolerance.     

Primary Root Growth and the Pattern of Root Apical Meristem Organization are Coupled

Root apical meristems (RAMs) in dicotyledonous plants have two organizational schemes; closed (with highly organized tiers) and open (tiers lacking or disorganized). These schemes are commonly believed to remain unchanged during the growth of the root axis. Individual roots are commonly thought to have indeterminate growth. We challenge these two generalizations through the study of five species with closed apical organization: Clarkia unguiculata L., Oxalis corniculata L., Dianthus caryophyllus L., Blumenbachia hieronymi Urb., and Salvia farinaceae Benth. cv. “Strata”. These roots have phased growth patterns where early growth is followed by deceleration, after which the initial cells stop dividing, elongation ceases, and the root reaches its determinate length. At or before reaching determinacy, the root apical meristem stops maintaining its closed organization and becomes less organized. These observations will be placed in context with observations from the literature to suggest two new generalizations, namely, that apical organization does change over the growth phases of roots, and that roots are determinate.     

细叶蒿草炭黑粉菌新种及中国黑粉菌补遗VII

本文报道炭黑粉菌一新种,即细叶蒿草炭黑粉菌(Anthracoidea filifoliae L. Guo sp.nov.)和4个我国新记录种:1)角孢炭黑粉菌(A. angulata(H. Sydow) Boidol & Poclt), 2)黍状苔炭黑粉菌(A. paniceae Kukkenen), 3)狼尾草团黑粉菌(Sorosporium penniseti Mundkur)和4)米勒粘孢黑粉菌(Tolyposporium muellerianum (Thuemen) McAlpine)。     

Karyogenomics of species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum</Emphasis> L.

Using the molecular cytogenetic and RAPD methods of analysis, we studied genomes of 22 cultivated flax varieties and 24 wild species from six sections of the genus Linum L. The chromosome numbers were exactly determined in the karyotypes of all studied species, and all individual chromosomes were identified by the C/DAPI-banding pattern and localization of 26S rDNA and 5S rDNA. B chromosomes were discovered and studied for the first time in species of the section Syllinum Griseb. According to the data obtained, the species studied were divided into eight groups on the basis of similarity of their karyotypes, which corresponded in general to their clustering based on the RAPD results. The systematic positions and phylogenetic relationships of the flax species were verified.     

Pollen analysis of honeys from the central zone of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos

Based on the melissopalynology 38 honey samples collected in the central region of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos were classified by botanical and geographical origin. According to qualitative analysis, 20 honey samples were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. Dominant pollen types were Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) in six samples, Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) in five, Lotus spp. (Fabaceae) in three, Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) and Eryngium spp. (Apiaceae) in two, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae) and Trithrinax campestris (Burmeist.) Drude & Griseb. (Arecaceae) in one sample. One hundred and nineteen pollen types were identified belonging to 52 families; 75% of which were native species. The families best represented in number of species were Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Pollen types such as Scutia buxifolia, Trithrinax campestris, Schinus spp. (Anacardiaceae), Mimosoideae from Prosopis spp., Acacia spp., Mimosa ostenii Speg. ex Burkart, and M. strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray are considered the indicators for this geographical origin. The studied honeys were also characterized by a high frequency of Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Astereae, Echium plantagineum L. and cultivated Papilionoideae forage species such as Melilotus albus Desr., Lotus spp. and Trifolium spp. Honeydew elements were scarce.     

Analysis of polyphenols,phytosterols, and bitter principles in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium</Emphasis> L. species

Total polyphenols, tannins, β-sitosterol, and bitterness values were determined in native and cultivated populations of Teucrium L. species from Croatia (T. arduini L., T. botrys L., T. chamaedrys L., T. flavum L., T. montanum L., T. polium L., and T. scordium L. subsp. scordioides Schreb.). Teucrium species have long been present in folk medicine for diverse medicinal uses, but little is known about polyphenols, phytosterols, and bitter principles. Spectrophotometrically determined contents of total polyphenols (TP) and tannins (T) significantly varied among investigated Teucrium species and were somewhat higher in native populations. The highest TP and T contents were measured in native specimens of T. montanum (TP: 13.68%; T: 3.48%). Scanning densitometry was used for measurements of β-sitosterol levels in plant samples ranged from 0.056% (T. montanum) to 0.129% (T. botrys), and it was not significantly different between native and cultivated specimens of the same plant species. Bitterness values were similar for native and cultivated samples of the same plant species; the highest was measured for T. montanum (15659). The present study suggests that Teucrium species growing in Croatia have potential for cultivation and might be a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds.     

Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sippenstruktur einiger Papaver-Arten der Sektion Argemonorhoeades Fedde (Papaveraceae) Mit 1 Abbildung

The alcaloids from three Papaver-species, P. argemone L., P. apulum Ten. and P. hybridum L. (section Argemonorhoeades Fedde) was by means of thin-layer chromatography (DC) analysed. The seed was obtained from Botanical Gardens, partly they were collected from wild populations. They were cultivated during the years 1969 and 1970 in our experimental field. The homogenity and taxonomical determination of the cultivated plants was checked respectively examinated before the chemical analysis. Chromosome numbers were counted partly from PMC-meiosis, partly from mitosis of the root tips. All the investigated provenances of P. argemone showed the diploid number of 40 chromosomes, without any exception. In the same way we found the spectra of the alcaloids of all the provenances in accordance. We could not find Rhoeadin and Rhoeagenin in these three species. Differentiation characters (Dm) of the mentioned species are beside the already known especially the thin-layer chromatographic patterns of the Dragendorffs reagent (DR)-positive substances and the papaverrubins.     

Molecular evidence for an Andean origin and a secondary gene pool for the Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) using chloroplast DNA

 Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) diversity has been examined using PCR-RFLP and RFLP strategies for phylogenetic studies in the genus Phaseolus. Twenty-two species, including 4 of the 5 cultivated species (P. lunatus L., the Lima bean; P. vulgaris L., the common bean; P. coccineus L., the runner bean and P. polyanthus Greenman, the year-bean), represented by 86 accessions were included in the study. Six PCR primers designed from cpDNA and a total cpDNA probe were used for generating markers. Phylogenetic reconstruction using both Wagner parsimony and the neighbor-joining method was applied to the restriction fragment data obtained from each of the molecular approaches. P. vulgaris L. was shown to separate with several species of largely Mesoamerican distribution, including P. coccineus L. and P. polyanthus Greenman, whereas P. lunatus L. forms a complex with 3 Andean species (P. pachyrrhizoides Harms, P. augusti Harms and P. bolivianus Piper) co-evolving with a set of companion species with a Mesoamerican distribution. Andean forms of the Lima bean are found to be more closely related to the 3 Andean wild species than its Mesoamerican forms. An Andean origin of the Lima bean and a double derivative process during the evolution of P. lunatus are suggested. The 3 Andean species are proposed to constitute the secondary gene pool of P. lunatus, while its companion allies of Mesoamerican distribution can be considered as members of its tertiary gene pool. On the basis of these data, an overview on the evolution of the genus Phaseolus is also discussed. Received: 1 May 1998 / Accepted: 13 July 1998     

Phylogenetics of Darwiniothamnus (Asteraceae: Astereae) – molecular evidence for multiple origins in the endemic flora of the Galápagos Islands

Aim The aims of this study were (1) to investigate whether the two growth forms of Darwiniothamnus Harling (Asteraceae) originated from the colonization of a single ancestor, (2) to identify the closest relative(s) of Darwiniothamnus, and (3) to review molecular phylogenies from other plant groups to infer the origin of Galápagos endemics. Location Darwiniothamnus is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Methods All putative relatives of Darwiniothamnus plus 38 additional species were included. Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal DNA were used for Bayesian and parsimony analyses. Results Darwiniothamnus is polyphyletic. Two species (D. lancifolius (Hook. f.) Harling and D. tenuifolius (Hook. f.) Harling) are woody shrubs that usually grow to 1–2 m in height; they belong to a clade composed of species otherwise restricted to the Caribbean. These two species are sister to Erigeron bellidiastroides Griseb., a herbaceous species endemic to Cuba. The third species (D. alternifolius Lawesson & Adsersen) is a perennial herbaceous plant, woody at the base and reaching only up to 50 cm in height. It is sister to two Chilean (Coquimbo–Valparaiso region) species that also have a perennial herbaceous habit: E. fasciculatus Colla and E. luxurians (Skottsb.) Solbrig. They are placed in an assemblage restricted to South America. The review of previous molecular phylogenetic studies revealed that two of the endemic genera and endemic species of three non‐endemic genera have their closest relatives in South America. Endemic species belonging to three non‐endemic genera have sister species in North America or the West Indies. One endemic genus and endemic species in three non‐endemic genera have sister taxa with a widespread continental distribution, or their molecular phylogenies yielded equivocal results. Main conclusions The flora of Galápagos has affinities with both North America (including the Antilles) and South America. Darwiniothamnus exhibits both patterns: two species of this genus are sister to a taxon endemic to Cuba, supporting a connection between the Cocos plate and the West Indies; the third species, D. alternifolius, provides a link with the Coquimbo–Valparaiso region, suggesting a biogeographical connection between the Nazca plate and southern South America.     

Primary Root Growth and the Pattern of Root Apical Meristem Organization are Coupled

Root apical meristems (RAMs) in dicotyledonous plants have two organizational schemes; closed (with highly organized tiers) and open (tiers lacking or disorganized). These schemes are commonly believed to remain unchanged during the growth of the root axis. Individual roots are commonly thought to have indeterminate growth. We challenge these two generalizations through the study of five species with closed apical organization: Clarkia unguiculata L., Oxalis corniculata L., Dianthus caryophyllus L., Blumenbachia hieronymi Urb., and Salvia farinaceae Benth. cv. Strata. These roots have phased growth patterns where early growth is followed by deceleration, after which the initial cells stop dividing, elongation ceases, and the root reaches its determinate length. At or before reaching determinacy, the root apical meristem stops maintaining its closed organization and becomes less organized. These observations will be placed in context with observations from the literature to suggest two new generalizations, namely, that apical organization does change over the growth phases of roots, and that roots are determinate.     

A review of the net-winged midges (Diptera: Blephariceridae) of the West Indies,with description of a new species from Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT

The Caribbean blepharicerid fauna comprises three described species: Paltostoma palominoi Hogue and Garces, 1990, found in eastern Cuba; P. agyrocincta Curran, 1927, widespread in Puerto Rico; and P. schineri Williston, 1896, which occupies most major islands of the Lesser Antilles. In this paper, we describe P. portoricensis Hogue and Courtney, sp. n., a second species from Puerto Rico. We also provide keys to adults, pupae, and larvae of known Caribbean species, re-describe P. argyrocincta and P. schineri, and present a brief discussion of the bionomics and phylogenetic affinities of the net-winged midge fauna.     

Amos Arthur Heller’s Puerto Rico plant collecting itineraries of 1900 and 1902–1903 and their utility for the historical study of endangered plants

This work reports the Puerto Rico plant collecting itineraries of 1900 and 1902–1903 of Amos Arthur Heller based on the original notebooks recently located at the Herbarium of the University of Washington-Seattle. The utility of historical data for understanding original distributions of rare species is demonstrated for two Puerto Rican species:Buxus vahlii Ball andDaphnopsis helleriana Urb. Urb.     

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND INTROGRESSION IN TWO CULTIVATED SPECIES (PORPHYRA YEZOENSIS AND PORPHYRA TENERA) AND CLOSELY RELATED WILD SPECIES OF PORPHYRA (BANGIALES,RHODOPHYTA)1

We investigated the genetic variations of the samples that were tentatively identified as two cultivated Porphyra species (Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and Porphyra tenera Kjellm.) from various natural populations in Japan using molecular analyses of plastid and nuclear DNA. From PCR‐RFLP analyses using nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and plastid RUBISCO spacer regions and phylogenetic analyses using plastid rbcL and nuclear ITS‐1 rDNA sequences, our samples from natural populations of P. yezoensis and P. tenera showed remarkably higher genetic variations than found in strains that are currently used for cultivation. In addition, it is inferred that our samples contain four wild Porphyra species, and that three of the four species, containing Porphyra kinositae, are closely related to cultivated Porphyra species. Furthermore, our PCR‐RFLP and molecular phylogenetic analyses using both the nuclear and plastid DNA demonstrated the occurrence of plastid introgression from P. yezoensis to P. tenera and suggested the possibility of plastid introgression from cultivated P. yezoensis to wild P. yezoensis. These results imply the importance of collecting and establishing more strains of cultivated Porphyra species and related wild species from natural populations as genetic resources for further improvement of cultivated Porphyra strains.