Bufadienolides from bulbs of Urginea lydenburgensis (Hyacinthaceae: Urgineoideae)

Bulbs of the ethnomedicinal hyacinthac Urginea lydenburgensis have yielded two bufadienolides, 16beta-acetoxy-3beta,14beta-dihydroxy-19-formyl-bufa-4,20,22-trienolide (scillicyanosidin) and 4beta,8beta,11alpha,14beta-tetrahydroxybufa-5,20,22-trienolide-12-one, 2alpha,3beta-O-4,6-dideoxy-L-glucose (lydenburgenin).     

Taxonomy of the genusBrimeura (Hyacinthaceae)

A taxonomic reevaluation of two little-knownBrimeura taxa,B. fontqueri (Pau)Speta andB. duvigneaudii (L. Llorens)Rosselló et al., has been made.Brimeura fontqueri, described from the Iberian peninsula, has been put into synonymy ofB. amethystina (L.)Salisb., since it could not be distinguished on morphological, anatomical or cytogenetic grounds.Brimeura duvigneaudii, from the Balearic Islands, is closely related toB. amethystina and has 2n=28 chromosomes. It differs from the latter by its naked bulbs lacking dark cataphylls, and its narrower leaves and whitish corollas. Accessory chromosomes are reported for the first time in the genus. Karyological instability (with chromosome numbers ranging from 2n=28 to 42) is reported for a population ofB. fastigiata (Viv.)Chouard. A key to the recognized taxa ofBrimeura is provided.     

Bufadienolides from Drimia macrocentra and Urginea riparia (Hyacinthaceae: Urgineoideae)

The bufadienolides, rubellin and riparianin were isolated from the bulbs of Drimia macrocentra and Urginea riparia (Hyacinthaceae) respectively. Rubellin and riparianin contain a carbohydrate moiety doubly linked to the bufadienolide aglycone at the C-2 and C-3 positions. Riparianin showed moderate activity when tested against MCF7 (breast), TK10 (renal) and UACC62 (melanoma) cell lines.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the rare Korean monotypic endemic genus Pentactina Nakai in the tribe Spiraeeae (Rosaceae) based on molecular data

The phylogenetic position of Pentactina Nakai, one of only six endemic genera in the Korean peninsula, has been elusive and difficult to determine due to inaccessibility of plant materials. In this paper, we were able to obtain material from the one and only living collection of Pentactina outside of its native range in North Korea and determined its phylogenetic relationship relative to the other genera within the tribe Spiraeeae (Rosaceae). This paper presents the first molecular phylogeny of the genus Pentactina using both nuclear ribosomal ITS regions as well as chloroplast DNA trnL-trnF intergenic spacers to conduct phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) of the Spiraeeae. The ITS and combined data set trees suggest that Pentactina shares its most recent common ancestor with Petrophyton, a small western North American genus, while cpDNA suggests close relationships to Kelseya, Sibiraea, and Petrophyton. Therefore, based on the present molecular sequence data, we suggest that the rare Korean monotypic endemic genus Pentactina possibly has a close relationship with the small western North American genus Petrophyton, although receiving a weak support. In addition, our current study suggests that Pentactina is not part of the large genus Spiraea as previously hypothesized by Hutchinson. Pentactina possess combinations of several morphological features within the Spiraeeae such as an erect shrub habit, simple serrate leaves, and raceme inflorescences, and recognition as a distinct endemic genus in Korea is warranted.     

Bufadienolides from Drimia robusta and Urginea epigea (Hyacinthaceae)

Two bufadienolides, 6beta-acetoxy-3beta,8beta,14beta-trihydroxy-12-oxobufa-4,20,22-trienolide and 14beta-hydroxybufa-3,5,20,22-tetraenolide were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the bulbs of Drimia robusta and the methanol extract of the bulbs of Urginea epigea, respectively. The bulbs of Drimia robusta also yielded several known compounds, 6beta-acetoxy-3beta,8beta,12beta,14beta-tetrahydroxybufa-4,20,22-trienolide (12beta-hydroxyscillirosidin) from the dichloromethane extract and three common aromatic acids, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and trans-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid from the ethyl acetate extract.     

Bufadienolides from Drimia robusta and Urginea altissima (Hyacinthaceae)

The bufadienolides, 6beta-acetoxy-3beta,8beta,12beta,14beta-tetrahydroxybufa-4,20,22-trienolide (12beta-hydroxyscillirosidin) (1) and 14beta-hydroxybufa-4,20,22-trienolide 3beta-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-[(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside] (urginin) (2) were isolated from Drimia robusta and Urginea altissima, respectively.     

Thismia tentaculata （Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae） from Hong Kong： first record of the genus and tribe from continental China

Populations of Thismia tentaculata （Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae） are described and illustrated from Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong, southern China. This represents the first report of the genus and tribe from continental China.     

Karyotype of Ornithogalum chionophilum (Hyacinthaceae)

A karyotype of Ornithogalum chionophilum is presented. The relationship between this species and O. lanceolatum, O. cuspidatum and O. montanum is discussed.     

Taxonomic review of the tribe Oxyptilini (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from Korea

The tribe Oxyptilini of the family Pterophoridae in Korea is reviewed. Four species, Capperia trichodactyla (Denis & Schiffermüller 1775), Oxyptilus chrysodactylus ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775), Procapperia pelecyntes (Meyrick 1908), and Tomotilus celebrates (Meyrick 1932) comb. nov., are newly reported from Korea. All recognized species are described with taxonomic notes and illustrations including male and female genitalia. Keys to the species are also presented.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the monotypic Peruvian genus Laccopetalum (Ranunculaceae)

Laccopetalum giganteum (Ranunculaceae) is a rare endemic buttercup from the montane regions of the Peruvian Andes. The systematic position of this monotypic genus within Ranunculaceae was investigated using cpDNA matK sequence data. Our findings indicate that L. giganteum forms a highly supported clade together with Krapfia. Several morphological characters are shared by these genera; large subglobose and fleshy flowers, presence of androgynophore with a separated staminal and carpellate region and many tiny achenes. The Laccopetalum-Krapfia clade is sister to the core Ranunculus group with a high bootstrap support. The number of sepals and similar characteristics of achene morphology support an affinity of Laccopetalum with Ranunculus s.s tr.     

Systematic embryology of the Scilla siberica alliance (Hyacinthaceae)

Eleven species of the Scilla siberica alliance, a well defined monophyletic group within the "genus by tradition" Scilla , have been investigated embryologically with special reference to embryo sac and endosperm development. Data are now available for 15 out of 20 known species. In most species embryo sacs develop according to the bisporic Allium-type, only in Scilla rosenii according to the tetrasporic Drusa-type. Endosperm development is either nuclear or helobial (in 10 and 4 species respectively, unknown in 1). The taxonomic significance of these traits is evaluated after character polarisation by out-group comparison. Among the out-group taxa, S. persica may be considered as the sister group of the S. siberica alliance because only these two groups have an Allium-type embryo sac, a synapomorphy derived from the plesiomorphic Polygonurn-type. The Drusa-type in S. rosenii is an autapomorphy for that species and evolved from an Allium-type embryo sac. S. rosenii is distinct from its sister species S. koenigii , previously thought to be conspecific. Nuclear endosperm is considered to be plesiomorphic rather than apomorphic within the S. siberica alliance, with respect to its occurrence in the presumed sister group and other outgroup taxa (S. hohenackeri group, S. bifolia alliance), but some doubt remains because of a helobial endosperm occurring in the out-group taxon S. messeniaca . The distribution of other synapomorphies within the S. siberica alliance suggests that a helobial endosperm evolved as a synapomorphy for S. bithynica, S. melaina and S. mischtschenkoana , but as a parallel trait in S. leepii . Species status for S. leepii is supported.     

Tertiary leaves of the tribe Banksieae (Proteaceae) from south-eastern Australia

Leaves from the tribe Banksieae of the Proteaceae are well represented in Tertiary deposits in south-eastern Australia. Four new species of Banksieaephyllum are erected, taking the total to 11, and two species are described in a new genus, with leaves with architectural similarities to the tribe Banksieae but without organic preservation. The fossil species demonstrate that the tribe was diverse by the end of the Eocene, but it is difficult to determine the ancestral type from the fossil evidence at present. The vegetation associated with some of the fossil species suggests that the tribe may have had its origins in rainforest, and became adapted to the typically dry, nutrient-poor conditions of sclerophyllous vegetation during the course of the Tertiary.     

Correllia (Compositae: Peritylinae) : A new monotypic genus from southern Chihuahua,Mexico

A new genus,Correllia, and its single species,C. montana, are described from Sierra Mohinora in southwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. The genus belongs in subtribe Peritylinae (Compositae tribe Helenieae) and appears to be most closely related toPerityle.     

Studies on systematic embryology inScilla (Hyacinthaceae)

Scilla persica and 5 species of the so-calledS. hohenackeri group, namely,S. furseorum, S. puschkinioides, S. vvedenskyi, S. hohenackeri, andS. greilhuberi, have been investigated embryologically with special reference to embryo sac and endosperm development.Polygonum-type embryo sac development was stated inS. puschkinioides andS. greilhuberi. 8-nucleate, normally structured embryo sacs, which could not be specified further due to sparse availability of the material, were stated inS. furseorum, S. vvedenskyi, andS. hohenackeri. InS. persica the embryo sac develops according to the bisporicAllium-type. In most species endosperm development was stated to be nuclear, exceptS. hohenackeri, where the type could not be specified. Other traits of possible taxonomic significance are the number of layers in the outer integument, which is mostly 4, or 5–6 inS. furseorum, and the occurrence of polyploid versus haploid and early degenerating antipodal nuclei, the latter occurring only inS. persica andS. furseorum. These embryological characters may be useful for assessing taxonomic relationship of the present species with other allied groups withinScilla, in particular, theS. siberica alliance,S. messeniaca, and theS. bifolia alliance. TheAllium-type embryo sac, which occurs inS. persica, is also characteristic for theS. siberica alliance, and may be a common derived character. Lack of antipodal polyploidization, as characteristic forS. persica andS. furseorum, occurs also in theS. siberica alliance, and is perhaps another common derived trait indicating phylogenetic relationship. Nuclear endosperm development is more frequent in spring-flowering squills than helobial development, which has previously been stated inS. messeniaca, some species of theS. siberica alliance, and inS. litardierei. While helobial endosperm may be primitive forHyacinthaceae in general, it may, by reversal, also occur as a derived character, at least in some species of theS. siberica alliance.     

A new hexaploid Be He v alia (Hyacinthaceae) from European Turkey

ÖZHATAY, N, JOHNSON, M. A. T., MATHEW, B. & DALGIQ, G., 1991. A new hexaploid Bellevalia (Hyacinthaceae) from European Turkey. A new species of Bellevalia Lapeyr. from the vilayet of Edirne in European Turkey is described which is hexaploid; 2 n = 24. This is a new chromosome number for Turkish material of the genus. Relatives and possible origins are discussed.     

Systematics of the tribe Trematocarini (Perciformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Tanganyika, Africa

 Phylogenetic relationships among eight Trematocara species and a single Telotrematocara species included in the Tanganyikan cichlid tribe Trematocarini were investigated on the basis of morphological features. The monophyly of the tribe is supported by the presence of hypertrophied sensory pores on the head, tendon “c” of adductor mandibulae section 1, a single scale row between the upper lateral line and body axis, great depth of the anteriormost infraorbital (reversed in Trematocara caparti and T. stigmaticum), and the absence of a lower lateral line. Trematocara is paraphyletic unless Telotrematocara is treated as a junior synonym. Received: December 10, 2001 / Revised: March 18, 2002 / Accepted: April 4, 2002