The biology and systematics of the genus Coincya Porta & Rigo ex Rouy (Cruciferae)

In this treatment, the genera Coincya (synonym: Hutera ) and Rhynchosinapis are regarded as one genus under the name Coincya which has nomenclatural priority. This study is based on data from morphology, population studies, cytology, ecology and reproductive biology reinforced by breeding experiments. Coincya is a west European genus comprising 14 taxa (including six species, five subspecies and three varieties).Eight new combinations are proposed and two species are excluded; R.nivalis is referable to the genus Brassica and R. Leplocarpa is probably referable to Erucastrum.
The chromosome number is either 2 n = 24 or 2 n = 48, which confirmed previous counts; C. Transtagana has not been counted. Breeding experiments were carried out with C. Longirostra, C.rupestris, C.monensis subsp. monensis , diploid and tetraploid races of subsp. recurvata var. recurvata , var. johnslonii , var. setigera , var. granatensis , subsp. hispida and subsp. puberula.
All taxa tested are outbreeding with a genetic self-incompatibility mechanism and are cross-compatible, suggesting that there has been no cytological differentiation between the diploid species in this study. The tetraploids formed semi-sterile triploids when crossed with diploids and although the chromosomes only formed bivalents and trivalents at meiosis it was postulated that the tetraploid was an autotetraploid of polytopic origin.
The evolution and differentiation of the genus and species are discussed.     

Taxonomic revision of Rhododendron mariae (Ericaceae) and related taxa

Based on a literature survey and a field trip with specimen examination, statistical analysis including principal components analysis (PCA) on morphological characters have been carried out on Rhododendron mariae and related taxa. Cluster analysis and PCA showed three independent groups, which corresponded to three species except R. loniceriflorum . As a consequence, nine taxa are reduced to synonyms of R. mariae , and two new combinations, viz R. mariae subsp. microphyton , and R. mariae subsp. flumineum are made. Rhododendron microphyton var. trichanthum is reduced to a synonym of R. mariae subsp. microphyton , and R. malipoense to a synonym of R. mariae subsp. flumineum . Three names are synonymized and a new combination, viz R. chryocalyx subsp. meridionale , is proposed within R. chryocalyx . The third entity, R. naamkwanense , has got two new synonyms. Rhododendron loniceriflorum , with whitish pubescence on the inner corolla surface, is recognized as the fourth distinct species. Each entity is illustrated with line drawings for identification.     

Chloroplast DNA and isozyme evidence on the evolution ofSenecio vulgaris (Asteraceae)

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and isozyme variation were analyzed over a range of populations of two infraspecific taxa of the tetraploidSenecio vulgaris. The isozyme data were supportive of the hypothesis that the weedy and cosmopolitanS. vulgaris var.vulgaris is an evolutionary derivative ofS. vulgaris subsp.denticulatus from the coasts of W Europe and montane altitudes in S Spain and Sicily. The two taxa exhibited a very high genetic identity with subsp.denticulatus containing slightly more isozyme diversity than was found in var.vulgaris. — Three cpDNA haplotypes (A, B, C) already known from other Mediterranean diploid species ofSenecio were resolved in var.vulgaris, and an additional fourth haplotype (E) was found in subsp.denticulatus. Two alternative hypotheses were chosen to account for the origin and maintenance of the observed cpDNA composition ofS. vulgaris. It either reflects (1) the retention of an ancestral polymorphism which stems from the recurrent and polytopic formation of ancestral tetraploid lineages; or (2)S. vulgaris originally was characterized by haplotype E, and haplotypes A, B and C were acquired through repeated introgressive hybridization with related diploid species. The finding that very low levels of nuclear (isozyme) diversity were present in both taxa ofS. vulgaris examined supports the second of these two hypotheses; however, more detailed analysis of nuclear genetic diversity is required before a firm conclusion can be reached on this matter.Dedicated to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Molecular characterization of Calocedrus rupestris Aver., H.T. Nguyen & L.K. Phan, 2008 (Cupressaceae) based on ITS1 partial sequence

Calocedrus rupestris Aver., H.T. Nguyen & L.K. Phan was described in 2008 based on some morphological characters that were not sufficiently significant to discriminate it as a species distinct from C. macrolepis Kurz. We applied a new approach to resolve these conflicting views by using sequence data from DNA (ITS) to elucidate phylogenetic relationships between the two species. Analyses of a partial ITS1 sequence in 5 individuals of 2 subpopulations of C. macrolepis and 18 individuals of 8 subpopulations of C. rupestris collected in Vietnam were done. Molecular characterization of the two species showed its low divergence with the lack of autapomorphic characters. In addition, the ITS1 partial sequences of some C. rupestris individuals were identical with C. macrolepis. Due to the less distinctive morphology between C. rupestris and C. macrolepis, the divergence between them does not exceed the interspecific levels, and therefore, C. rupestris could not be regarded as an independent species in relation to C. macrolepis but only as one of its varieties, C. macrolepis var. rupestris (Aver., H.T. Nguyen & L.K. Phan) L.K. Phan, Long K. Phan & Aver.     

PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY WITHIN TEN STRAINS OF CHAETOCEROS MUELLERI (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

The effects of temperature, ionic composition, and conductivity on growth rates of ten strains of Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmerman (mostly var. subsalsum Johan. & Rushf.) were studied. Lipid content of stressed and unstressed cells and fatty acid composition were also determined. Considerable physiological variability was observed in the ten strains, although principal components analysis of physiological data indicated that all strains fell into one of two major groups: C. muelleri (var. muelleri and var. subsalsum) and an undescribed Chaetoceros species morphologically close to C. muelleri var. subsalsum. A high degree of agreement was found among morphological, physiological, and biochemical data sets, indicating that physiological and biochemical data may be helpful in making taxonomic decisions in diatoms, particularly in taxa with few morphological characters. We also conclude that nonmorphological characters such as those employed in the present study can be used to test phylogenetic hypotheses formulated from traditional morphological data.     

Taxonomic importance of seed macro‐ and micro‐morphology in Abelmoschus (Malvaceae)

Seed morphology of Abelmoschus is known to be variable, but patterns of variation have never been critically studied. We studied seed macro‐ and micro‐morphological characters, including seed shape/size, seed coat pattern and trichome density/structure in multiple samples to evaluate the taxonomic significance of seed characters. Among the studied characters, seed shape and trichome structure were found to have major taxonomic importance and proved to be valuable characters for separating taxa. Two main seed types were present: seeds with deciduous trichomes and seeds with persistent trichomes. These characters offer significant evidence to the distinctness of certain species (A. esculentus, A. moschatus subsp. moschatus, A. moschatus subsp. tuberosus, A. crinitus and A. angulosus). Further, our results indicate that A. moschatus subsp. tuberosus should be maintained as a separate subspecies while A. manihot subsp. tetraphyllus var. pungens may be merged in A. angulosus. No significant intraspecific variation was observed, except in A. esculentus. We conclude that seed coat sculpturing and seed trichomes do indeed provide stable and diagnostic characters for many morphologically closely related taxa of Abelmoschus and that LM/SEM techniques can be useful in solving systematic problems and management of Abelmoschus genetic resources.     

Evaluation of seed and leaf epidermis characters in the taxonomy of some annual species of the genus Papaver (Papaveraceae)

To get a better understanding of their taxonomic importance, we examined morphological, leaf epidermal and seed micromorphological characters of 19 taxa of annual Papaver L. belonging to the sections Papaver, Carinatae Fedde and Rhoeadium Spach. Among the studied taxa, the pattern of the coat of the seed testa cells and seed epidermal cell showed large variation. The granulate type of testa sculpturing was most common, but other types were represented by one or two species. In contrast, most of the taxa have broadly similar leaf epidermal characteristics. We conclude that variation in seed characters are significant for the taxonomy at the specific and generic levels, whereas leaf epidermis morphology, with few exceptions, is mostly only useful for separation of taxa within species. Based on the results, P. lacerum Popov is regarded as a synonym of P. commutatum Fisch. & C. A. Mey, while P. piptostigma Bienert ex Fedde, P. halophilum (Fedde) Cullen and P. tubuliferum Fedde are regarded as synonyms of P. macrostomum Boiss. et Huet ex Boiss. var. macrostomum. Further, Papaver gaubae Cullen & Rech. f. and P. bipinnatum C. A. Mey. are included into the synonymy list of P. glaucum Boiss. et Hausskn. and P. arenarium M.‐Bieb., respectively. In contrast, Papaver chelidoniifolium Fisch. & C. A. Mey. var. pinnatum Tavakkoli & Assadi from Gilan province is described as a new variety, and P. rhoeas L. var. strigosum Boenn. and var. glabrum Fedde and P. commutatum subsp. euxinum Kadereit are introduced as new records to Iran. The evolutionary and phylogenetic implications of the observed variation in seed characteristics are also discussed.     

Nomenclatural notes to Flora Nordica Vol. 6 (Thymelaeaceae–Apiaceae)

The following names in Flora Nordica Vol. 6 are subject to nomenclatural action: Helianthemum oelandicum var. canescens (typified), Epilobium hornemannii (typified), Oenothera nuda (validated), Myriophyllum spicatum (emendation of typification), Viola rupestris subsp. relicta (typified), Hippophaë rhamnoides (typified), Angelica archangelica subsp. littoralis (typified). – Flora Nordica Note no. 35.     

Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the vascular plants of Morocco

ROMO, A. M., 1992. Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the vascular plants of Morocco. As a result of studies on the flora of Morocco, a number of new taxa and a series of new nomenclature combinations are proposed which are more in line with current knowledge. Three new taxa are described: Dianthus atlantica from the Great Atlas; Ranunculus spicatus Desf. subsp. fontqueri Romo, endemic to Er Rif, and a hybrid: Saxifraga × fontqueri Romo (= S. crenata Psau & Font Quer × Saxifraga globulifera Desf.). The following new combinations are made: Astragalus gombo Cosson & Durieu subsp. pseudogombo (Fernandez Casas) Romo, Avenula bromoides (Gouan) H. Scholz subsp. cincinnatus (Ten.) Romo, Chaenorrhinum origanifolium (L.) Fourr. subsp. flexuosum (Desf.) Romo, Digitalis laciniata Lindley subsp. riphaea (Pau & Font Quer) Romo, Digitalis purpurea subsp. mauretanica (Humbert & Maire) Romo, Lavandula pedunculata Miller subsp. atlantica (Braun-Blanquet) Romo, Paeonia coriacea Boiss. var. maroccana (Pau & Font Quer) Romo, Sideritis arborescens Bentham subsp. antiallantica (Maire) Romo.     

Taxonomic and evolutionary relationships in the genus Vella L. (Cruciferae)

Thirty-two differential characters are numerically analysed for the six existing taxa of the genus Vella L. The closely related monotypic genus Boleum Desv. is also included for comparison. Most of the characters used are morphological, but cariological, ecological and biogeographical aspects have also been studied. The results indicate that four distinct species, one ( V. pseudocytisus L.) with three sub-species, should be distinguished. The new combination V. anremerica (Lit. et Maire) Gómez-Campo (basionym: V. pseudocytisus L. subsp. anremerica Lit. et Maire) and the new name V. pseudocytisus L. subsp. paui Gómez-Campo for V. pseudocytisus L. var. glabrescens Willk., nornen nudum are presented. A key is given to aid identification of these taxa. Their conservation status is also discussed.     

Glucosinolates,flea beetle resistance,and leaf pubescence as taxonomic characters in the genus Barbarea (Brassicaceae)

Glucosinolate content of leaves and roots, diversity in leaf pubescence, and resistance to two near-isogenic lines of the flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum with or without an R-gene, were determined for 27 accessions of 7 Barbarea taxa, i.e. B. stricta, B. orthoceras, B. intermedia, B. verna, B. vulgaris var. vulgaris, the G-type of B. vulgaris var. arcuata and the P-type of B. vulgaris var. arcuata. Four variable glucosinolate biosynthetic characters were deduced. For (formally) homophenylalanine-derived glucosinolates: (1). Presence or absence of 2-hydroxylation, and if present, R- or S-configuration of 2-hydroxylation; (2). presence or absence of p-hydroxylation; and for tryptophan-derived glucosinolates: (3). presence or absence of N-methoxyglucobrassicin; and (4). presence or absence of 1,4-dimethoxyglucobrassicin. Three phenotypes of leaf-pubescence were observed; (1). glabrous to glabrate leaves; (2). glabrous to glabrate leaves with hairs along the edge; (3). pubescent leaves. The hairs were characterized as simple by scanning electron microscopy. Full resistance to a flea beetle line (ST) was found in B. vulgaris var. vulgaris and in the G-type of var. arcuata; partial resistance was found in B. verna and B. intermedia, while the remaining taxa were fully susceptible to the ST line. All investigated Barbarea taxa were susceptible to larvae from another line containing an R-gene, indicating a similar flea beetle resistance mechanism in the three resistant species. Most Barbarea taxa could be characterized by a particular combination of the investigated characters. The most aberrant was the P-type of B. vulgaris var. arcuata, and the taxonomic status of this type should be reconsidered.     

Chloroplast DNA variation inDesmodium subgenusPodocarpium (Leguminosae): Infrageneric phylogeny and infraspecific variations

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) restriction site variation was examined in five species ofDesmodium subgenusPodocarpium (Leguminosae; Papilionoideae; Desmodieae). Twenty four phylogenetically informative cpDNA mutations were scored. The cladistic analysis of characters based on the 24 mutations resulted in the most parsimonious tree which supports the monophyly of the subgenus.Desmodium elegans of subgenusDollinera was the sister group of subgenusPodocarpium in this tree. The groupings obtained from the cpDNA characters were consistent with the present infrageneric classification system for the subgenus except for the infraspecific taxa ofD. podocarpum. Three groups withinD. podocarpum, which were incongruent with the infraspecific classification of the species, were distinguished by a total of four site mutations. The first group consisted of subsp.podocarpum, subsp.fallax, and subsp.oxyphyllum var.oxyphyllum; the second subsp.oxyphyllum var.oxyphyllum; and the last subsp.oxyphyllum var.oxyphyllum and var.mandshuricum.     

中国薹草属(莎草科)研究随记(Ⅳ).隐匿薹草组的分类修订(英文)

隐匿薹草组(Carex sect.Infossae)为最近建立的薹草属(Carex)的组,当时报导分布于我国安徽和江苏,有2种和1变种,即隐匿薹草(C.infossa)、显穗薹草(变种)(C.infossa var.extensa)和矮秆薹草(C.minuticulmis)。根据描述,另有15种和2变种应归属本组,这些分类群具有较为一致的特征:果囊椭圆球状卵球形或卵球形,通常疏被短毛或近无毛,先端渐狭成中等长的喙,喙口具2小齿;瘦果卵球形,先端钝或微凹。通过文献考证、标本查阅、野外采集,并结合果囊和瘦果的扫描电镜观察,对隐匿薹草组所涉及的种(含种下类群)进行了分类修订。该组仅有2种:百里薹草(C.blinii)和尖叶薹草(C.oxyphylla)。将Carex elmeri、C.granifera、矮秆薹草(C.minuticulmis)、上海薹草(C.shanghaiensis C.blinii subsp.shanghaiensis)、C.sublateralis、C.taihokuensis和锐果薹草(C.tatsutakensis)并入百里薹草;将沟囊薹草(C.canaliculata)、樟木薹草(C.changmuensis)、C.distantiflora、隐匿薹草(C.infossa)、显穗薹草(C.infossa var.extensa)、C.lateralis、C.loheri、无芒长嘴薹草(C.longerostrata var.exaristata)、城湾薹草(C.longerostrata var.hoi)、C.lyi、和平菱果薹草(C.macrandrolepis)和C.sharyotensis并入尖叶薹草。     

The effect of glucosinolates (mustard oil glycosides) and products of their enzymic degradation on the infectivity of turnip mosaic virus

The effect of glucosinolates sinigrin, progoitrin, epiprogroitrin, gluconapin, gluconapoleiferin, glucobrassicanapin, glucotropaeolin and gluconasturtiin without and with the glucosinolate-degrading enzyme (myrosinase, EC:3.2.3.1.), on the infectivity of turnip mosaic virus was studied. Little or no effect was observed when the intact glucosinolate (2.5 μmol cm⁻³) was added to the suspension of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV, isolate Ruzyně; 0.2 mg cm⁻³ in 0.01 M potassium phosphate buffer) at both pH 7 and pH 6. A significant decrease of virus infectivity was, however, observed when 0.25, 1.25 and 2.5 μmol cm⁻³ of the glucosinolate together with 0.31, 1.56 and 3.13 mg cm⁻³ of the myrosinase, respectively, was added to the virus suspension of both pH 7 and pH 6. The effect, which was greater at pH 6, was most intense with sinalbin and glucobrassicin substrates.     

Systematics of Juniperus section Juniperus based on leaf essential oils and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs)

The composition of the leaf essential oils of all the species of Juniperus in sect. Juniperus (=sect. Oxycedrus) are reported and compared (J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. c. var. oblonga, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. o. subsp. badia, J. o. subsp. macrocarpa, J. o. subsp. transtagana, J. rigida, J. r. subsp. conferta, J. sibirica, J. taxifolia and J. t. var. lutchuensis). In addition, DNA fingerprinting by RAPDs was utilized. Based on these data, several taxa remained at the same taxonomic level: J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. rigida, J. r. var. conferta, and J. taxifolia. However, several taxa exhibited considerable differentiation that warranted their recognition at the specific level: J. oblonga M.-Bieb. (=J. communis var. oblonga), J. badia H. Gay (=J. oxycedrus subsp. badia), J. macrocarpa Sibth. and Sm. (=J. oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa), J. navicularis Gand. (=J. oxycedrus subsp. transtagana), J. sibirica Brugsd. (=J. communis var. saxatilis in part), and J. lutchuensis Koidz. (= J. taxifolia var. lutchuensis).     

芥菜型和甘蓝型油菜及其杂种后代种子硫甙组成差异的研究

用高效液相色谱技术分析了芥菜型油菜（Ｂｒａｓｓｉｃａ ｊｕｎｃｅａ）和甘蓝型油菜（Ｂｒａｓｓｉｃａ ｎａｐｕｓ）种间杂种后代及共亲本的硫甙组成。结果表明,与亲本农艺性状相似的后代,那么其硫甙组成与亲本亦相似。各后代中硫甙组成与亲本相比,虽发生了不同管理的变化,但都有倾向母体的趋势。芥菜型油菜烯丙基硫甙含量,２－羟基－３－丁烯基硫甙含量低,而甘蓝型油菜２－羟基３－丁烯基硫甙含量高,烯丙基硫甙含量最低     

Flavonol glycosides from Asplenium foreziense and its five related taxa and A. incisum

The flavonoids of Asplenium foreziense, A. fontanum subsp. fontanum and subsp. pseudofontanum, A. obovatum subsp. obovatum var. obovatum and var. protobillotii, A. obovatum subsp. lanceolatum, and A. incisum were isolated and identified for chemotaxonomic survey. A major constituent of all taxa was kaempferol 3-O-gentiobioside. As minor compounds, kaempferol 3,7-O-glycoside and/or kaempferol 3-O-glycoside were found in A. fontanum, A. obovatum and A. foreziense, and kaempferol 3-O-gentiobioside-4'-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside and quercetin 3-O-diglucoside in A. incisum. It was suggested that A. foreziense, A. fontanum including subsp. pseudofontanum and A. obovatum including subsp. lanceolatum are not only morphologically but also chemotaxonomically related. The East Asian A. incisum was chemically and geographically different from these taxa.     

Variation patterns within the genusCarex L. sect.Digitatae (Fries) Christ in Bulgaria

Seventeen natural Bulgarian populations of the species of the genusCarex sect.Digitatae were studied morphologically and karyologically. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used as a multivariate test for the separation of groups of populations from different taxa and to find a subset of characters contributing most for this separation. The following taxa were found in Bulgaria:C. humilis Leysser var.humilis; C. humilis var.longifolia Stoeva etPopova, var. n.;C. digitata L.;C. ornithopoda Willd. subsp.bulgarica (Vel.) Stoeva etPopova, comb. n. Aneuploid series of some chromosome numbers were found inC. digitata — 2n=48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and inC. ornithopoda subsp.bulgarica?2n=52, 53, 54, 56.C. humilis has 2n=36 and a much more heterogeneous karyotype than that of the above taxa. The values of the Euclidean distance between the populations vary within similar limits in both speciesC. humilis andC. digitata; this is not in accordance with the karyological results. The within and between population morphological variations were compared in each species. The first dominates in overall variation, which is probably connected with the very large populations and their mosaic space structure.     

Meiotic configuration and chromosome number in some Iranian species of Ely mus L. and Agropyron Gaertner (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Chromosome numbers and analyses of meiotic metaphase I are reported for the following taxa: Agropyron cristatum subsp. incanum (2 n = 42), A. cristatum subsp. pecttnatum (2 n =28 – 33), Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus (2 n = 69, 70), E. hispidus var. hispidus (2 n = 41 43), var. podperae (2 n = 42) and var. villosus (2 n = 41, 42), E. libanoticus (2 n = 14), E. pertenuis (2 n = 28, 28+1B), E. repens (2 n = 42), E. transhyrcanus (2 n = 40–42), E. hispidus var. villosus x E. cf. repens (2 n = 42). Chromosome numbers only are reported for the following taxa: E. gentri (2 n = 41, 42), E. nodosus subsp. dorudicus (2 n = 28), and E. elongatiformis (2 n = 56, 57). The haploid genomic constitution SP is reported for Elymus pertenuis. Variable chromosome numbers (2 n = 28–32) were observed in the meiotic metaphase I within single anthers of Agropyron cristatum subsp. pectinatum , and the supernumerary chromosomes in this taxon are assumed to have originated from crosses with hexaploids. Partial elimination of these supernumerary chromosomes probably occurs during archesporial mitotic divisions or at an early stage in the meiotic cycle. A hybrid, morphologically intermediate between E. hispidus and E. repens , was obtained from a seed of E. hispidus collected in the field. The meiotic metaphase I configuration in this E. hispidus hybrid suggests that the pollen parent may itself be a hybrid or hybrid derivative of E. repens x E. hispidus.     

Taxonomic notes on European taxa of Crataegus (Rosaceae)

In connection with systematic study of European taxa of Crataegus (Rosaceae subfam. Maloideae) lectotypes are designated for Crataegus monogyna f. subdigyna and C. monogyna var. ronnigeri. C. microphylla subsp. malýana is described as a taxon new to science and a key to the recognised taxa of C. microphylla and of the closely related C. rhipidophylla is given.