A taxonomic clarification of Petrorhagia section Kohlrauschia (Caryophyllaceae)

A taxonomic clarification of Petrorhagia section Kohlrauschia (Caryophyllaceae). The morphology of the inflorescence bracts and seeds in Petrorhagia glumacea and the large-flowered form of P. 'prolifera' is reported together with observations on some artificially produced hybrids. Petorhagia glumacea and large-flowered p. 'prolifera' can be distinguished on the basis of bract and seed morphology. The taxonomic status of large-flowered P. 'prolifera' is recognized as P. obcordata. Two groups of intermediate, natural populations are described from the Peloponnese and it is suggested that they are of hybrid origin. The seeds of P. obcordata are polytypic and show a geographical distribution pattern. Seed morphology, which is the most useful diagnostic character for identification, is described in P. prolifera, P. velutina and the tetraploid P. nanteuilii.     

A revision of Arenaria section Plinthine (Caryophyllaceae)

GOYDER, D. J., 1987. A revision of Arenaria section Plinthine (Coryophyllaceae). The systematics of Arenaria section Plinthine are reviewed and a classification is presented, based on detailed field and herbarium studies. Members of the section are found on the mountains of SW Europe and N Africa. Seven taxa are recognized within five species: A. alfacarensis, A. tetraquetra subsp. tetraquetra, A. tetraquetra subsp. amabilis, A. armerina, A. aggregata subsp. aggregata, A. aggregata subsp. erinacea , and A. querioides. Arenaria armerina and A. aggregata subsp. erinacea are extremely polymorphic and include minor morphological variants which have been treated as separate species in previous systematic treatments of the group.     

A new taxon in the genusMoehringia (Caryophyllaceae)

The new taxonMoehringia intricata subsp.giennensis, from the calcareous mountains of the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula is described. A comparative morphological study with regard to the most closely related taxa, contributes information of leaf anatomy, seed and pollen morphology, ecology and distribution.     

A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Stapeliopsis (Apocynaceae)

A survey of morphological characters is carried out for Stapeliopsis . The information obtained from this is combined with molecular data from the plastid trn L-F DNA region and ITS1 of the nuclear encoded 18S−26S rRNA cistron, to obtain a hypothesis of the evolutionary relationships among the species. It is shown that Stapeliopsis is monophyletic in a combined molecular and morphological analysis. Stapeliopsis is sister to a clade containing Huernia , Orbea and Tromotriche . The species of Stapeliopsis group into two clades. One contains S. khamiesbergensis , S. neronis and S. urniflora , and this is highly supported. The remaining species fall into an unsupported clade in which S. exasperata is sister to the others. The genera Hermanschwartzia Plowes and Neopectinaria Plowes are rejected. It is shown that a synapomorphy for Stapeliopsis is the laterally flattened inner corona-lobes, which touch the anthers only at their bases. Eight species of Stapeliopsis are recognized, with no subgeneric divisions.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 125–155.     

A combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of Parthenocissus (Vitaceae) and taxonomic implications

Parthenocissus (the Virginia creeper genus, Vitaceae) consists of 13 species and shows a disjunct distribution between Asia and North America. We investigated the inflorescence structure, calyx morphology, appendages on the inner side of petals, leaf epidermis, pollen and seed characters throughout the genus. A combined phylogenetic analysis with 27 morphological and 4137 molecular characters was conducted and the result was largely congruent with that of the previous molecular work, but with higher resolution. The combined analysis identified two clades corresponding to the Asian and North American taxa. Parthenocissus feddei was resolved as closely related to the clade containing P. cuspidifera, P. heterophylla and P. semicordata. The four species share synapomorphies of having conspicuously raised veinlets, an obscurely five‐ (to eight‐) lobed calyx, appendages on the inner side of petals covering the entire length of anthers and foveolate pollen exine ornamentation. Within the Old World clade, the pentafoliolate species were weakly supported as more closely related to species with both simple and trifoliolate leaves. Furthermore, the ancestral states of tendril apices, inflorescence structure, appendages on the inner side of petals and exine ornamentation of pollen grains were reconstructed on the molecular strict consensus tree. The appendages on the inner side of petals and exine ornamentation of pollen grains were suggested to be important characters in the taxonomy of Parthenocissus, especially for species with trifoliolate leaves. Finally, the previous classifications of Parthenocissus were evaluated within the phylogenetic framework. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, ?? , ??–??.     

From seed to seedling: A critical transitional stage for the Mediterranean psammophilous species Dianthus morisianus (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

Seed germination, seedling emergence and seed persistence in the soil were investigated for Dianthus morisianus (Caryophyllaceae), a psammophilous endemic species of Sardinia. Stored and freshly collected seeds were incubated in a range of constant temperatures (5–25°C) and an alternating temperature regime (25/10°C). The effect of seed burial depth on seedling emergence was investigated under controlled environmental conditions. Seed persistence in the soil was verified by in situ experimental seed burials. Seeds of this species were non-dormant, and all seed lots germinated both in the light and darkness, mainly at low temperatures (≤20°C), with a maximum at 15°C (≥95%). Optimal seedling emergence was obtained when seeds were buried at a depth of 1–2 cm, and a declining emergence with increasing depth was observed. D. morisianus was also unable to form a persistent soil seed bank. The fate of the seeds that, after dispersal, do not emerge from the soil in the spring is, therefore, presumably to die before the next favourable growing season.     

Climate and clinal variation in seed morphology of the white campion, Silene latifolia (Caryophyllaceae)

Silene latifolia (white campion) is widespread in W Eurasia and shows clinal variation in seed morphology. Two extensive parapatric races, within which seed morphology changes gradually with geographic distance, are separated by a transition zone where the morphological gradient is steeper. A sample of seeds from across the species' native range was scored for morphological characters and analysed using detrended correspondence analysis ordination and multiple regression, in order to simplify mapping of the variation pattern and to investigate statistical relationships with climatic variables. The transition zone, as defined by ordination scores, follows the convolutions of the 0C isotherm for January mean temperature along its entire length from N Europe to the Middle East. January temperature proved to be a highly significant predictor of seed morphology even after the removal of simple spatial trends. Although the origins of comparable large-scale clines have often been interpreted in historical terms, the result reported here supports a role for climatic selection in maintaining the existing variation pattern.     

Seed provisioning in gynodioeciousSilene acaulis (Caryophyllaceae)

In gynodioecious species, which contain females and hermaphrodites, the outcrossed seeds of females have been found to outperform the outcrossed seeds of hermaphrodites, in spite of the fact that their seeds are not larger in mass. Females do not make pollen. Hence the nutrients that hermaphrodites allocate to pollen, such as nitrogen, might be allocated to seeds by the females, such that individual seeds from females are better provisioned than those from hermaphrodites. Alternatively, females might make more seeds, rather than better provisioned seeds. We tested the hypothesis that seeds from females would be better provisioned for the gynodioecious species Silene acaulis, by comparing seed mass, embryo/endosperm mass, nitrogen and phosphorus content, and energy content for outcrossed seeds from females and hermaphrodites produced in a natural population. We also measured the proportion of flowers that set fruit in both morphs. Seeds from the two sexual morphs were not found to differ significantly for any of the measures of seed provisioning, with seeds from females containing either nonsignificantly less or equivalent amounts of each of the measures as compared to hermaphrodites. However, females set a significantly higher proportion of their flowers to fruit, as compared to hermaphrodites. These results indicate that females do not provision individual seeds more than hermaphrodites in S. acaulis, and alternative hypotheses will need to be examined to explain the difference in the performance of the seeds from the two sexual morphs.     

A synopsis of the genusScleromitrula (=Verpatinia) (Ascomycotina: Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae)

The systematics ofScleromitrula andVerpatinia of the family Sclerotiniaceae is reevaluated on the basis of morphological, cultural and molecular criteria.Scleromitrula shiraiana, Verpatinia species andCiborinia candolleana share gross morphological, microanatomical and cultural features which clearly distinguish them from the closely relatedCiborinia andRutstroemia species. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, ITS2, and the 5.8S gene) of nuclear ribosomal DNA demonstrate that the stipitate-capitate specimens ofScleromitrula andVerpatinia species plus the stipitate-cupulateCiborinia candolleana constitute a monophyletic clade separate from a clade including the type species ofCiborinia. Scleromitrula is emended to includeS. shiraiana, the new speciesS. rubicola, C. candolleana, and specimens formerly assigned toVerpatinia. A key to the accepted species ofScleromitrula is provided.     

A taxonomic revision of Tectaria (Tectariaceae) from New Caledonia

A taxonomic revision of Tectaria from New Caledonia is presented here based on a thorough study of herbarium specimens from New Caledonia and adjacent Pacific islands. Six species of Tectaria are presently recognized in New Caledonia. Tectaria kouniensis and T. pseudosinuata are reduced to synonyms of T. dissecta and T. sinuata, respectively. The morphological limit between T. seemannii and T. sinuata and the confused specimen citations in previous accounts are clarified. Apart from T. dissecta, the other five species, i.e. T. lifuensis, T. moorei, T. seemannii, T. sinuata and T. vieillardii, are mainly distributed in New Caledonia, with only T. seemannii and T. sinuata recently reported also from Vanuatu. A key to species, typification of accepted names and relevant synonyms, and brief comments on the relationships of species are provided.     

A revision of Calvoa Hook. f. (Melastomataceae)

A revision of the genus Calvoa Hook. f. (Melastomataceae) is presented. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Cluster Analyses (UPGMA) were performed to elucidate three cases of difficult species delimitation and infraspecific variation, with the following results. (1) The separation between C. crassinoda Hook. f. and C. grandifolia Cogn. was clear in the results obtained with both methods. (2) The group of the West-Central African species Calvoa angolensis A. Fern. & R. Fern., C. calliantha Jacq.-Fél., C. monticola A. Chev., C. pulcherrima Gilg ex Engl., C. sapinii De Wild., C. seretii De Wild., C. sinuata Hook. f. and C. subquinquenervia De Wild, proved difficult to resolve with either analysis, but the Cluster Analysis produced results which are more consistent with the identification of the specimens. (3) Neither of the two analyses supported the recognition of infraspecific categories in Calvoa orientalis Taub. Eighteen species are recognized in the genus. The new species Calvoa Jacques-felixii E. Figueiredo is described and the new combination Calvoa seretii subsp. wildemaniana (Exell) E. Figueiredo is made. Four lectotypes are designated. The conservation status of some taxa is discussed. Six species are considered rare and possibly under threat.     

中国实蕨属的分类修订

对实蕨属Bolbitis的17种植物的孢子进行了扫描电镜观察。根据孢子周壁特征,中国产实蕨属的孢子明显可分为3种类型：A型孢子具网状周壁,B型孢子具鸡冠状-波状周壁,C型孢子具平滑的波状周壁。孢子周壁特征、叶脉式样和叶片顶部的形态是实蕨属中最有价值的分类学性状。根据标本检查,结合野外调查和孢子形态观察,对中国产实蕨属的分类进行了修订,确定中国有实蕨属植物20种和3杂交种,其中包括2个新组合B. fengiana (Ching) S. Y. Dong和B. medogensis (Ching &; S. K. Wu) S. Y. Dong,以及2个中国新分布B. costata Ching ex C. Chr.和B. hookeriana K. Iwats.。将B. latipinna Ching、B. media Ching &; Chu H. Wang、B. yunnanensis Ching、Egenolfia crassifolia Ching、E. crenata Ching &; P. S. Chiu、E. fengiana Ching、E. medogensis Ching &; S. K. Wu和E. ×yunnanensis Ching &; P. S. Chiu等8个名称处理为新异名。文中给出了分种检索表、每个种的生境和分布资料、大多数种的特征集要和孢子扫描电镜照片。     

Minuartia graminifolia (Caryophyllaceae), a south-east European species

A re-evaluation of Minuartia graminifolia has been undertaken based on comparative morphological studies. M. graminifolia subsp. rosani (an endemic of the south-central Apennines and Sicily) and subsp. hungarica (an endemic of the Banat region of Romania) are accepted infraspecific taxa. M. graminifolia subsp. hungarica is lectotypified. M. graminifolia subsp. clandestina is confirmed for Italy; the taxon is neotypified. The type subspecies is considered an endemic to the east-central Alps. Keys to the species of Minuartia ser. Graminifoliae and to the subspecies of M. graminifolia are provided.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 419–432.     

Ontogeny of the mycoheterotrophic species Afrothismia hydra (Burmanniaceae)

The complete ontogeny of the mycoheterotrophic Afrothismia hydra (Burmanniaceae) from seed to seed dispersal is presented. The oblong–ovoidal seeds are up to 0.7 mm long. They germinate with root tissue only, disrupting the seed coat and developing a primary ovoid root tubercle. At the proximal end of the tubercle, a second tubercle arises and further root initials indicate the sequential growth of more root tubercles with filiform extensions resulting in a small root aggregate. The seed coat often remains attached to this structure. When the root aggregate enlarges, a central axis to which all roots are connected becomes visible. This axis has a growth pole where new root tubercles arise. The same growth pole will later develop into a stem with scale leaves finally terminating in a flower. Flowers develop sympodially when the mature plant is only several centimetres long. After anthesis, the corolla tube disintegrates, leaving a pyxidium which opens by means of a peculiar elongating placenta, here called 'placentophore'. The placentophore elevates the placenta with attached seeds above the flowering level and is interpreted as an adaptation to ombrohydrochory. The reduction of hypocotyl, cotyledon and primary shoot is discussed with regard to the classical germination concepts of monocotyledons and with mycoheterotrophic dicotyledons.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 31–36.     

From pollination byLepidoptera to selfing: The case ofDianthus glacialis (Caryophyllaceae)

Pollination of the alpine herbDianthus glacialis was studied in a population in the Swiss Alps in 1991 and 1992. Only one insect species,Zygaena exulans (Lepidoptera), was observed to visit the flowers ofD. glacialis. Pollen loads onZ. exulans indicate that it is an effective pollinator ofD. glacialis. In 1991,Z. exulans frequently visited flowers ofD. glacialis. However, in 1992 almost no visits could be observed. Despite the occurrence of pollinators and the conspicuous flowers ofD. glacialis, there are strong indications that this plant is mainly selfing: (1) anthesis of individual flowers is short (c. one and a half days), (2) protandry, although pronounced in otherDianthus spp., is absent, (3) nectar production is low, (4) odour production is weak, (5) seed production by spontaneous selfing is high, (6) seed set in emasculated flowers is extremely low and (7) the seed/ovule ratio is distinctly higher inD. glacialis than in outcrossing plants.—Selfing inD. glacialis could have evolved under a shortage of pollinators during the glaciation periods. Present levels of cross-pollination byZ. exulans have apparently not been sufficient to reverse the pollination mechanism ofD. glacialis from selfing to outcrossing.     

Presence and behaviour of B-chromosomes in Acanthophyllum laxiusculum (Caryophyllaceae)

Two karyotypic variants were recognized in populations of Acanthophyllum laxiusculum Schiman-Czeika. Variant A had 2N = 30 and variant B showed the presence of 0 to 3 B-chromosomes in addition to 2N = 30 chromosomes. Analysis of chromosome behaviour at meiosis showed that the presence of B-chromosomes increases chiasma frequency in A-chromosomes; this effect was higher for plants with odd numbers of B-chromosomes compared with plants with even numbers of B-chromosomes. Comparisons of variants A and B, suggests that B-chromosomes have an effect pollen stainability and seed production. It seems that the presence of B-chromosomes may increase pollen stainability and seed production in variant B.