Molecular evidence for the inclusion of the Korean endemic genus “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinosophora</Emphasis>” in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sophora</Emphasis> (Fabaceae), and embryological features of the genus

Although Echinosophora Nakai has been known as a monotypic and endemic genus of Papillionoideae of Fabaceae in Korea, it has been controversial whether it is distinct from or merged with Sophora. To resolve this matter, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequence data from the plastid rbcL gene and trnL (UAA) intron. Parsimony analysis, using a total of 53 taxa of the Papillionoideae (including E. koreensis [Nakai] Nakai and several species of Sophora and related genera) and using 20 taxa of Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae as outgroups, showed that, although the examined species of Sophora are split into two clades, E. koreensis formed a common clade with S. tomentosa (the type species of the genus) and S. flavescens. E. koreensis therefore should be treated as S. koreensis Nakai, and the generic name Echinosophora be eliminated. We also investigated the embryology of S. koreensis (=E. koreensis) and S. flavescens and found that no differences existed between them. Our molecular study, like other studies, strongly suggested that Sophora is polyphyletic. In this study we presented a summary of embryological features of the core Sophora for future critical comparison with related and unrelated taxa.     

萱草响应非生物胁迫的研究进展

萱草是萱草属(Hemerocallis)多年生宿根花卉,被誉为中华母亲花,具有重要的观赏和药用价值。非生物胁迫导致光合效率降低,渗透调节物质浓度改变,活性氧(ROS)含量上升,膜系统持续受损,诱导AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding factors)、WRKY等家族基因的表达。该文综述了干旱、涝渍、盐碱、极端温度和重金属胁迫非生物胁迫因子对萱草形态学、生理生化及分子水平的影响,统计了各胁迫下的萱草抗性品种资源,认为地域与胁迫对萱草药用成分代谢变化的影响、抗逆相关基因调控网络与多种胁迫复合分子育种为未来的重点研究方向,为萱草资源开发利用与抗逆品种育种提供理论参考。     

Multivariate analyses of theScutellaria pekinensis complex (Labiatae) in Korea

The taxonomy of theScutellaria pekinensis complex has been ambiguous and problematic, because morphological characters are variable. To elucidate the taxonomic structure of the Korean taxa belonging to the complex, 29 characters were measured from 99 individuals collected from 96 localities and analyzed by factor analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis. The results supported the recognition of four infraspecific taxa ofS. pekinensis Maxim, in Korea: var.ussuriensis (Regel) Handel-Mazzetti, var.alpina (Nakai) Hara, var.transitra (Makino) Hara, and var.maxima S. Kim et S. Lee. Key characters distinguishing the four varieties were inferred on the basis of multivariante analyses.     

Bimodal distribution of flowering time in a natural hybrid population of daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) and nightlily (Hemerocallis citrina)

Time of flower anthesis in a day is thought to evolve in response to the time of pollinator activities. We studied blooming and withering time in natural populations of daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), nightlily (Hemerocallis citrina) and their hybrids, and also in an artificially obtained array of the F1 hybrids. Blooming time of H. fulva varied from 4:30 to 7:30 and H. citrina varied from 16:30 to 20:30. In a natural hybrid population, blooming time and withering time showed discontinuous bimodal distribution in spite that morphological traits of flowers showed continuous unimodal variation. Most F1 hybrids showed diurnal flowering. These findings indicate that only a few genes have strong phenotypic effect on the determination of flowering time in Hemerocallis, and suggest that the evolution from a H. fulva-like ancestor to H. citrina was not a continuous process by accumulation of minute mutations.     

Morphometric and Isozyme Analysis of the Genus Hosta (Liliaceae) in Korea

Abstract The hostas native to Korea have never been carefully reviewed taxonomically and their patterns of variability are not well understood. For morphological and electrophoretic studies, samples of rootstocks were taken from 45 Korean Hosta populations and from two populations of H. tsushimensis N. Fujita on Tsushima Island, Japan. For morphometric analysis, ten plants from each of twenty populations were grown and observed under greenhouse conditions. Fifty-one floral and vegetative characters were examined on each plant and the data were analyzed using principal components and cluster analysis. Six Korean species can be recognized: H. yingeri S. B. Jones (Taehuksan, Sohuksan, and Hong islands); H. capitata (Koidz.) Nakai (southern Korea); H. clausa Nakai (central and northern Korea); H. minor (Baker) Nakai (southeastern Korea including Wan and Kojae islands); H. venusta F. Maekawa (Cheju Island); and H. jonesii M. Chung (southern islands). Morphological features contributing to recognition of the natural groups were: ridges on the scape; the width of inner and outer floral lobes; bracts pappillous at apex; length and color of the bracts; length of inflorescences; the withering condition of the bracts; scabrous nerves on the lower leaf surface; and size of the leaves. Isozyme analyses indicate a recent origin of H. venusta from H. minor. Although hostas are easily hybridized, natural hybridization seems to be rare in Korea. The morphological and isozyme studies identified no hybrids and the species are well characterized by their distribution patterns, phenology, and habitats.     

Two new species of Myrsinaceae from French Guiana

Herbarium studies leading to a treatment of the Myrsinaceae for the Flora of Central French Guiana resulted in the discovery of two heretofore undescribed species,Cybianthus prevostiae andStylogyne incognita. The species are described and illustrated, and hypotheses regarding phylogenetic relationships with their respective congeners are provided.Cybianthus prevostiae is unusual among members ofCybianthus subgen.Weigeltia owing to its monoaxial habit and ellipsoid pistil, and deeply cupuliform calyx.Stylogyne incognita, a taxon often confused withS. micrantha, is most closely related toS. sordida but is separated from it by the corymbose inflorescence, entire leaves, longer petioles, and membranaceous perianth.     

Taxonomic reappraisal on<Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda australis</Emphasis> (Chenopodiaceae) in korea based on the morphological and molecular characteristics

We used morphological and molecular characteristics to perform a taxonomic reappraisal ofSuaeda australis (Brown) Moquin-Tandon from Korea. Populations of this species are dispersed at the bottoms of sand zones, and usually exhibit a depressed habit. Except for their total heights and leaf lengths, the morphology of these plants does not differ from that ofS. maritima. Molecular traits were examined based on ITS and psbB-psbH spacer region sequences. The former region included ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2, which were 629 nucleotide bases long. Pair-wise distances (p-distance) among KoreanSuaeda species ranged from 1.12 to 17.84. The psbB-psbH spacer region sequences were 618 nucleotide bases long, and were conserved in the alignment of KoreanSuaeda species. In our ML and MrBayesian analysis of ITS sequences aligned with other sequences from GenBank, the plants of KoreanSuaeda made three clades: 1)S. japonica;S. australis, andS. maritima;2)S. malacosperma; and 3) S.glauca. However, the psbB-psbH region sequences could not be resolved amongS. japonica, S. maritima, andS. australis from Korea. Molecular and vegetative characteristics indicated that the plants now classified asS. australis from Korea should instead be named as S.maritima (L.) Dumont.     

Persicaria changhuaensis sp. nov. (Polygonaceae) from northwestern Zhejiang,China

Persicaria changhuaensis sp. nov., belonging to P. sect. Echinocaulon (Polygonaceae), from Zhejiang, eastern China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to P. senticosa (Meisn.) H. Gross ex Nakai and P. sagittata (L.) H. Gross ex Nakai var. sieboldii (Meisn.) Nakai, but differs from the former in having an ocrea without a reniform‐orbicular wing at apex, pubescent peduncle, triangular bracteoles, white perianth, and stamens exserted from the perianth. Compared to P. sagittata var. sieboldii, it differs in having the leaf blade triangular‐hastate, sparsely retrorsely‐prickled on abaxial veins, sparsely ciliate at the margin, pubescent peduncle, triangular bracteoles, and stamens exserted from the perianth.     

中国大陆天麻属(兰科)一新记录种——乌来天麻

该文报道了在广西七冲国家级自然保护区发现的中国大陆兰科(Orchidaceae)天麻属(Gastrodia R. Brown)一新记录种——乌来天麻(G. uraiensis T. C. Hsu & C. M. Kuo)。乌来天麻形态较近似于春天麻(G. fontinalis T. P. Lin),但乌来天麻的花序、花被筒较短,唇盘中部具4条纵向脊,脊向舌状先端延伸、合并成更高的2条,易与春天麻相区别。同时,还描述了新记录种的形态特征,提供了彩色图版,并讨论了此次新发现的生物地理学意义。     

Molecular reexamination of korean umbelliferae based on internal transcribed spacer sequences of rDNA:Ligusticum tenuissimum (Nakai) Kitagawa andLibanotis coreana (Wolff) kitagawa

The taxonomic status ofLigusticum tenuissimum (Nakai) Kitagawa andLibanotis coreana (Wolff) Kitagawa has been controversial in Korea. We examined their phylogenetic relationships by comparing the internal transcribed spacer (=ITS) sequences of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (=rDNA) with another seven species in the Korean Umbelliferae. Our results support the legitimacy of the nomenclatural combination withL. tenuissimum Kitagawa rather than withAngelica tenuissima Nakai. We also suggest usingL coreana (Wolff) Kitagawa instead ofSeseli coreanum Wolff becauseL. coreana has been completely separated from most taxa of the genusSeseli. In addition, we have confirmed at least three phylogenetic lines in the genusLigusticum. One is the core group ofLigusticum that comprisesL tenuissimum and four other species. This clade includes theLigusticum hultenii line andLigusticum scothicum, known as an anomaly ofLigusticum. The second clade is composed ofLigusticum physospermifolium withSeseli monatum, which indicates the polyphyly ofLigusticum. The third line isLigusticum acutilobum, clustered as a sister grade ofDystaenia.     

Intergeneric relationships ofLolium,Festuca, andVulpia (Poaceae) and their phylogeny

Morphological and seed protein analyses of 26 species of the generaLolium, Festuca andVulpia confirmed their close systematic affinities. Six inflorescence characters readily differentiatedFestuca fromLolium. Protein similarities betweenFestuca of sect.Bovinae and cross-pollinated species ofLolium, coupled with cytogenetic and crossability data, substantiate that they should be united into one genus.Vulpia had phenetic similarities with sect.Scariosae, Montanae andOvinae ofFestuca. Lolium, Festuca, andVulpia are most likely derived from a common ancestral form which was close toFestuca pratensis andLolium perenne.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Puccinia hemerocallidis, P. funkiae, and P. patriniae (Uredinales) inferred from ITS sequence data

Puccinia hemerocallidis and P. funkiae resemble each other morphologically; however, they are biologically and taxonomically distinct, with telia of the former being restricted to species of Hemerocallis and the latter to Hosta species. However, both fungi share a macrocyclic and heteroecious life cycle with Patrinia villosa as the spermogonial and aecial host. An additional microcyclic rust fungus, P. patriniae, is also known on P. villosa. This microcyclic fungus is similar to the two macrocyclic fungi in its telial structure and teliospore morphology. These similarities in morphology and host relationships suggest the three fungi may also share a close evolutionary relationship. To determine the phylogenetic relationships of the three species, a portion of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat encoding the ITS and 5.8S subunit regions was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and analyzed. The resulting phylogenetic trees showed that P. hemerocallidis and P. funkiae share a recent common ancestor and that P. patriniae is closely allied with P. hemerocallidis. The results suggest a possible evolutionary derivation of microcyclic P. patriniae from macrocyclic heteroecious P. hemerocallidis, which fits the evolutionary interpretation of correlated species known as Tranzschel's law.     

Basic principles of terminal flower formation

Studies of inflorescences of the mutants bractea and terminal flower1 and double mutant bra tfl1 of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. have shown that the presence of a developed leaf in the node preceding the terminal flower is a necessary condition for the formation of the terminal flower perianth. This means that perianth cannot develop in an abracteose inflorescence of terminal flower. The second necessary condition for the terminal flower formation is a sufficient level of expression of the genes responsible for floral morphogenesis. Combination of these two conditions suffices for the development of a terminal flower with perianth. Since the general principles of organization are common for the majority of Angiosperms, it can be stated that if the abracteose inflorescence is terminated by a flower with perianth, this is a consequence of displacement of the lateral flower into the terminal position.__________Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005, pp. 90–95.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Penin, Choob, Ezhova.     

The branching of the inflorescence and vegetative shoot and taxonomy of the genusKummerowia (Leguminosae)

A study of the branching of the inflorescence and the vegetative shoot of the genusKummerowia, consisting ofK. stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino andK. striata (Thunb.) Schindler, has led to the following conclusions: (1) the inflorescences of both species are reduced compound cymes, (2) the branching system of the inflorescence ofKummerowia is not clearly different from that of the vegetative shoot and there are some transitional forms between both systems, and (3) the inflorescence ofKummerowia is different from the racemose inflorescences ofLespedeza andCampylotropis. Based on the differences found in the branching system of the inflorescence,Kummerowia is distinctly separated fromLespedeza andCampylotropis and is more correctly treated as a distinct genus from the latter two.     

Taxonomy of the bean goose-pink-footed goose

The bean goose Anser fabalis and the pink-footed goose A. brachyrhynchus breed in the tundra and taiga zones of Eurasia and eastern Greenland, and the taxonomy of the group based on morphology has been controversial. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships within the bean goose–the pink-footed goose complex using mitochondrial control region sequences of 199 individuals collected from the breeding areas in the Palaearctic and Eastern Nearctic. We found three mitochondrial clades geographically distributed to (1) Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard (A. brachyrhynchus), (2) the eastern taiga zone (former subspecies A. fabalis middendorffii), and (3) the western taiga and the tundra zone (subspecies A. fabalis rossicus, serrirostris and fabalis). MtDNA phylogeny suggests that morphological affinities between the taxa, e.g. in the bill structure, result from convergent evolution due to adaptation to similar habitats. Although a latitudinal cline in morphology was observed, clear phylogenetic discontinuities exist in the taiga and tundra zones supporting a species status for brachyrhynchus and middendorffii.     

Inflorescence patterns in the woody Brazilian genus Diplusodon (Lythraceae)

The Brazilian genus Diplusodon is the second largest genus within Lythraceae. Their 85 species occupy diverse habitats within the ‘cerrado’ vegetation, and range from shrubs and treelets to dwarf, xylopodium-bearing subshrubs. A comparative-morphological survey of their inflorescence structures using Trollian typology is here presented, as well as some evolutionary considerations drawn from mapping inflorescence characters onto a preliminary phylogeny. The inflorescences of Diplusodon are mostly polytelic, ranging from single racemes to more or less complex double-, triple-, and multiple-racemes. Frondose, compound racemes are plesiomorphic within the genus. Nevertheless, an array of derived features has been found among their species, including production of lateral cymes, proliferation of the main axis, diverse patterns of internode elongation, reduction of subtending leaves to bracts, development of accessory branches, paedomorphic flowering, and, in three species, reversion to monotely.     

Giemsa C-banded karyotypes ofAllium ericetorum andA. kermesinum (Alliaceae)

The widely distributedAllium ericetorum and the local endemic of the Steiner Alps (Slovenia),A. kermesinum, are two closely related species of sect.Rhizirideum, whose main distinguishing character is perianth colour. To obtain further evidence for species separation, karyotype morphology and C-banding patterns were examined in 10 populations. The chromosome number was 2n = 16. In some populations ofA. ericetorum a B-chromosome occurred. Arm and satellite lengths and C-banding patterns were subjected to cluster analysis. Three different karyotype classes were observed and described. Karyotypes did not clearly discriminate between plants with different colours of perianth segments and therefore did not provide evidence for a taxonomic separation ofA. ericetorum and A. kermesinum. There is polymorphism in number and patterns of C-bands within the populations. No correlation between B-chromosomes and particular banding patterns was observed.     

Taxonomic characterization of populations ofHyacinthoides sect.Somera (Hyacinthaceae) in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula

A classical morphological study ofHyacinthoides sect.Somera in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula revealed the new speciesH. paivae. It differs from the closely related speciesH. italica, H. hispanica, andH. mauritanica by vegetative and generative characters, such as leaf length, raceme shape, tepal length and width. It typically occurs in woodlands in the A Coruña province of NW Spain.     

Mycena auricoma,a new species ofMycena sectionRadiatae from Japan,andMycena spinosissima,a new record in Japan

Two lignicolous species ofMycena (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) are described and illustrated from eastern, Japan:Mycena auricoma sp. nov., forming ephemeral coprinoid basidiomata and belonging to sectionRadiatae, was found on a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata. It appears to close to a Malaysian species,“Trogia” crinipelliformis. Mycena spinosissima in sectionSacchariferae, new to Japan, was collected from dead bark ofAphananthe aspera, a dead fallen inflorescence ofCryptomeria japonica, and a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata.