On the Validity of the Genus Cochlidiosperma Reichenb. (Scrophulariaceae) as Supported by Additional Palynological Evidence

The pollen grains of Cochlidiosperma (Veronica) hederifolia and C. (Veronica) cymbalaria were examined under SEM and TEM. They differ vastly from those of all the others in Veronica (sensu Elenevskij, 1977, 1978). The taxonomic relationship between the group and the other Veronica spp. is discussed with respect to both gross morphology and pollen characters. Justification for the restoration of the genus as a valid taxon is argued and, finally, a number of new combinations are proposed. The group under consideration was sometimes treated as a separate genus but more often given different ranks in the genus Veronica, which has been a controversial group as to its concept and subdivision. No detail discussion has been made before on the relationship between the group and Veronica. Main purpose of the present mork is to examine pollen morphology and gross morphology of the group and to discussits relationship with Veronica.     

New combination in Veronica (Scrophulariaceae s.l.) based on morphological characters and the seed storage protein polymorphism

Veronica erciyasdagi (M. A. Fischer) C. Vural comb. & stat. nov., previously regarded as a variety, is proposed as a new combination, based on the morphological characters and seed storage protein polymorphism presented in this study. In addition, information about the ecology and conservation status of Veronica erciyasdagi was reported. This taxon is endemic to central Anatolia, Turkey and is critically endangered.     

Iridoid glucosides of Paederota lutea and the relationships between Paederota and Veronica

In a chemical investigation of the water soluble compounds in Paederota lutea eight known iridoids were isolated together with a new one with a 8,9-double bond, namely paederotoside (10-O-benzoyl-6'-O-alpha-arabino(1-->6)-beta-glucopyranosyl arborescosidic acid) and the 6-hydroxy-flavone glucoside 4'-O-methylscutellarein 7-O-beta-glucopyranoside. The known iridoid glucosides were 8-epiloganic acid, gardoside, aucubin, catalpol and the 6-O-esters of catalpol: veronicoside, catalposide, amphicoside and verproside. The compounds isolated show that Paederota has a glycoside content almost identical to that of a general Veronica species, and this is in good agreement with the results from recent investigations of the phylogeny of Veronica and its closest relatives, where Paederota is placed as a sister-group next to Veronica. In an analysis of the iridoid glucosides from some of these relatives, it is shown that Veronica, Paederota, Picrorhiza and Veronicastrum are all characterized by containing 6-O-esters of catalpol. Some less closely related taxa namely: Lagotis, Wulfenia, Plantago, Aragoa and Globularia instead contain 10-O-esters of catalpol or aucubin.     

Palynological study of Veronica Sect. Veronica and Sect. Veronicastrum (Scrophulariaceae) and its taxonomic significance

Pollen grains from 30 taxa, mainly from the Western Mediterranean area belonging to the perennial sections of the genus Veronica (Scrophulariaceae), were studied by LM and SEM. A close relationship was found between pollen size and ploidy level. Palynological characters cannot be regarded as essential taxonomic tools within the groups studied, although they have systematic value in some specific cases. The monophyly of Veronica subsect. Multiflorae is supported by a common and exclusive sculpture of exine. Delimitation of the genus is discussed and hypothetical evolutionary trends concerning pollen characters are addressed.     

Flavonoid profiles in the Heliohebe group of New Zealand Veronica (Plantaginaceae)

The Heliohebe group of Veronica (sect. Hebe) consists of five species occurring in the South Island of New Zealand. These species and a hybrid were analysed for their flavonoids. Five flavone glycosides were isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy and three additional glycosides were detected by LC–UV–MS. Luteolin 7-O-, 3′-O- and 4′-O-glucosides and apigenin 7-O-glucoside were present in all six taxa investigated, 6-hydroxyluteolin glycosides were found in five and a luteolin caffeoylglycoside in four taxa, while a hypolaetin 7-O-glycoside was detected only in Veronica pentasepala. The 3′-O- and 4′-O-glucosides of luteolin are also common in other species of Veronica sect. Hebe (restricted to the Southern Hemisphere), but are rare in Northern Hemisphere species of Veronica and thus act as good chemotaxonomic markers for the section. The relatively simple flavonoid profiles found in the Heliohebe group are plesiomorphic and consistent with the group's status as sister to the Hebe clade. Based on the detected flavonoids, two groups could be distinguished within the Heliohebe clade: (1) Veronica hulkeana, Veronica lavaudiana and Veronica raoulii, characterised by luteolin caffeoylglycoside, and (2) V. pentasepala and Veronica scrupea, where this compound is replaced by a 6-hydroxyluteolin dihexoside.     

Hygrochastic capsule dehiscence in New Zealand alpine Veronica (Plantaginaceae)

? Premise of the study: Plant movement is more widespread than often recognized, involving different organs and mechanisms. Hygrochasy (opening in response to moisture) is a capsule-opening movement that is widely believed to be predominantly a feature of plants of desert and arid zones, where it may protect against seed predators and harsh climatic conditions and restrict dispersal to favorable germination times and sites. However, recently it has been reported from a wider range of environments. This study demonstrates that hygrochasy is much more common than previously realized, extending the phenomenon to plants of alpine habitats. ? Methods: Capsules of 23 species of New Zealand Veronica were collected, and we used light microscopy to investigate the anatomy and biomechanics responsible for the opening mechanism. Additionally, we collected morphological data to identify common traits of hygrochastic species. ? Key results: Hygrochastic capsule dehiscence was found in 10 alpine Veronica species. The opening mechanism is based on an antagonistic reaction between a nonlignified swelling tissue and a lignified resistance tissue. In Veronica, hygrochasy is associated with erect, narrowly angustiseptate capsules on short peduncles of creeping subshrubs or cushion plants. ? Conclusion: Hygrochasy is a common dehiscence type in New Zealand alpine Veronica, and for the first time, this mechanism is described in detail for plants in alpine habitats. We propose that hygrochasy provides an effective seed dispersal mechanism in solitary capsules embedded in cushion plants and may restrict dispersal within habitat patches.     

Veronica longipedicellata (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Iran

Veronica longipedicellata is described and illustrated as a new species from an alpine area in north of Iran. The new species is compared with its allies and a close relationship is suggested with V. siaretensis.     

Iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides in the New Zealand sun hebes (Veronica; Plantaginaceae)

The sun hebes are a small clade of New Zealand Veronica formerly classified as Heliohebe. The water-soluble compounds of Veronica pentasepala, Veronica raoulii and Veronica hulkeana were studied and 30 compounds including 15 iridoid glucosides, 12 phenylethanoid glycosides, the acetophenone glucoside pungenin, the mannitol ester hebitol II and mannitol were isolated. Of these, five were previously unknown in the literature: dihydroverminoside and 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-α-truxillic acid 6-O-catalpyl diester, named heliosepaloside, as well as three phenylethanoid glycoside esters heliosides D, E and F, all derivatives of aragoside. The esters of cinnamic acid derivatives with iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides and an unusually high concentration of verminoside were found to be the most distinctive chemotaxonomic characters of the sun hebes. The chemical profiles of the species were compared and used to assess the phylogenetic relationships in the group.     

Chemotaxonomy of Veroniceae and its allies in the Plantaginaceae

In a chemosystematic investigation of tribe Veroniceae (Plantaginaceae), representatives of Camptoloma, Sibthorpia, Veronica subg. Pentasepalae and subg. Hebe, Veronicastrum, Wulfenia, and the related Ellisiophyllum and Globularia were examined for non-flavonoid glycosides. From the 14 species studied, 28 different iridoid glucosides and 10 caffeoyl phenylethanoid glucosides (CPGs), as well as salidroside and arbutin were isolated and characterized by NMR; of these, five compounds were previously unknown. It was found that the representatives of Veroniceae, as well as Globularia, were characterized by mannitol, aucubin, catalpol and catalpol esters. Each of the three studied species of Veronica subg. Hebe contained at least one of the 6-O-catalpol esters typical for Veronica s. str. (verminoside), supporting the inclusion of Hebe in Veronica. However, their main constituents were esters of 6-O-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol; a CPG, hebeoside (2'-beta-xylopyranosyl-verbascoside) was isolated from V. (Hebe) salicifolia. The two species of Veronicastrum also contained 6-O-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol esters, including the previously unknown 2',3'- and 3',4'-dicinnamoyl derivatives and, in contrast to the earlier reports, they lacked 6-O-catalpol esters. The main iridoid constituents in the three investigated species of Wulfenia were 10-O-aucubin and 10-O-catalpol esters (isoscrophularioside or globularin) while baldaccioside (10-O-cinnamoyl asystasioside E) was isolated from W. baldaccii. Globularia vulgaris contained 10-O-catalpol esters (e.g., globularin) and, in addition, asperuloside together with its benzoyl analogue named besperuloside. The representatives of Sibthorpia and Ellisiophyllum were almost completely devoid of iridoids; this, however, together with the CPGs present implied a close relationship between the two genera. Camptoloma lyperiiflorum lacked hexitols but contained esters of 6-O-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol different from those found in Veroniceae but known from Buddleja, Scrophularia and Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae s. str.).     

New combination in Veronica （Scrophulariaceae s.l.） based on morphological characters and the seed storage protein polymorphism

Veronica erciyasdagi （M. A. Fischer） C. Vural comb. ＆ stat. nov., previously regarded as a variety, is proposed as a new combination, based on the morphological characters and seed storage protein polymorphism presented in this study. In addition, information about the ecology and conservation status of Veronica erciyasdagi was reported. This taxon is endemic to central Anatolia, Turkey and is critically endangered.     

Morphological and anatomical studies on fruits of Veronica from south-west Spain

Following examination by scanning electron and light microscope of the fruit features of 12 species of Veronica from south-west Spain, morphological and anatomical studies revealed that these taxa can be differentiated on the basis of these features. Phenetic analysis with 28 characters additionally revealed several groups of species in Veronica to be closely related on the basis of their seed morphology. A key distinguishing the different taxa is provided. Finally, dehiscence mechanisms are briefly discussed.     

Über zwei diploide,in Südwest-Anatolien endemische Arten aus dem Komplex derVeronica cymbalaria (Scrophulariaceae)

Veronica lycica Lehm. is a distinct, diploid member of theVeronica cymbalaria group, endemic in Lycia (S.W. Anatolia). Closely related is the newV. stamatiadae M. Fischer etW. Greuter which is also diploid and seems to be restricted to the small Greek island Ro close to the South coast of Lycia. The chromosome numbers for both species are reported for the first time (2n = 18).

Untersuchungen über den PolyploidkomplexVeronica cymbalaria agg., II. — Der erste Beitrag dieser Serie:Fischer (1975).     

我国境内常春藤叶婆婆纳染色体计数及其生态学意义

常春藤叶婆婆纳 ( Veronica hederaefolia L.)是地中海周缘国家的重要农田杂草 ,近期由境外传入我国江苏、浙江地区。对该种的染色体计数表明 ,我国境内的这一新外来杂草染色体数目从 1 8、36、54、32和 2 2均有 ,分别占总计数的 2 3.91 %、1 .0 9%、2 .1 7%、69.57%和 3.2 6%。新传入我国境内的常春藤叶婆婆纳是一种具有潜在危害的农田杂草。     

A new species of Veronica L. (Scrophulariaceae) in the Cantabrian Range (Spain)

A new species of Veronica vadiniense in section Veronica is described from material from the Cantabrian Range, in the north-east of the province of León (north-west Spain). Several morphological characters related to stems, leaves, racemes, flowers and capsules are given, and also those related to the indumentum of different parts of the plant, especially calyx lobes and capsule. Indications about distribution and habitat with reference to bioclimatic, biogeographical and phytosociological aspects are provided. Diagnostic features are also given to enable comparison with the most similar species, Veronica officinalis and V. allionii , particularly in the indumentum and consistency of leaves, and in the indumentum and shape of the capsule.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 119–124.     

The Monomolecular and Rectangular Hyperbola as Empirical Models of the Response of Photosynthetic Rate to Photon Flux Density, with Applications to Three Veronica Species

The properties of the rectangular hyperbola and monomolecularfunctions, with respect to the photosynthesis/photon flux density(PFD) relationship, are discussed, and the shortcomings of theformer are highlighted. Both models were fitted to data acquiredfrom three closely related Veronica species of contrasting ecology.The non-linear regression algorithms give estimates, with standarderrors, of light saturated photosynthetic rate, light compensationpoint, dark respiration rate, and photochemical efficiency atlow PFD. While the rectangular hyperbola gave almost as gooda fit to the data as the monomolecular for each species, thelight saturated photosynthetic rate estimate given by the formerwas always unacceptably high in comparison with that indicatedby the obvious trend of the data. Moreover, this tendency wasaccentuated if near-saturating PFDs were removed from data sets,and there was a tendency for the fitting algorithm to becomeunstable. No such problems were encountered with the monomolecularfunction, and it is suggested that this be used whenever a simpleempirical model is required to analyze photosynthesis/PFD data. Veronica montana L, Veronica chamaedrys L, Veronica officinalis L, wood speedwell, Germander speedwell, common speedwell, empirical mathematical model, monomolecular function, rectangular hyperbola function, nonlinear regression, photosynthesis, photon flux density, light saturated photosynthetic rate, light compensation point, photochemical efficiency, dark respiration rate     

A new species of Veronica (Scrophulariaceae) from Iran

Veronica daranica , a perennial herb growing in alpine regions of central Iran, is described and illustrated. The systematic position of this species and its closet relatives are discussed.     

Chemical markers in Veronica sect. Hebe. II

In a continued chemosystematic investigation of the water-soluble compounds in Veronica sect. Hebe, four additional species were investigated. In comparison to other, Northern Hemisphere (NH) species of Veronica, those belonging to the New Zealand species in sect. Hebe are apparently more variable in chemical content. In addition to the compounds characteristic for NH Veronica, namely mannitol, aucubin, catalpol and 6-O-esters of catalpol as well as some caffeoyl phenylethanoid glucosides (CGPs), Veronica topiaria (syn. Hebe topiaria) also gave an unusual 6-O-ester of aucubin named topiarioside. The former Hebe species Veronica cupressoides and Veronica stenophylla each provided one of the two previously undescribed disaccharide esters named hebitol I and II, respectively, and the former plant also provided a CPG named cuproside, a 6-O-β-glucopyranosyl derivative of the known hebeoside. The last species, namely Veronica hulkeana (syn. Heliohebe hulkeana) only contained compounds common to other species of Veronica. The taxonomic results are discussed and it is concluded that carbohydrate esters are common in sect. Hebe. The data so far obtained indicate that the occurrences of esters of 6-O-rhamnopyranosylcatalpol are confined to the most derived species in the section.