Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

BRUYNS, P. V.; NOWELL, T. L.; HEDDERSON, T. A. J.

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00398.xpmid: N/A

AbstractA survey of morphological characters is carried out for Stapeliopsis. The information obtained from this is combined with molecular data from the plastid trnL-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.

DE MELLO-SILVA, RENATO

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00399.xpmid: N/A

AbstractA morphological (non-molecular) cladistic analysis of the Velloziaceae is presented. The terminal taxa are 47 species of Velloziaceae plus four taxa as outgroups: Acanthochlamys bracteata (Acanthochlamydaceae), Encholirium scrutor (Bromeliaceae), Thoracocarpus bissectus (Cyclanthaceae) and Pandanus racemosus (Pandanaceae). The species of Velloziaceae sampled represent a significant proportion of the morphological diversity of the family, including all recognized genera and sections. The analysis revealed two major groups within Velloziaceae, supported mainly by stomata, vascular bundles in the pedicel, aquiferous tissues, filaments, anthers, pollen, stigma, seeds, ploidy and chemical characters. Comparison between this and the previous phylogenetic hypotheses for Velloziaceae, together with the two conflicting current classifications, suggests that there is incompatibility concerning the support of current genera and sections. The only three groups supported in all phylogenies are Barbacenioideae sensu Menezes (=Barbacenia sensu Smith & Ayensu), Xerophyta sect. Barbacenioides and Xerophyta sect. Xerophyta sensu Smith & Ayensu.

JANG, CHANG-GEE; MÜLLNER, ALEXANDRA NORA; GREIMLER, JOSEF

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00406.xpmid: N/A

AbstractGenetics in European Gentianella Moench sect. Gentianella were investigated using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nrDNA, trnL-F cpDNA and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP) fingerprint data to analyse relationships within the section. Both a cladistic and a phenetic approach, as well as nonhierarchical analysis (PCA) and partitioning of molecular variance (AMOVA), were used. Sequence data did not resolve groups within the section. They reflected, however, geographical isolation between central European and eastern Carpathian (G. lutescens and G. bulgarica) as well as Caucasian samples (G. caucasea). AFLP data revealed a strong differentiation within G. germanica between populations of the Alps and north-western middle Europe, although there is hardly any morphological differentiation of taxonomic significance. Morphological similarities between G. aspera and G. pilosa were not reflected in genetics, and no support was found for G. aspera. Genetic similarities were not in line with morphology in G. lutescens and G. bulgarica. AFLP data only partly resolve relationships among taxa. High genetic similarities, as well as partitioning of molecular variance among taxa/populations of eastern middle Europe (G. austriaca, G. bohemica, G. germanica, G. stiriaca) and intermediate morphological characters in G. bohemica and G. stiriaca, might indicate reticulate evolution. The overall low sequence divergence within the section points to a very young origin of all taxa.

HASSAN, NASR M. S.; MEVE, ULRICH; LIEDE-SCHUMANN, SIGRID

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00407.xpmid: N/A

AbstractMacro- and micromorphological characters of the seeds of 32 species belonging to Aizoaceae (26 species), Gisekiaceae (one species) and Molluginaceae (five species) were analysed for their taxonomic value. Seed morphology is found to be of considerable taxonomic value within the taxa investigated, although additional criteria are usually necessary for distinguishing the species. However, a subgroup of Trianthema, consisting of T. cussackiana, T. megasperma, T. pilosa, T. rhynchocalyptra and T. oxycalyptra var. oxycalyptra (Aizoaceae) shares the synapomorphy of seeds with scattered idioblast cells (papillae). There is little infrageneric variation within Sesuvium and Zaleya in contrast to Trianthema, whose seeds are considerably polymorphic. The fairly different seed structures found in Aizoaceae s.s. and Molluginaceae support their treatment as two distinct families. However, the position of Lineum (Molluginaceae) remains uncertain. Moreover, seed characters support the independence of Gisekia (Gisekiaceae) in a family of its own.

GRABIELE, MAURO; DAVIÑA, JULIO R.; HONFI, ANA I.

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00401.xpmid: N/A

AbstractChromosome numbers, meiotic behaviour and karyotypes in 27 populations belonging to four species of Commelina L. from north-east Argentina and Paraguay have been studied. The basic number of chromosomes in all accessions is x = 15. For C. platyphylla Klotzsch ex Seub. (2n = 2x = 30) the chromosome number is reported for the first time. A new ploidy level (2n = 6x = 90) is presented for South American accessions of C. diffusa Burm. f. Commelina erecta L. and C. obliqua Vahl are tetraploids (2n = 4x = 60). Chromosomes behave regularly at meiosis and pair as bivalents in diploid and polyploid accessions. Chiasma frequency and distribution is reported for each species. The karyotype descriptions of C. platyphylla (18m + 12sm), C. obliqua (30m + 26sm + 4st) and hexaploid C. diffusa (38m + 44sm + 8st) are reported here for the first time. The data suggest an allopolyploid condition for tetraploids of C. erecta and C. obliqua.

CASTRO, MERCEDES; ROSSELLÓ, JOSEP A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00397.xpmid: N/A

AbstractMitotic chromosome numbers are reported from 20 vascular plant taxa that are endemic to the Balearic Islands and poorly known cytogenetically. The chromosome numbers of Arenaria grandiflora L. ssp. glabrescens (Willk.) G. López & Nieto Feliner (2n = 44), Dianthus rupicola Viv. ssp. bocchoriana L. Llorens & Gradaille (2n = 30), Solenopsis minuta (L.) C. Presl. ssp. balearica (E. Wimm.) Meikle (2n = 28), Romulea asumptionis Font Quer & Garcías Font (2n = 56), Scutellaria balearica Barceló (2n = 22) and Galium balearicum Briq. (2n = 22) have been determined for the first time. A new chromosome number was found in two populations of Helictotrichon crassifolium (Font Quer) Holub (2n = c. 98) suggesting that this species is a high polyploid (14x), in contrast to an earlier report of a lower chromosome count (2n = 12x = 84). Cytogenetic observations suggest that Naufraga balearica Constance & Cannon has a diploid chromosome complement of 2n = 20, with 0–2 accessory chromosomes. The banded karyotype (chromomycin A3) of Crepis triasii (Cambess.) Fries was determined for individuals belonging to eight populations from three islands. Two chromomycin A3-positive regions were recorded in the diploid complement. These are present on the telomeric regions of the shortest subtelocentric chromosomes. This species is karyologically stable in chromosome number, karyotype and fluorochrome-banding pattern among populations from separate islands.

SÁEZ, LLORENÇ; CRESPO, MANUEL B.

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00404.xpmid: N/A

AbstractA taxonomic revision of the Linaria verticillata group is presented here. Taxonomic, nomenclatural, morphological, geographical and ecological data are recorded for each taxon. Four taxa (one species with four subspecies) are recognized, and the status of some related taxa is discussed. In addition, some lectotypifications are made and a taxonomic key, descriptions and illustrations of all the accepted taxa are given. The following new combinations are proposed: L. verticillata ssp. anticaria (Boiss. & Reut.) L. Sáez & M.B. Crespo comb. & stat. nov., L. verticillata ssp. cuartanensis (Degen & Hervier) L. Sáez & M.B. Crespo, comb. nov., and L. verticillata ssp. lilacina (Lange) L. Sáez & M.B. Crespo, comb. & stat. nov.

DÖNMEZ, ALİ A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00392.xpmid: N/A

AbstractThe new species Crataegus yaltirikii Dönmez (Rosaceae) belonging to section Crataegus, series Orientales (Schn.) Pojark. is described from Turkey. The most prominent features of the species are the coriaceous nature of the leaves, widely cuneate leaf bases, wide basal leaf lobes, slightly oblong fruit, dark red fruit colour and the distinct neck of the calyx base. A description and illustration of the new species are given and its relationship to closely related species is discussed.