Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). XIII. Systematics of Miconia subcompressa, a Hispaniolan endemic comprised of three eco-geographic subspecies

The pattern of morphological variation in Miconia subcompressa, a species endemic to the mountains of southern Hispaniola, is assessed by a consideration of numerous herbarium specimens (many collected by the authors) and a phenetic (Principal Components) analysis of 14 vegetative characters, and morphological entities are compared with a phylogenetic hypothesis based on nrDNA-sequence variation (ITS, ETS) including several accessions of this species (from across its geographic and elevational range) as well as related species of Miconia sect. Chaenopleura, especially those of the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Our morphological data, incorporating recently collected herbarium material, indicate that the populations of M. subcompressa from the Monteada Nueva region (= Loma Trocha de Pey) are diagnosable morphologically from those of the Massif de la Selle and Massif de la Hotte, and these plants are described here as Miconia subcompressa subsp. beverlyana. Additionally, this study supports the recognition of the populations from moist pine forest/cloud forest habitats of the Massif de la Hotte, occurring mainly from 1450–2300 m, as M. subcompressa subsp. plumieri (= M. plumerii, sic). Finally, Miconia subcompressa may be paraphyletic, as preliminary molecular evidence suggests that M. xenotricha may have arisen within its phylogenetic structure.

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Taxonomic significance of vegetative and reproductive morphology in southern Africa Rhynchosia sect. Rhynchosia (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae)

Webbia ◽

10.36253/jopt-7965 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 51-67

Author(s):

Abdulwakeel Ayokun-nun Ajao ◽

Annah Ntsamaeeng Moteetee

Keyword(s):

Southern Africa ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Camera Lucida ◽

Reproductive Morphology ◽

Type Section ◽

Size Type ◽

Taxonomic Studies

Rhynchosia is the largest genus in the subtribe Cajaninae, tribe Phaseoleae. Due to the lack of a recent taxonomic revision in the genus, the species are poorly known and as a result, are difficult to identify. As part of our ongoing taxonomic studies on the genus in southern Africa, this paper presents a comparative study of vegetative and floral morphological variation in the 47 species currently recognised in the type section Rhynchosia in the region. This is with a view to provide useful diagnostic morphological characters that can be used to correctly identify species in the type section and in other sections. The study used morphological data from field observation, herbarium specimens, and literature. Stems, leaves, and floral structures were examined with a dissecting microscope. A stereoscope with a camera lucida attachment was used to draw the reproductive morphology. Although morphological characters seem to overlap between the sections, characters such as leaflets size, type of indumentum on leaflet surfaces, stipules shape, type and length of inflorescences, presence or absence of indumentum on standard petals, presence and absence of sculpturing on wing petals, as well as length of upper lobes of the calyx are useful in identifying species.

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A new genus of oryzomyine rodents (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) with three new species from montane cloud forests, western Andean cordillera of Colombia and Ecuador

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10247 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e10247

Author(s):

Jorge Brito ◽

Claudia Koch ◽

Alexandre R. Percequillo ◽

Nicolás Tinoco ◽

Marcelo Weksler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Montane Forest ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Cloud Forests ◽

Three New Species

The Andean cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador are home to several endemic mammals; members of the Oryzomyini, the largest Sigmodontinae tribe, are extensively represented in the region. However, our knowledge about this diversity is still incomplete, as evidenced by several new taxa that have been described in recent years. Extensive field work in two protected areas enclosing remnants of Chocó montane forest recovered a high diversity of small mammals. Among them, a medium-sized oryzomyine is here described as a new genus having at least three new species, two of them are named and diagnosed. Although externally similar to members of the genera Nephelomys and Tanyuromys, the new genus has a unique molar pattern within the tribe, being characterized by a noticeable degree of hypsodonty, simplification, lamination, and third molar compression. A phylogeny based on a combination of molecular markers, including nuclear and mitochondrial genes, and morphological data recovered the new genus as sister to Mindomys, and sequentially to Nephelomys. The new genus seems to be another example of a sigmodontine rodent unique to the Chocó biogeographic region. Its type species inhabits cloud forest between 1,600 and 2,300 m in northernmost Ecuador (Carchi Province); a second species is restricted to lower montane forest, 1,200 m, in northern Ecuador (Imbabura Province); a third putative species, here highlighted exclusively by molecular evidence from one immature specimen, is recorded in the montane forest of Reserva Otonga, northern Ecuador (Cotopaxi Province). Finally, the new genus is also recorded in southernmost Colombia (Nariño Department), probably represented there also by a new species. These species are spatially separated by deep river canyons through Andean forests, resulting in marked environmental discontinuities. Unfortunately, Colombian and Ecuadorian Pacific cloud forests are under rapid anthropic transformation. Although the populations of the type species are moderately abundant and occur in protected areas, the other two persist in threatened forest fragments.

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Mexican Vascular Epiphytes: Richness and Distribution

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.503.1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 503 (1) ◽

pp. 1-124

Author(s):

ADOLFO ESPEJO-SERNA ◽

ANA ROSA LÓPEZ-FERRARI ◽

ANICETO MENDOZA-RUIZ ◽

JAVIER GARCÍA-CRUZ ◽

JACQUELINE CEJA-ROMERO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Life Form ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Vascular Epiphytes ◽

Elevational Range ◽

Quercus Forest

The first complete checklist of the Mexican vascular epiphytes is presented, accompanied by data relating to its geographical distribution by state, elevational range, endemism, life form and type of vegetation in which each species can be found. Based on the review of herbarium specimens and specialized literature, as well as in the collection of botanical material in several regions of the country, we determined that the vascular epiphytes of Mexico are integrated by 24 orders, 37 families, 253 genera, and 1,813 species, of which 583 are endemic to the country. The families with the highest specific richness are Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Piperaceae, while the genera with the highest number of taxa are Tillandsia, Epidendrum, and Peperomia. Only one gymnosperm, Ceratozamia tenuis, was registered as epiphyte. The types of vegetation that harbor the greatest richness are the cloud forest with 1,079 species and the Quercus forest with 837. One hundred eighty-six species are found in some category of the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.

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A revision of the Rhododendron taipaoense complex (subg. Tsutsusi sect. Tsutsusi, Ericaceae), based on observations of morphological characters and seed micromorphology

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.92.2.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

XIAO-FENG JIN ◽

BING-YANG DING ◽

YING-YING ZHOU ◽

SHUI-HU JIN ◽

WANG-WEI YANG

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characters ◽

Principal Coordinate Analysis ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Leaf Color ◽

Flower Number ◽

Seed Shape ◽

Corolla Length ◽

Seed Micromorphology ◽

Different Populations

In this paper, we present a revision of the Rhododenron taipaoense complex, including R. taipaoense and eight other named species, based on literature survey, field collections and observations, inspection of herbarium specimens, statistical analysis of morphological characters, and SEM observation of seed shape and testa. We evaluated all characters that have previously been used to diagnose these species: indumentum of young shoots and abaxial surfaces of leaves; filament dimensions; style base; leaf color, size, and apex shape; flower number per inflorescence; corolla length; and length of the stamen and pistil. Cluster analysis of 146 individuals showed that individuals from different populations are interdigitated, irrespective of traditional taxonomic limits. Analysis of morphological data using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) likewise shows a continual gradation between populations, rather than disjunctures between named species. Consequently, only one species is recognized in the present paper, and R. apricum, R. falcinellum (R. apricum var. falcinellum), R. florulentum, R. hepticum, R. piceum, R. rufulum, R. spadiceum, and R. rufoindumentum (nom. nud.) are all reduced to synonyms of R. taipaoense.

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A New Distinctive Species of Schizanthus (Solanaceae) and the Reinstatement of Schizanthus fallax

Systematic Botany ◽

10.1600/036364421x16231782047541 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 456-469

Author(s):

Nicolás Lavandero ◽

Javiera Chinga ◽

Raquel Pinto ◽

María Fernanda Pérez

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Corolla Tube ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Northern Chile ◽

Upper Lip ◽

Lower Lip ◽

Integrative Framework ◽

Fresh Material ◽

Rain Events

Abstract— A new Schizanthus species from northern Chile is described and illustrated. Schizanthus nutantiflorus was discovered based on recent collections made during unusual rain events in the Atacama Desert in 2015. The new species is distinguished morphologically from other Schizanthus species from northern Chile by its short corolla tube, with a distinct upper lip arrangement and colour, having the longest lower lip, and downward-facing flowers. Additionally, the reinstatement of Schizanthus fallax is proposed. By using both nDNA and cpDNA, phylogenetic relationships among all species of Schizanthus were investigated. Molecular and field observations, as well as an exhaustive morphological revision of fresh material and herbarium specimens, supports the segregation of Schizanthus with short corolla tubes from northern Chile into three species. We propose that, in order to fully understand both the taxonomy and evolution of Schizanthus, an integrative framework encompassing molecular, ecological, and morphological data should be carried out. Information on distribution, habitat, informal conservation status, as well as taxonomic notes and illustrations are provided. In addition, an updated key for the species of Schizanthus from northern Chile is given.

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Morphological and molecular evidence of some Minuartia species (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey, with a desciption of a new species

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.391.2.5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 391 (2) ◽

pp. 122 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MURAT KOÇ ◽

ERGIN HAMZAOĞLU ◽

AHMET AKSOY

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Related Species ◽

Phylogenetic Relationships ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

A New Species

The genus Minuartia is represented in Turkey by 34 taxa. Some interesting specimens were collected from Antalya province, and examined. These specimens resemble Minuartia meyeri, and M. multinervis from which differ by characters (macro-, and micromorphological) of inflorescence, alar pedicels, petals, sepals, capsules and seeds. Moreover, by using the DNA sequences of the ITS genes, phylogenetic relationships between this collected species, and the related species were investigated. As a result of the evaluation of molecular, and morphological data, we proposed to described the population from Antalya as a new species for the science. A description, pictures, distribution, habitat, and IUCN category are given.

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Taxonomic studies on the genus Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) from China (XXI): The identities of D. breviscaposum and D. filibracteolum from northwestern Yunnan

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.420.2.5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 420 (2) ◽

pp. 185-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

QIONG YUAN ◽

QIN-ER YANG

Keyword(s):

Type Material ◽

Second Step ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Taxonomic Studies ◽

Northwestern Yunnan

Based on examination of herbarium specimens (including type material), we demonstrate that Delphinium breviscaposum and D. filibracteolum (Ranunculaceae), both described recently from northwestern Yunnan in China, are conspecific with D. ceratophorum and D. bulleyanum, respectively, two species very common in northwestern Yunnan. We therefore synonymize D. breviscaposum and D. filibracteolum herein. Second step lectotypifications are proposed for both D. bulleyanum and D. ceratophorum.

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Taxonomic Studies on Australian Isolates of Stemphylium spp. And Associated Teleomorphs

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9860281 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 281 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JAG Irwin ◽

R Dill-Macky ◽

M Stirling

Keyword(s):

Medicago Sativa ◽

Pure Culture ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Simmondsia Chinensis ◽

Pure Cultures ◽

Taxonomic Studies ◽

Ascospore Morphology

Taxonomic studies on monosporic pure cultures of Australian isolates of Stemphylium revealed the presence of three species, namely S. botryosum, S. globuliferum and S. vesicarium. A group intermedi- ate between S. botryosum and S. vesicarium but more closely resembling S. vesicarium was recognised. The circumscription of S. vesicarium was broadened to accommodate this taxon which was found on Medicago sativa, M. rugosa and Simmondsia chinensis. Studies on herbarium specimens deposited as S. botryosum on M. sativa from a number of overseas locations indicated that in all cases the pathogen fitted our concept of S. vesicarium. Teleomorphs were induced in pure culture for each of the above-mentioned anamorphs, and in all instances the teleomorph was identified as Pleospora herbarum. The ascospore morphology was similar for all isolates, and the shape of the ends of the spore and the number of longitudinal septa were variable characters even within an isolate. However, the teleomorphs could be separated into two distinct groups on the basis of ascal length.

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