A molecular phylogeny of Eragrostis (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Eragrostideae): making lovegrass monophyletic in Australia

We present a phylogeny based on four DNA molecular markers (rps16–trnK spacer, rps16 intron, rpl32–trnL spacer and ITS) concentrating on species of Eragrostis Wolf in Australia. Two Australian radiations are shown within Eragrostis, one being centred in the arid zone and one in the monsoon tropics. The genus is paraphyletic, with species of Cladoraphis Franch., Ectrosia R.Br., Harpachne Hochst. ex A.Rich., Heterachne Benth., Neeragrostis Bush, Planichloa B.K.Simon, Psammagrostis C.A.Gardner & C.E.Hubb. and Stiburus Stapf together forming a well supported clade mixed with Eragrostis species. The molecular results are consistent with recognition of an expanded Eragrostis and we make the following new combinations for Australian taxa: Eragrostis agrostoides (Benth.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. anomala (C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. appressa (S.T.Blake) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. baileyi (C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. blakei (C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. confusa (C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. danesii (Domin) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. gulliveri (F.Muell.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. leporina (R.Br.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. nervilemma (B.K.Simon) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. ovata (Night.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. scabrida (C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. wiseana (C.A.Gardner & C.E.Hubb.) R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson and Sporobolus ramigerus (F.Muell.) P.M.Peterson, Romasch. & R.L.Barrett, and propose the following new names: E. divergens R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson, E. lilliputiana R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson and E. nightingaleae R.L.Barrett & P.M.Peterson. Lectotypes are designated for Ectrosia agrostoides Benth., E. anomala C.E.Hubb., E. appressa S.T.Blake, E. baileyi C.E.Hubb., E. blakei C.E.Hubb., E. confusa C.E.Hubb., E. gulliveri F.Muell., E laxa S.T.Blake, E. leporina R.Br, E. leporina var. longiglumis C.E.Hubb., E. schultzii Benth., E. schultzii var. annua C.E.Hubb., E. spadicea R.Br., Glyceria australasica Steud., Heterachne gulliveri Benth., Heterachne gulliveri var. major C.E.Hubb. Poa ramigera F.Muell. and Psammagrostis wiseana C.A.Gardner & C.E.Hubb.

Amana baohuaensis (Liliaceae), a new species from East China

Amana baohuaensis is described and illustrated as a new species from Jurong City, Jiangsu Province, East China. The new species is morphologically similar to A. edulis, but differs from the latter by having three verticillate linear bracts, white or purple-red solitary flowers, and purplish-brown anthers. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS, chloroplast matK and rps16 intron sequences confirmed that this new species is distinct from morphologically similar species.

Spontaneous hybridization among Allium tulipifolium and A. robustum (Allium subg. Melanocrommyum, Amaryllidaceae) under cultivation

In the living Allium collection of the South Siberian Botanical Garden of the Altai State University, Barnaul (Russia), among the species Allium tulipifolium and A. robustum (A. subg. Melanocrommyum sect. Decipientia), several morphologically intermediate plants grown from seeds were found. We assumed they could result from spontaneous hybridization. To confirm our assumption we studied the hybrids and their alleged parents cytologically (chromosome and genome size) and compared the sequences of the nuclear DNA (ITS) and three plastid DNA fragments (trnL-trnF and rpl32-trnL spacers and rps16 intron). Our data confirmed the hybrid nature of these plants and also showed that the hybridization between the two species (A. tulipifolium and A. robustum) is possible in both directions. This opens up opportunities for targeted hybridization and breeding of new ornamental varieties.

New combinations in the genus Siler (Apiaceae) for the Italian Flora

On the basis of nrDNA ITS sequences and plastid markers (rps16 intron, rpoC1 intron and rpoB-trnC intergenic spacer), Banasiak et al. (2016) reconstructed the phylogeny of all the genera belonging to the subtribe Daucinae Dumortier (1827: 81), showing that the former tribe Laserpitieae Bentham in Bentham & Hooker (1867: 872) constitutes a paraphyletic grade at the base of the spiny-fruited members of Daucinae, while the traditionally delimited genera Daucus Linnaeus (1753: 242) and Laserpitium Linnaeus (1753: 248) are polyphyletic. The same authors proposed to maintain Daucus as monophyletic synonymizing several names at genus level, while Laserpitium was splitted into 5 genera—Laserpitium s.str. (now including only 6 species), Ekimia Duman & Watson (1999: 200), Laser Borkhausen ex Gaertner, Meyer & Scherbius (1799: 244, 384), Siler Miller (1754: without pagination), Silphiodaucus (Koso-Poljansky 1916: 211) Spalik, Wojewódska, Banasiak, Piwczyński & Reduron in Banasiak et al. (2016: 578), and Thapsia Linnaeus (1753: 261)—and nomenclatural changes were proposed (Banasiak et al. 2016).

Allium canariense (Amaryllidaceae), a species endemic to the Canary Islands

A revision of the Allium species of the section Molium in the Canary Islands is presented. As part of the phylogenetic revision of the Eurasian representatives of the subgenus Amerallium we found large disagreements in the nomenclature and taxonomy of Allium roseum in the floristic publications on the flora of the Canary Islands. At least four species of the section Molium are mentioned for the flora of the Canary Islands: Allium roseum, A. subvillosum, A. subhirsutum and A. trifoliatum. To learn more about the phylogenetic relationships within a group of closely related species of the section Molium, we used maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined nuclear (ITS—internal transcribed and ETS—external transcribed spacers of rRNA genes) and three chloroplast (rpl32-trnL and trnL-trnF intergenic spacers and rps16 intron) datasets of 7 taxa. For comparison of the relationships of A. canariense populations between the islands we used the ISSR method. We found that only one species of the section Molium occurs in the Canary Islands—the endemic species Allium canariense, closely related to Allium subvillosum. Independence of this new species has been confirmed by morphological and molecular features. Discussion on phylogeny, origin and geographic distribution is provided.

Molecular phylogeny confirms the placement of enigmatic Stachys persepolitana in Lamium (Lamiaceae; subfam. Lamioideae)

The main purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Stachys persepolitana is extraneous in Stachys (tribe Stachydeae, subfam. Lamioideae, Lamiaceae) and instead belongs to the genus Lamium (Lamieae, Lamioideae). We investigated the phylogenetic position of S. persepolitana using plastid (rps16 intron, trnL-F and matK regions) and nuclear (nrITS) DNA sequence data with both parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic approaches. Plastid and nuclear data strongly support that S. persepolitana is extraneous in Stachys and belongs in fact to the genus Lamium. Morphological characters also corroborate its placement in Lamium. Most of the morphological features used to distinguish S. persepolitana from the rest of Stachys fit with Lamium. Anterior pair of stamens bending outward after pollination, anthers hairy and mericarps triquetrous are the most important characters correlating S. persepolitana to Lamium.

A phylogenetic study of Pimelea and Thecanthes (Thymelaeaceae): evidence from plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data

A comprehensive molecular study, using sequence data from nuclear ITS rDNA and plastid rbcL and matK exons, rps16 intron, and the trnL-F intronic and intergenic spacer, was used to assess the taxonomic status of Thecanthes Wikstr., and to evaluate the relationships within Pimelea Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn. and Thecanthes (Thymelaeaceae). Both genera are Australasian and they constitute the subtribe Pimeleinae, which is characterised by a reduction to two stamens. Previous studies indicated a close relationship among Pimelea, Thecanthes and Gnidia L. species from tropical Africa. We conclude that Pimelea and Thecanthes form a strongly supported clade, with Thecanthes possibly included within Pimelea, although we await further data before formally proposing a series of new taxonomic combinations.