A revised infrageneric classification of Bellevalia Lapeyr. (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae) based on molecular analysis

Within the genus Bellevalia (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae: Hyacintheae), flower shape and colour, the ratio of leaf to scape length, and the orientation of the pedicels were traditionally used to delimit sections, subsections and species. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of representative species from sections Bellevalia, Conicae, Nutantes and Oxydontae, representing four out of the six sections that are currently recognised, using the four chloroplast regions rbcL, matK, trnL intron, and trnL-F spacer. Our results indicate that the sections are not monophyletic as currently circumscribed. Our analyses retrieve two major, well-supported clades. The first clade (sect. Conicae) includes only species with ciliate leaves and green-veined perianth lobes, and the second clade (sect. Bellevalia) includes the species lacking these characteristics. Within the second clade, the species with yellow anthers are separated from those with violet anthers. Our molecular analysis does not support the traditional subdivisions of the genus but establishes the value of cilia on the leaf margin, green veins in the perianths lobes, and the colour of the anthers as indicators of relationships among the species. We recommend that the current four sections and six subsections of Bellevalia be reduced to two sections without subsections and we provide an updated and corrected nomenclature for these sections and subsections, designating lectotypes where necessary.

Naïve and Experienced Honeybee Foragers Learn Normally Configured Flowers More Easily Than Non-configured or Highly Contrasted Flowers

Angiosperms have evolved to attract and/or deter specific pollinators. Flowers provide signals and cues such as scent, colour, size, pattern, and shape, which allow certain pollinators to more easily find and visit the same type of flower. Over evolutionary time, bees and angiosperms have co-evolved resulting in flowers being more attractive to bee vision and preferences, and allowing bees to recognise specific flower traits to make decisions on where to forage. Here we tested whether bees are instinctively tuned to process flower shape by training both flower-experienced and flower-naïve honeybee foragers to discriminate between pictures of two different flower species when images were either normally configured flowers or flowers which were scrambled in terms of spatial configuration. We also tested whether increasing picture contrast, to make flower features more salient, would improve or impair performance. We used four flower conditions: (i) normally configured greyscale flower pictures, (ii) scrambled flower configurations, (iii) high contrast normally configured flowers, and (iv) asymmetrically scrambled flowers. While all flower pictures contained very similar spatial information, both experienced and naïve bees were better able to learn to discriminate between normally configured flowers than between any of the modified versions. Our results suggest that a specialisation in flower recognition in bees is due to a combination of hard-wired neural circuitry and experience-dependent factors.

Phenotypic traits variability of Grassy peony (Paeonia L.) with japanese flower shape as part of ornamental plants collection laboratory of MBG RAS

The results of studying the variability of a number of quantitative and qualitative characteristics in a model sample of varieties of herbaceous peony with a Japanese flower shape to identify genotypes that differ in variety-specific characteristics are presented. The investigated sample is formed on the basis of the collection of the genus Paeonia L. laboratory of ornamental plants MBG. In the course of the study, variety-specific characteristics were established for a number of cultivars. 2 short ('Bu-Te', 'West Elkton') and 3 tall ('Yellow King', 'Hit Parade', 'Lotus Queen') varieties were selected. 3 grades are marked — 'Mrs. Wilder Bankroft', Midnight Sun, 'Neon' — with consistently low absolute values of the peduncle diameter at the base. 2 large-flowered ('Gold Standard', 'Surprise') and 2 small-flowered ('Bu-Te', 'Gay Paree') cultivars were identified. It was found that the largest sizes of the staminodium zone are distinguished by 'Hit Parade' and 'John van Leeuwen'. The least common variations of the bush type (in the full flowering phase) were recorded in 4 varieties 'Rahoomon', 'Feather Top', 'Largo' (compact) and 'Mr. G.F. Hemerik' (spreading). There are 2 cultivars ('Isani Gidui', 'Fairy') with probably not typical for representatives of this garden group, the type of leaf shape — Paeonia mlokosewitschii. 8 varieties were identified ('Philomele', 'Fairy', 'Okinava', 'Mirage', as well as 'Isani Gidui','Yellow King','Bu-Te', 'Walter Mains'), characterized by relatively sparsely distributed morphological characteristics associated with the shape of the leaf segment. The variety 'Akron' with the original (for the sample under study) variant of stem pigmentation was selected.

Spontaneous choices for insect-pollinated flower shapes by wild non-eusocial halictid bees

The majority of angiosperms require animal pollination for reproduction and insects are the dominant group of animal pollinators. Bees are considered one of the most important and abundant insect pollinators. Research into bee behaviour and foraging decisions has typically centred on managed eusocial bee species, Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris. Non-eusocial bees are understudied with respect to foraging strategies and decision-making, such as flower preferences. Understanding whether there are fundamental foraging strategies and preferences which are features of insect groups can provide key insights into the evolution of flower-pollinator co-evolution. In the current study, Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium and L. (Parasphecodes) sp., two native Australian generalist halictid bees, were tested for flower shape preferences between native insect-pollinated and bird-pollinated flowers. Each bee was presented with achromatic images of either insect-pollinated or bird-pollinated flowers in a circular arena. Both native bee species demonstrated a significant preference for images of insect-pollinated flowers. These preferences are similar to those found in A. mellifera, suggesting that flower shape preference may be a deep-rooted evolutionary occurrence within bees. With growing interest in the sensory capabilities of non-eusocial bees as alternative pollinators, the current study also provides a valuable framework for further behavioural testing of such species.

Nectar Uptake of a Long-Proboscid Prosoeca Fly (Nemestrinidae)—Proboscis Morphology and Flower Shape

Several Prosoeca (Nemestinidae) species use a greatly elongated proboscis to drink nectar from long-tubed flowers. We studied morphological adaptations for nectar uptake of Prosoecamarinusi that were endemic to the Northern Cape of South Africa. Our study site was a small isolated area of semi-natural habitat, where the long-tubed flowers of Babiana vanzijliae (Iridaceae) were the only nectar source of P. marinusi, and these flies were the only insects with matching proboscis. On average, the proboscis measured 32.63 ± 2.93 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in diameter. The short labella at the tip are equipped with pseudotracheae that open at the apical margin, indicating that nectar is extracted out of the floral tube with closed labella. To quantify the available nectar resources, measurements of the nectar volume were taken before the flies were active and after observed flower visits. On average, an individual fly took up approximately 1 µl of nectar per flower visit. The measured nectar quantities and the flower geometry allowed estimations of the nectar heights and predictions of necessary proboscis lengths to access nectar in a range of flower tube lengths.

The assessment of the Paeonia L. cultivars’ decorative value in planting

The assessment of decorative value of 35 peony cultivars growing in the Botanical garden plantings (Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk region, the Central Urals) were presented. For assessment were used a 100-rating scale which included the following features: flower colour, flower size, flower shape, flower doubleness, peduncle strength, bush decorative value, flowering abundance, blooming duration, flower scent, plant distinction, plant condition. The obtained assessments were compared to the literature data to examine for compliance with the main flower characteristics of peony cultivar and to reveal distinguishing features for peony plants in Sverdlovsk region and the Central Urals. As a result, 23 peony high-opportunity cultivars and 12 appreciable cultivars were distinguished and recommended for landscape gardening in Sverdlovsk region. For high-opportunity peony cultivars introduced in the Central Urals a descriptive characteristic based on the main flower decorative features was compiled.

THE DONORS OF DIVERSE FLOWER COLORS AND SHAPES OF SIBERIAN IRIS VARIETIES

The use of iris speciesI. sibiricaL., I. sanguineaDonn ex Hornem, and I. typhifoliaKitag in plant breeding allowed developing the varieties united in the Class of Siberian irises (SIB).The Siberian iris varieties with blue, violet andwhite flowers only are used in the landscaping of the Altai Region’s forest-steppe.The research goal was to identify the donors of new flower colors and shapes of the iris vari-eties of the Siberian class. In 2014, crossings were carried out in 12 combinations, and only 6 combinations produced germinating seeds (26.6-64.0%).The highest germination rate was obtained from crossing ‘Reddy Or Not’ × ‘Lemon Veil’ varieties; and seed germination from free pollination of these varieties was lower (14-24%).The number of seeds in one capsule was also higher in crosses than from free pollination.The hybrids of the Salamander Crossing culti-var were the first to bloom in the first ten-days of June; the ‘Lemon Veil’ varieties were the last in the third ten-days of June.A variety of colors and flower shapes were found in families of geographically distant varieties: ‘Liubimchik Altaya’ × ‘Sultan’s Ruby’ and ‘Reddy Or Not’ × ‘Lemon Veil’.Backcrosses were unsuccessful. In the ‘Liubimchik Altaya’ family × ‘Sultan’s Ruby’ the hybrids varied in flower shape (simple, double), in color (purple of different shades, blue, lilac, pink with different patterns) and height of pe-duncles (60-120 cm). Thepeduncles of hybrids in the ‘Reddy Or Not’ × ‘Lemon Veil’ family are equal in height (80-90 cm), original in color (purple, lilac, pink with different patterns in the form of strokes and dots) and flower shape. The varieties ‘Lyubimchik Altaya’ × ‘Sultan’s Ruby’ and ‘Reddy Or Not’ × ‘Lemon Veil’ were classified as donors of valuable traits.