Three new records of angiosperms for Bangladesh

Reduced dispersal of native plant species as a consequence of the reduced abundance of frugivore species in fragmented rainforest

The likelihood that a plant's seeds will be dispersed by fruit-eating birds may depend upon the size and shape of its fruits. Assuming that elongate fruits can be swallowed more easily than spherical fruits of equal volume and that plant fitness is enhanced by seed dispersal by many individuals and species of birds, natural selection should favour increasing fruit elongation with increasing fruit size in bird-dispersed plants. According to this view, this allometric pattern would be adaptive. Alternatively, fruit shape in bird-dispersed plants may be constrained by development or phylogeny. To determine whether there was any evidence to support the adaptive allometry hypothesis, we examined allometric relationships between length and diameter in fruits and seeds in a group of neotropical bird-dispersed plant species. Using the major axis technique, we regressed ln(diameter) on ln(length) for fruits and seeds at various taxonomic levels: (1) within individual trees ofOcotea tenera (Lauraceae) (2) among 19 trees within a population ofO. tenera, as well as among pooled fruits from multiple trees within 20 other species in the Lauraceae, (3) among 25 sympatric species within a plant family (Lauraceae) and (4) among 167 species representing 63 angiosperm families within a plant community in Monteverde, Costa Rica. At most taxonomic levels, a tendency for fruit length to increase more rapidly than fruit diameter among fruits (negative allometry) occurred more frequently than expected by chance. Estimated slopes of the regressions of fruit length on fruit diameter were < 1 within 15 of the 19 individualO. tenera trees, among tree means withinO. tenera, among pooled fruits within 16 of the 20 other species in the Lauraceae, among species means within the Lauraceae and among means of all bird-dispersed species in the lower montane forests of Monteverde. Seed allometry showed similar patterns, although for both fruits and seeds the broad confidence intervals of the slopes estimated by major axis regression overlapped 1 in many cases. Among the 63 Monteverde family means, fruit length and diameter scaled isometrically. Based on measurements of ontogenetic changes in fruit shape in a single species,O. viridifolia, we found no evidence that negative allometry in fruit shape within the Lauraceae was an inevitable consequence of developmental constraints. Instead, increasing elongation of fruits and seeds in certain plant taxa is consistent with adaptation to gape-limited avian seed dispersers. Contrary results from vertebrate-dispersed species from Malawi and Spain may reflect differences between the New and Old World in plant taxa, seed dispersers or evolutionary history.

During the floristic explorations conducted in 2022–2023 in different forest areas of the northeast region of Bangladesh, some specimens of the family Lauraceae were collected. Following critical examination, these specimens have been identified as belonging to the species Litsea kurzii, Litsea stocksii, and Litsea variabilis of the family Lauraceae. These species are new to the flora of Bangladesh. A detailed taxonomic description, including data on ecology, distribution, and use, a list of representative specimens examined, and photographs of each of these species have been provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 30(1): 89–97, 2023 (June)

Three new records of angiosperms belonging to the genera Cinnamomum, Litsea, and Neolitsea of the family Lauraceae are described and illustrated from Bangladesh. Following critical examination, two voucher specimens of Lauraceae collected from Cox’s Bazar and Rangamati districts, and housed in DACB and BFRIH, respectively, were identified as Cinnamomum subavenium and Litsea glabrata. Two other specimens recently collected from the Lathitila forest of Moulvibazar during the floristic explorations conducted in the northeast region of Bangladesh were identified as Neolitsea foliosa. These three species are reported here as new to the flora of Bangladesh. A detailed taxonomic description, including data on ecology, distribution, and use, representative specimens examined, and an illustration of each of these species have been provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 31(2): 301-309, 2024 (December)

This paper presents 49 plant species belonging to 38 genera and 13 families of the division Liliopsida (monocots) from Runctia sal forest in Sherpur district, Bangladesh. The update nomenclature, habit, habitat and representative specimen have been provided for each species. Important synonyms and local names have also been furnished, wherever available. Keywords: Angiosperm; Monocots; Runctia sal forest. DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v16i1.2750 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 16(1): 83-90, 2009 (June)

This paper deals with a total of 153 plant species under 120 genera and 52 families of the division Magnoliopsida (Dicots) of the Runctia Sal forest in Sherpur district. Habit analysis shows that herbs are represented by 34, shrubs 36, trees 65, climbers 17 and epiphyte by a single species. Updated nomenclature, habit, habitat and representative specimen have been furnished under each taxon.Keywords: Angiosperms; Magnoliopsida; Runctia sal forest.DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v17i1.5389Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 17(1): 33-53, 2010 (June)

A taxonomic study on the flora of Dohar upazila (sub-district) under Dhaka district has been conducted that results in occurrence of 204 angiosperm taxa under 165 genera and 68 families. Magnoliopsida is represented by 158 taxa distributed in 129 genera and 53 families. In contrast, Liliopsida is constituted by 46 taxa under 36 genera and 15 families. Asteraceae appears to be the largest family in Magnoliopsida consisting of 16 species, whereas Poaceae is the largest family with 16 species in Liliopsida. In Magnoliopsida, 23 families are represented by a single species, while in Liliopsida, 7 families are symbolized by a single species. Vegetation analysis shows that herbs are represented by 133 taxa, shrubs by 23 and trees by 48 taxa. Dichotomous bracketed keys to the families, genera, species and varieties are provided for easy identification of the taxa. Each taxon is supplemented by updated nomenclature, habit and representative specimen.&#x0D; Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(2): 293-322, 2020 (December)

Thirty four exploration trips made throughout Bangladesh from 2000 to 2012 resulted in identification of 186 taxa used as leafy vegetables in the country, of which 173 taxa belong to angiosperms and 13 taxa to pteridophytes. Among the angiosperms, Magnoliopsida is represented by 153 taxa under 114 genera and 43 families, whereas Liliopsida is represented by 20 species under 15 genera and 8 families. Pteridophytes are symbolized by 13 species belonging to 10 genera and 10 families. Under each taxon updated nomenclature, vernacular names, habit, representative specimen and area of major consumption of the plant as a leafy vegetable have been provided. Out of 186 leafy vegetables identified in Bangladesh, 140 taxa are wild and 46 are cultivated. Among the cultivated ones 16 species are cultivated only as leafy vegetables and 30 are cultivated for other purposes but also used as leafy vegetables. A total of 61 species have been newly documented as leafy vegetables for Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v20i1.15469Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 20(1): 95-123, 2013 (June)

A systematic floristic study of Rampahar reserve forest under Rangamati district in Bangladesh has revealed 89 monocot (Liliopsida) taxa belonging to 66 genera under 15 families. Out of these recorded taxa, 73 are herbs, 9 climbers, 3 bamboos, 3 reeds and 1 tree species. The area harbours 11 threatened species of the country. Updated nomenclature with full reference citation, habit and representative specimen have been provided for each species. Well known synonyms and local name(s) have also been given in some cases.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v19i1.10940Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 19(1): 37-44, 2012 (June)

The family Tropaeolaceae was reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia. The new record (Tropaeolum majus L.) from the Tropaeolaceae family was found in damp and exposed semi-shaded habitats between roughly 1800 and 2132 m elevation in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Illustrations, photos, taxonomic description, distribution map, key and information about the habitat of the plant were given. This study suggests that the new record is an introduced alien plant into Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 29(1): 79-84, 2022 (June)

Two species of angiosperms, Spiradiclis bifida Kurz (Rubiaceae) and Strobilanthes urticifolia Wall. ex Kuntze (Acanthaceae ) are being reported as new records for Bangladesh. One species, Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinw.) Blume belonging to the Orchidaceae has been rediscovered from Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary after about 90 years of last record. These species are described with updated nomenclature, synonyms, taxonomic description, ecology and geographical distribution. Illustrations with field photographs are also provided.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24(2): 227–231.

Central Africa remained botanically unknown to the outside world up to the end of the eighteenth century. This paper provides a historical account of plant explorations in the Luangwa Valley. The first plant specimens were collected in 1897 and the last serious botanical explorations were made in 1993. During this period there have been 58 plant collectors in the Luangwa Valley with peak activity recorded in the 1960s. In 1989 1,348 species of vascular plants were described in the Luangwa Valley. More botanical collecting is needed with a view to finding new plant taxa, and also to provide a satisfactory basis for applied disciplines such as ecology, phytogeography, conservation and environmental impact assessment.

Fine‐scaled distribution patterns of vegetation and palynomorphs in a polygon mire in NE Siberia were studied in 31 × 31 plots of 1 m2 (vegetation) and along a transect at intervals of 1 m (palynomorphs). Pollen and non‐pollen‐palynomorph contents clearly reflect differences between polygon ridges and centres. For most single pollen types, however, no unambiguous relation with actual plant abundances and distribution exists. High pollen values are restricted to the immediate vicinity of the pollen sources, which is attributed to the low height of the vegetation. For several plant taxa, high pollen values were found to be restricted to particular plant specimens in the population. High values of pollen ascribed to taxa currently absent at the relevant plot show that the sampled mosses contain a pollen signal of several years. Betula exilis produces two morphologically clearly distinct pollen types. The distribution of selected non‐pollen palynomorphs correlates to microrelief, moisture regime and/or trophic conditions. The study shows that single palaeo‐sections from arctic peatlands should not be over‐interpreted with respect to their palaeoecological value. Local vegetation types and site conditions, however, can be accurately reconstructed from the total assemblages and from combined occurrences of specific palynomorph types.

Plants meet machines: Prospects in machine learning for plant biology

This study records two species of Pteridophytes, viz., Hemionitis cordata Roxb. ex Hook. &amp; Grev. and Ophioglossum nudicaule L.f. of Pteridaceae and Ophioglossaceae, and two species of Angiosperms, viz., Bacopa australis V.C. Souza and Salvia misella Kunth of Plantaginaceae and Lamiaceae, respectively, for the first time in Bangladesh, based on the plant specimens collected during our recent botanical explorations conducted in selected areas of Bagerhat, Barguna, and Cumilla districts. A detailed taxonomic description with key characters, notes on ecology, uses, distribution, distinctness from other similar taxa, representative specimens examined, and photographs of each of these four species have been provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 30(1): 21-30, 2023 (June)