Annual Habit Research Articles

Poteranthera inopinata (Melastomataceae), a new species from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia

Poteranthera inopinata is described as a new species that is known only from humid or seasonally inundated savannas in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in eastern Bolivia near its border with Brazil. Line drawings, a distribution map, a recommended conservation assessment, and a discussion of morphologically similar genera and species are provided. This new species can be recognized by its annual habit, petiolate, 3–5-nerved leaf blades (3 ̶ 10 mm long) that are conspicuously serrate with each serration tipped with a glandular trichome ca. 1 mm long, dimetric and dimorphic androecium with prolonged pedoconnectives and inconspicuously retuse staminal appendages, and petals that are minutely and deciduously glandular-ciliolate at the margins and tipped with a persistent glandular trichome 0.5 ̶ 0.75 mm long. The new species is compared with P. warmingii, its apparent closest relative, and an updated key is provided to the six recognized species of Poteranthera.

Mazusdanxiacola (Mazaceae), a distinct new species endemic to Danxia landform in Jiangxi Province, eastern China.

Mazusdanxiacola, a new species endemic to Danxia landform in east Jiangxi Province, eastern China, is described and illustrated. The systematic placement of this new species was confirmed by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on four plastid markers (matK, rbcL, rps16 and trnL-trnF) and nuclear ribosome ITS sequence, and its specific relationships within Mazus were discussed. Morphologically, the new species is clearly different from other Mazus species by having a series of uncommon traits, i.e., annual habit, without stolons and basal leaves, single, erect and unbranched stems, long petiolate leaves abaxially grayish green to silver gray, truncate to broadly cuneate leaf bases, racemes extremely elongated up to 35 cm long, white corolla, and palate densely covered by conspicuous clavate gland-like hairs. The new species is assigned to Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

A new species of Antella (Steccherinaceae, Agaricomycetes) from southwest China

A new poroid fungus in the family Steccherinaceae, Antella tibetica sp. nov., is described from southwest China based on morphology, and phylogenetic analysis. The species was found in the Tibet Autonomous Region of southwest China, growing on angiosperm wood of a low decay stage. It is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with buff yellow to yellowish brown pores, 0.5–1.5 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system composed of clamped generative hyphae and subicular skeletal hyphae encrusted with fine crystals, abundant gloeocystidia that are variable in shape, and oblong-ellipsoid basidiospores. The phylogenetic analysis based on ITS + nLSU rDNA sequences shows that A. tibetica nests in Antella, forming a monophyletic lineage with strong support (100 % BS, 100 % BP, 1.00 BPP). The differences between A. tibetica and other members of the genus are discussed. A key to accepted species of Antella is provided.

A new record of Tordylium maximum (Apiaceae) from Korea

Tordylium maximum L. (Apiaceae), native to south, south-central Europe and southwest Asia and a rare alien plant in northern Europe, was newly found in Jeollabuk-do in Korea. Tordylium is clearly distinguished from other genera by having radiating petals, filiform bracts, linear bractlets, stalked mericarps with minutely vesicular dorsal face or strigose hairs, and an annual habit. Tordylium maximum is different from other species of the genus by its mericarps with smooth margins and 10–16 rays not contracted in fruit. T. maximum grows on dry and sunny grasslands. Here, we report the first occurrence of the genus Tordylium represented by T. maximum in Korea and provide a precise description, illustration, photographs of the species, and a taxonomic key to allied taxa in Korea.

CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SOME NIGERIAN ASTERACEAE- TRIBE SENECIONEAE

Cytological and morphological studies have so far been carried out on 32 taxa belonging to 19 species and 5 genera of members of the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) from Nigeria. The report of 12 taxa belonging to 10 species and 4 genera are presented in this study. Pollen fertility test of the species studied revealed that meiosis was normal with regular bivalent pairing thus the plants were stable. Chromosome count of 4 species Gynura miniata (n=5), Senecio baberka (n=5), Senecio lelyi (n=10) and S. manni (n=10) are reported for the first time from the Nigerian flora. The presence of 2 cytotypes of Emilia praetermissa, (n=10) and (n = 12) is reported for the first time in the genus. Achene morphology of all the species studied has been drawn and described for the first time. The distribution maps of all the taxa studied have been provided for the first time and they revealed members of the tribe are prevalent at higher altitudes. There is no correlation between chromosome number and annual habit or between achene morphology and growth habit. Base number of 5 has been suggested for the tribe and a probable pathway of the evolution of the Nigerian Senecioneae has been suggested. The report of Gaillardia pulchella Foug an introduced plant is reported for the first time from our flora.

CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SOME NIGERIAN ASTERACEAE- TRIBE SENECIONEAE

Cytological and morphological studies have so far been carried out on 32 taxa belonging to 19 species and 5 genera of members of the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) from Nigeria. The report of 12 taxa belonging to 10 species and 4 genera are presented in this study. Pollen fertility test of the species studied revealed that meiosis was normal with regular bivalent pairing thus the plants were stable. Chromosome count of 4 species Gynura miniata (n=5), Senecio baberka (n=5), Senecio lelyi (n=10) and S. manni (n=10) are reported for the first time from the Nigerian flora. The presence of 2 cytotypes of Emilia praetermissa, (n=10) and (n = 12) is reported for the first time in the genus. Achene morphology of all the species studied has been drawn and described for the first time. The distribution maps of all the taxa studied have been provided for the first time and they revealed members of the tribe are prevalent at higher altitudes. There is no correlation between chromosome number and annual habit or between achene morphology and growth habit. Base number of 5 has been suggested for the tribe and a probable pathway of the evolution of the Nigerian Senecioneae has been suggested. The report of Gaillardia pulchella Foug an introduced plant is reported for the first time from our flora

Stamen dimorphism, bee visitation, and pollen removal in three species of Agalinis (Orobanchaceae)

Stamen dimorphism of buzz-pollinated flowers frequently involves heteranthery, where vibrated, poricidal anthers produce less pollen of lower viability. These anthers often allow for a progressive dispensing of pollen as predicted by the pollen presentation hypothesis. Buzz-pollinated, didynamous stamens of Agalinis lack poricidal anthers but possess staminal trichomes. We quantified pollen characteristics, bee visitation, and foraging behavior (sternotribic vs. nototribic) for three buzz-pollinated species of Agalinis. Single visits to Agalinis auriculata (Michx.) S.F.Blake were performed to evaluate pollen dispensing associated with different foraging behaviors. For all three species, the abaxial stamens, those vibrated by bees, possessed greater total pollen of larger size and viability than smaller adaxial stamens, thus not being heterantherous. Most bee visits (81%) were inverted whether vibrating stamens or not. Single visits to flowers of A. auriculata removed between 75%–80% of the available pollen in contrast to a more progressive dispensing of pollen, likely a consequence of filament trichomes allowing vibrating bees a better grasp of stamens. The flower form of Agalinis appears to encourage inverted foraging, which has not led to a division of labor for the dimorphic stamens typical of heterantherous species. The annual habit and short-lived flowers in these species likely select for rapid pollen loss.

Bulbostylis litoreamazonicola, a new species of Cyperaceae from the Brazilian Amazonian coast

A new species of Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae), only known from the Brazilian Amazonian coast, is here described and illustrated. Bulbostylis litoreamazonicola was found growing over dunes, in seasonally flooded restinga vegetation, and in humid fields near the mangroves from the State of Pará, Northern Brazil. This is the fifth Brazilian-native species of Bulbostylis lacking a persistent stylopodium on the mature fruit. The new species is mainly characterized by its annual habit, simple anthelate inflorescences, densely hispid to hispidulous longitudinally ribbed scapes, pubescent glumes, and cordiform nutlets.

Morphological analyses support recognition of three new threatened species of bracteate–prostrate

Statistical analyses of two morphological datasets, including 190 newly measured specimens, showed that individuals of Myosotis (Boraginaceae) from Te Waipounamu / South Island, Aotearoa, New Zealand, identified a priori with three different informal tag names, belong to the bracteate–prostrate group, are morphologically distinct from each other and from other species, and merit scientific description. Myosotis hikuwai Meudt, Prebble & G.M.Rogers is known from one location near Wānaka (Otago), has an unusual erect, spring annual habit, and is most similar to M. brevis and M. glauca, with which it is sympatric. Myosotis venticola Meudt & Prebble comprises plants that were sometimes previously identified as M. cheesemanii from certain ranges in Otago and southern Canterbury, but with retrorse trichomes present on the abaxial and adaxial side of the rosette leaves. Myosotis ultramafica Meudt, Prebble & Rance comprises individuals from ultramafic sites in certain ranges in Southland, and is most similar to M. cheesemanii and M. lyallii. We recommend that all three new species are listed as Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. In addition to descriptions and illustrations, the three new species are also included in a revised key to the nineteen species of southern hemisphere bracteate–prostrate Myosotis.

Perenniporia subrhizomorpha sp. nov. (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from North China

Perenniporia subrhizomorpha is introduced as a new species from North China on the basis of morphological and molecular evidence. Phylogenetically, based on ITS and nLSU regions, P. subrhizomorpha nested with two species belong to Perenniporia s.s. as a distinct lineage. Perenniporia subrhizomorpha is characterized by having an annual habit, resupinate and papery basidiomes, a dimitic hyphal system with crystal-covered generative hyphae in context, ellipsoid, truncated, dextrinoid basidiospores (5.7–6.5 × 4.3–5.5 μm), and absence of cystidia and cystidioles. Morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species to the new species are discussed.

Derived woodiness and annual habit evolved in African umbellifers as alternative solutions for coping with drought

BackgroundOne of the major trends in angiosperm evolution was the shift from woody to herbaceous habit. However, reversals known as derived woodiness have also been reported in numerous, distantly related clades. Among theories evoked to explain the factors promoting the evolution of derived woodiness are moderate climate theory and cavitation theory. The first assumes that woody habit evolves in response to mild climate allowing for prolonged life span, which in turn leads to bigger and woodier bodies. The second sees woodiness as a result of natural selection for higher cavitation resistance in seasonally dry environments. Here, we compare climatic niches of woody and herbaceous, mostly southern African, umbellifers from the Lefebvrea clade to assess whether woody taxa in fact occur in markedly drier habitats. We also calibrate their phylogeny to estimate when derived woodiness evolved. Finally, we describe the wood anatomy of selected woody and herbaceous taxa to see if life forms are linked to any particular wood traits.ResultsThe evolution of derived woodiness in chamaephytes and phanerophytes as well as the shifts to short-lived annual therophytes in the Lefebvrea clade took place at roughly the same time: in the Late Miocene during a trend of global climate aridification. Climatic niches of woody and herbaceous genera from the Cape Floristic Region overlap. There are only two genera with distinctly different climatic preferences: they are herbaceous and occur outside of the Cape Floristic Region. Therefore, studied herbs have an overall climatic niche wider than their woody cousins. Woody and herbaceous species do not differ in qualitative wood anatomy, which is more affected by stem architecture and, probably, reproductive strategy than by habit.ConclusionsPalaeodrought was likely a stimulus for the evolution of derived woodiness in the Lefebvrea clade, supporting the cavitation theory. The concurrent evolution of short-lived annuals withering before summer exemplifies an alternative solution to the same problem of drought-induced cavitation. Changes of the life form were most likely neither spurred nor precluded by any qualitative wood traits, which in turn are more affected by internode length and probably also reproductive strategy.

<p><strong>A novel species of <em>Ischaemum </em>(Poaceae, Andropogoneae) from the northern Western Ghats, India, based on morphological and molecular data</strong></p>

Ischaemum amboliense (Poaceae, Andropogoneae), a new species of Muraina grass, is described and illustrated here. The new species is closely allied to I. travancorense but differs from it in having annual habit and erect posture, culm with sparsely hairy nodes, well-exerted racemes, lower glumes of sessile spikelets with 3–4 side nodules without ridges, upper glume of sessile spikelets with bicuspidate apex and margins with a membranous wing on one side of apical region and lower lemma of sessile spikelets winged on both sides towards the apex. A strict consensus tree obtained from the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses of trnLC–trnLD and ETS datasets supported the novelty of the species. Here, we provide a detailed morphological description, molecular phylogenetic analysis, distribution map, and photo-plates of the novel and allied species.

<strong><em>Dentipellicula guyanensis sp. nov.</em> (Hericiaceae, Basidiomycota) from French Guiana</strong>

Dentipellicula guyanensis, a new species of Hericiaceae, is described and illustrated based on morphological characters and supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and nLSU rDNA sequences. D. guyanensis is characterized by an annual and resupinate growth habit, a monomitic hyphal structure with non-amyloid, non-dextrinoid and acyanophilous generative hyphae, the presence of gloeoplerous hyphae in hymenophoral trama, the presence of gloeocystidia, and rough basidiospores measuring as 2.8–3.1 × 1.9–2.1 µm. A key to accepted species of Dentipellicula is provided.

Chloroplast phylogenomics and character evolution of eastern Asian Astragalus (Leguminosae): Tackling the phylogenetic structure of the largest genus of flowering plants in Asia

Astragalus, as the largest genus of the flowering plants, is well-known for its high species richness and morphological diversity. Previous studies suggested that many of the subgenera of Astragalus are not monophyletic and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus are still poorly known. In this study, we sampled 117 accessions of Astragalus and its close relatives, covering 55 sections of the genus plus 30 outgroup taxa to recover the main clades of eastern Asian Astragalus based on sequences of the whole chloroplast genome and 65 chloroplast CDSs. Astragalus is supported to be monophyletic and it is sister to the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade. Within Astragalus, we recovered ten clades, and the ten clades differ substantially from Bunge’s subgenera. The former segregate genus Astracantha is also monophyletic, but embedded within Astragalus s. str., supporting the merge of the spiny former genus Astracantha with Astragalus. We detected the atpF intron losses in the chloroplast genome of the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade, i.e., the sister clade to Astragalus. Furthermore, we estimated the ancestral states of the trichome morphology and habit via the Bayesian Binary Method. The medifixed hair type is inferred to have developed at least five times and the annual habit originated at least six times. In addition, Astragalus is estimated to have originated in the mid Miocene (stem age, 16.09 Ma, 95% HPD: 12.46–20.50 Ma). The divergence times of the medifixed hair groups ranged from 4.03 to 0.87 Ma, mostly 2–1 Ma, which are correlated with the estimated phased uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We hypothesize that the uplifts of the QTP, which contributed to aridification in eastern Asia and the adjacent regions, may have accelerated the rapid speciation of Astragalus, especially the xerophilous groups (i.e. the medifixed hair groups).

<p><strong><em>Peniophorella cremea sp. nov.</em></strong><strong> from China</strong></p>

A new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Peniophorella cremea sp. nov. is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Peniophorella cremea is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiomata with odontioid hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections and ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores measuring as 7–9.5 × 2.7–3.3 µm. The phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences showed that P. cremea forms a monophyletic lineage with high statistical supports (100% BS, 100% BP and 1.00 BPP).

A shift towards the annual habit in selfing Arabidopsis lyrata.

An annual life history is often associated with the ability to self-fertilize. However, it is unknown whether the evolution of selfing commonly precedes the evolution of annuality, or vice versa. Using a 2-year common garden experiment, we asked if the evolution of selfing in the normally perennial Arabidopsis lyrata was accompanied by a shift towards the annual habit. Despite their very recent divergence from obligately outcrossing populations, selfing plants exhibited a 39% decrease in over-winter survival after the first year compared with outcrossing plants. Our data ruled out the most obvious underlying mechanism: differences in reproductive investment in the first year did not explain differences in survival. We conclude that transitions to selfing in perennial A. lyrata may be accompanied by a shift towards annuality, but drivers of the process require further investigation.

<p><strong><em>Micranthes petiolaris </em></strong><strong>variety <em>shealyi</em>: A New Variety of <em>Micranthes</em></strong><em> </em><strong>(Section<em> Stellares</em>, Saxifragaceae) from South Carolina</strong></p>

A new variety of Micranthes is described from a low-elevation granite outcrop in Pickens County, South Carolina. It is similar to high elevation Micranthes petiolaris populations in leaf morphology and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences, but differs in its annual habit, floral morphology, phenology, and ecology. The variety is known only from the type locality, with most clusters of individuals occurring along the forested boundary of an open granite outcrop, associated with Juniperus virginiana L., and growing upon moist to saturated moss mats and/or shallow soils. A discussion comparing the proposed taxon with M. petiolaris is provided, with notes about the distribution, habitat, and taxonomy of the variety.

SHIFTING OLD TEACHING BEHAVIOR FOR NEW CURRICULUM

Begin with “the annual habit” of Indonesian government in which the curriculum will be changed as the change of educational paradigm. This paper then aimed to explain about the urgency of new policy in teaching-learning realm and how the teacher adapt and apply that new curriculum in real teaching-learning situation in the classroom. As matter of fact, based on many surveys conducted by some institutions proved that many teachers in every corner of Indonesia still enjoy teaching in their old teaching behavior. No matter how many times the curriculum changed, the problem is that the teachers find it difficult to adapt with the new curriculum. The difficulty in understanding the resent curriculum may caused by many factors, such as lack of information and teachers’ education. Therefore, this paper explains how the teachers should change their old teaching behavior to support the aim of Indonesian government in empowering and increasing the quality of human resource.

<p><strong>A new species and a new section of <em>Astragalus </em>(Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) from Mexico</strong></p>

We describe and illustrate Astragalus sagitticarpus A.E. Estrada, Villarreal & Encina (Fabaceae) as a new species from south-central Mexico. Its annual habit, free stipules, few leaves, small calyx teeth, and pendulous, persistent, stipitate, dorsoventrally compressed pod characterize this species. Added to other characteristics related to the other sections, but not in the same combination of them, such as habit, flower size, and union of the stipules allow recognizing a new section also.

Taxonomic notes on the New Zealand flora: the status of the extinct herb Stellaria elatinoides (Caryophyllaceae) and recognition of Stellaria multiflora subsp. multiflora from New Zealand

ABSTRACTThe New Zealand endemic and presumed extinct Stellaria elatinoides Hook.f. is shown to be conspecific with the Australian Stellaria multiflora Hook. subsp. multiflora and is treated as a heterotypic synonym. A suite of morphological characters unifies these two taxa, including an annual growth habit, glabrous stems and leaves, sessile leaves, monochasial inflorescences, usually apetalous flowers, short styles and stamens, broadly ellipsoid capsule with valve apices strongly revolute, and the seeds suborbicular and with uniformly-sized prominent tubercles. The biostatus of Stellaria multiflora subsp. multiflora is reviewed and it is treated as indigenous to Australia and New Zealand, and since it was last collected from New Zealand in 1921 its conservation status there is confirmed as extinct.