Corolla Color Research Articles

Insects pollinating parsnip Pastinaca sativa l. (Apiaceae) in Moscow province

The purpose of the study was to test the ability of Pastinaca sativa , as one of the plants whose sap contains furanocoumarins, to attract the same types of insects as the most dangerous weed - Sosnowsky’s hogweed, which is widely spread in Russia. As a result, 46 species of pollinating insects from the orders Hymenoptera (3 species), Hemiptera (2 species), Coleoptera (10 species) and Diptera (31 species) have been recorded on P. sativa . Among the latter, representatives of Tachinidae (6 species), Anthomyiidae (6 species), Calliphoridae (4 species), and Syrphidae (4 species) predominated. About 50% of insects pollinating P. sativa are found on other species of umbrella plants, including native species Anthriscus sylvestris , Aegopodium podagraria , Angelica sylvestris ; on horticultural crops: Anethum graveolens , Petroselinum crispum , Carum carvi , Coriandrum sativum , Levisticum o cinale , and on the invasive hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi . It was not possible to detect any preference of insects for yellow (parsnip, lovage, dill) or white (kupyr, goutweed, angelica, hogweed, parsley, cumin, coriander) corolla color, plant height (from 30 cm to 2 m) or umbrella diameter (from 8 to 30 cm). Among all the captured insects, the following groups can be distinguished: those found on P. sativa and on wild-growing species of Apiaceae - 6 species; on P. sativa and garden crops - 4 species; on P. sativa and Heracleum sosnowskyi - 4 species; found on many species of Apiaceae - 10 species; found only on P. sativa - 24 species.

Phylogeny and morphological evolution of the Neotropical genus Cuspidaria (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae): Combining high‐throughput sequencing and targeted loci data

AbstractThe combined use of high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) with targeted loci data offers an excellent opportunity to reconstruct robust and comprehensive phylogenies at fine taxonomic scales using a hybrid approach. In this study, we infer the phylogeny of Cuspidaria (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae), a diverse clade of lianas and shrubs centered in South America's wet and dry forests. We used HTS to obtain complete or nearly complete plastome sequences of seven individuals of Cuspidaria selected to represent the main clades in the genus. This sampling strategy aimed to reconstruct relationships at deeper nodes (i.e., backbone). We also used targeted loci data obtained through Sanger sequencing to obtain sequences of two chloroplast markers (ndhF, rpl32‐trnL) and one nuclear marker (PepC) for multiple individuals of 18 out of the 21 species of Cuspidaria recognized in the most recent treatment of the genus; only C. emmonsii, C. lachnaea, and C. simplicifolia were not sampled. This broad sampling strategy aimed to test the monophyly of individual species and reconstruct fine‐scale interspecific relationships within the genus. Both datasets were analyzed separately and combined using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood approaches. The combined dataset includes 65 individuals representing 18 previously recognized species of Cuspidaria plus outgroup taxa. The analysis of the combined dataset recovered a monophyletic Cuspidaria, excluding C. bracteata, which was nested within the outgroup and is best treated elsewhere. Ancestral character state reconstructions provided novel insights into the evolution of morphology and identified multiple putative morphological synapomorphies for key lineages of Cuspidaria. Namely, anthers curved forward was reconstructed as a potential synapomorphy for the Cuspidaria clade, whereas interpetiolar gland fields in stems and inflorescence, subulate or inconspicuous prophylls of the axillary buds, biternate leaves, actinodromous venation, calyx cupulate or spathaceous, calyx apices dentate or irregularly lobed, fruits with winged valves, and fruit midrib limited by two longitudinal ridges were reconstructed as potential synapomorphies of different clades within the genus. Other traits such as habit, tertiary venation, inflorescence type, corolla color, number of ovule series, and pollen unit were highly labile. As circumscribed here, Cuspidaria is composed of eight main clades supported by molecular data and morphological synapomorphies: Sideropogon, Tetrastichella, Cinerea, Paracarpaea, Cremastus, Blepharitheca, Saldanhaea, and Cuspidaria s.str. clades. All species are monophyletic, except for C. pulchra and C. sceptrum, which form a species complex and are best treated as a single taxon. The necessary taxonomic changes are proposed, leading to the recognition of 19 species in Cuspidaria.

Taxonomic, nomenclatural, and conservation notes to the Algerian‐Tunisian endemic Thymus numidicus (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae)

AbstractThymus numidicus Poir. (Lamiaceae) is a species endemic to an extended area of the northern African coast, in Algeria and Tunisia, named “Kabylia‐Numidia‐Kroumiria.” This taxon was formerly regarded as restricted to siliceous substrata until the finding of a population on marly limestone from the “Mejarda Valley's region” in north‐western Tunisia. Due to the differentiation of several morphological characters including mainly leaf color, shape and size, calyx, and corolla color and size, the collected material is illustrated and a subspecies new to science is here presented, Thymus numidicus subsp. vagaensis El Mokni & Domina. Discrimination of the new subspecies with T. numidicus subsp. numidicus is discussed; the ranges of variation in size and color of leaves, calyx, and corolla of the two subspecies are illustrated. Habitat, ecology, chromatographic profiles, and conservation issues are also considered. The lectotypes of the names Thymus numidicus Poir. and T. lanceolatus subsp. kabylicus Batt. are here designated and T. lanceolatus subsp. kabylicus is included among the synonyms of T. numidicus.

Morphological trait evolution inSolanum(Solanaceae): Evolutionary lability of key taxonomic characters

AbstractSolanumis one of the world's largest and economically most important plant genera, including 1245 currently accepted species and several major and minor crops (e.g., tomato, potato, brinjal eggplant, scarlet eggplant, Gboma eggplant, lulo, and pepino). Here we provide an overview of the evolution of 25 key morphological traits for the major and minor clades of this giant genus based on stochastic mapping using a well‐sampled recently published phylogeny ofSolanum. The most evolutionarily labile traits (showing >100 transitions across the genus) relate to plant structure (growth form and sympodial unit structure), herbivore defence (glandular trichomes), pollination (corolla shape and colour), and dispersal (fruit colour). Ten further traits show evolutionary lability with 50–100 transitions across the genus (e.g., specialised underground organs, trichome structure, leaf type, inflorescence position and branching, stamen heteromorphism). Our results reveal a number of highly convergent traits inSolanum, including tubers, rhizomes, simple leaves, yellow corollas, heteromorphic anthers, dioecy, and dry fruits, and some unexpected pathways of trait evolution that could be explored in future studies. We show that informally named clades ofSolanumcan be morphologically defined by trait combinations providing a tool for identification and enabling predictive phylogenetic placement of unsampled species.

Morphological characterization of Maax pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Glabriusculum) and Pico Paloma pepper (Capsicum frutescens)

Objective: To morphologically characterize two wild species of Capsicum annuum Var. Glabriusculum (Maax pepper) and Capsicum frutescens (Pico Paloma pepper). Methodology: Two seed compounds were evaluated, one from Maax pepper and another from Pico Paloma pepper, collected in Campeche, Mexico. Both ecotypes were evaluated ex situ in the 2016 and 2017 cycles, under greenhouse conditions. The evaluation was carried out jointly with eight other ecotypes in a randomized block design with three repetitions. The morphological characterization was based on the Capsicum descriptor of the IPGRI. The ecotypes were characterized and compared based on descriptive statistics. Results: The main differential characteristics were: shape, length, and width of the cotyledonous leaf; shape and margin of the leaf; number of flowers per axil; color and spot of corolla; number of fruit’s locules, and seed surface. Conclusions: The morphological characterization allowed to establish differences between the two genotypes; contributing to the knowledge of ex situ growth characteristics.

Floral colour variation of Nicotiana glauca in native and non-native ranges: Testing the role of pollinators' perception and abiotic factors.

Invasive plants displaying disparate pollination environments and abiotic conditions in native and non-native ranges provide ideal systems to test the role of different ecological factors driving flower colour variation. We quantified corolla reflectance of the ornithophilous South American Nicotiana glauca in native populations, where plants are pollinated by hummingbirds, and in populations from two invaded regions: South Africa, where plants are pollinated by sunbirds, and the Balearic island of Mallorca, where plants reproduce by selfing. Using visual modelling we examined how corolla reflectance could be perceived by floral visitors present in each region. Through Mantel tests we assessed a possible association between flower colour and different abiotic factors. Corolla reflectance variation (mainly along medium to long wavelengths, i.e. human green-yellow to red colours) was greater among studied regions than within them. Flower colour was more similar between South America and South Africa, which share birds as pollinators. Within invaded regions, corolla reflectance variation was lower in South Africa, where populations could not be distinguished from each other by sunbirds, than in Spain, where populations could be distinguished from each other by their occasional visitors. Differences in corolla colour among populations were partially associated with differences in temperature. Our findings suggest that shifts in flower colour of N. glauca across native and invaded ranges could be shaped by changes in both pollination environment and climatic factors. This is the first study on plant invasions considering visual perception of different pollinators and abiotic drivers of flower colour variation.

Flower colors and anthocyanins in the cultivars of Campanula medium L. (Campanulaceae)

Flower colors and anthocyanin composition of five cultivars of the Campanula medium “May series” were surveyed to determine the relationship between their corolla colors and anthocyanins. Eleven anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid were isolated from the flowers of these cultivars, and their structures were identified using chemical and spectroscopic methods. Among them, two novel anthocyanins, cyanidin 3- O -[6- O -(α-rhamnosyl)-β-glucoside]-7- O -[6- O -(4- O -(6- O -(4- O -(β-glucosyl)- p -hydroxybenzoyl)-β-glucosyl)- p -hydroxybenzoyl)-β-glucoisde] and pelargonidin 3- O -[6- O -(α-rhamnosyl)-β-glucoside]-7- O -[6- O -(4- O -(β-glucosyl)- p -hydroxybenzoyl)-β-glucoside] were discovered in the corollas in cultivars of ‘May Purple Marden’ and ‘May Pink’. Moreover, cyanidin 3- O -[6- O -(rhmnosyl)-glucoide]-7- O -glucoside, pelargonidin 3- O -[6- O -(rhmnosyl)-glucoide]-7- O -glucoside, and delphinidin 3- O -[6- O -(rhamnosyl)-glucoside]-- O -[6- O -(4- O -(6- O -(4- O -(glucosyl)- p -hydroxybenzoyl)-glucosyl)- p -hydroxybenzoyl)-glucoside] were also discovered in these cultivars for the first time in C. medium flowers. The anthocyanin structures, conditions, and concentration and their intramolecular co-pigmentation effect might be involved in flower color variation in C. medium cultivars. • Two new anthocyanins were isolated from the flowers of Campanula medium . • The structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic data. • Flower color variation was due to anthocyanin pattern and intramolecular co-pigment effect.

Особенности цветения и опыления Weigela middendorffiana (Carrière) К. Koch при интродукции на севере

The article presents the results of studying the peculiarities of flowering and pollination of Weigela middendorffiana (Carrière) by K. Koch in the northernmost conditions of introduction. This species is a valuable ornamental shrub that naturally occurs in the forests of the Far East. Flowers of W. middendorffiana refers to flowers with polychrome corolla color during flowering. The yellow-orange stripe on the lower lobe inside the corolla becomes red-brown after the end of the male and female stages. The duration of the "yellow-orange" phase is from 2 to 5 days, and the "burgundy-red" phase lasts from 1 to 4 days. This species growing in culture\ (under cultivation) in the Middle Taiga subzone of the Komi Republic is characterized by annual secondary flowering. The flower of W. middendorffiana has morphological features that provide preferential pollination by bees and bumblebees. Experience in determining the type of pollination has shown that W. middendorffiana is characterized by xenogamy and there are signs of physiological self-incompatibility.

In the middle way there was a Callianthe (Malvaceae): a new species in forest path edges from Espírito Santo state, Brazil

We propose a new species restricted to the Atlantic Forest from the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, Callianthe capixabae. Morphological description, taxonomic comments, illustrations, distribution, habitat, and phenology are provided. C. capixabae is closely related to C. glaziovii and C. schenckii, but can be distinguished from them mainly by indument, inflorescence type, calyx nerves, corolla colour and fruit length.

Unveiling Utricularia amethystina’s true colours: a taxonomic revision of one of the largest species complexes (U. sect. Foliosa, Lentibulariaceae)

The genus Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) is the most diverse and cosmopolitan among carnivorous plants. Utricularia sect. Foliosa sensu Taylor (1989) is composed of three South American species, U. amethystina, U. tricolor and U. tridentata, the first species being recognized as highly diverse. In his taxonomic revision of the genus Utricularia, Taylor (1989) circumscribed the polymorphic U. amethystina comprising 27 synonyms involving a wide variation in corolla size and colour, morphology of corolla parts, indumentum, and overall plant size. The original publications of the synonyms provide limited information disencouraging a revision study and therefore inflating U. amethystina as new variations were discovered. In order to shed light onto the problem, a taxonomic revision, a morphometric and a molecular study showed evidence of a larger complex than previously thought, and U. amethystina s.str. sister to U. tricolor. A previously published molecular phylogeny provided strong support for all sampled U. amethystina synonyms and potential new taxa found to be nested outside the U. amethystina s.str. and U. tricolor clade. Here, we incorporate these new relationships and describe and comment on the species that comprise U. sect. Foliosa, including the restablishment of six synonyms, the description of three new species and lectotypification of five names. The current study disentangles U. amethystina complex so that further studies can approach it in a more realistic way, especially studies using population genetics tools. Our study shows that more needs to be done and here U. hirtella is presented as a new complex.

Morphological diversity of indigenous wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L. var. spinosa) accessions from northeast of Iran.

Wild pomegranate is a valuable edible species in the plant ecosystem of the Hyrcanian forests and the northern plains of the Caspian coast in Iran. The genetic diversity of these wild pomegranates can be effective in pomegranate breeding programs and germplasm conservation. In the present study, morphological diversity in 103 wild pomegranates (Punica granatum L. var. spinosa) in the northeastern area of Iran was studied using 46 traits related to trees, flowers, and fruits. The results showed that the fruit weight ranged from 17.93 to 99.9g with an average of 48.92 g, the total aril weight ranged from 0.54 g to 64.78 g with an average of 24.25 g, and the weight of 100 arils was between 4.89 and 46.21 with an average of 13.79. The fruit cracking percent, crown shape, aril juiciness, calyx, and corolla colors show a high coefficient of variation (CV > 70%). Based on PCA results, fruit weight and total aril weight, peel weight, and fruit length and diameter were important on determining differences among accessions. In biplot analysis, genotype distribution was determined by two main factors. In cluster analysis, the studied accessions were divided into two different major clusters and two subclusters in each one. The results showed a high diversity of important pomological traits in wild pomegranates such as fruit weight, fruit cracking percent, crown shape, total aril weight, aril juiciness corolla, and calyx color that can be used in breeding programs to improve pomegranate juice quality and marketability.

Phylogenetic Analyses of Some Key Genes Provide Information on Pollinator Attraction in Solanaceae.

Floral syndromes are known by the conserved morphological traits in flowers associated with pollinator attraction, such as corolla shape and color, aroma emission and composition, and rewards, especially the nectar volume and sugar concentration. Here, we employed a phylogenetic approach to investigate sequences of genes enrolled in the biosynthetic pathways responsible for some phenotypes that are attractive to pollinators in Solanaceae genomes. We included genes involved in visible color, UV-light response, scent emission, and nectar production to test the hypothesis that these essential genes have evolved by convergence under pollinator selection. Our results refuted this hypothesis as all four studied genes recovered the species' phylogenetic relationships, even though some sites were positively selected. We found differences in protein motifs among genera in Solanaceae that were not necessarily associated with the same floral syndrome. Although it has had a crucial role in plant diversification, the plant-pollinator interaction is complex and still needs further investigation, with genes evolving not only under the influence of pollinators, but by the sum of several evolutionary forces along the speciation process in Solanaceae.

Acantholimon assadii (Plumbaginaceae), a new species from flora of Iran

A new species, Acantholimon assadii from mountainous slopes of N of Kerman, Zarend, Kerman Province, south-east of Iran is here described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically distinguished from the other species of Acantholimon sect. Acantholimon by short spike-like inflorescence, length and width of bract and bracteoles, shape of bract and bracteoles, color of calyx and corolla.

Campanula adiyamanensis (Campanulaceae), a New Species from East Anatolia, Turkey

Campanula adiyamanensis Yıldırım & K. Özcan sp. nova (Campanulaceae) is described, illustrated, and classified based on morphological data. The species is restricted to eastern Anatolia (Turkey), and currently known from one locality in Adıyaman Province. Campanula adiyamanensis morphologically resembles C. alisan-kilincii, but differs from it especially by its indumentum type, longer cauline leaves, more deeply lobed corolla, corolla color, lacking or short calyx appendages, distinctly exserted style, and capsule shape.

Morphological studies on some Orobanche L. species in Egypt

Broomrapes are root holoparasites in the family Orobanchaceae. These parasites can cause substantial losses, 5%–95%, in important crops . These plants parasitize legumes, oilseeds, nightshades, and crucifers in warmer areas of Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. A full taxonomic study for seven taxa of Orobanche in Egypt; O. ramose L. var. ramose, O. mutelii F. W., O. lavandulacea Rchb., O. aegyptiaca Pers., O. crenata Forssk., O. cernua Loefl., and O. minor Sm. var. minor is presented in this article. The work includes a key to taxa, taxa descriptions, LM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of pollen, seed, and seed‐coat morphology, and a numerical analysis of results. Macromorphological characteristics are key features for differentiation among taxa. Diagnostic characteristics include simple and branched stems, presence and absence of bracteoles, constriction of corolla tubes, and color and length of corollas. SEM of pollen identified three types: prolate-spherical, oblate-spherical, and spherical. Three apertures were also recorded; inaperturate- tricolpate, tricolpate, and inaperturate. Ornamentation included only microreticulate and scabrate-verrucate. LM investigation of seeds recognized three shapes: ellipsoid to ovoid, ovoid to ellipsoid, and ovoid. SEM identified four morphological groups.

Primulina fangdingii (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Primulina fangdingii, a species of Gesneriaceae new to science from Guangxi, China, is corroborated by both morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is similar to P. longzhouensis in leaf shape and size, but is easily distinguished from the latter by its adaxially glabrous leaf blades, yellow corolla with reddish inner surface and yellow filaments. It is also similar to P. repanda in corolla color and corolla shape, but can be diagnosed by its fleshy small leaves with glabrous adaxial surface, glandular and eglandular pubescent pedicels, yellow filaments and annular disc. In addition, Primulina fangdingii is somewhat similar to nine other species of Primulina, including P. cordifolia, P. danxiaensis, P. xiuningensis, P. chingipengii, P. cordistigma, P. diffusa, P. jingxiensis, P. petrocosmeoides and P. sinovietnamica, in either floral or vegetative morphology. However, all these species differ from P. fangdingii by a series of morphological characters. Phylogenetic analyses with ITS and two chloroplast DNA regions (rpL32‐trnL, trnL‐F) revealed that P. fangdingii is sister to P. luochengensis and isolated from its morphological relatives. Primulina fangdingii is described and illustrated here, and a key to the new species and its morphological allies is provided.

A remarkable new species of Dictyanthus (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadeae, Gonolobinae) restricted to Jalisco, México

Dictyanthus nichongus (Apocynaceae), a new species endemic to Jalisco, México, is described and illustrated herein. Dictyanthus macvaughianus, D. parviflorus, and D. tuberosus exhibit morphological similarities, but the new species differs from all of them by the combination of its flower size, corolla color, and stylar head shape and exsertion. A description, photographs, and a species key, as well as conservation status, are provided. This discovery increases the number of species of Dictyanthus reported for the country to 17, with 15 of them endemic.

A new Paypayrola (Violaceae) from Panama, with notes about the species complexes for the genus

A new species of Paypayrola is described from multiple exsiccatae from west-central and east-central Panama. Paypayrola panamensis sp. nov. is represented by dozens of herbarium specimens from 26 putatively distinct populations located at lower elevations on the northern slope, in wet evergreen tropical forest on slopes and ridgetops, as well as along streams and rivers. By in its moderately short-petiolate leaves and yellow corollas, the new species resembles northern South American P. guianensis and P. hulkiana. It differs from P. guianensis in its proportionally longer leaf blades, subsessile to short-pedunculate, short inflorescences, and puberulent sepals longer than broad. It differs from P. hulkiana in its proportionally broader leaf blades, and proportionally broader elliptical to suborbicular sepals, commonly with two (rarely four) distinct lateral nerves besides the medial nerve, and a broadly rounded to frequently truncate or retuse apex. The new species also differs from both in its larger leaf blades with more lateral nerves, tapering to a narrowly rounded or weakly subattenuate apex, and a more densely flowered inflorescence. A key differentiating it from other species of Paypayrola is provided. In discussing the genus, three species complexes are well separated based on corolla color and inflorescence features.

Characterization of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) genotypes based on floral traits

An experiment was conducted on 64 genotypes of coriander to characterize them for various morphological characters. On account of days to 50% flowering, [13 genotypes were grouped as early flowering (<75 days), 38 as medium flowering (76–100 days) and 13 as late flowering (>100 days)]; based on corolla colour, [32 were grouped as white, 25 as pink and 7 as purple], based on visual observation of presence or absence of involucre, all genotypes were categorized into two groups, 59 showed the presence of involucre and only five genotypes were found without involucre. The arrangement of umbellets in umbel [29 were observed as loose umbel, 35 were observed as compact umbel]. While 17 genotype were classified as less umbel (<100), medium umbel (100.1–150) and high umbel (>150)]. The 21 genotypes were categorized into less umbellet group (<6) and 43 into more umbellet (>6) group. Two groups were formed based on number of seeds/umbellet, viz. 14 were grouped as less-seeded (<6) genotypes and 50 as more seeded (>6) genotypes. Fourteen genotypes were found low yielder (<45 g), 30 as medium yielder 45.1–60 g) and 20 genotypes as high-yielding (>60 g).

Decaisnina samaense (Loranthaceae): A New Mistletoe Species from Simunul Island, Philippines

Decaisnina samaense, a new species of Loranthaceae from the Island of Simunul, Southern Philippines, is hereby described and illustrated. It is distinguished from all Decaisnina species by having narrowly lanceolate and narrowly ovate-lanceolate leaf laminae with a remarkable acuminate apex, flower buds being globularly inflated at the base with corolla color being yellow in the lower half and pastel green in the upper half and often blackish at the tip, and inflorescence consistently produce both triads and peduncles along the axis. It is related to Decaisnina stenopetala and D. zollingeri by exhibiting globular inflation at the base of the flower buds but differs from the two by having longer bracts, longer anthers, and the free part of the filament shorter. Decaisnina samaense is hereby assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B1, B2a&c, D).