Floral Characters Research Articles

Is chiropterophily an evolutionary dead end? A phylogenetic test in the pantropical genus Parkia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade)

Background and aims – Pollination systems often reflect adaptations to specific groups of pollinators, and these morphological specialisations have been important in the diversification of the angiosperms. Here, we study the evolution of the capitulum and pollination system in the pantropical genus Parkia, which comprises 35 species of trees distributed largely in the forests of South and Central America, Africa, Madagascar, and the Indo-Pacific. The flowers are grouped into capitula that are composed of one, two, or three distinct morphological types, and are principally pollinated either by insects or by bats. Material and methods – Using BEAST, we estimated the ages of nodes in a phylogeny based on four chloroplast regions (matK, trnL, psbA-trnH, and rps16-trnQ) and the nuclear region ITS/18S/26S. This analysis also enabled us to reconstruct the ancestral state of the capitulum and hence infer the ancestral pollination system. Euclidean distance-based cluster analysis was performed to determine which characters are consistently related to a specific pollination system.Key results – Our results indicate that the ancestral capitulum in the genus had three types of flowers and a morphology associated with bat-pollination in both the Paleotropics and Neotropics. In one derived Neotropical clade, the number of floral types in each capitulum was reduced to two (capitulum also bat-pollinated) or one (insect-pollinated). Thus, entomophily, as seen in some Neotropical species of Parkia, has been derived from a bat-pollinated ancestor. Cluster analysis showed that the floral characters were mostly consistent with pollination systems.Conclusion – Chiropterophily is not an evolutionary dead end in Parkia because during the evolutionary history of the genus there has been at least one transition to entomophily. Parkia provides a unique example of evolutionary transitions from chiropterophily to entomophily in a pantropical genus of trees.

The comparative study of Alkanna and Huynhia (Boraginaceae, Lithospermeae), with description of a new species in Iran

A new blue to light violet-flowered species from SW Iran is described as Alkanna semiromica. The new species is morphologically close to A. frigida and Huynhia pulchra. Floral characters suggested the affinity of the new species to Huynhia, especially the stamens inserted at different heights in the corolla tube and also the plant trichomes while the pollen characters supported its place within the genus Alkanna. A comparison with the new species and the most similar genera is presented here based on new and old morphological data, to understand the differences among the species. In addition, the diagnostic characters, description, detailed illustrations, and taxonomic comments are presented.

Impact of chiral tebuconazole on the flavor components and color attributes of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines at the enantiomeric level

The impact of chiral tebuconazole on the flavor and appearance of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines were systematically studied. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry and headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry qualitatively and quantitatively identified the flavor components, and a photographic colorimeter was used for color attribute analysis. Tebuconazole enantiomers had different effects on the flavor and appearance of young wines, especially R-tebuconazole. The flavor differences were mainly manifested in fruity and floral characteristics of the wine due to changes in the concentrations of acids, alcohols, and esters; R-tebuconazole alters the concentrations of key flavor compounds to the greatest extent. Tebuconazole treatment changes the color of young wines, with the final red shade of wine being control group > rac-tebuconazole ≥ S-tebuconazole > R-tebuconazole. Since chiral tebuconazole negatively alters wine, grapes treated with chiral pesticides should be subject to stricter quality control during processing.

Evolution of floral characters and biogeography of Heloniadeae (Melanthiaceae): an example of breeding system shifts with inflorescence change

Heloniadeae (Melanthiaceae) presents an East Asia–North America disjunct distribution. Different molecular and morphological data nevertheless support the tribe as a monophyletic group. However, their phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history, together with the character evolution, are not clear. Therefore, we constructed a Bayesian phylogenetic tree for Heloniadeae using cpDNA and inferred the historical biogeography and floral character evolution. The results revealed that Heloniadeae was distributed in high-latitudes of East Asia and North America, originating since 22.2 mya. The East Asia clade migrated into southwest China, and subsequently colonized the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, the Ryukyus, and spread northward to Japan and southern Sakhalin. The evolution of the inflorescence and number of flowers were phylogenetically conserved, associated with the historical biogeography of Heloniadeae. The inflorescences transferred from raceme to sub-umbel, and the number of flowers decreased during the dispersal process, which may be accompanied by changes in the breeding system. Besides, the anthesis period was more affected by the habitat environment than phylogenetic constraints. The flowering temperature of Heloniadeae was below 20 °C in most species, except H. kawanoi. Such a low temperature might not be conductive to pollinator activities, but it could be compensated by sustaining seed production with long-lasting flowers.

Lettuce Entertain You: Floral Agency in Ralph Knevet's <i>Rhodon and Iris</i>

This essay investigates the performativity of plants in Ralph Knevet’s Rhodon and Iris, a play that was written and performed for a feast held by the Norwich Society of Florists in 1631. The play explores at least two forms of performativity: the first is the act of staging plants for a theatrical performance, where vegetables present their virtues through floral allegories that are enacted by human players. The second form is the way plants affect and are affected by their environments, particularly as theorized by Michael Marder and Mel Y. Chen. In Rhodon and Iris, these two dimensions work together to produce a form of floral agency that decenters the human. The essay explores how floral agency collaborates with literary narratives when beings perform for plants (within a history of floral celebrations), as plants (embodying plants as allegorical figures), and with plants (floral characters using plants as ingredients in cosmetics, poisons, and antidotes). Knevet uses literature to articulate a unique plant philosophy that challenges divisions between art and nature and among literature, philosophy, and science. Rhodon and Iris thus illustrates the many ways that theatrical performances and printed playbooks, and even printed herbals and herbaria, responded to and shaped the performativity of plants.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Survivability, Growth Performances and Floral Characters of Jasminum officinale (Samanpichcha)

Physical mutagenesis is an effective mutational breeding method for improving various growth and floral characteristics of ornamental plants. The experiment was undertaken with an objective to investigate the effect of various dosages of gamma irradiation on survivability, growth and floral characteristics of Jasminum officinale plants raised by rooted cuttings. The 60CO Gamma irradiation source at Horticultural Crop Research and Developmental Institute, Gannoruwa was used to expose rooted plants to different dosages such as 0Gy, 17Gy, 21Gy, 25Gy, 29Gy and 33Gy. A Complete Randomized Design with four replicates having 10 plants for each replicate was practiced. The results revealed that gamma irradiation dosage from 25Gy to 33Gy significantly decreased the survivability of J. officinale plants (P<0.05). LD50 of gamma radiation on J. officinale was occurred around 33Gy at maturity stage. Plant height and shoot length were significantly reduced by gamma irradiation dosages of 17Gy to 33Gy compared to the control and significant reduction of shoot number was observed at 33Gy. Gamma irradiation with 17Gy dosage, it showed a significant reduction in petal width (0.82 cm) of flowers. None of the other dosages were able to develop a change in the floral characteristics of J. officinale. The study showed that 33Gy gamma irradiated plant, it is having significant reduction of plant height, number of shoots and shoot length hence it could be domesticated as a dwarf and potted plant.

The duration of the life cycle is associated with C-value and affects reproductive features in the Fabeae, the tribe with largest genomes in Fabaceae

The amount of DNA per nucleus, usually expressed in terms of the amount within a haploid chromosome set (C-value), is known to have significant impacts on morphological and physiological features in plants. Among these features, C-value influences replication time and hence duration of the whole cell cycle, as well as sizes of cells. The Fabeae tribe of the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) is remarkable in having both annual and perennial species and the largest C-values in the family. Polyploidy is rare in this tribe. This work aims to study the correlation between annuality/perenniality, C-value and some morphological characteristics of reproductive organs, such as the number of pollen grains, ovules, flowers per inflorescence as well as pollen and flower size, in annual and perennial species within the tribe Fabeae (Vicieae). The average C-value of perennials is statistically significantly higher than of annuals. Compared with perennials, annuals are mostly characterized by single- or few-flowered inflorescences and fewer ovules per carpel independently of flower size. All floral characteristics exhibit a range of intraspecific variation thus complicating the estimation of precise impact of C-value on phenotype. Features of the reproductive system in the Fabeae are therefore partly correlated with C-value, most probably mediated through the interaction between ecological adaptation of species with their life cycle duration.

Comparative floral anatomy of some species of Brassicaceae and its taxonomic significance

The diversity of the floral characters in 25 species of Brassicaceae representing seven tribes was studied through tracing their floral organs vascularization. The aim of the present study is to explore the contribution of the micro-floral characters in understanding the relationships among the studied species of Brassicaceae as well as the evolutionary trends in calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium. It was concluded that the vascularization of sepals, petals, stamens, nectaries and carpels was considered diagnostic and reliable characters at the specific level. The reduction and presence of vascular complexes was found to be at the top of the floral evolutionary trends. The micro-floral data were discussed in the view of dicta of evolution which facilitate the construction of proposed schematic presentation showing the line of advancement within each tribe. The line of advancement in tribe Brassiceae (representing 14 studied species) is from the primitive Raphanus sativus L. to the advanced Eruca sativa Mill. To rule the line of evolution within other tribes, the number of studied taxa should be increased.

Inaccuracy patterns and precise pollination among distylous Palicourea and Psychotria (Rubiaceae)

Heterostyly is a polymorphism in which populations comprise two (distyly) or three (tristyly) floral morphs with reciprocal positioning of the height of the anthers and stigmas (reciprocal herkogamy). Such reciprocal herkogamy permits precise pollen placement on pollinators’ bodies and pollination success by promoting disassortative pollen transfer between floral morphs. Here, we aimed to understand how the different components of reciprocity relate to and differ from each other in distylous flowers, and whether factors, such as genus, morph-ratio variation, and corolla tube length influence the imprecisions in the sexual organs within populations. We gathered literature and original morphometrics data comprising 98 Palicourea and Psychotria populations from 44 species, the two largest distylous Rubiaceae genera, which differ in some floral features and pollination systems (hummingbirds vs. insects, respectively). We estimated reciprocity using new inaccuracy indices and standardization techniques, which allowed comparisons among a wide array of populations. Our results showed that maladaptive bias (i.e. departure from optimum reciprocity) of low organs was higher than the other decomposed inaccuracies indices tested. In addition, inaccuracy of low organs was higher than those of high organs. We did not find any relation of either genus, morph-ratio variation, or corolla tube length on general inaccuracy measurements. Apparently, pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits, imposed by different pollinators groups, did not differ markedly among the studied distylous Rubiaceae. This is the first study on inaccuracy components for such an ample array of populations and provides insights on the relative importance of morphological traits that optimize the functionality of distyly. We highlight the applicability of using standardized reciprocity indices for cross populational investigations, which may both support previous insights and reveal unknown patterns in distylous plants.

Morphological method and molecular marker determine genetic diversity and population structure in Allochrusa

The Caryophyllaceae family is complex. Several attempts have been carried out in the past to study Caryophyllaceae members. This study mainly focused on Allochrusa Bunge to determine its genetic structure and used ISSR markers, ITS, and rps16 data to classify and differentiate Allochrusa species. We collected 122 Allochrusa specimens. Our analysis included morphological and molecular method approaches. Morphometry analysis indicated that floral characters could assist in the identification of Allochrusa species. A. persica (Boiss.) Boiss. and A. versicolor Fisch. & C.A.Mey. showed affinity to each other. A. bungei Boiss. formed a separate group. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic differentiation in Allochrusa (p= 0.001). The majority of genetic variation was among the Allochrusa population. We recorded minimum gene flow (Nm=0.176) between Allochrusa species. Besides this, isolation by distance occurs in Allochrusa members, as shown in the Mantel test result (r = 0.01, p = 0.0002). STRUCTURE analysis revealed three genetic groups. It is evident that A. persica, A. versicolor, and A. bungei differ genetically from each other. Our current findings have implications in plant systematics and biodiversity management.

Morphological characterization and pollen –pistil interaction in selected genotypes of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.)

Thirty six morphological characters consisting of sixteen biometrical and twenty qualitative characters were studied in six genotypes of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a fibre cum green manure crop of the tropics. Of the six genotypes, CO 1 was the earliest to flower while, JRT 610 was the last one to flower. Petal patternings were observed only on the standard petals of SUIN 037 and CO 1. SUIN 053 out-yielded all other genotypes for seed yield. The stigma receptivity was found to vary between genotypes at different stages of flower development. It was very low in K 12 Yellow up to the stage of flower showing initiation of the emergence of standard petal and in other genotypes, stigma receptivity was either low or medium in the same stage. However, it was high or very high in fully opened flowers of all the genotypes. When the pollen grains of five genotypes namely SUIN 053, SUIN 037, K 12 Yellow, JRT 610, CO 1 were used for pollinating the genotype SN 23, the pollen tube growth of SUIN 037 was the fastest to reach the ovary of SN 23. Key words:Crotalaria juncea, Sunnhemp, Floral characters, Pollen germination, Pollen-pistil interaction

Genetic variability and association analysis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm based on biometrical and floral traits

The present experiment was carried out to evaluate 150 rice germplasm accessions for biometrical and floral traits to assess the amount of variability and association among them. Eight biometrical and thirteen floral characters were recorded. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant variation observed for all the characters studied at a 5% probability level. High PCV and GCV was recorded for spikelet sterility percentage (28.78 %, 21.61 %), number of pollen grains per anther (22.25 %, 21.08 %) and pollen load (31.31 %, 31.12 %). High heritability along with high genetic advance was recorded for all biometrical traits except spikelet sterility percentage and six floral traits viz., stigma length, anther length, style length, apical pore, number of pollen grains per anther and pollen load. Single plant yield showed a positive correlation with thousand grain weight. Mean performance of traits studied indicated that, higher yield per plant was observed in Thilainayagam and a high 1000 grain weight in Sembala. The high number of productive tillers per plant was observed in Kodai. Four genotypes, Thooyamalli, IG 23, IG 24 and Vellai chithiraikar were recorded higher panicle length and the least spikelet sterility percentage was observed in IG 7. Hence, the identified germplasm with distinct biometrical and floral characters could be utilized for further hybridization programme. Key words: Variability, Correlation, Germplasm, Rice

Three new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae) from the western Andean slopes of Ecuador and Colombia.

Three new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae, tribe Gesnerieae) are described from the western Andean slopes of northern Ecuador and southern Colombia. Columneaangulata J.L. Clark & F. Tobar and Columneafloribunda F. Tobar & J.L. Clark are described from northern Ecuador. Columneatecta J.L. Clark & Clavijo is described from southern Colombia and northern Ecuador. The three new species are facultative epiphytes with dorsiventral shoots and are readily recognized by bright red tips on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces. The species described here are vegetatively similar to the sympatric species Columneapicta H. Karst. and are readily differentiated by floral features that are illustrated, described and featured with digital images.

Plant phylogeny as a major predictor of flower visitation by nitidulid beetles, a lineage of ancestral angiosperm pollinators

Plant phylogeny sometimes predicts interspecific variation in pollinator composition better than floral features, and its predictive value seems to differ among major groups of insect pollinators. Earlier findings suggesting that pollination by Plant phylogeny sometimes predicts interspecific variation in pollinator composition better than gross floral features, and its predictive value seems to differ among major groups of insect pollinators. Pollination by beetles exhibits the strongest phylogenetic signal and the strongest phylogenetic conservatism, which is particularly intriguing given that beetles were probably the pollinators of early angiosperms. We examine in this paper the relationship between plant phylogeny and flower visitation by nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), an old monophyletic group of flower specialists and pollinators of gymnosperms and angiosperms. Using quantitative data on pollinator composition for 251 plant species (belonging to 167 genera in 46 families) from well-preserved Mediterranean montane habitats from southeastern Spain, the following questions were addressed: Is pollination by nitidulids correlated with plant phylogeny in the large species sample studied, and if it does, which are the relative importances of plant phylogeny, floral characteristics, and environmental features as predictors of nitidulid pollination in the plant assemblage studied ? Nitidulids were recorded in flowers of 25% of the plant species considered. Their distribution was significantly related to plant phylogeny, being clustered on certain lineages (Ranunculales, Malvales, Rosales, Asterales) and remarkably absent from others (e.g., Fabales, Lamiales). None of the environmental (habitat type, elevation) or macroscopic floral features considered (perianth type and color, flower mass) predicted nitidulid visitation after statistically accounting for the effect of plant phylogeny. We theorize that nitidulid beetles use characters of plants that track plant phylogeny at least as deep as the early radiation of the eudicots, imaginably characters such as the chemical signatures of pollen.

Integrative analyses ofCrepidium(Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Malaxideae) shed more light on its relationships withDienia,LiparisandMalaxisand justify reinstatement of narrow endemicC. allanii

AbstractMalaxidinae are a cosmopolitan higher Epidendroid subtribe of > 1250 species that exhibit wide morphological and ecological diversity. Despite almost two centuries of taxonomic deliberation, controversy persists regarding the delimitation of practically all Malaxidinae genera, the most important of which are Crepidium, Dienia, Liparis and Malaxis. Previous attempts to classify these genera using a molecular phylogenetic approach showed Liparis and Malaxis to be polyphyletic and the floral characters traditionally used to define them as homoplastic. Emphasis has instead shifted to vegetative and ecological traits. Here, we conduct an expanded analysis of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (matK) sequences focused on terrestrial taxa, with the resulting phylogram largely corroborating the emerging picture, and we test the efficacy of four previously highlighted traits to recover the same relationships. Although growth habit is underscored as important for resolving a natural distinction between epiphytic Liparis and terrestrial ‘Crepidium clade’ plus ‘Malaxis clade’ taxa, leaf shape and venation and habitat preference are shown to be poor predictors of phylogenetic affiliation. Instead, perennating organ structure (heteroblastic or homoblastic) and placement (predominantly above- or below-ground) – are incisive, with leaf number and texture apparently correlated. These findings are discussed in the context of an inferred evolutionary history of the subtribe. Although homoplastic at the subtribe level, some floral characters are shown to be useful for resolving identities at the species level. Accordingly, the status of four long-confused species (Crepidium acuminatum, C. allanii, C. purpureum and Microstylis biloba) is resolved.

ASPECTOS FLORAIS E REPRODUTIVOS DE Psychotria capitata RUIZ & PAVON (RUBIACEAE), UM CASO DE DISTILIA TÍPICA NO CERRADO

BREEDING SYSTEMS AND POLLINATION OF THE PSYCHOTRIA CAPITATA RUIZ & PAVON (RUBIACEAE): A CASE THE TYPICAL DISTYLY IN CERRADO: The phenotypic integration observed in flowers is an evolutionary strategy that aims to increase the pollen flow between individuals, favoring the crossing and maintenance of genetic variability. This success is directly related to the floral structure, such as hermaphroditism, and to the behavior of visitors, and can generate conflicts between the floral structures, being selected characteristics that reduce this conflict and amplify the pollen flow, as is the case of heterostyly. The objective of the study was to describe the floral characteristics, the reproductive system, and pollination in Psychotria capitata Ruiz & Pavon (Rubiaceae). For this purpose, the floral structures were measured and observed, controlled crossings were carried out, the floral visitors were observed and the nectar production was evaluated. Psychotria capitata is a typical dystylic species, shrub with a maximum height of 3 meters, with high rates of reciprocal hercogamy between the floral morphs. It has white tubular flowers, visited by a wide range of insects, including moths, bees, wasps and flies. There was higher fruit formation in intermorphic cross-pollination (> 60 %) and lower formation in intramorphic (< 20 %) and self-pollination (< 15 %), characterizing self and intramorphic incompatibility. These data were confirmed by the non growth of pollen tubes in self-pollinated pistils and intramorphic pollinators. Blooming is annual, and occurs between the months of October and January, with peak blooming in November and December. The reproductive data evaluated are similar to other Rubiaceae species in the Cerrado forest sub forest. These data enrich the reproductive knowledge of Rubiaceae's sub-forest species, so important for the maintenance of fauna in forest fragments.

Structural diversity of elaiophores in Argentine species of Malpighiaceae: morphology, anatomy, and interaction with pollinators.

Most Neotropical Malpighiaceae species are characterized by having zygomorphic flowers and oil glands in the sepals called elaiophores; these floral characteristics are associated with a particular pollination syndrome through oil-collecting bees. This work proposes a study about the structural characteristics of elaiophores in 18 species of Malpighiaceae present in Argentina. The main objectives are to describe the morphology and anatomy of the elaiophores, to detect variation in the number of glands, to compare similarities or differences in elaiophores of species belonging to different lineages, and to know about the potential pollinators and their association with the structural traits of the elaiophores. The morphology and the anatomy were studied using traditional methods of scanning electron and bright-field microscopes. Field trips were carried out to capture oil-collecting bee species on flowers, in different natural populations. Different measurements were taken in the flowers, elaiophores, and oil-collecting bees and were statistically analyzed. Although elaiophores showed a common pattern, some particularities in number, morphology, and anatomy were detected; few of these seem to be restricted to some groups of species phylogenetically related. As regards pollinators, a positive tendency was observed between the size of the flowers, elaiophores, and oil-collecting bees. However, the thickness of the cuticle presented a negative association with the size of the elaiophore and consequently with the floral diameter, which could be presumably related to the foraging behavior and/or the structure of oil-collecting apparatus of the bee species.

Comparative Floral Micromorphology in Mimosa sect. Calothamnos (Fabaceae)

The genus Mimosa L. is well known for its high morphological variability and the presence of taxonomic complexes—groups of taxa that are not adequately circumscribed and are therefore in continuous revision. For this study, we analyzed flowers from 28 different taxa in Mimosa sect. Calothamnos Barneby and five vegetatively similar taxa from Mimosa sect. Mimosa. We observed three calyx shapes and four (glabrous or pubescent) calyx border types, as well as describe glandular trichomes on the calyx border for the first time in section Calothamnos. While the corolla exhibits only two shape types, trichomes on the corolla are much more diverse, as we found one simple and 11 branched trichome types in diverse orientations and dispositions. Given the taxonomic value of trichomes and profuse terminology in different families, we focused on the detailed description of their micromorphology, type, and shape, finding morphological differences between trichome types, which is an easy way to adequately compare them between even unrelated taxa. Our results using trichome types on the corolla are consistent with the original differentiation of sections Calothamnos and Mimosa. Flower micromorphology also provides characters to distinguish species, groups of species, and varieties within section Calothamnos and could be useful in a future taxonomic treatment of the section. We also found that some floral features, such as inflorescence color and stamen fusion, are associated with the characters used in this study.

Coleopteran Pollinators of Annonaceae in the Brazilian Cerrado—A Review

The evolutionary trajectories of insects and angiosperms appear to be intimately interconnected. Increases in the diversity of phytophagous beetles and angiosperms co-occur in the Mesozoic fossil record, and there is fossil evidence of pollinivory and pollination by insects, both in flowering plants and in gymnosperms. The oldest records of angiosperm pollination indicate flies as pollen vectors. A basal group of angiosperms, the order Magnoliales, has retained plesiomorphic characters such as dozens of pistils and stamens spiraling around the receptacle. In a family of this order, Annonaceae, over 90% of species are pollinated by beetles. In many Annonaceae species, flowers display wide spaces, referred to as floral chambers, where beetles can find shelter from weather conditions and predators, food in the form of pollen and tissues, and a mating site. Two basic types of floral chambers can be distinguished: small chambers visited by small beetles (Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae, and Curculionidae) with diurnal and/or nocturnal activity and large and thermogenic floral chambers visited by beetles of the tribe Cyclocephalini (Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthidae). In the latter case, the heat that the flowers produce may serve as a resource for the beetles that visit them, resulting in smaller endothermy costs for the scarabs. This study reviewed the literature including PhD and MSc theses on cantharophilous Annonaceae in the Cerrado. In this biome, both types of associations are found, although cantharophilous Annonaceae represent a small portion of the plant species (<5%). Cantharophilous Annonaceae in the Cerrado share attributes according to the beetles that pollinate them: species pollinated by small beetles, for instance, may flower throughout the year, whereas Annonaceae pollinated by Cyclocephalini normally flower in the beginning of the rainy season (October/November), in synchrony with the phenological patterns of their pollinators. Cantharophilous Annonaceae flowers, regardless of their size, tend to have light colors and sweet and fruity odors. In addition to the lack of studies on the attraction of beetles by these floral characters, the taxonomic composition of the beetles that pollinate Annonaceae in the Cerrado is poorly known. This review attempts to discuss, in light of what has already been published, potential fields of investigation concerning pollinating beetles’ behavior and evolution.

Synopsis of Habenaria s.l. (Orchidaceae) in New Guinea and adjacent islands.

A taxonomic synopsis of the orchid genus Habenaria in New Guinea and adjacent islands is presented. We confirmed the occurrence of 27 Habenaria species in study area. Sixteen of these are endemic and were not so far found outside New Guinea. Morphological characteristics and illustrations of floral segments of taxa are presented. One new species of Habenaria is described. Four neotypes are selected. An updated key to species groups and species occurring in the study area is provided. The importance of diagnostic floral characters in Habenaria is discussed.