Floral Characters Research Articles

More is not always better: Impact of nutrient-addition on floral traits important for buzz pollination

Nutrient addition can affect plant fitness by altering resource allocation to reproduction or modifying floral traits. Alterations in floral attributes, particularly in species that exhibit specialization in specific ecological niches, can disrupt or augment the dynamics of interactions between plants and their pollinators. However, very little is known about how soil enrichment affects the floral characteristics and pollen release dynamics of buzz pollinated plants. Our study analyzed the effects of nutrient enrichment on the reproductive traits of a buzz pollinated plant species. Under greenhouse conditions, we established a phosphorus-rich nutrient gradient to investigate the impact of such enrichment on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). Our study focused on: i) flowering patterns, ii) flower morphology, iii) pollen release from anthers, and iv) pollen quantity and quality (protein concentration). Plants were grown in low, intermediate, and high nutrient conditions, and various functional traits that are essential for buzz pollination were examined. Adding nutrients improved the display of flowers. Morphometric traits important for pollinator attraction and interaction, such as floral diameter, anther-tube width, and petal width, showed an increase in the high nutrient condition. The pollen quality and quantity were found to be unaltered; however, flowers originating from intermediate and high nutrient conditions exhibited reduced pollen release upon buzzing despite possessing ample pollen reserves. Our findings suggest that the positive effects of nutrient addition on floral traits are limited to a narrow range of concentrations. Higher concentrations can diminish these effects and impact the accessibility of pollen, as well as the reproductive performance of plants. In conclusion, based on our results, we predict that changing land use scenarios leading to nutrient accumulation may have significant consequences for plant-pollinator interactions.

Qualidade floral em descendentes de terceira geração de excelentes cultivares de gladíolo obtidas por irradiação gama

Abstract The gladiolus is one of the most commercially important cut flowers in Mexico. It was traditionally considered a funeral flower, but its uses have now diversified to many other decorative floral arrangements due to its variety of colors and forms. All the new varieties on the market in Mexico are of foreign origin, such that the generation of new genotypes is needed. In a previous study, flowers originating from irradiated Blanca Borrega variety corms expressed different floral characteristics, shape and size; however, it is unknown whether these characters are fixed in subsequent generations. The objective of the current work was therefore to evaluate the fixed characteristics in the ornamental quality of outstanding cultivars of Blanca Borrega variety gladiolus descended from irradiation with60Co. During the fall-winter (2020-2021) period, corms of outstanding cultivars generated by distinct irradiation doses were planted in sterilized substrate to evaluate corm germination (%), plant height, number of leaves per stem, spike length (cm), combined stem and spike length (cm), number of flowers per spike, flower size (cm), number of leaves, and survival, and to categorize cut flower quality under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) criteria. Our results indicated that the outstanding cultivar derived from the 80 Gy dose presented a Class I classification (Second quality) of the UN/ECE parameters due to its stem height and number of buds, followed by the cultivars descended from irradiation at 10, 30 and 50 Gy and the control, which were placed in Class II (Third quality). Thus, in the third generation the favorable esthetic characteristics of the outstanding cultivars remain fixed.

Do Abiotic Stresses Affect the Aroma of Damask Roses?

Roses are popular ornamental plants all over the world. Rosa damascena Mill., also known as the damask rose, is a well-known scented rose species cultivated to produce essential oil. The essential oils obtained are high in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are in demand across the pharmaceutical, food, perfume, and cosmetic industries. Citronellol, nonadecane, heneicosane, caryophyllene, geraniol, nerol, linalool, and phenyl ethyl acetate are the most important components of the rose essential oil. Abiotic factors, including as environmental stress and stress generated by agricultural practises, frequently exert a selective impact on particular floral characteristics, hence influencing the overall quality and quantity of rose products. Additionally, it has been observed that the existence of stress exerts a notable impact on the chemical composition and abundance of aromatic compounds present in roses. Therefore, understanding the factors that affect the biosynthesis of VOCs, especially those representing the aroma and scent of rose, as a response to abiotic stress is important. This review provides comprehensive information on plant taxonomy, an overview of the volatolomics involving aromatic profiles, and describes the influence of abiotic stresses on the biosynthesis of the VOCs in damask rose.

Morphological Diversity Analysis of Some Existing and Endangered Dendrobium Orchid Species in Bangladesh

Dendrobium is a sympodial, epiphytic orchid that belongs to the family of Orchidaceae. Bangladesh has a total of 188 different species under 78 genera of this tribe. Among them, there are 27 species of Dendrobium. Considering the potential value, the 16 species of Dendrobium are especially highlighted for herbal, horticultural, and ornamental purposes. They are also valuable for flowering as pot plants or hanging baskets. Dendrobium orchids are highly important in economically, socially, culturally, and as medicinal orchids. The basic needs of humans, the morphological characteristics of these orchids, such as the shape of pseudobulb, leaf, variation of inflorescence, floral characteristics, and their biodiversity evaluation in Bangladesh, are very important, and have been taken up for the present study. Besides these, ruthless collection by people who are thirsty for beauty has made the species endangered. On the other hand, the species has lost its habitat due to the removal of large trees. So, this research program has been conducted to save these valuable species from extinction. In addition, by studying their morphology, scientists and researchers gain insights into the evolutionary adaptations, reproductive strategies, and ecological interactions of orchids. For the present study exist and endangered Dendrobium about 2-3 years old and flower bearing matured plants were studied for development of morphological characterization of these orchids were flourished. J. Bio-Sci. 30(2): 47-57, 2022

Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on reproductive structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico.

Alismataceae, a sub-cosmopolitan 28 family with ca. 17 genera 29 and 113 species, is a large group of aquatic plants. Compression/impressions and bio-inclusions in amber support the documentation of the lineage in low-latitude North America. In Mexico, fossil aquatic plants have been infrequently documented. The new flowers recognize a group mainly known through fruits and seeds. Impression/compression reproductive structures from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality, Puebla, and bio-inclusions from the Miocene amber of Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico, known through 150 samples. They are described and compared with extinct and extant taxa. A parsimony analysis based on 29 floral characters of 17 extant genera of the Alismataceae evaluates the relationship between the fossil material and their potential living relatives. Nichima gen. nov. is a perfect, actinomorphic flower with an expanded receptacle, three persistent sepals with multi-vasculature, delicate and caducous petals, six stamens, and gynoecium composed of three to more superior carpels, maturing into achenes. These characteristics resemble flowers of Alismataceae. Nichima represents an extinct member of the family, with two new species, Nichima magalloniae L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián sp. nov. and Nichima gonzalez-medranoi L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián, sp. nov. Their phylogenetic position suggests affinity with a clade that includes Baldiella, Echinodorus, and Alisma. Reproductive structures from the Cenozoic of Mexico support the identification of a new extinct genus, Nichima, evidencing Alismataceae's extensive history in North America's low latitudes and suggests a southern extension of the Boreotropical Flora. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

FORAGING ECOLOGY and ABUNDANCE of NATIVE POLLINATORS in BITTER GOURD

An experiment is conducted in bitter gourd cropping system at Coimbatore district, to study bitter gourd floral character, the foraging ecology of native pollinators and their modes of pollination. Bitter gourd is a monoecious plant bears separate male and female flowers. Male flower blooms early followed by female flowers. Stigma receptivity of pistillate flowers was confirmed on 4th day old flower showed yellowish-green stigma with shining stigmatic exudation. The stigma receptivity last upto 24 hours after anthesis. Pollen viability test done with 2 per cent acetocarmine solution indicated that pollen collected during morning hours (0600 h) were more viable and were deeply stained, whereas pollens collected at evening hours (1700 h) remained unstained and considered as nonviable. The foraging activity of A. cerana indica and T. iridipennis begins at 0600 h and 0630 h respectively and ceased by evening 1700 h. T. iridipennis foragers spent more time in pollen collection (31.1 seconds/ flower) and nectar collection (26.14 seconds/ flower) whereas, A. cerana indica spent less time in pollen collection (8.62 seconds/ flowers) and nectar collection (3.56 seconds/ flower) respectively. A total of 17 pollinator species belongs to four orders viz., Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera have been documented and grouped based on their mode of foraging in bitter gourd flowers.

Adaptation to pollination by fungus gnats underlies the evolution of pollination syndrome in the genus Euonymus.

Dipteran insects are known pollinators of many angiosperms, but knowledge on how flies affect floral evolution is relatively scarce. Some plants pollinated by fungus gnats share a unique set of floral characters (dark red display, flat shape and short stamens), which differs from any known pollination syndromes. We tested whether this set of floral characters is a pollination syndrome associated with pollination by fungus gnats, using the genus Euonymus as a model. The pollinator and floral colour, morphology and scent profile were investigated for ten Euonymus species and Tripterygium regelii as an outgroup. The flower colour was evaluated using bee and fly colour vision models. The evolutionary association between fungus gnat pollination and each plant character was tested using a phylogenetically independent contrast. The ancestral state reconstruction was performed on flower colour, which is associated with fungus gnat pollination, to infer the evolution of pollination in the genus Euonymus. The red-flowered Euonymus species were pollinated predominantly by fungus gnats, whereas the white-flowered species were pollinated by bees, beetles and brachyceran flies. The colour vision analysis suggested that red and white flowers are perceived as different colours by both bees and flies. The floral scents of the fungus gnat-pollinated species were characterized by acetoin, which made up >90 % of the total scent in three species. Phylogenetically independent contrast showed that the evolution of fungus gnat pollination is associated with acquisition of red flowers, short stamens and acetoin emission. Our results suggest that the observed combination of floral characters is a pollination syndrome associated with the parallel evolution of pollination by fungus gnats. Although the role of the red floral display and acetoin in pollinator attraction remains to be elucidated, our finding underscores the importance of fungus gnats as potential contributors to floral diversification.

Genome sequencing provides insights into Caprifoliaceae genome evolution and the mechanism underlying second blooming phenomenon in Heptacodium miconioides

Plants of the Caprifoliaceae family are widely cultivated worldwide as ornamental plants owing to their numerous, sweet-smelling, beautiful flowers and fruits. Heptacodium miconioides Rehd., a member of the family, is endemic to eastern China and is cultivated as a popular ornamental plant in North America and European countries. It has a rather novel and beautiful trait of high horticultural value, that is, its sepals persist and enlarge, turning purplish red. Here, we report the chromosome-level genome assembly of H. miconioides to understand its evolution and floral characteristics. The 622.28 Mb assembled genome harbored a shared whole-genome duplication with a related species, Lonicera japonica. Comparative genomic analysis suggested that chromosome fission events following genome duplication underlie the unusual chromosome number of these two species, as well as chromosome fission of another five chromosomes in H. miconioides, giving rise to a haploid chromosome number of 14 (versus 9 in L. japonica). In addition, based on transcriptome and chloroplast genome analysis of 17 representative species in the Caprifoliaceae, we assumed that large structural variations in the chromosomes of H. miconioides were not caused by hybridization. Changes in the candidate genes of the MADS-box family were detected in the H. miconioides genome, including AP1-, AP3-, and SEP- expanded, which might underlie the sepal elongation and development in this species. The current findings provided a critical resource for genome evolution studies in Caprifoliaceae and it was an example of how multi-omics data can elucidate the regulation of important ornamental traits.

A new species of Schlegelia (Schlegeliaceae) from wet montane forest of Colombia and a key for the species of the genus.

In this paper we describe and illustrate Schlegelialongirachis a new species from montane forest remnants (1200--1900 m) in the Western slope of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia ("Serranía de Las Quinchas" and Virolín county) in the Departments of Boyacá and Santander. A root-climbing liana, the new species is contrasted to S.fuscata, S.monachinoi and S.parviflora, the three most morphologically similar species of Schlegelia. This new species is differentiated from its putative close relatives by vegetative (texture, colour, pubescence and shape in leaves, bracts, bracteoles pedicel, calyx and corolla), inflorescences as well as floral characters (staminode absent). We provide an updated key to 24 known species of Schlegelia. For the identification key, S.fuscata and S.roseiflora are regarded here as different from S.parviflora. S.urbaniana is considered a synonym of S.axillaris, whereas S.fastigiata is separated from S.sulphurea as a recognizable species. Schlegelia has its center of distribution in Colombia, where 17 of the species are known to occur.

Can flowers help to disentangle the Vriesea oligantha complex (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae)? Taxonomic implications and contributions to the floral anatomy and biology of Stigmatodon

Abstract The Vriesea oligantha complex comprises Vriesea lancifolia, Vriesea oligantha, and Vriesea pseudoligantha, which were recently transferred to Stigmatodon. Such species exhibit strong morphological convergence to live in rocky fields, which makes difficult their identification in the wild or in herbarium specimens. In a previous work, leaf characters helped in the species delimitation and evidenced a new taxon. Considering that morphology, anatomy, and aspects of floral biology can contribute to better define species limits and to indicate potential pollinators, individuals from nine populations of V. oligantha complex were comparatively studied. The typical V. oligantha is mainly distinguished by tubular flowers, with simple petal appendages and diurnal anthesis. The remaining individuals studied from different populations exhibit campanulate corollas, with denticulate petal appendages and nocturnal anthesis, not allowing for the separation of V. lancifolia, V. pseudoligantha, and a fourth taxon. Floral anatomy is less variable than the external morphology, with little contribution to the species delimitation; however, it is helpful in the circumscription of Stigmatodon. The infralocular septal nectaries and the floral features provide evidence that the main pollinators of campanulate and tubular flowers are bats and hummingbirds, respectively. Specific pollinator guilds in combination with fragmented populations may explain the limited gene flow amongst populations.

Peliosanthes linearifolia (Asparagaceae), a new species with linear leaves from Vietnam

Peliosanthes linearifolia, a new species of Asparagaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2022 in Quang Nam Province, southern Vietnam. Peliosanthes linearifolia is remarkable for its linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves that are less than 1.3 cm wide. Such leaves were previously known only in P. graminea. Based on the floral characters of the new species, we assign it to the Peliosanthes teta species group. Peliosanthes linearifolia differs from P. teta, P. graminea and the other species of the group in the following combination of morphological traits: stoloniform rhizome, flowers solitary in axils of all primary bracts of inflorescence (i.e. inflorescence is a raceme), violet flowers and prominently lobed apex of the androecial corona.

Ceropegia sunhangiana, a new species of Apocynaceae from Southwest China

Ceropegia sunhangiana P.R.Luo and T.Deng, a new species from Qiaojia, northeast Yunnan, southwest China, is described and illustrated herein based on its morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. This species is similar to C. christenseniana, and C. sinoerecta but can be distinguished easily by its stem, indumentum, leaf, and floral features, especially the corolla shape and size, the corolla tube and lobe characters. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, trnL‐trnF, trnS‐trnG, psbA‐trnH and rps16 sequences shows that this new species belongs to C. sect. Chionopegia H.Huber with strong support, which was mutually verified by morphology analyses. A table including the morphological characters of related species and a dichotomous key to all 25 species of Ceropegia in China are provided.

Profile of a flower: How rates of morphological evolution drive floral diversification in Ericales and angiosperms.

Recent studies of floral disparity in the asterid order Ericales have shown that flowers vary strongly among families and that disparity is unequally distributed between the three flower modules (perianth, androecium, gynoecium). However, it remains unknown whether these patterns are driven by heterogeneous rates of morphological evolution or other factors. Here, we compiled a data set of 33 floral characters scored for 414 species of Ericales sampled from 346 genera and all 22 families. We conducted ancestral state reconstructions using an equal-rates Markov model for each character. We estimated rates of morphological evolution for Ericales and for a separate angiosperm-wide data set of 19 characters and 792 species, creating "rate profiles" for Ericales, angiosperms, and major angiosperm subclades. We compared morphological rates among flower modules within each data set separately and between data sets, and we compared rates among angiosperm subclades using the angiosperm data set. The androecium exhibits the highest evolutionary rates across most characters, whereas most perianth and gynoecium characters evolve more slowly in both Ericales and angiosperms. Both high and low rates of morphological evolution can result in high floral disparity in Ericales. Analyses of an angiosperm-wide floral data set reveal that this pattern appears to be conserved across most major angiosperm clades. Elevated rates of morphological evolution in the androecium of Ericales may explain the higher disparity reported for this floral module. Comparing rates of morphological evolution through rate profiles proves to be a powerful tool in understanding floral evolution.

Sequential fermentation with indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeasts and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for flavor and quality enhancement of Longyan dry white wine

In this study, we investigated the effect of the sequential fermentation of four selected indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Candida stellimalicola HL-S-5, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa HL-S-8, Hanseniaspora uvarum HL-S-9, and Pichia kluyveri XL-48-6) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae VL2 on the oenological parameters, volatile compositions, organic acids, and sensory characteristics of Longyan dry white wine. Results showed that the ethanol concentration of pure fermentation (11.12 ± 0.04%, v/v) was the highest among all fermentations. Furthermore, the aroma concentrations produced by the fermentation of R. mucilaginosa HL-S-8/VL2 (9929.35 ± 96.87 μg/L) and P. kluyveri XL-48-6/VL2 (9017.67 ± 85.91 μg/L) were significantly higher than that of VL2 (7654.64 ± 397.07 μg/L). In particular, the treatment of R. mucilaginosa HL-S-8/VL2 increased the content of acetic esters (512.11 ± 12.92 μg/L) and fatty acid ethyl esters (6893.64 ± 56.67 μg/L), which enhanced fruity and floral characteristics. The sequential fermentation of R. mucilaginosa HL-S-8/VL2 led to significantly higher organic acid content (3843.32 ± 73.93 mg/L) than the other samples. Moreover, the sequential fermentation of R. mucilaginosa HL-S-8/VL2 wine samples resulted in the highest scores in sensory evaluation. Therefore, the sequential fermentation of R. mucilaginosa HL-S-8/VL2 was an effective way to improve wine flavor and quality. This work will provide a useful reference for improving the flavor and quality of Longyan wine through non-Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Complex taxonomy in Opuntioideae: is floral morphometry essential to identify Opuntia species?

Correct species identification is critical for studies on biodiversity, ecology, and conservation. Determining Opuntia s.s. species is difficult because they have similar traits and are phenotypically plastic. Taxonomic keys are based on vegetative traits rather than reproductive ones such as flowers, because they are assumed to be too similar. We analyzed morphometric characteristics of flowers and cladodes over 6 years to determine which of these is most useful for differentiating Opuntia species from the Chihuahuan Desert. For each species ( Opuntia robusta H.L. Wendl. ex Pfeiff., O. cantabrigiensis Lynch, O. tomentosa Salm-Dyck, and O. streptacantha Lem.), we tagged 20 hermaphroditic and 40 dioecious plants (totaling 100) from 2014 to 2020 to complete the sample size of flowers and cladodes. Seventeen morphometric characters were measured for new cladodes and 15 for flowers, and discriminant analysis was applied to determine which traits enabled species delimitation. Six of the 17 cladode characteristics combined explained 89% of the variation, while 9 floral characteristics combined explained 94% of the variation. Floral morphometrics proved to be very useful to accurately differentiate species and should be included, in addition to cladodes, in future taxonomic studies. Here, we provide the first taxonomic key that includes floral traits to identify Opuntia and a new description of each studied species.

Influence of Native Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains on Malvasia aromatica Wines.

In the search of tools to deal with climate change-related effects along with the aim of avoiding the loss of aromatic typicity in wine, two native yeasts strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CLI 271 and CLI 889) were evaluated to determine their influence on white Malvasia aromatica wines aroma composition and sensory characteristics. The strains were tested versus a commercial yeast strain (LSA). The fermentations were performed on grape must of the Malvasia aromatica variety previously macerated. Wine quality was studied by analysis of oenological parameters together with volatile aroma components using gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (GC-FID) to quantify major volatiles compounds and headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) to determine terpenoids and C13-norisoprenoids. Sensorial analysis was also realized by an experienced taster panel. Wines from locally-selected yeasts strains used had lower volatile acidity levels and higher concentration of aromatic compounds compared to the commercial strain ones. The yeast strain S. cerevisiae CLI 271 provided wines with a higher concentration of esters related to fruity attributes, especially isoamyl acetate. The tasting panel highlighted the strong floral character of wines from S. cerevisiae CLI 889 fermentation. The use of microorganisms well adapted to climatic conditions can be used to produce quality wines of the Malvasia aromatica variety.

Evolution of a non-flying mammal-dependent pollination system in Asian Mucuna (Fabaceae).

Pollinator shifts are often related to speciation in angiosperms, and the relationship between them has been discussed in several plant taxa. Although information on plants pollinated by non-flying mammals in Central and South America and Africa is limited, related research has not been conducted in Asia. Herein, I summarize the available knowledge of pollination in Asian Mucuna (Fabaceae), a genus mainly distributed in the tropics, and discuss the evolution of plants pollinated by non-flying mammals in Asia. Nineteen pollinator species have been recorded and pollination systems have been categorized into four types. An examination of the relationship between Mucuna species and their pollinators from the lineage perspective revealed that all species in M. subgenus Macrocarpa, which are distributed in Asia, are pollinated exclusively by non-flying mammals. Additionally, plants pollinated by non-flying mammals were found to have diverged from bat-pollinated and non-flying mammal-pollinated plants, while plants pollinated by non-flying mammals have evolved multiple times. This is a unique example of evolutionary transition. I hypothesize that the diversification of squirrel species in tropical Asia may have led to the speciation and diversification of Mucuna in Asia. Furthermore, the behavioral and ecological characteristics of bats and birds in Asia differ from the characteristics of those in other regions, implying that Asian Mucuna species do not rely on bat or bird pollinators. The adaptation of floral characteristics to pollinators is not well understood in Asia. Mammal-pollinated plants in Asia may have evolved differently from those in other regions and have unique pollination systems.

Plastomic data shed new light on the phylogeny, biogeography, and character evolution of the family Crassulaceae

AbstractCrassulaceae is a mid‐sized family of angiosperms, most species of which are herbaceous succulents, usually with 5‐merous flowers and one or two whorls of stamens. Although previous phylogenetic studies revealed seven major “clades” in Crassulaceae and greatly improved our understanding of the evolutionary history of the family, relationships among major clades are still contentious. In addition, the biogeographic origin and evolution of important morphological characters delimiting infrafamilial taxa have not been subject to formal biogeographic and character evolution analyses based on a well‐supported phylogeny backbone. In this study, we used plastomic data of 52 species, representing all major clades revealed in previous studies to reconstruct a robust phylogeny of Crassulaceae, based on which we unraveled the spatiotemporal framework of diversification of the family. We found that the family may originate in southern Africa and then dispersed to the Mediterranean, from there to eastern Asia, Macaronesia, and North America. The crown age of Crassulaceae was dated at ca. 63.93 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary. We also traced the evolution of six important morphological characters previously used to delimit infrafamilial taxa and demonstrated widespread parallel and convergent evolution of both vegetative (life form and phyllotaxis) and floral characters (number of stamen whorls, petals free or fused, and flower merism). Our results provide a robust backbone phylogeny as a foundation for further investigations, and also some important new insights into biogeography and evolution of the family Crassulaceae.

Notes on the Taxonomy of Salix vitellina (Salicaceae).

Salix vitellina L., or golden willow, was described by C. Linnaeus in 1753. It was later considered to be affiliated with S. alba, and its taxonomic rank has been changed to variety, subspecies, and form. A recent proposal designated it as a form of S. alba × S. fragilis. The goal of this study was to verify the taxonomic designation of S. vitellina using morphological characteristics including ovule number. A few specimens of S. vitellina from Europe and North America, including the lectotype LINN1158.13, were analyzed. It was recorded that S. vitellina has an ovule index of 6-10, with most valves with four and five ovules and less than 50% of valves with five ovules. These ovule parameters were similar to those of S. alba. The other floral characteristics also indicated that S. vitellina is associated with S. alba. No signs of androgyny or flower aberrations, commonly occurring in willow hybrids, were found in the specimens of S. vitellina. Thus, the analyses did not corroborate the hybrid origin of S. vitellina. The ovule analysis also confirmed that f. chermesina with orange-red stems is also a taxon of S. alba, which differs from f. vitellina by a greater ovule index of 12-16.

Crotalaria heteromorpha (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), a new species of the trifoliolate crotalarias group from the state of Guerrero, Mexico

Crotalaria heteromorpha, a new species from the state of Guerrero, Mexico, is described and illustrated on the basis of vegetative and floral features, and compared to related species. It seems to have a close affinity with C. filifolia. The new species differs from C. filifolia by having variation in the shape of the leaflets, the leaflet margins frequently reddish-brown, with variable pubescence on the upper side, longer stipules, shorter pedicels, comparatively smaller and reflexed wings, a narrower keel with a slightly larger and narrower beak and darker seeds, which are rough-grained in texture. With the proposal of C. heteromorpha as a new species, there are now 10 endemic trifoliolate species of Crotalaria recognized in México.