Floristic Region Research Articles

Classification of forest vegetation in Yaraligöz Education and Observation Forest, Kastamonu, Türkiye

Abstract. Karaköse M, Terzioglu S. 2023. Classification of forest vegetation in Yaraligöz Education and Observation Forest, Kastamonu, Türkiye. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 161-171. Forest ecosystems, which contain approximately half of the 12,975 plant taxa known to be distributed in Türkiye, are very important in terms of biological diversity. The fact that forests are seen as wood-producing ecosystems and have been planned for these purposes for many years has resulted in forests being kept away from being evaluated in terms of ecosystem and socio-economic aspects. Today, forest management plans have begun to be prepared in which all components of the forest are considered, and biological diversity is reflected. Based on this understanding, this investigation was performed during 2011-2012 to analyze the forest vegetation of Yaraligöz Education and Observation Forest. The study area is located in the north-western part of Türkiye within the Euro-Siberian phytogeographic region. Phytosociological studies were carried out using the classical Braun-Blanquet approach, and 51 relevés were collected from the research area. The database contains 184 vascular plant taxa, dominated by the Euro-Siberian elements and Hemicryptophytes. The relevés were classified using the Modified TWINSPAN, and the forest vegetation types' distribution was analyzed using non-metric multi-dimensional scaling. A comprehensive comparison among all described syntaxa within the study area and other closely related forests was provided. Topographic factors and mean Ellenberg indicator values were evaluated to interpret the ecological relationships among forest plant associations. Four associations, two (Daphno pontica-Pinetum hamatae and Galio rotundifolii-Abietum equi-trojani) of which are new syntaxa to science, were defined as belonging to the Euxine Province within Erico-Pinetea, Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae, Quercetea pubescentis, and Vaccinio-Piceetea. The distribution of these four forest associations was mostly affected by light intensity, nutrients, moisture content, and altitude. The results of this vegetation study provided precious knowledge for monitoring vegetation change and nature conservation projects in the Yaraligöz.

A phylogenetic approach identifies patterns of beta diversity and floristic subregions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity and their relationships with environmental correlates can help reveal the origin and evolutionary history of regional biota. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) harbors an exceptionally diverse flora, however, a phylogenetic perspective has rarely been used to investigate its beta diversity and floristic regions. In this study, we used a phylogenetic approach to identify patterns of beta diversity and quantitatively delimit floristic regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We also examined the relationships between multifaceted beta diversity, geographical distance, and climatic difference, and evaluated the relative importance of various factors (i.e., climate, topography and history) in shaping patterns of beta diversity. Sørensen dissimilarity indices indicated that patterns of species turnover among sites dominated the QTP. We also found that patterns of both taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity were significantly related to geographical distance and climatic difference. The environmental factors that contributed most to these patterns of beta diversity include annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, climatic gradients and climatic instability. Hierarchical dendrograms of dissimilarity and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination based on phylogenetic beta diversity data identified ten floristic subregions in the QTP. Our results suggest that the contemporary environment and historical climate changes have filtered species composition among sites and eventually determined beta diversity patterns of plants in the QTP.

Studies in the vascular flora of the southeastern United States. IX

As part of ongoing work on the Flora of the Southeastern United States (Weakley & Southeastern Flora Team 2022a) and related projects, as well as for general floristic, conservation, and scientific work in eastern North America, it is essential to document taxonomic and nomenclatural changes and significant distribution records. Here we describe three new species (in Rhynchospora, Sabulina, and Solidago), describe a new section (in Trichostema), make new combinations to treat taxa at appropriate ranks in appropriate genera and with appropriate nomenclatural application based on types (in Lycopodioides, Moeroris, Morella, Nellica, Tamala, and Trichostema), and propose the lumping of two species, resulting in a change in name and nativity status (in Sisyrinchium). These new combinations (rank changes, or generic transfers to apply newly accepted generic concepts to taxa that do not have corresponding available names at the appropriate rank) are needed to accurately reflect current taxonomic understanding of the regional flora. In the course of doing so, we discuss and address various nomenclatural issues, including typifications, and clarify characters and identification of difficult groups (providing new keys) in the regional flora. We also report significant new distribution and naturalization records in many genera, in New Jersey (taxa in the genera Anthriscus, Calibrachoa, Chaenomeles, Dichanthelium, Diplotaxis, Ditrichia, Dysphania, Erigeron, Eucommia, Eupatorium, Lepidium, Malus, Montia, Nepeta, Persicaria, Picea, Psammophiliella, Pulmonaria, Quercus, Silphium, Verbascum, Verbena, Vicia), in the Coastal Plain of Alabama and Mississippi (taxa in the genera Baptisia, Clematis, Coreopsis, Galium, Matelea, Mirabilis, Poterium, Rhynchospora, Silphium, and Symphyotrichum), in southern Indiana (taxa in the genera Andropogon, Brunnichia, Echinacea, Landoltia, Montia, Persicaria, and Solidago), and in North Carolina, Virginia, and likely other states (Euphorbia).

Geographic patterns and ecological correlates of the mean genus age of liverworts in regional floras across China

AbstractAimMean lineage age is an important metric of evolutionary history and community structure of biological assemblages. Many studies have investigated geographic patterns and ecological drivers of mean lineage age in plant assemblages but all previous studies focused on vascular plants. Similar studies for bryophytes, a lineage of the oldest land plants, are lacking. Here, we fill this critical knowledge gap by investigating geographic patterns and ecological correlates of the mean genus age (MGA) of liverworts, a major lineage of bryophytes, in regional floras across China.LocationChina.TaxonLiverworts (hepatics, Division Marchantiophyta of bryophytes).MethodsMGA and its standardized effect size (MGAses) of liverworts in each of the 28 province‐level regions across China were related to 12 explanatory variables representing geography, contemporary climate and historical climate change, using correlation and regression analyses, and a variation partitioning approach.ResultsWe found that (1) MGA and MGAses of liverworts were correlated negatively with latitude and elevational range, and positively with mean annual temperature, and annual precipitation in the regions across China, (2) MGA and MGAses of liverworts were more strongly affected by temperature‐related variables than by precipitation‐related variables, and (3) MGA and MGAses of liverworts were more strongly affected by climate extremes than by climate seasonality.Main ConclusionsThe relationships of mean lineage age with climatic condition in one of the oldest lineages of land plants (i.e. liverworts) are consistent with those in angiosperms, a relatively young lineage of land plants. Our study is the first to show that geographic and ecological distributions of the oldest land plants are generally consistent with the pattern frequently observed in angiosperms that biological assemblages in colder and drier climates have, on average, younger lineage ages.

Revision of the western Nearctic spider genus Cybaeina including the description of Neocybaeina gen. nov. and Rothaeina gen. nov. (Araneae: Cybaeidae: Cybaeinae).

This paper is the last in a series revising the Nearctic Cybaeinae spider fauna (Araneae: RTA clade: Cybaeidae) exclusive of Cybaeozyga Chamberlin & Ivie. The forested habitats of the west coast of North America are home to a diverse array of endemic Cybaeinae spider taxa. Many of these have very restricted distributions, especially within an area of the western United States of America from the Olympic Peninsula of northwestern Washington to the northern half of the California Floristic Province of California, a well-known biodiversity hotspot. Here we revise the genus Cybaeina Chamberlin & Ivie recognizing three species: the type species Cybaeus minutus Banks (= Cybaeina minuta (Banks)), C. confusa Chamberlin & Ivie, and a single new species C. dixoni Bennett spec. nov. We describe Neocybaeina Bennett gen. nov. with type species Cybaeina xantha Chamberlin & Ivie (= Neocybaeina xantha (Chamberlin & Ivie) comb. nov.) and a single new species N. burnetti spec. nov. Finally we describe Rothaeina Bennett gen. nov. with type species Cybaeina sequoia Roth (= Rothaeina sequoia (Roth) comb. nov.) and four new species R. beaudini Bennett spec. nov., R. jamesi Bennett spec. nov., R. mackinleyi Bennett spec. nov., and R. petersoni Bennett spec. nov. In addition to descriptions of the genera and both sexes of their included species (except for N. burnetti spec. nov. and R. beaudini Bennett spec. nov. which are known from females only), we provide diagnoses, illustrations, distribution maps, and, for the three species of Cybaeina and the five of Rothaeina gen. nov., identification keys. In closing, we discuss conservation implications for this cryptic and infrequently collected group of western Nearctic Cybaeinae, several of which are short-range endemic species.

Climatic stability and geological history shape global centers of neo- and paleoendemism in seed plants.

Assessing the distribution of geographically restricted and evolutionarily unique species and their underlying drivers is key to understanding biogeographical processes and critical for global conservation prioritization. Here, we quantified the geographic distribution and drivers of phylogenetic endemism for ~320,000 seed plants worldwide and identified centers and drivers of evolutionarily young (neoendemism) and evolutionarily old endemism (paleoendemism). Tropical and subtropical islands as well as tropical mountain regions displayed the world's highest phylogenetic endemism. Most tropical rainforest regions emerged as centers of paleoendemism, while most Mediterranean-climate regions showed high neoendemism. Centers where high neo- and paleoendemism coincide emerged on some oceanic and continental fragment islands, in Mediterranean-climate regions and parts of the Irano-Turanian floristic region. Global variation in phylogenetic endemism was well explained by a combination of past and present environmental factors (79.8 to 87.7% of variance explained) and most strongly related to environmental heterogeneity. Also, warm and wet climates, geographic isolation, and long-term climatic stability emerged as key drivers of phylogenetic endemism. Neo- and paleoendemism were jointly explained by climatic and geological history. Long-term climatic stability promoted the persistence of paleoendemics, while the isolation of oceanic islands and their unique geological histories promoted neoendemism. Mountainous regions promoted both neo- and paleoendemism, reflecting both diversification and persistence over time. Our study provides insights into the evolutionary underpinnings of biogeographical patterns in seed plants and identifies the areas on Earth with the highest evolutionary and biogeographical uniqueness-key information for setting global conservation priorities.

Taxonomic notes on Thrixspermum (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae), with five new species from Thailand

Five new species of Thrixspermum (Orchidaceae) are described from Thailand, two from sect. Dendrocolla: T. alboluteum (South-West floristic region), T. praetermissum (East); and three from sect. Thrixspermum: T. simile (South-East), T. flammeum (East), T. polystictum (East). Descriptions, illustrations, notes on distribution, ecology, phenology, conservation status, and morphological comparisons with allied species are provided. Thrixspermum musciflorum and its variety nilagiricum are reduced to the synonymy of T. formosanum. Thrixspermum album is reduced to the synonymy of T. pulchellum. We select a lectotype and an epitype for T. trichoglottis (Hook.f.) Kuntze and provide a detailed description of this common but so far incompletely known species.

Enhanced Production of Nitrogenated Metabolites with Anticancer Potential in Aristolochia manshuriensis Hairy Root Cultures.

Aristolochia manshuriensis is a relic liana, which is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine and is endemic to the Manchurian floristic region. Since this plant is rare and slow-growing, alternative sources of its valuable compounds could be explored. Herein, we established hairy root cultures of A. manshuriensis transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes root oncogenic loci (rol)B and rolC genes. The accumulation of nitrogenous secondary metabolites significantly improved in transgenic cell cultures. Specifically, the production of magnoflorine reached up to 5.72 mg/g of dry weight, which is 5.8 times higher than the control calli and 1.7 times higher than in wild-growing liana. Simultaneously, the amounts of aristolochic acids I and II, responsible for the toxicity of Aristolochia species, decreased by more than 10 fold. Consequently, the hairy root extracts demonstrated pronounced cytotoxicity against human glioblastoma cells (U-87 MG), cervical cancer cells (HeLa CCL-2), and colon carcinoma (RKO) cells. However, they did not exhibit significant activity against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Our findings suggest that hairy root cultures of A. manshuriensis could be considered for the rational production of valuable A. manshuriensis compounds by the modification of secondary metabolism.

Diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of the flagship Cape species Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (Asteraceae): variation in distribution, ecological niche, morphology and genetics.

The Greater Cape Floristic Region is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and is considered poor in polyploids. To test this assumption, ploidy variation was investigated in a widespread Cape shrub, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (renosterbos, Asteraceae). The aim was to elucidate the cytotype distribution and population composition across the species range, and to assess differences in morphology, environmental niches and genetics. Ploidy level and genome size were determined via flow cytometry and cytotype assignment was confirmed by chromosome counting. Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) analyses were used to infer genetic relationships. Cytotype climatic and environmental niches were compared using a range of environmental layers and a soil model, while morphological differences were examined using multivariate methods. The survey of 171 populations and 2370 individuals showed that the species comprises diploid and tetraploid cytotypes, no intermediates and only 16.8 % of mixed populations. Mean 2C values were 1.80-2.06 pg for diploids and 3.48-3.80 pg for tetraploids, with very similar monoploid genome sizes. Intra-cytotype variation showed a significant positive correlation with altitude and longitude in both cytotypes and with latitude in diploids. Although niches of both cytotypes were highly equivalent and similar, their optima and breadth were shifted due to differences mainly in isothermality and available water capacity. Morphometric analyses showed significant differences in the leaves and corolla traits, the number of florets per capitulum, and cypsela dimensions between the two cytotypes. Genetic analyses revealed four groups, three of them including both cytotypes. Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis includes two distinct cytotypes that are genetically similar. While tetraploids arise several times independently within different genetic groups, morphological and ecological differences are evident between cytotypes. Our results open up new avenues for questions regarding the importance of ploidy in the megadiverse Cape flora, and exemplify the need for population-based studies focused on ploidy variation.

Cultivation of herbaceous plants of Central Asia in various expositions of the open ground of the Botanical Garden of IBBM UNN

This report considers species of herbaceous plants that have areas covering only Central Asia or C. Asia and adjacent regions of Asia, mainly within the Iranian-Turanian floristic region. Species with very large ranges, partially including C. Asia, are not taken into account. 46 species of Central Asian plants are represented in the open ground expositions of the UNN IBBM Botanical Garden, they make up only 4.6 % of the collection of herbaceous introduced plants of the Botanical Garden. More than 70 % of Central Asian plants in the collection are monocots, including 19 species of the genus Allium L. In permanent expositions, most of the plants are grown in rock gardens. The greatest number of problems arose with representatives from Central Asia due to the fact that seeds obtained from different sources often do not germinate. When grown in permanent exposures, a number of specimens of various origins turned out to be unstable, for example: Ixiolirion tataricum (Pall.) Schult. et Schult.f., Rhodiola algida Fisch. et C. A. Mey. Some plants were shortlived, such as those of the genus Juno Tratt. Regularly bloom, bear fruit, grow well vegetatively Gymnospermium albertii (Regel) Takht., Sedum pachyclados Aitch. ex Hemsl., Corydalis nobilis (L.) Pers., Allium aflatunense B. Fedtsch., A. altaicum Pall. and other onions, Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk, Tulipa kaufmanniana Regel, T. tarda Stapf and other tulips. Some of them are also included in the lists of seeds offered by the UNN Botanical Garden for exchange (Delectus seminum).

Assessment of the resource base of Rumex tianschanicus Losinsk. in the mountain regions of southeastern Kazakhstan

Inventory of stock economically valuable plant species is one of the urgent tasks in the regional cadastral assessing of plant resources. The results of this will be applied to conduct state monitoring and the flora cadastre in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Genus Rumex L. belongs to Polygonaceae Juss. family and represented by 27 species in the flora of Kazakhstan including 15 medicinal which used in folk and official medicine. For the first time undertaken a cadastre assessment of current ecological state of the flora and plant resources in Almaty region, the stocks of plant raw material of the valuable medicinal Rumex tianschanicus, have been identified and taken into account in 2021-2022 years on the 3 floristic territories (24. Dzhungarsky Alatau, 25. Zailiysky Kungei Alatau, 25a. Ketmen-Terskey Alatau) and 4 administrative (Eskeldinsky, Kegensky, Raiymbeksky, Uigursky) districts. The resource survey of the territories carried out by a route-reconnaissance method using generally accepted resource-study and geobotanical methods. On the surveyed territory the total operational reserve of air-dry underground part of Rumex tianschanicus was 169.5 tons on 113.3 hectares with a total volume of possible annual harvesting of 17.0 tons of air-dry plant raw materials. For commercial harvesting thickets were isolated ridges of Ketmen (Uigur district) and Terskey Alatau (Raiymbek district) which located within 25a floristic region in the southeast of the Almaty region.

Introduction assessment of flower and decorative plants of the Caribbean floral region in the conditions of the Karshi oasis

The article presents the results of assessing the introduction prospects of flower and ornamental plants in the conditions of the Karshi oasis. 12 introduced species and varieties from the Caribbean floristic region were taken as objects of study. Taking into account the climatic conditions of the Karshi oasis, some additions to the modified scale of N. S. Danilova are proposed. As a result of the assessment, 2 groups were distinguished: Group I - promising plants -which received 11 points each - Canna х hybrida, Cleome spinosa, Cosmos bipinnatus, C. sulphureus, Mirabilis jalapa; Group II - medium promising plants - 8-9 points - Ageratum houstonianum, Dahlia х hortensis, Gomphrena globosa, Tagetes erecta, T. patula, Zinnia marylandica, Z. linearis.

Materials on the synanthropic flora of the city of Khabarovsk

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that city tram tracks, embankments and right of way are specific ecotopes that are subject to significant anthropogenic disturbances and are places of synanthropic plants concentration. We have collected 59 species from 23 families and 49 genera of flowering plants. The family spectrum is dominated by representatives of Asteraceae, the leading family of regional flora. In the generic spectrum, most genera contain one or two species each, which indicates a sufficient floristic capacity of the technogenic ecotope of tram tracks. In terms of life form, perennial herbaceous plants with underground organs survive on the tram tracks, ensuring the constant renewal of plants. Approximately the same number of alien (or adventive) and local (or native) plants have been identified by origin. As expected, alien species are confined to ruderal habitats and are characterized by wide ranges (cosmopolitan, Eurasian-North American, Eurasian types). From local species on tram tracks, plants of open habitats (forest-meadow, meadow, forest edge and slope) find suitable ecological niches.

Molecular studies of coralberry (Ardisia crenata Sims; Primulaceae) from Thailand based on SCoT markers

Abstract. Suparman S, Pornpongrungrueng P, Chantaranothai P. 2023. Molecular studies of coralberry (Ardisia crenata Sims; Primulaceae) from Thailand based on SCoT markers. Biodiversitas 24: 3183-3189. A coralberry (Ardisia crenataSims) is the most common species of Ardisia Sw. distributed widely in Thailand. The grouping of the species for intraspecific based on morphometric characters was unstable. Some molecular primers were used by researchers to separate species. In this molecular study, six selected SCoT of 36 primers, i.e., primers no. 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, and 21, displayed high polymorphic and resolving power in A. crenata from 14 different natural populations in Thailand. This marker separated all taxa into two groups from different floristic regions. In contrast, this result did not support the classification of the intraspecific level of A. crenata based on continued morphological characteristics. For the conclusion that this study was recorded as the first one using the SCoT marker on the Ardisiaand the primer worked well in A. crenata and was recommended for other species in Ardisia.

An assessment of symbiotic N nutrition in species of the genus Aspalathus endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa

Nitrogen fixation is important for the growth and yield of nodulated legumes. In this study, the 15N natural abundance technique was used to assess the symbiotic N nutrition of 15 Aspalathus species sampled from 13 locations. The results showed that all 15 species met part of their N requirements from N2 fixation, as shown by the different levels of symbiotic dependency. Seven species, for example, derived 54 to 77% of their N nutrition from symbiosis, nine obtained 36 to 49% from fixation, and five species derived ˂ 20% of their N from the atmosphere. More specifically, A. acuminata and A. clada both from Worcester Langerug derived 76.5% and 72.1% N, respectively, from symbiosis, A. acuminata from Rondebosch obtained 68.4% N, A. acuminata from Kalbaskraal 59.5% N, A. aculeata from Mamesbury 56.8% N, A. divericata from Penhill 56.6% N and A. cordata from Dutoitkloof 53.9% N from the atmosphere. In contrast, A. zeyheri sampled from Kokrivier derived only 4.3% of its N from symbiosis, followed by A. capensis (13.3%) and A. carnosa (14.6%) both from Silvermine. The C/N values found for the Aspalathus species in this study were unusually high for a legume, and could suggest an ecological adaptation to the low N soils of the Cape fynbos as under such N-poor plants metabolically switch from N-containing storage compounds to N-free storage molecules such as sucrose and glycerol, glucosides, galactoses and disaccharides.

Distribution of Species and Life Forms of the Genus Sambucus L. in Lori and Tavush Marzes of Armenia

Key words: vegetation, life forms, biometric indicators, forest, natural ecosystems, biological diversity The territory for our research belongs to the Ijevan floristic region, covers the basins of the Aghstev and Debed rivers. The purpose of the work is to identify the distribution areas, life forms of some species of the genus Sambucus nigra L. in the forest ecosystem of the Lori and Tavush marzes. The features of the distribution areas of species and life forms (trees, shrubs, herbs) of the genus Sambucus L. under the conditions of altitudinal zonality of these areas are determined. In the undergrowth of the surrounding forests of Vanadzor and Stepanavan, shrubs (up to 6 m) trees of the species Sambucus nigra L. It should be noted that the Black Elderberry outside the fores is represented only by trees and in the undergrowth – by shrubs. On the outskirts of the city of Vanadzor, at the foot of the forest, unpretentious shrub S.nigra. laciniata L. Zabel. grows. In Tavush Marz, particularly in the vicinity of Dilijan and Lake Parz Lich, all life forms are found. S. nigra L. and S. ebulus L. species are common in the vicinity of the city of Dilijan and the Dilijan National Park. Representatives of the Sambucus nigra L. species are found in the undergrowth of the mixed forest. Sambucus ebulus L. is found in clear thickets, in open, well-lit areas. Elderberry species grow almost everywhere, but are especially fruitful in full sun. There are approximately 25-40 individuals in the population. Due to the differences in climatic conditions in Lori and Tavush marzes, the stages of the growing season take place in different time periods.

Synopsis of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) in Kazakhstan

Revision of the genus Achillea L. in Kazakhstan is carried out based on the available materials of LE, AA, MW, TK, MHA, TASH, KUZ, and KG. Distribution of each species is clarified and presented according to the floristic regions and subregions accepted in the “Flora of Kazakhstan”. Synopsis of the genus Achillea in Kazakhstan includes 15 species and one hybrid. Achillea inundata and A. kuprijanovii are reported for the country for the first time.

Phytostratigraphic Scale of the Non-Marine Cretaceous of North-Eastern Russia: An Attempt to Create and Results

In the early 1970s, palaeobotanist V.A. Samylina published her concept of stratofloras – a stratigraphic scale of the Cretaceous non-marine deposits of North-Eastern Asia based on plant megafossils. It was based on data on the evolution of the systematic composition of plant communities during the transition from the Mesophyte to Cenophyte. Since the detail of this scale was not inferior to that of marine deposits, it almost immediately began to be used to determine the age and correlation of continental deposits in the region. The paper considers changes in ideas on the development of the regional flora in the process of receiving new data. It is shown that it is impossible to create a single regional scale, since the palaeolandscape environments in this territory were different. The precision of the scales for parts of the region with the same palaeolandscape setting appeares to be lower than the stages of the General Stratigraphic Scale.

Effects of evolutionary history on assembly of flowering plants in regions across Africa

The global cooling beginning in the Eocene has caused the coverage of tropical forests to contract from covering nearly all of Africa during the early Tertiary to about one tenth of Africa at the present time. Accompanying the climate cooling and drying was the evolution of traits tolerating cold and drought, particularly extreme drought in the Sahara. Here, we analyze a comprehensive data set of angiosperms to determine the effects of evolutionary history on assembly of angiosperms in regional floras in Africa. In particular, using phylogenetic metrics accounting for different depths of evolutionary history, we assess whether drought has caused stronger phylogenetic clustering relative to cold. We divided Africa into 27 regions, and collated species lists of angiosperms for each region. We used different phylogenetic metrics (tip‐ vs basal‐weighted) reflecting different evolutionary depths to quantify phylogenetic structure, and related phylogenetic structure metrics to climatic variables representing average, extreme and seasonality conditions of climate. Variations of phylogenetic structure across Africa were well explained by climate, with R2values being ~ 0.84 for each phylogenetic metric when all climatic variables used in this study were considered. Angiosperm assemblages with the strongest phylogenetic clustering are located in temperate regions, rather than in tropical desert regions of Africa. Minimum temperature explained much more variation in phylogenetic metrics than did minimum precipitation, suggesting that evolution of traits conferring cold tolerance is more phylogenetically constrained compared to those conferring drought tolerance. Temperature seasonality also explained much more variation in phylogenetic metrics than did precipitation seasonality. When mean annual temperature and precipitation are considered or when all temperature‐related variables and all precipitation‐related variables are considered, temperature variables are more important than precipitation variables in driving tip‐weighted phylogenetic structure of angiosperms in Africa but the pattern is reversed when basal‐weighted phylogenetic structure is considered.

The Comparative Analysis of the Taxonomic Composition of Boraginaceae Juss. Distributed in Azerbaijan and Phytogeographic Regions of Adjacent Countries

The Comparative Analysis of the Taxonomic Composition of Boraginaceae Juss. Distributed in Azerbaijan and Phytogeographic Regions of Adjacent Countries