Inflorescence Research Articles

Mniszek (Taraxacum) w fitoterapii europejskiej i azjatyckiej

Dandelion (Taraxacum) in European and Asian phytotherapy The genus Taraxacum (family Asteraceae) belongs to the largest and most complicated apomictic complexes. So far, over 2,800 species classified in 60 sections have been described. The natural range of the genus is almost cosmopolitan, with monk seals found on every continent except Antarctica, but their distribution is very uneven. The largest centers of Taraxacum diversity are in Central Asia and Southern Europe. Species belonging to the genus Taraxacum have long been used as food. Young leaves are eaten raw in salads, and dried as an addition to teas or used as spices. Dried roots are used to prepare teas and a coffee substitute, while the flowers and infl orescences are used to produce syrups, wines and are added to beers and soft drinks. Above all, however, dandelions are valued herbal plants since ancient times, used in traditional European, Chinese and Indian medicine to treat liver diseases, kidney stones, stomach diseases, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, bladder diseases, gout, edema, and even cancerous. In the modern, very rich scientific literature, the medicinal properties of dandelions have been partially confirmed, but the results are often ambiguous and in some cases contradictory.

Notice of a new Crataegus ‘Kokhno’ and +Crataegomespilus

Crataegus (+Crataegomespilus) ‘Kokhno’ is a new graft chimera originated from the junction where Crataegus germanica (= Mespilus germanica) scion was top-grafted onto a stock Crataegus sp. In 1993, in the arboretum of one of the forestry-division offices in the Volhynia region, Vladyslav Oleshko found a putative hybrid between hawthorn and medlar, which was named in honor of well-known Ukrainian dendrologist Mykola Kokhno. He believed this plant was the result of a crossing between Mespilus germanica and Crataegus ucrainica because it was characterized by heterophylly having a mixture of both medlar and hawthorn leaves. The flowers of this plant are not solitary but placed in corymbs. The fruits are not aligned in size and range from 0.5–5.0 cm in diameter. The study of this hawthorn-medlar in the dendrological collection of the M.M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden (Kyiv, Ukraine) led to the conclusion that it is a graft chimera, not a hawthorn-medlar sexual hybrid. This hawthorn-medlar cultivar is morphologically similar to medlar but differs in the arrangement of flowers and fruits. The fruits typical for varietal medlar develop from solitary flowers, whereas atypical small fruits are located in groups. Both types of fruits have no germs in the stones. The cultivar ‘Kokhno’ is adapted to the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and performs well as an ornamental and fruit plant. An outline of the history and nomenclature of graft hybrids (chimeras) between Crataegus and Mespilus is given.

Merianthera calyptrata sp. nov. (Melastomataceae, Myrtales), a new candelabriform species from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Merianthera is a genus of flowering plants with up to now seven species occurring in eastern Brazil, in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais. It belongs to the tribe Pyramieae (Melastomataceae), and can be recognized by its shrubby or treelet habit with caducous leaves, 5-merous flowers with a strongly zygomorphic androecium, the latter with dimorphic stamens bearing complex dorsal connective appendages, as well as an inferior ovary and capsular fruits. We describe here a new species of Merianthera from two collections and a photographic record, all from the same locality, an inselberg in the Municipality of Jacinto, in northeastern Minas Gerais. Its candelabriform habit, with a fistulose stem, and solitary, axillary or cauliflorous flowers are only shared with M. burlemarxii. However, M. calyptrata R.Goldenb., Bochorny & Fraga sp. nov. has at least three characters that are absent in M. burlemarxii and all other species in the genus: the total absence of both a peduncle and bracteoles, the calyptrate calyx and the fruits developing from inferior ovaries and dehiscing through longitudinal slits. The first character appears to be unknown in other species in the family.

Pseudanthia in angiosperms: a review.

Pseudanthia or 'false flowers' are multiflowered units that resemble solitary flowers in form and function. Over the last century the term 'pseudanthium' has been applied to a wide array of morphologically divergent blossoms, ranging from those with easily noticeable florets to derived, reduced units in which individual flowers become almost indistinguishable. And although initially admired mostly by botanists, the diversity and widespread distribution of pseudanthia across angiosperms has already made them a fascinating topic for evolutionary and developmental comparative studies. This review synthesizes historical and current concepts on the biology of pseudanthia. Our first aim is to establish a clear, operational definition of pseudanthium and disentangle common terminological misconceptions surrounding that term. Our second aim is to summarize the knowledge of morphological and developmental diversity of pseudanthia and embed it within a modern phylogenetic framework. Lastly, we want to provide a comprehensive overview on the evolution and ecological importance of pseudanthia and outline perspectives for future studies. The understanding of pseudanthia changed multiple times and reflects three different interpretations of their 'flower-like' qualities: developmental (similarity in structure), figural (similarity in form and function), and phylogenetic (homology between angiosperm flowers and monoecious reproductive shoots in gymnosperms). Here, we propose to narrow the term pseudanthium to multiflowered blossoms resembling zoophilous flowers in form, i.e., in being structurally subdivided in a showy periphery and a reproductive center. According to this definition, pseudanthia sensu stricto. evolved independently in at least 40 angiosperm families. The recurrent acquisition of pseudanthia sensu stricto in all major lineages of flowering plants indicates repeated interactions between developmental constraints (smallness of flowers, meristematic conditions) and selective pressures, such as demands of pollinators and/or environmental conditions.

Saccopetalum tomentosum: Review of Its Botany, Medicinal Uses, Pharmacological Activities and Phytochemistry

Green medicine, or pharmaceuticals made from plants, has gained widespread interest since they are thought to be more trustworthy and safe than expensive synthetic drugs with side effects. Miliusa species include Saccopetalum tomentosum (S. tomentosum). Plants of S. tomentosum are abundant in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly in mainland Asia. In examining phytochemical and pharmacological features, more than ten Miliusa species were highlighted. S. tomentosum from Vietnam, Taiwan, and China was one of the main targets for phytochemical research. The isolation of numerous secondary metabolites has been successful. Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, styryls, and lactones are just a few of the chemical components obtained from S. tomentosum, but serial new derivatives of geranylated homogentisic acid may serve as biomarkers for differentiating Miliusa species. Simple, alternating, ovate, pubescent to glabrous, membranous leaves. Flowers solitary, fascicled or in cymes, extra-axillary or axillary, with oval or obovate bracts, monoecious, dioecious, or occasionally polygamous. Three sepals, valvate, Petals are arranged in two series, six in total, and are valvate in the buds. The outer petals resemble sepals in size and shape, while the inner petals are larger and thinner. Anthers are globose and extrorse, the connectives are slightly apiculate, and the stamens can be definite or indeterminate. Ovules 1–10, stigma club-shaped, style often short, and carpels indefinitely linear-oblong in shape. Numerous, stalked or subsessile, ovoid or rectangular, ripe carpels 1-2 or more seeds.
 Keywords: S. tomentosum, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological activity, Ayurveda, Medicinal uses

New species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from the Espinhaço Meridional and Septentrional of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Microlicia rosanae and M. septentrionalis are described as new species from campo rupestre in the Espinhaço Meridional and Septentrional of Minas Gerais, Brazil, respectively. Diagnostic illustrations, field photographs, a distribution map, recommended conservation assessments, and discussions of putative related species based on morphological similarities are provided. Microlicia rosanae, from Serra do Caraça, can be recognized by its sessile oblong to narrowly oblanceolate 1-nerved leaf blades that are revolute when dry, 5–6-merous solitary flowers, hypanthia that are copiously covered with a mixture of inconspicuous spreading short and longer (some gland-tipped) trichomes that are up to ca. 0.25 mm long, fruiting hypanthia that are conspicuously constricted into a short neck just below the torus, and 5–6-locular ovaries that are ca. ½ inferior. Microlicia septentrionalis, from Pico da Formosa in northern Minas Gerais, is readily recognized by its ovate-lanceolate leaves that are somewhat concave when fresh and have red callose-thickened margins, petals pink throughout with an asymmetrical red band on the abaxial surface, hypanthia (at anthesis) somewhat constricted distally above the ovary just below the torus into a neck 1–2.5 mm long, glabrous basally and distally with a sparse ring (sometimes interrupted) of gland-tipped trichomes mostly 0.5 mm long just below the constricted neck, and 5-locular ovaries that are 2/3 inferior and beset with glandular trichomes (up to 0.5 mm long) apically around the base of the style. Microlicia rosanae is compared to the superficially similar M. pilosa and M. septentrionalis is compared with M. mellobarretoi, M. gentianoides, and M. punctata. Both newly proposed species are known only from their respective type localities.

Tephrosia kindiana (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae), a new species from Guinea

SummaryTephrosia kindiana, a new plant species from Guinea, is described and illustrated. It is a shrub 90 – 120 cm tall, multi-stemmed from the base. The leaves have 5 – 13 oblanceolate leaflets; the inflorescence consists of solitary flowers in the leaf axils, or 2 – 3-flowered fascicles; the flowers are orange and 24 – 26 mm long. The species occurs in wooded grassland on sandstone plateaus at 300 – 420 m elevation. Three localities are known, at up to 13 km apart. Tephrosia kindiana is provisionally assessed as Endangered.

Heterospecific pollen deposition in understory plants of a forest in central Amazon

In co-flowering plant communities, pollinator movement can lead to the transfer of heterospecific pollen among species. This can affect the reproductive success of individuals, either by preventing conspecific pollen from reaching the stigma or by allelopathy, but little is known about this process in tropical areas. To analyze heterospecific pollen transfer and deposition, we investigated attributes related to pollinator attraction, such as corolla size, number of flowers per individual, floral arrangement, floral asymmetry, and distance from one flowering individual to another in a Central Amazon forest. The study was carried out in riparian plots of the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve during the rainy season. Stigmas and anthers were removed from all individual understory plants found in bloom in permanent plots. Slides were mounted with glycerinated gelatin, and all conspecific and heterospecific pollen grains were identified and counted. We then used a generalized linear mixed model framework to determine how the measured variables were related to the proportion of heterospecific pollen deposition (HPD) on stigmas. We found that the mean proportion of HPD in individuals was 4.7%, and 60% of individuals had no heterospecific pollen; from the 14 species studied, two had no heterospecific pollen. Species with wider flowers received less HPD, while species with more flowers per individual and with solitary flowers received more heterospecific pollen. Despite the significant variation in floral types in the Adolpho Ducke Reserve, there was a low percentage of heterospecific pollen deposition, probably due to specialized plant-pollinator interactions.

A New Species of Evolvulus (Convolvulaceae) with Golden Hairs from the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract— A new species of Evolvulus from the Brazilian Cerrado, a savanna biodiversity hotspot, is described here. Evolvulus aureus sp. nov. is similar to E. passerinoides, both found in Cerrado, and share erect stems (also decumbent in E. passerinoides), branched at the base, leaves spiral, flat, with acute apex and leaf base rounded, and axillary flowers. They can be distinguished by the indument type and by its color when herborized, shape of the leaf blade, visibility of secondary veins, sepal length, and anther shape. This new species is circumscribed into E. sect. Passerinoidei based on erect stem, axillary and solitary flowers, and funnelform corolla. A diagnosis, morphological description, illustrations, taxonomic notes, informal conservation status, distribution map, and an identification key are provided. Keywords—Biodiversity, Cresseae, endemic species, Neotropics, Savanna.

Aglaia fellii W.E.Cooper & Joyce (Meliaceae), a new species for Cape York Peninsula

Aglaia fellii W.E.Cooper & Joyce (Meliaceae) is described from restricted areas of rainforest on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. Given the unusual morphological features of the species, including solitary flowers and fruits, a molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted to confirm its placement within Aglaia prior to formal description. All Australian Aglaia species and eight Australian representatives of closely allied Meliaceae genera were sampled, and 353 nuclear loci were sequenced. Maximum likelihood analysis of these loci retrieved A. fellii as nested within Aglaia, most closely related to A. cooperae and A. monticola. This validates its assignment to Aglaia, making it the only Aglaia species with mostly solitary flowers (rarely 3- or 4-flowered) and solitary fruits. A full taxonomic description of Aglaia fellii and notes on its habitat are provided.

Tinnea gombea (Lamiaceae), a new species from the Sudanian savanna region, Nigeria based on integrative evidence.

Tinnea gombea, endemic to the Sudan savanna grasslands in northern Nigeria, is described and illustrated. We used integrative evidence from morphological characters, ecology and molecular phylogenetic data. The new species is morphologically and ecologically similar to T. barteri and T. aethiopica, but can be readily delimited from these taxa by unique characters including a subshrub growth habit, leaves alternate to subopposite, blades lanceolate, apically acuminate, inflorescences raceme, bearing solitary flowers in upper leaf and bract axils, lilac to purplish dusky flowers and the inflated fruits dehiscent. The distribution and habitat of T. gombea are also distinctive, being restricted to the Sudan savanna, while the two most similar species are widespread in tropical Africa. Additionally, molecular phylogenetic assessments using nrITS and chloroplast trnL-F, matK and rbcL support the placement of T. gombea as a distinct species. Tinnea gombea is here assessed as Critically Endangered due to its small population size and restriction to a small area lacking conservation prioritization.

Rolul inciziilor la formarea coroanei prin garnisirea axului pomilor de cireș din soiul Grace star pe portaltoiul Gisela 6

The study was carried out in a cherry plantation established in the spring of 2020 in the north of the country. The object of the research was the variety Grace Star at 4.2x1.8 m spacing and grafted on the rootstock Gisela 6. In order to study different secondary technical operations in cherry cultivation, an experiment was organized in spring 2021 with the following gradation: 1. Trees trained as a slender spindle (control); 2. Solitary incision above the buds and treatment of the cut with water; 3. Solitary incision above the buds and treatment of the cut with the growth regulator Progerbalin LG; 4. Circular incisions on the leader at 25-30 cm from each other and treatment of the cut with Progerbalin LG growth regulator; 5. Extirpation of 4-5 axillary buds from top to bottom of the leader while keeping a bud intact. Tree parameters, the number of branches, average and summed branch length, leaf area, branching angle of branches, the number of solitary flower buds and bunches of may were studied during the research. It was established that to increase the branching potential of the leader, when training cherry trees, solitary incisions above the buds and circular incisions at a distance of 25-30 cm on the leader should be applied and treatments of the cut should be performed with the growth regulator Progerbalin LG in the ratio one part of product to 8-10 parts of latex paint.

Henckelia arupii (Gesneriaceae): A new species from Arunachal Pradesh, India

AbstractHenckelia arupii, a new species discovered from Arunachal Pradesh, India, is described and illustrated. The new species is superficially similar to Henckelia adenocalyx and three other Northeast Indian species in habit, in the broadly ovate foliaceous bracts covering the flower buds, in the parallel‐convergent venation of the bracts and in the infundibuliform corolla. However, it differs in having cymes reduced to solitary flowers, a campanulate, narrowly pleated calyx and lanceolate to elliptic revolute calyx segments. A detailed description and photographic illustration of the morphological characters is presented. So far, Henckelia arupii is only known from the type locality.

Visual preference of plant features in different living environments using eye tracking and EEG.

Plants play a very important role in landscape construction. In order to explore whether different living environment will affect people's preference for the structural features of plant organs, this study examined 26 villagers and 33 college students as the participants, and pictures of leaves, flowers and fruits of plants as the stimulus to conduct eye-tracking and EEG detection experiments. We found that eye movement indicators can explain people's visual preferences, but they are unable to find differences in preferences between groups. EEG indicators can make up for this deficiency, which further reveals the difference in psychological and physiological responses between the two groups when viewing stimuli. The final results show that the villagers and the students liked leaves best, preferring aciculiform and leathery leaves; solitary, purple and capitulum flowers; and medium-sized, spathulate, black and pear fruits. In addition, it was found that the overall attention of the villagers when watching stimuli was far lower than that of the students, but the degree of meditation was higher. With regard to eye movement and EEG, the total duration of fixations is highly positively correlated with the number of fixations, and the average pupil size has a weak negative correlation with attention. On the contrary, the average duration of fixations has a weak positive correlation with meditation. Generally speaking, we believe that Photinia×fraseri, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Photinia serratifolia, Koelreuteria bipinnata and Cunninghamia lanceolata are superior landscape building plants in rural areas and on campuses; Pinus thunbergii, Myrica rubra, Camellia japonica and other plants with obvious features and bright colours are also the first choice in rural landscapes; and Yulania biondii, Cercis chinensis, Hibiscus mutabilis and other plants with simple structures are the first choice in campus landscapes. This study is of great significance for selecting plants for landscape construction and management according to different environments and local conditions.

Argostemmaehuangzhangense (Rubiaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China.

Argostemmaehuangzhangense, a new Rubiaceae species from E'huangzhang Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, China, is here described and illustrated. A morphological comparison between the new species and its putative relatives, A.lamxayanum, A.laotica and A.verticillatum, is presented. The new species is mostly similar to A.laotica, but they can be distinguished from each other since Argostemmaehuangzhangense presents solitary flower (vs. 2-flowered inflorescences), flower lobes 4 (vs. 5) and anthers opening by longitudinal slits (vs. apical pores). In a preliminary IUCN Red List status of Argostemmaehuangzhangense this species is assigned as Vulnerable (VU).

Phenotypic traits differentiating the genetic resources of pea (Pisum sativum L.) by the type of use.

The paper presents an analysis of the data obtained for pea accessions from the VIR collection studied at the Adler Experiment Station in the setting of the Krasnodar Territory in 2017-2019. It was for the f irst time that these accessions were studied for a set of phenotypic traits. The object of the study was a sample of 494 pea accessions originated from 43 countries and 18 regions and territories of the Russian Federation. The work was carried out in compliance with the methodological guidelines developed at VIR. Statistica 13.3 software was employed for statistical data processing. An assessment of four qualitative, 10 quantitative and four phenological traits in the accessions made it possible to differentiate them by the type of use, that is, as dry, forage and garden peas. The varieties differing in the type of use signif icantly differed by the values of such traits as stem length, number of pods per plant, number of nodes to the f irst f lower, number of f lowers in the inf lorescence, the maximum number of seeds per pod, pod length, and a narrower pod of forage pea compared to that of dry and garden peas. The average values of these traits were recorded for the peas with different types of use. The maximum difference was noted between garden and forage pea varieties. Dry pea varieties occupied an intermediate position. The complex of phenotypic traits identif ied determines the differences between three types of pea use, which is important when selecting the initial material for breeding appropriate varieties.

BERBERIS EXTENSIFLORA (BERBERIDACEAE): A NEW RANK FOR BERBERIS CONCINNA VAR. EXTENSIFLORA

The new rank and combination Berberis extensiflora (Ahrendt) Bh.Adhikari & Harber is proposed based on morphological and molecular studies of the Himalayan species of Berberis (Berberidaceae). Morphologically, Berberis extensiflora differs from B. concinna Hook.f. by its much longer (3–4 cm) inflorescence with 2 or 3 flowers in umbels (vs < 2 cm long solitary flowers) and 10- to 13-seeded berries (vs 5- to 9-seeded berries). A detailed taxonomic description, notes on habitat and ecology, and colour photographs are provided.

Amana hejiaqingii (Liliaceae), a New Species from the Dabie Mountains, China

In this paper, a new species from Central China, Amana hejiaqingii (Liliaceae), is described and illustrated. It resembles A. anhuiensis and A. tianmuensis but differs from A. anhuiensis as it has one white vein on its lower leaf and yellow anthers. It also differs from A. tianmuensis by possessing solitary pink flowers with longer and wider tepals. The principal coordinates analysis separated the three species based on morphological data. Cytological observation showed that A. hejiaqingii is diploid (2n = 2x = 24). Molecular phylogenetic analyses further supported its species delimitation.

Studies on Philippine Melastoma (Melastomataceae)—the Rarely Collected M. laevifolium Group

Members of the Melastoma laevifolium group in the Philippines which include the poorly known M. culionense from Culion Island and the new species M. lawrenceliaoi sp. nov. from Tawi-Tawi Island are herein taxonomically reassessed and described, respectively. Having the holotype missing/lost, M. culionense is herein lectotypified. Melastoma lawrenceliaoi is closely related to M. laevifolium from Borneo but differs by having flattened and furrowed young twigs, shorter leaves, midrib and longitudinal veins with slightly curved lanceolate scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long on the lower leaf surface, solitary flowers, shorter and grass green bracteoles, hypanthium sparsely covered with neatly appressed linear scales up to ca. 0.8 mm long, longer hypanthium lobes, ovate petals and shorter greyish anthers on the longer stamens. Taxonomic notes on M. laevifolium is herein provided too.

Identification of Genetic Factors Controlling the Formation of Multiple Flowers Per Node in Pepper (Capsicum spp.).

Flower production provides the foundation for crop yield and increased profits. Capsicum annuum is a pepper species with a sympodial shoot structure with solitary flowers. By contrast, C. chinense produces multiple flowers per node. C. annuum accounts for 80% of pepper production worldwide. The identification of C. chinense genes that control multiple flowers and their transfer into C. annuum may open the way to increasing fruit yield. In this study, we dissected the genetic factors were dissected controlling the multiple-flower-per-node trait in Capsicum. 85 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) between the contrasting C. annuum ‘TF68’ and C. chinense ‘Habanero’ accessions were phenotyped and genotyped. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis identified four novel QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 7, and 11 that accounted for 65% of the total phenotypic variation. Genome-wide association study was also performed on a panel of 276 genotyped and phenotyped C. annuum accessions, which revealed 28 regions significantly associated with the multiple-flower trait, of which three overlapped the identified QTLs. Five candidate genes involved in the development of the shoot and flower meristems were identified and these genes could cause multiple flowers per node in pepper. These results contribute to our understanding of multiple flower formation in Capsicum and will be useful to develop high-yielding cultivars.