Infraspecific Research Articles

A Taxonomic Account of Mucuna (Leguminosae–Papilionoideae) in Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian Ocean Islands, with Comments on Its Biogeographic History

A taxonomic account of the papilionoid legume genus Mucuna Adans. in Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian Ocean islands is presented. Fifteen large herbaria that host representative collections of African specimens were visited and online databases consulted. A new phylogenetic analysis is also presented. Nineteen taxa are described and mapped. Twelve species and six infraspecific taxa (including autonyms, thus 15 terminal taxa) of Mucuna are present on the African mainland, where three species are representatives of Mucuna subg. Mucuna and the other nine are members of Mucuna subg. Stizolobium (P. Browne) Baker. In the Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands biodiversity hotspot, Mucuna is represented by six species, two of which (M. gigantea (Willd.) DC. and M. pruriens (L.) DC.) also occur on the African mainland. The other four species are endemic to Madagascar or adjacent islands and are representatives of Mucuna subg. Mucuna. The only representative of Mucuna subg. Stizolobium in Madagascar is M. pruriens. Our study suggests that the African mainland is the center of origin of Mucuna subg. Stizolobium. It is also revealed as the world’s most species-rich region in representatives of this subgenus, whereas on the other continents, subgenus Mucuna is the most diverse.

Biosystematic studies on the genus Crepis L. (Asteraceae: Cichorieae) in Egypt

The taxonomy of the genus Crepis L. in Egypt is critically discussed. The genus is represented in Egypt by seven species with four infra-specific taxa. One new record (C. aspera var. inermis (Cass.) Boiss.) is reported here for the first time for the flora of Egypt. The macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of the studied Crepis taxa, including the capitula, phyllaries, achenes, trichomes, and stomata, were investigated. Multivariate (cluster and PCA) analyses based on macro- and micro-morphological characteristics elucidate the phenetic relationships among the investigated taxa at the sectional level. A key, full descriptions, an updated nomenclature, and a revised type citation to the Crepis taxa are provided. Keywords: Achenes; Asteraceae; Cichorieae; Crepis; Stomatal index; Trichomes.

Cortinarius (Basidiomycota, Cortinariaceae) section Crassispori revisited: resolving the C. chevassutii complex and demystifying C. variebulbus

Numerous collections made in deciduous and evergreen oak woodlands of Europe allowed us to re-evaluate, both morphologically and molecularly, the systematic position and taxonomic boundaries of Cortinarius chevassutii f. personatus. This infraspecific taxon and Cortinarius chevassutii share the same ecological niche, an identical distribution pattern, and can even co-occur in the same spot, making their distinction quite challenging, morphologically. However, the phylogenetic analysis of our broad dataset supports two reproductively isolated taxa that both deserve the rank of species. According to recent findings, Cortinarius pseudobulliardioides is the name to apply to the former C. chevassutii f. personatus. Based on present knowledge, spore size and average length/width ratio represents the most reliable diagnostic criterion to separate the two species. Additionally, through next generation sequencing (Illumina) of its holotype, we here reveal the phylogenetic position of Cortinarius variebulbus within the same sect. Crassispori. Recent phylogenetically confirmed collections of this species allow us to document and illustrate this taxon for the first time.

Cultures as types and the utility of viable specimens for fungal nomenclature

The debates over the requirement of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp) for a viable specimen to represent the name-bearing type material for a species or infraspecific taxon have a long history. Taxonomy of fungi commonly studied as living cultures exemplified by yeasts and moulds, strongly depend on viable reference material. The availability of viable cultures is also particularly useful for several groups of filamentous and dimorphic fungi. While the preservation of metabolically inactive cultures is permitted and recommended by the ICNafp, there is room for improvement. Below, we review the history and current status of cultures as the name-bearing type material under the Code. We also present a roadmap with tasks to be achieved in order to establish a stable nomenclatural system that properly manages taxa typified by viable specimens. Furthermore, we propose setting up rules and defining the nomenclatural status of ex-type cultures under Chapter F, the section of the ICNafp that includes provisions specific to names of fungi.

FloraVeg.EU — An online database of European vegetation, habitats and flora

AbstractThis article describes FloraVeg.EU, a new online database with open‐access information on European vegetation units (phytosociological syntaxa), vegetated habitats, and plant taxa. It consists of three modules. (1) The Vegetation module includes 149 phytosociological classes, 378 orders and 1305 alliances of an updated version of the EuroVegChecklist modified based on the decisions of the European Vegetation Classification Committee. Vegetation units dominated by vascular plants are characterized by country‐based distribution maps and data on the dominant life forms, phenology, soil properties, relationships to vegetation regions, elevational vegetation belts and azonal habitats, successional status, and degree of naturalness. A list of diagnostic taxa is also provided for each class. (2) The Habitats module includes vascular‐plant‐dominated terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitat types from the first to the third or fourth highest hierarchical levels of the EUNIS classification. Of these, 249 vegetated habitats are characterized by a brief description, a point‐based distribution map, diagnostic, constant, and dominant taxa, and a list of the corresponding alliances. (3) The Species module provides information on 37 characteristics of European vascular plant species and some infrageneric or infraspecific taxa, including functional traits (habitus and growth type, leaf, flower, fruit and seed traits, and trophic mode), taxon origin (native vs alien), and ecological information (environmental relationships, Ellenberg‐type indicator values, disturbance indicator values, and relationships to vegetation units and habitat types). Values for at least three variables are available for 36,404 species. Individual taxa, vegetation units, and habitats in these three modules are illustrated by more than 34,000 photographs. The Download section of FloraVeg.EU provides open‐access data sets in a spreadsheet format that can be used for analyses. FloraVeg.EU is a new resource with easily accessible data that can be used for research in vegetation science, ecology, and biogeography, as well as for education and conservation applications.

Clarifying the nomenclature of Strychnosbredemeyeri and Lasiostoma (Loganiaceae).

Strychnos (Loganiaceae, Gentianales) is a large and pantropical genus of woody plants, ethnobotanically important as a source of many toxic alkaloids, including strychnine. Unfortunately, the status of numerous names at various ranks of Strychnos remains unresolved, including that of many specific or infraspecific taxa in the Neotropics. In this study, we address Strychnosbredemeyeri (basionym Lasiostomabredemeyeri), a species described in 1827 based on type material collected in Venezuela during the poorly documented Austrian Märter expedition (1783-1788). Strychnosbredemeyeri is an unarmed liana with solitary tendrils and axillary inflorescences that occurs in Neotropical rainforests and savannas in Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. We clarify here the nomenclatural status of Lasiostoma Schreb., an illegitimate and superfluous genus currently in synonymy under Strychnos, and its former species Lasiostomabredemeyeri [= Strychnosbredemeyeri]. Also, we lectotypify S.pedunculata and S.trinitensis, both taxa currently synonyms of S.bredemeyeri.

O armário: Fruiting phenology data for 4,462 plant taxa in Portugal (1926–2013)

Species phenology - the timing of key life events - is being altered by ongoing climate changes with yet underappreciated consequences for ecosystem stability. While flowering is generally occurring earlier, we know much less about other key processes such as the time of fruit ripening, largely due to the lack of comprehensive long-term datasets. Here we provide information on the exact date and site where seeds of 4,462 taxa were collected for the Index Seminum (seed exchange catalogue) of the Botanic Garden of the University of Coimbra, between 1926 and 2013. Seeds were collected from spontaneous and cultivated individuals across Portugal, including both native and introduced taxa. The database consists of 127,747 curated records with information on the species, or infraspecific taxa (including authority), and the day and site where seeds were collected. All records are georeferenced and provided with a confidence interval for the collection site. Taxonomy was first curated manually by in-house botanists and then harmonized according to the GBIF backbone taxonomy.

A near-complete dataset of plant growth form, life history, and woodiness for all Australian plants

Tabular records of plant-trait data are essential for diverse research purposes. Here we present scorings for a trio of core plant traits, plant growth form, woodiness and life history, for nearly all (>99%) accepted taxon concepts included in the Australian Plant Census (APC). This dataset is predominantly derived from Australia’s state and national floras, supplemented by the taxonomic literature and diverse web resources. In total, 29,993 species and infraspecific taxa were scored for plant growth form, 30,279 for woodiness and 30,056 for life history, with taxa scored as displaying a single or multiple trait values, as appropriate. We provide sample R code that shows how to access and interrogate the dataset. This resource will enable rapid assessment of plant responses to disturbance events and new biogeographic analyses of trait distributions, better understandings of evolutionary trajectories, and ecological strategies.

About the nomenclature of the complicated ruderal species Rumex pulcher s.l. (Polygonaceae)

AbstractRumex pulcher is a species native to central and southern Europe, the Mediterranean area, and western Asia, growing mainly in ruderal habitats. It is a highly variable species, with six subspecies currently recognized (i.e., R. pulcher subsp. anodonta, subsp. cassius, subsp. pulcher, subsp. raulinii, subsp. suffocatus, and subsp. woodsii). In addition, there are the Linnaean R. divaricatus and Lojacono‐Pojero's R. usticanus, both of which are often considered heterotypic synonyms of R. pulcher, and several varieties and forms described by C. Haussknecht, which are synonymized with some accepted subspecies of R. pulcher. With the exception of R. suffocatus (basionym of R. pulcher subsp. suffocatus) and R. pulcher f. anodonta (basionym of R. pulcher subsp. anodonta), the names are still untypified and are examined and lectotypified here on specimens deposited at G, JE, PAL, and RO, whereas an illustration by Tilli is designated as the lectotype of the Linnaean R. divaricatus. Rumex usticanus is considered a synonym (syn. nov.) of R. obtusifolius subsp. obtusifolius; R. divaricatus is a synonym of R. pulcher subsp. woodsii. Haussknecht's infraspecific names are considered heterotypic synonyms of R. pulcher subsp. raulinii (R. pulcher f. macrodon) or R. pulcher subsp. woodsii (R. pulcher var. oligomicrodonta, var. microdon, and var. micropleiodontus). Haussknecht's R. pulcher f. anodonta is accepted as separate taxon at subspecies rank (R. pulcher subsp. anodonta). Finally, the type of R. pulcher subsp. woodsii confirms the occurrence (as an old record) of this taxon in the region of Latium (central Italy) where, up to now, it was strangely considered a doubtful record. Further specimens, found at RO and identified as R. pulcher (without specifying any subspecies), confirm the recent occurrence of R. pulcher subsp. woodsii in the Italian region of Latium.

An annotated checklist of the liverworts and hornworts of Nagaland, India

The present checklist comprises 168 species, including three infraspecific taxa, of liverworts and hornworts belonging to 54 genera and 32 families. It is based on literature reviews and specimen studies from the CAL herbarium. Six taxa are reported for the first time from the State of Nagaland.

Caught in the Act: Incipient Speciation at the Southern Limit of Viburnum in the Central Andes.

A fundamental objective of evolutionary biology is to understand the origin of independently evolving species. Phylogenetic studies of species radiations rarely are able to document ongoing speciation; instead, modes of speciation, entailing geographic separation and/or ecological differentiation, are posited retrospectively. The Oreinotinus clade of Viburnum has radiated recently from north to south through the cloud forests of Mexico and Central America to the Central Andes. Our analyses support a hypothesis of incipient speciation in Oreinotinus at the southern edge of its geographic range, from central Peru to northern Argentina. Although several species and infraspecific taxa have been recognized in this area, multiple lines of evidence and analytical approaches (including analyses of phylogenetic relationships, genetic structure, leaf morphology, and climatic envelopes) favor the recognition of just a single species, V. seemenii. We show that what has previously been recognized as V. seemenii f. minor has recently occupied the drier Tucuman-Bolivian forest region from Samaipata in Bolivia to Salta in northern Argentina. Plants in these populations form a well-supported clade with a distinctive genetic signature and they have evolved smaller, narrower leaves. We interpret this as the beginning of a within-species divergence process that has elsewhere in the neotropics resulted repeatedly in Viburnum species with a particular set of leaf ecomorphs. Specifically, the southern populations are in the process of evolving the small, glabrous, and entire leaf ecomorph that has evolved in four other montane areas of endemism. As predicted based on our studies of leaf ecomorphs in Chiapas, Mexico, these southern populations experience generally drier conditions, with large diurnal temperature fluctuations. In a central portion of the range of V. seemenii, characterized by wetter climatic conditions, we also document what may be the initial differentiation of the leaf ecomorph with larger, pubescent, and toothy leaves. The emergence of these ecomorphs thus appears to be driven by adaptation to subtly different climatic conditions in separate geographic regions, as opposed to parapatric differentiation along elevational gradients as suggested by Viburnum species distributions in other parts of the neotropics.

A Note on <i>Potentilla wallichiana</i> Del. Ex Lehm. Var. Ternata Wolf (Rosaceae) from Eastern India

Potentilla wallichiana Delile ex Lehm. (1831) is established as a later homonym of P. wallichiana Ser. (1825). Consequently, P. wallichiana var. ternata Wolf (1908), non P. ternata C. Koch (1847), a legitimate infra-specific taxon of an illegitimate name, is raised to the species rank and is described here as P. khasiana C. B. Clarke ex B. K. Dixit et Panigrahi. A key to distinguish it from the allied taxon, P. sundaica (Bl.) 0. Kuntze is provided.

COSMARIUM RETUSIFORME VAR. INCRASSATUM GUTWIŃSKI 1890 (ZYGNEMATOPHYCEAE, STREPTOPHYTA) – NEW RECORD OF RARE DESMID IN UKRAINE

Purpose. Adding a new taxon of the genus Cosmarium to the desmids flora of Chernihiv Polesie. Methodology. The landscape reserve of national significance “Zamglai” is one of the largest eutrophic swamps in the Chernihiv Polesie, which is an important refugium of hydrophilic phytodiversity of the forest zone, a place of concentration of a number of rare species of the boreal group and representatives of various biotic complexes. During the field research of the Zamglai bog complex, algal samples were collected and fixed with 4 % formalin for further study in laboratory conditions; pH and electrical conductivity of water were measured with a portable pH and conductivity meter. Microscopic examination of the samples was carried out using a light microscope equipped with a camera for taking microphotos. Identification manuals and monographs of the leading Ukrainian (Palamar-Mordvintseva, 1986, 2005) and European desmidiologists (Lenzenweger, 1999) were used for species identification.The iconotype provided in the original description of the newly recorded taxon (Gutwiński, 1892) was used. Scientific novelty. The second record in Ukrainian desmidioflora of a rare taxon from the genus Cosmarium is documented. Previously it was discovered 134 years ago (Gutwiński 1890) in the Roztochchia-Opillja mountain region, namely in the vicinity of Lemberg (former Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy – now Lviv, Ukraine). This taxon was found by the authors for the first time in the Ukrainian Polesie (Chernihiv Polesie). Description, cell dimensions and microphotographs in three views are included in this publication. Conclusions. The description and photographs of the three cell views of the taxon given in the article fill the gaps in the illustrative material of the national reference publications (Palamar-Mordvintseva 1986: 167, fig. 37 item 16) and create better conditions for identification and new records of this taxon in Ukraine. The distribution area of Cosmarium retusiforme var. incrassatum Gutwiński 1890 has been expanded. The flora of desmids of the Ukrainian Polesie is enriched with a new infraspecific taxon.

Updated nomenclature and re-establishment of the genus Dombeya Cav. section Dombeya (Dombeyoideae, Malvaceae)

ABSTRACT Here, we provide a list of all the legitimate names and synonyms of the species and infraspecific taxa in Dombeya sect. Dombeya. This autonymic section includes 11 species, 2 subspecies and 6 varieties showing a unique trait within Dombeyoideae: a biparous cyme with scorpioid terminal units. These species were previously included in two sections: Dombeya sect. Capricornua Arènes and D. sect. Paracapricornua Arènes, though neither of these names followed nomenclatural rules. Four lectotypes (Dombeya cincinnata K. Schum, Dombeya leucorrhoea K. Schum. Dombeya metameropsis Hochr. var. kitombaensis Hochr. Dombeya urenoides Hochr.), and three second-step lectotypes (Dombeya borraginopsis Hochr. Dombeya rubifolia Baill. Dombeya greveana Hochr.) are designated here. This work constitutes the basis for a future integrative revision of section Dombeya.

Taxa described by A.P. Khokrjakov

125 species and infraspecific taxa described by A.P. Khokrjakov are listed and commented. Names of 120 taxa are proved to be validly published (including 4 – as not legitimate and 3 – as replacement names), 5 – invalidly published (including Polygonum saxibetuletorum A.P. Khokhr. – published without diagnosis). For the first time it is shown that the names Astragalus hyalolepidoides A.P. Khokhr., Isatis pavlii A.P. Khokhr., Rhododendron ungeonticum A.P. Khokhr. et Mazurenko and Viola yuzufelensis A.P. Khokhr. are invalidly published. In addition, the list of 11 names labeled as new on the herbarium specimens and not published taxa is presented. For each taxon a full nomenclatural citation and barcodes of the main type specimens (holotypes, isotypes, lectotypes and isolectotypes). In cases of uncertainty in the type material status, barcodes of the original materials are given.

New infraspecific taxa and combinations in Malesian Elaeocarpus

SummaryInfraspecific names and combinations are provided for 19 variants of Elaeocarpus L. in the Flora Malesiana region.

Early Land Plants Today: Index of Liverwort and Hornwort names published 2021−2022

Centralization and standardization of biodiversity data increases accessibility and can lead to the development of checklists and other resources as powerful and important tools for taxonomy and conservation. The publication of new liverwort and hornwort names remains vastly scattered across dozens of journals. Thus we continue the longstanding index series of published names of liverworts and hornworts with 2021 and 2022. The list herein includes the following: six higher taxon names, 15 generic names, 81 infrageneric names, 187 specific names, 32 infraspecific names, three infrageneric autonyms and 13 infraspecific autonyms. Among them are 24 names of fossils as well as six illegitimate and 64 invalid names. Six older names omitted in the earlier indices are included.

The genus Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the historical collection of W.S.J.G. Besser (KW-BESS) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW)

Our herbarium inventory revealed that the collection of specimens of the genus Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the memorial collection of W.S.J.G. Besser (KW-BESS) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW) contains at least 1186 herbarium sheets. The collection of specimens of Artemisia is stored in folders Nos. 234–249 of the Besser herbarium. Each folder contains individual paper folders (here termed taxon covers). In total, there are 217 individual taxon folders. Our analysis of protologues and herbarium labels demonstrated that the KW-BESS collection contains types and/or other original specimens in 118 taxon folders, but much more actual types of species-rank and infraspecific names. Additional analysis of their possible type status is needed for specimens in 28 taxon folders. The KW-BESS collection contains authentic and historical specimens of such famous researchers and collectors of the 19th century as A. Bunge, L.K.A. Chamisso, A.P. de Candolle, D. Douglas, J.F.G. Eschscholtz, F.E.L. Fischer, J.É. Gay, A. Gray, J.D. Hooker, V.V. Jacquemont, G.S. Karelin and I.P. Kirilov, K.F. Ledebour, A.F. Marschall von Bieberstein, C.A. Meyer, T. Nuttall, J.D. Prescott, Ch. Steven, N.S. Turczaninow, N. Wallich, etc. We present and discuss here some examples of labels written by Besser and several other famous botanists. Our preliminary assessment of this globally important collection established the foundations for further nomenclatural and taxonomic studies of Artemisia, in particular, those based on historical specimens at KW.

The taxonomy, ultrastructure and biogeography of Eunotia camelus and infraspecific taxa, with a focus on the taxa described by Frenguelli from the Esteros del Iberá (Argentina)

The taxonomy, ultrastructure and biogeography of Eunotia camelus and infraspecific taxa, with a focus on the taxa described by Frenguelli from the Esteros del Iberá (Argentina)

New and poorly known taxa of Indigofera (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae, Indigofereae) from the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, South Africa: Part 2

This second paper describes and clarifies new and poorly known Indigofera species, belonging to sect. Pinnatae (E.Mey.) Harv., from the Pondoland Centre of Endemism and associated neighbouring areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, South Africa. Five new species (one with two infraspecific taxa) are recognized: Indigofera abbottii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. hillburttii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. tysonii Schrire and K.W.Grieve, I. herrstreyi Schrire and K.W.Grieve var. herrstreyi and I. herrstreyi var. helodes K.W.Grieve and Schrire, and I. ngwenyana Schrire and K.W.Grieve. Descriptions are provided for the poorly known I. corniculata E.Mey. and I. gerrardiana Harv., taxa rarely taken up in the literature and both having been mostly synonymised under I. dregeana E.Mey. that occurs outside the area of the present study. The name I. tenuissima E.Mey. was found to be the earliest, correct, name for the widespread species I. longipes N.E.Br. ex Baker f., leaving the coastal Zululand taxon – currently named I. tenuissima E.Mey. – requiring further evaluation.