Outer Phyllaries Research Articles

Ixeridium malingheense (Asteraceae), a new species from southwestern Guizhou, China

A new Asteraceae species, Ixeridium malingheense Z.Li & Q.Xu sp. nov., from Xingyi City, south-western Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular analyses. Compared with the other species of the genus, the species is most similar to I. yunnanense in a small stature, linear-lanceolate stem leaves, and short phyllaries. However, it is easily distinguished from the latter by its smaller basal leaves 18–34 × 5–13 mm (vs. 10–25 × 5 mm), spatulate or long-spatulate (vs. elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate), petioles ca. 30–55 mm (vs. 10 mm to absent), outer phyllaries 1-seriate (vs. 2-seriate, unequal), achenes smaller 2.0–3.0 × 0.5–1.0 mm (vs. 3.2 × 0.6 mm), and a flowering period of March to May (vs. June). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS sequence data determined the systematic position of I. malingheense in Ixeridium.

Taraxacum erythroboreale (Asteraceae) — новый вид предположительно межсекционного гибридного происхождения с широким распространением на севере Европейской России (Taraxacum Notulae Rossiae Boreali Europeae II)

Taraxacum erythroboreale Efimov, a new apomictic species, is described and illustrated. It occurs in Russia (North of the European part), in the Murmansk and Vologda regions, in the Komi Republic, being locally very abundant. It occupies mainly dry sandy roadsides and other similar ruderal places, and seems benefiting from the anthropogenic disturbance of the land. The new species may belong either to the section Erythrosperma (H. Lindb.) Dahlst., or have originated from the hybridization between this section and some species of Asiatic sections Stenoloba Kirschner et Štěpánek or Dissecta (Soest) R. Doll. The new species displays rather wide morphological polymorphism as to the presence/absence of purplish achene pigmentation, shape of outer phyllaries, corniculation of phyllaries, and in some other traits.

Generic concepts and species diversity within the Gynoxyoid clade (Senecioneae, Compositae).

The Gynoxyoid clade of the Senecioneae (Asteraceae) until now included the five genera Aequatorium, Gynoxys, Nordenstamia, Paracalia and Paragynoxys as diagnosed using selected morphological characters. In their pre-phylogenetic circumscription, the genera Aequatorium and Paragynoxys were considered to inhabit the northern Andes in contrast to Nordenstamia and Paracalia that occur in the central Andes. The most species-rich genus, Gynoxys, was believed to be distributed throughout the Andes. We use a recently established plastid phylogenomic framework that rendered Gynoxys paraphyletic to further evaluate the delimitation of genera in the Gynoxyoid clade. We examine the morphological variation of all members of the Gynoxyoid to identify characters potentially informative at genus level. This results in a matrix of eleven, mostly multistate characters, including those originally used to diagnose these genera. The ancestral character state inference displays a high level of homoplasy, but nevertheless supports the recognition of four genera. Aequatorium is characterised by white radiate capitula. Paracalia and Paragynoxys share white flowers and floral characteristics, such as flower opening and length of disc flowers lobes, as plesiomorphic states, but differ in habit (scandent shrubs vs. trees). Paracalia also retained white flowers, but its two species are characterised by the absence of outer phyllaries. The genera Gynoxys and Nordenstamia comprise species with yellow capitula which appear to be a derived feature in the Gynoxyoids. The genus Nordenstamia, with eight species, is synonymised under Gynoxys since molecular evidence shows its species nested within various parts of the Gynoxys subclade and the morphological variation of Nordenstamia falls well within that of Gynoxys. With the goal to assign all species to four genera (Aequatorium, Gynoxys, Paracalia and Paragynoxys), we assess the states for the eleven characters for all members of the Gynoxyoids and generate new ETS and ITS sequences for 171 specimens belonging to 49 species to further support their generic placement. We provide a taxonomic treatment for the four genera recognised here including amended diagnoses and morphological descriptions. Furthermore, a species-level taxonomic backbone is elaborated for all genera using electronic tools that list 158 currently accepted names and synonyms (209 names in total) with the respective protologue and type information, as well as notes on the current understanding of species limits. Eleven names are newly synonymised, two are lectotypified and eight are newly transferred to other genera.

Taraxacum sectum sp. nov., a new member of T. sect. Erythrosperma (Asteraceae) from the Baltic island Öland, Sweden

Taraxacum sectum is described as a new member of T. sect. Erythrosperma from the Baltic island of Öland, Sweden, where it has been found at ca 15 sites in alvar habitats as well as in somewhat disturbed dry and sandy grasslands. The new species is similar to T. saphycraspedum, T. marginatum and T. taeniatum but differs from all of these by a combination of characters: pale greenish yellow styles, ± vertically erect leaves, strongly recurved outer phyllaries, hairy scapes and conspicuously light grayish hairy basal parts.

A distinctive group of species allied to Taraxacum danubium (T. sect. Erythrosperma, Compositae-Crepidinae): a taxonomic revision

Within Taraxacum section Erythrosperma, several relatively distinct species groups are recognized. One of them, characterized by leaves with numerous, usually patent, very narrow lateral segments, frequently with their most distal part dilated, and outer phyllaries patent or arcuate-recurved, often with tips approaching the involucre base, with narrow whitish borders, includes species similar to the Central European Taraxacum danubium. This group comprises nine species, the majority of them (five species) being confined to the Balkan Peninsula. Another diversity centre of the group is the southernmost Ukraine. The most widespread species is T. persicum, extending from Iran and the lower river Volga to Central Europe. A detailed taxonomic revision of the whole group is presented, and descriptions, illustrations and lists of specimens studied are given. Two Balkanic species are newly described, the name T. danubium is lectotypified, another three names are relegated to the synonymy of the accepted names, and an unclear name, T. pineticola, is discussed. The species concept in Taraxacum is briefly expounded.

A hotspot of endemism: Oreophytic Taraxacum species (Compositae, Crepidinae) in the mountains of Bulgaria

The genus Taraxacum (Compositae, Crepidinae) is rather underexplored in the Balkan Peninsula, in spite of high sectional and species diversities and a considerable proportion of endemism to be expected. We focussed our research on mountain areas of Bulgaria. If occasional occurrence of otherwise lowland groups is disregarded, the following Taraxacum sections were recorded: T. sect. Erythrocarpa (treated in a separate paper), T. sect. Rhodocarpa (= T. sect. Alpestria; fourteen species, twelve newly described), T. sect. Crocea (previously referred to as T. sect. Fontana, with six species, five newly described), T. sect. Obliqua (four species, three newly described), and a new section, T. sect. Bulgarica (18 species, seventeen newly described). A single supramontane to subalpine species with an unknown sectional position, T. erzincanense, is also included. The new section, T. sect. Bulgarica, is characterized by a dwarf growth, very short leaves tightly appressed to the ground, enormously broadly winged petioles, appressed, dark, usually narrowly bordered outer phyllaries, and variously coloured achenes, most often with a conical to subcylindrical cone. The diversity of T. sect. Crocea, T. sect. Obliqua and T. sect. Bulgarica involves a high proportion of local endemism, and, in each section, it is concentrated around local sexual species, T. (Obliqua) pyrenaicum subsp. balcanicum, T. (Crocea) paludosiforme and T. (Bulgarica) bulgaricum. The other representatives of mountain sections are agamospermous and polyploid (triploid to hexaploid). The Taraxacum records published by Doll (1978) are revised; the names T. paludosiforme Doll and T. pseudovernelense Doll are lectotypified. Contrary to the published records, species described from the Alps are absent from Bulgaria; there is a single species of T. sect. Rhodocarpa with its geographical range extending from the Romanian Southern Carpathians to Bulgaria. The high proportion of local endemism is accounted for by the young age of the Bulgarian species.

Morphological and molecular evidence of the hybrid origin of Crepidiastrum ×muratagenii in Korea

The plant “Hong-do-go-deul-ppae-gi” has been considered as Crepidiastrum × muratagenii, a hybrid between C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum, based on its morphological traits and geographical distribution. To reveal the hybrid origin of Hong-do-go-deul-ppae-gi, we examined additional morphological traits of this plant and its putative parents (C. denticulatum, C. lanceolatum, C. platyphyllum) and analyzed one nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and four chloroplast regions (trnT-L, trnL-F, rpl16 intron, and rps16 intron). As a result of examining the morphological traits, putative hybrid individuals were classified into three types based on the habit, cauline leaf, outer phyllary, and achene beak traits. A molecular analysis found that the ITS sequences of Type 1 and Type 2 individuals showed additive species-specific sites of C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum. Plastid sequences of Type 1 and Type 2 individuals showed C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum sequences, respectively. However, Type 3 individuals had ITS and plastid sequences corresponding to C. denticulatum. Accordingly, Type 1 and Type 2 individuals not only share morphological traits with C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum but also show additive species-specific sites for C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum, and not C. platyphyllum, supporting its origin as a hybrid between C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum. Type 3 had morphological traits similar to other hybrid types but was distinguished with respect to outer phyllaries and demonstrated some resemblance to C. denticulatum. In a molecular analysis, Type 3 was found to be identical with regard to the sequence of C. denticulatum and was judged to be an ecological variation of C. denticulatum.

Taraxacum rhodocarpum and T. schroeterianum (Asteraceae, Crepidinae) are not synonyms, and T. sect. Rhodocarpa is the correct name for T. sect. Alpestria

Taraxacum schroeterianum Hand.-Mazz. was published to cover distinctive red-fruited slender West Alpine plants with appressed outer phyllaries; it traditionally included T. rhodocarpum Dahlst. as a synonym. A separate section, T. sect. Rhodocarpa van Soest was even erected; its type is T. rhodocarpum on the basis of Art. 10.8 of the ICN. We present a detailed evidence for the separate status of T. schroeterianum and T. rhodocarpum. They differ in a series of morphological features and in the chromosome number. While the former represents a rather isolated taxon, the latter is close to the group of T. reophilum van Soest, the type of T. sect. Alpestria (van Soest) van Soest. Taraxacum sect. Rhodocarpa is therefore considered as the correct name for T. sect. Alpestria. The names T. schroeterianum and T. rhodocarpum are typified, and both these species together with T. sect. Rhodocarpa are supplemented with full descriptions. The name T. sagii Sonck was reassessed and synonymized with T. schroeterianum.

Taxonomic entity of Saussurea taquetii (Asteraceae) compared with S. japonica and S. pulchella

Saussurea taquetii reported from Jejudo Island is either treated as a synonym of S. japonica or is recognized as a distinct taxon. Saussurea japonica and S. pulchella belong to the sect. Theodorea by having peculiar outer phyllaries with pale purplish scarious apical appendages; they are closely related to each other morphologically and are known to occur widely throughout the Korean Peninsula. To assess the taxonomic status of S. taquetii, we investigated representative populations of S. taquetii from jejudo Island, Korea, and S. japonica from Kyushu in Japan. We conducted a comparative study morphologically using specimens of three species from KH, CNU, and TI. Saussurea taquetii is very similar morphologically and ecologically to S. japonica in Kyushu. Unlike previous floristic treatments, we concluded that the two taxa, S. pulchella and S. taquetii, occur on the Korean Peninsula and on jejudo Island, respectively.

Calea funkiana (Compositae, Neurolaeneae), A New Endemic Species From Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract— A new species of Calea belonging to sect. Meyeria is described and named as an in memoriam tribute to Vicki Ann Funk (1947‐2019), who dedicated her career to plant systematics, specially focusing on the Compositae. Calea funkiana resembles Calea triantha, but is distinguished by the slightly branched habit, apically acute leaves, glabrous ray florets, and, mainly, the villose indumentum of stems, leaves, peduncle, and outer phyllaries. The new species is described and illustrated, its geographic distribution is mapped, and its taxonomic affinities are discussed. Additionally, a key for the species of Calea from Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, is provided.

Taraxacum sect. Austropaludosa, a new section allied to T. sect. Palustria (Compositae, Crepidinae)

AbstractThe broadly understood Taraxacum sect. Palustria was examined and found heterogeneous on the basis of a new ample material from the Balkan Peninsula. A group of eighteen species was recognized, characterized by achenes usually densely spinulose and abruptly to subabruptly narrowing in the cone, appressed or loosely appressed outer phyllaries numerous, often imbricate or subimbricate, with an evenly deep to dark olivaceous‐green abaxial surface and a conspicuous, very narrow whitish border, polliniferous anthers and triploidy. The relatively clear‐cut group is described as a new section, Taraxacum sect. Austropaludosa. Members of the new section are distributed in central and eastern Balkan Peninsula, Turkey, southernmost Ukraine, one species reaches Iran and Iraq; only a single species occupies a Central European geographical range. Two new species are described, T. (Austropaludosa) favorabile from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, characterized by a broadly winged petiole, outer phyllaries appressed to loosely appressed ovate‐lanceolate, dark olivaceous‐green, with a distinct but very narrow whitish border, and T. (Palustria) siticulosum from Bulgaria, a species allied to T. scaturiginosum and T. lilianae, distinct in having very numerous outer phyllaries, often distally erect‐arcuate, almost entire leaf lobes, and short achenes with a ± cylindrical cone only 0.5–0.8 mm long.

Mojiangia oreophila (Crepidinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), a new species and genus from Mojiang County, SW Yunnan, China, and putative successor of the maternal Faberia ancestor

A single small population of chasmophytic plants is described as Mojiangiaoreophila, a monotypic genus in the subtribe Crepidinae, characterised by a unique combination of morphological features, in particular densely long-papillose homomorphic achenes with five main ribs each accompanied by two secondary ribs, coarse brownish pappus bristles, moderately many-flowered capitula, a small involucre with numerous outer phyllaries, perennial rosette herb growth and brown-woolly caudex and leaf axils. Molecular phylogenetic analysis detected that in the nrITS phylogeny M. oreophila forms a clade of its own in the Crepidinae; in the plastid DNA phylogeny it is nested in the clade formed by the hybridogenous genus Faberia, the maternal ancestor of which comes from the Crepidinae and the paternal ancestor from the Lactucinae, where Faberia is placed in nrITS phylogenies. M. oreophila shares several morphological features with Faberia and also shares the expected chromosome number of 2n = 16 with its hitherto unknown maternal ancestor. M. oreophila may therefore be a successor of the maternal ancestor of Faberia. Alternatively, cytonuclear discordance is to be assumed in Mojiangia, caused by chloroplast capture as a result of hybridisation and introgression with Faberia.

<p><strong><em>Taraxacum mirabile</em>, an enigmatic sexual halophilous endemic dandelion, represents a new section</strong></p>

Taraxacum mirabile Wagenitz (Asteraceae, Cichorieae, Crepidinae), a remarkable but taxonomically unexplored endemic species of Central Anatolia, is examined in detail. It is shown to be a sexually reproducing diploid (2n=16) species. It used to be included in Taraxacum sect. Orientalia in the literature. However, the nrDNA analysis revealed that T. mirabile is remote from that section. Moreover, it exhibits a number of unique features, such as fleshy leaves with a white, cartilaginous apex, long, dense, bright white tomentum at the plant base, multiple root heads, achenes with an extremely short conical cone and with very few minute spinules, a very narrow involucre with imbricate outer phyllaries, and white, not numerous florets. The most specific feature of T. mirabile is the fine, microscopic sculpture of achene surface, consisting of hair-like protuberances, not known in other Taraxacum species. These attributes, together with the convincing result of the nrDNA analysis, qualify T. mirabile to be recognized as a member of a separate section, T. sect. Echinulata, sect. nov. The habitat and distribution of T. mirabile are described, and the character of its endemism is discussed.

Short Communication: Cremanthodium indica (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Eastern Himalaya, India

Abstract. Borah D, Singh RK, Thungon LT. 2021. Short Communication: Cremanthodium indica (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Eastern Himalaya, India. Biodiversitas 22: 1268-1272. Cremanthodium indica D.Borah, R.Kr. Singh & Thungon (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from Eastern Himalayan state Arunachal Pradesh, India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Cremanthodium nobile (Franch.) Diels ex H.Lév. in having elliptic-obovate basal leaves, solitary, nodding capitula and hemispheric involucre, but differs by densely pale yellow tomentose stem, stem leaves 5–9, 1.6–2.1 cm distant, outer phyllaries 2.3–2.8 mm wide, inner phyllaries elliptic, 3–5 mm wide, apex acute, ray lamina creamy, oblong, 2–2.3 cm long, apex truncate, distinctly 3-dentate, ray tube 1.5–2 mm long, tubular florets creamy, 8–9 mm long and pappus 6–8 mm long.

Blumea hunanensis (Asteraceae: Inuleae), a new species from Hunan, China

A new species of Blumea DC. (Asteraceae: Inuleae) from Hunan Province, Central China, B. hunanensis L.D.Duan & Yun Lin, is described, illustrated and photographed. The new species is morphologically similar to B. hieraciifolia (Spreng.) DC., but differs from the latter in having two pseudostipules per stem node, leaf blade 13 – 26 cm long, 4 – 9 cm wide, veins 9 – 14 pairs, capitula pedunculate, peduncle 1.0 – 2.4 cm long, outer phyllaries recurved, and corolla lobes glabrous.

Morphological and molecular analyses of South American Microliabum (Compositae, Liabeae, Paranepheliinae) and reinstatement of Austroliabum

AbstractThe small Neotropical tribe Liabeae (Compositae) is currently classified into four subtribes: Liabinae, Munnoziinae, Paranepheliinae, and Sinclairiinae. As currently accepted, Paranepheliinae includes seven genera, Chionoppapus, Erato, Microliabum, Paranephelius, Philoglossa, Pseudonoseris, and Stephanbeckia, distributed especially throughout the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia to Argentina. Our research focuses in the genus Microliabum, which inhabits extra‐Andean enviroments from Bolivia to central Argentina. The broad concept of Microliabum and its phylogenetic position within Paranepheliinae are controversial. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses of ribosomal nuclear ITS and plastid trnL‐F suggest that both subgenera described within Microliabum are monophyletic. However, Microliabum, without the subgenus Austroliabum, is close to Stephanbeckia. A statistical analysis (PCoA) supports the separation of the subgenera, and morphology mainly based on traits of the involucre and florets permits to establish new taxonomical circumscriptions. Thus, the reinstatement of Austroliabum, the more southern Liabean genus, is here proposed. The genus includes three endemic species from Sub‐Andean and Pampean Hills in central and northwestern Argentina. Austroliabum is characterized by white‐tomentose or woolly pubescence on stems and abaxial leaf surfaces, acrodromous leaf venation, campanulate involucres, coriaceous and adpressed phyllaries in usually five series, outer phyllaries shorter than the inner ones, style branches of disc florets shorter than the pubescent part on the shaft below the bifurcation point, style pubescence on the shaft below the bifurcation point of disc florets at least three times longer than the branches of the style, persistent 2‐seriate pappus with outer series of scales and inner series of barbellate bristles, and achenes pubescent on the ribs. In addition, a revision of Microliabum s.str., with three species, is carried out.

Intra- and interpopulation variability of Solidago canadensis L. s. l. in Belarus

The study of the variability of 22 morphological characters in 5 populations of Solidago canadensis L. s. l., growing in the city of Minsk and its environs, was carried out. Comparison of the obtained data with previously published information on the nature and range of variability of the North American taxa Solidago subsect. Triplinerviae showed that plants growing on the territory of the Republic of Belarus cannot be unambiguously assigned to any of the North American species by the combination of morphological characters. Compared to North American taxa, the plants of the studied populations have a significantly more powerful habitus (a large average plant height, longer and in many populations broader mid stem leaves, most often a larger inflorescence), intermediate in comparison with S. canadensis s. str. and S. altissima s. str. and significantly different from both North American species, the length of involucres and the length of tubular flowers, significantly longer outer phyllaries, shorter straps of ray florets, larger ovaries of ray florets, but their shorter pappus, a significantly smaller number of disc florets. The disc florets have significantly larger teeth compared to S. canadensis s. str. and S. altissima s. str. The data obtained confirm the point of view of Hildemar Scholz, according to which the invasive goldenrod, which is currently widely distributed throughout Europe, are of European origin. Most likely, they are either stabilized hybrids that arose during breeding due to the crossing of several North American species, or arose as a result of spontaneous mutation and further selection under natural conditions.

Onopordum nezaketianum sp. nov. (Asteraceae: Cardueae): a new species from Central Anatolia, Turkey

Onopordum nezaketianum sp. nov. (Asteraceae: Cardueae) from the Central Anatolia region of Turkey is described based on morphological and palynological features. The new species is morphologically related to O. davisii Rech. f. and O. turcicum Danin, and is characterized by its capitula solitary or 2?4 on leafy 2?20 cm long peduncles, phyllaries 5?6 seriate, outer phyllaries sparsely arachnoid pubescent, ovate?lanceolate, flat or nearly reflexed; median phyllaries sparsely arachnoid pubescent, narrowly ovate?lanceolate, reflexed; inner phyllaries glabrous, linear?lanceolate, erect, flowers 20?25 mm; 4 corolla lobes equal, 4?5 mm long, and 5th lobe 6?7 mm long, pappus barbellate. Achenes 4.0?5.1 x 2.0?2.5 mm, grayish, obovate, deeply transverse rugose, with finely and irregularly undulate surface. Pollen grains of O. nezaketianum are trizonocolporate, oblate?spheroidal, and ornamentation microreticulate.

Recurved Taraxacum phyllaries function as a floral defense: experimental evidence and its implication for Taraxacum evolutionary history

AbstractFlorivores directly decrease the reproductive success of plants by consuming pollen and seeds; thus, plants often have defense mechanisms against florivory. Here, we show that the recurved phyllaries of an agamospermous hybrid dandelion, Taraxacum japonicum × officinale, function as a physical barrier to slug florivory. We allowed Lehmannia valentiana, a European slug naturalized in Japan, to feed on eight pairs of the hybrid dandelion and T. japonicum, a Japanese species with erect phyllaries. Consequently, the slugs only damaged T. platycarpum flowers. The slugs either moved back from recurved phyllaries or spent more than twice as long on recurved than on erect phyllaries. When we removed the recurved phyllaries, the slugs stayed on hybrid and T. japonicum phyllaries for equal lengths of time. In addition to recurved outer phyllaries, the hybrid dandelion has erect inner phyllaries that are longer than those of T. japonicum, which effectively conceal the florets at night protecting them from slug florivory. Using the taxonomic literature, we have confirmed that recurved phyllaries evolved in many species in several parts of Europe, but are rare in East Asia. These findings suggest that European dandelions acquired recurved phyllaries as a defense mechanism under antagonistic coevolution with florivorous slugs, but this coevolution did not occur in East Asia.

Taraxacum umbrosum(Asteraceae, Cichorieae), a New Species Intermediate between sect.Erythrospermaand sect.Erythrocarpa, Widespread in the Balkans

A new, relatively widespread species of Taraxacum from the Balkans, intermediate between sect. Erythrosperma and sect. Erythrocarpa, T. umbrosum Sonck, Kirschner & Stěpanek, is described and illustrated. It occurs in Greece, Bulgaria and F.Y.R. Macedonia, and is characterized by numerous, narrowly-triangular leaf lateral segments, numerous, imbricate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, dark, distinctly narrowly bordered and conspicuously corniculate outer phyllaries, and brown or castaneous-brown, initially also red-brown achenes usually 4–5 mm long. Taraxacum umbrosum, an agamospermous taxon, is compared with morphologically similar species in sect. Erythrosperma (T. fragosum and T. taraxacoides) and with those in sect. Erythrocarpa (T. olymophilum, T. pindicola, T. dorchocarpum, T. panhellenicum, T. voricola and T. gratum).