Segregation Of Genera Research Articles

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with chemometric methods to identify and estimate taxonomic relationships of flies with forensic potential (Diptera: Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae)

Infrared spectroscopy has been gaining prominence in entomology, such as for solving taxonomic problems, sexing adult specimens, determining the age of immature specimens, detecting drugs of abuse in fly larvae, and can be an important technique in Forensic Entomology. In order to help identify the species of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae families, the present study aimed to evaluate the use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with chemometric methods for separating fly specimens into taxonomic categories and understanding the taxonomic relationship between them. Spectra collected from nine species of flies were subjected to unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), in which we sought to visualize the relationship between the samples (segregation of genera and families) with subsequent identification. In PCA, the best model was achieved using five principal components (PCs), which explained 99.16% of total variance of the original data set. The first principal component (PC1) and the fourth principal component (PC4) provided the best segregation, the latter being more important in the segregation of the species Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia eximia, and Ravinia belforti from the others. In the HCA dendrogram, there was a clear separation between the specimens by family (Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae) and genera (Chrysomya, Lucilia, Oxysarcodexia, Peckia and Ravinia). This study shows that NIRS is efficient to identify flies’ taxonomic properties, such as family and genera, providing quick evidence for the tested species identity.

Trisetopsis pirpanjalensis and Tzveleviochloa yadavii (Poaceae: Aveninae), two new oat‐like perennial grass species from India

Trisetopsis pirpanjalensis and Tzveleviochloa yadavii, discovered during fieldwork in Western Himalaya, are described and illustrated here as the two first new species after the segregation of genera from Helictotrichon. Trisetopsis pirpanjalensis is similar to Trisetopsis virescens but differs in circumscription of ligule, panicle and spikelet whereas Tzveleviochloa yadavii is closely allied to Tzveleviochloa parviflora but differs in morphological characters of panicle and spikelet. Besides, we provided data on habitats, distribution, illustrations, photo plates along with relevant taxonomic notes for each species.

Status of the southern African Anapalina and Antholyza (Iridaceae) genera, based solely on characters for bird pollination, and a new species of Tritoniopsis

Anapalina N.E. Br. (1932), erected for several species of long-tubed, red-flowered species previously assigned to Antholyza L., is closely allied to Tritoniopsis L. Bol. (Lewis 1959a; Goldblatt 1971). Distinctive leaves with more than one main vein (unless very narrow), short coriaceous bracts, the inner longer than the outer, and inflated capsules and large seeds with a loosely to elaborately folded seed coat are synapomorphies uniting the two genera. In addition some species of both genera have unusual pseudopetiolate leaves. Shared, unusually high chromosome numbers, 2 n = 32 and 30, support the contention that Anapalina and Tritoniopsis constitute a single monophyletic lineage. The flower of Anapalina with its long dimorphic tube, exserted stamens and more or less hooded upper tepal conforms to the classic model for ornithophily and the genus represents no more than a series of species of Tritoniopsis adapted primarily for bird pollination. Segregation of genera based solely on this criterion has little merit and such treatment is inconsistent with the circumscription of other genera of subfamily Ixioideae. The suite of characters associated with ornithophily appears to have evolved several times in Ixioideae and until recently some natural species assemblages were accorded generic rank on the basis of the adaptations to ornithophily of their flower, while others were placed in genera with other types of floral adaptation. This paper is the second of a series dealing with genera of Ixioideae defined exclusively by characters associated with ornithophily. Original chromosome counts for the genus and a new species, Tritoniopsis williamsiana, are included here. Like Anapalina , the genus Antholyza [as currently circumscribed sensu Brown (1932) and thus excluding the lectotype species] is based on floral adaptations associated with ornithophily. Except for its flowers, it is indistinguishable from Babiana Ker-Gawl., in which it was first included by Ker (1804), and then later by Baker (1896). I recommend inclusion of Antholyza sensu Brown in Babiana, noting their shared plicate leaves, general pubescence or puberulence, and base numbers of x = 7. New combinations are provided for the species of Anapalina now included in Tritoniopsis while the nomenclature of the species until now included in Antholyza is outlined.

THE FLORAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE POLEMONIACEAE

THE POLEMONIACEAE, comprising twelve genera and about three hundred species, while clearly defined as a natural order of plants, show unusual difficulties in the determination of generic relationships. The entire group is so closely interrelated that absolute characters, which could serve as a basis to separate genera and species taxonomically, are lacking. Since the time of Jussieux (1789) this family has presented an interesting but baffling problem for systematists. Authors have differed widely in their definition of genera. This uncertainty of status is reflected in the confusion of nomenclature existing today, as well as in the wide variations of opinions regarding the merging or segregation of genera and species. Not only have problems arisen within the family, but differences of opinion on derivation and origin are met with on every hand. The uncertainty extends from the suggestion of Rendle (1925) that the Polemoniaceae came from a sympetalous type akin to the Rosales, to that of Hutchinson (1926), who assigns their derivation to the Geraniales. Moreover, Hallier (1905) and Bessey (1915) have considered the family to be an advanced type derived from the Primulaceae. Recent investigations in floral anatomy have demonstrated the fallibility of interpreting floral structures on general morphological features alone. In view of this fact, a careful study of the vascular structure of the flowers and fruits of the Polemoniaceae, together with representative forms of the Caryophyllaceae and Geraniaceae, was made to determine, if possible, the relationships existing both within and without the group. The writer wishes to express her gratitude to Dr. Arthur J. Eames of Cornell University for his assistance and kindly criticisms in this study. Her grateful thanks go to several contributors of material, among them Dr. David Keck of the Carnegie Institution at Washington, Dr. John Thomas Howell of the California Academy of Sciences, Dr. P. A. Munz of Pomona College, Dr. Fred Emerson of the New Mexico Normal University at Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mr. George Peranian of Utah Agricultural College at Logan, Utah, Dr. A. J. Sharp of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Tepnnessee, and to Dr. Minna Koch for her many helpful suggestions. The taxonomic treatment used as a basis was that of A. Brand in Engler's Das Pflanzenreich (1907). Representatives from each of the twelve genera, including about 125 species, were examined. For this purpose flowers and fruits in various stages of development were prepared by fixing in 70 per cent alcohol and embedding in paraffin. Complete serial sections were then cut 12 ,. in thickness and stained with crystal violet and erythrosin (1926). FLORAL STRUCTURE.-The Polemoniaceae, a family comprised of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs,