Calyx Shape Research Articles

Diversity of Monopyle within Columbia

The family Gesneriaceae is a group of herbaceous tropical plants that are identified generically by their attractive flowers. They are also well known for their variation in form and physical characteristics. The largest genus within the subtribe Gloxiniinae is Monopyle. Monopyle includes around one hundred species spanning from South America to Guatemala. The classification of species within Monopyle of Columbia needs further review to insure that species properly delimited. My research focuses on the description of Monopyle campanulata. This species will be compared to other species within this region using both morphological and molecular methods. The use of morphological characteristics such as petiole length, density of pubescence, corolla shape coupled with color, and calyx shape differences allow me to compare the phenotype of each species for separation. In addition to this, molecular studies will be performed to provide a separate objective dataset to insure the morphological differences are valid. These procedures will also allow me to identify any hybridization or cryptic speciation.

A new Philippine endemic species and new records of Lasianthus (Lasiantheae, Rubiaceae)

A new species named as Lasianthus halconensis from Mt. Halcon, Mindoro, Philippines is described and illustrated. This species is easily distinguished from the other Lasianthus by having strigose indumentum on branches, abaxial leaf surface, petioles and calyx; lanceolate leaves, cuneate at base; obconical calyx and drupes with 8 pyrenes. This species is allied to L. obliquinervis and L. chrysoneurus but differs in stem, leaf and calyx indumentum, leaf and calyx shape and the absence of bracts. Moreover, three new records of Lasianthus in the country are reported including their diagnosis.

Phylogeny of non‐monophyletic Teucrium (Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae): Implications for character evolution and taxonomy

AbstractTeucrium, with an almost cosmopolitan distribution, comprises about 250 species and is the second ‐ largest genus of subfamily Ajugoideae (Lamiaceae). Phylogenetic studies were conducted using nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and chloroplast (ndhF gene, trnL‐F region) DNA sequence data from 101 taxa to estimate phylogenetic relationships among Teucrium and its closest allies. We conclude that: (1) Teucridium, Spartothamnella and Oncinocalyx are nested within Teucrium, thus rendering the latter paraphyletic; (2) previously proposed taxonomic classification systems for Teucrium mostly are not supported by our phylogenetic results; (3) Rubiteucris and Schnabelia appear to be sister to Teucrium. Our results indicate that, among various morphological characters, the calyx shape is diagnostic for different clades within Teucrium. Based on the cladograms derived in this study, the pattern of karyotype evolution suggests that switches in ploidy level are common in at least two groups. Adaptations to drought stress and the regional establishment of Mediterranean climates obviously facilitated speciation and the spread of the genus. Molecular dating analyses indicate diversification of Teucrium at the middle/late Miocene boundary, correlated with Tertiary climatic and tectonic changes.

Revisiting the phylogeny of Bombacoideae (Malvaceae): Novel relationships, morphologically cohesive clades, and a new tribal classification based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses

Bombacoideae (Malvaceae) is a clade of deciduous trees with a marked dominance in many forests, especially in the Neotropics. The historical lack of a well-resolved phylogenetic framework for Bombacoideae hinders studies in this ecologically important group. We reexamined phylogenetic relationships in this clade based on a matrix of 6465 nuclear (ETS, ITS) and plastid (matK, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG) DNA characters. We used maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference to infer relationships among 108 species (∼70% of the total number of known species). We analyzed the evolution of selected morphological traits: trunk or branch prickles, calyx shape, endocarp type, seed shape, and seed number per fruit, using ML reconstructions of their ancestral states to identify possible synapomorphies for major clades. Novel phylogenetic relationships emerged from our analyses, including three major lineages marked by fruit or seed traits: the winged-seed clade (Bernoullia, Gyranthera, and Huberodendron), the spongy endocarp clade (Adansonia, Aguiaria, Catostemma, Cavanillesia, and Scleronema), and the Kapok clade (Bombax, Ceiba, Eriotheca, Neobuchia, Pachira, Pseudobombax, Rhodognaphalon, and Spirotheca). The Kapok clade, the most diverse lineage of the subfamily, includes sister relationships (i) between Pseudobombax and “Pochota fendleri” a historically incertae sedis taxon, and (ii) between the Paleotropical genera Bombax and Rhodognaphalon, implying just two bombacoid dispersals to the Old World, the other one involving Adansonia. This new phylogenetic framework offers new insights and a promising avenue for further evolutionary studies. In view of this information, we present a new tribal classification of the subfamily, accompanied by an identification key.

Didymocarpus anningensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Didymocarpus anningensis, is described and illustrated from Anning, Central Yunnan, China. The new species resembles D. purpureobracteatus and D. yunnanensis, but it can be easily distinguished by a combination of stem, leaf blade and leaf petiole indumentum characters, bract and calyx shape and number of staminodes.

Why Africa matters: evolution of Old World Salvia (Lamiaceae) in Africa.

Salvia is the largest genus in Lamiaceae and it has recently been found to be non-monophyletic. Molecular data on Old World Salvia are largely lacking. In this study, we present data concerning Salvia in Africa. The focus is on the colonization of the continent, character evolution and the switch of pollination systems in the genus. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Analyses were based on two nuclear markers [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribed spacer (ETS)] and one plastid marker (rpl32-trnL). Sequence data were generated for 41 of the 62 African taxa (66 %). Mesquite was used to reconstruct ancestral character states for distribution, life form, calyx shape, stamen type and pollination syndrome. Salvia in Africa is non-monophyletic. Each of the five major regions in Africa, except Madagascar, was colonized at least twice, and floristic links between North African, south-west Asian and European species are strongly supported. The large radiation in Sub-Saharan Africa (23 species) can be traced back to dispersal from North Africa via East Africa to the Cape Region. Adaptation to bird pollination in southern Africa and Madagascar reflects parallel evolution. The phenotypic diversity in African Salvia is associated with repeated introductions to the continent. Many important evolutionary processes, such as colonization, adaptation, parallelism and character transformation, are reflected in this comparatively small group. The data presented in this study can help to understand the evolution of Salvia sensu lato and other large genera.

Dionysia assadii sp. nov. (Primulaceae: sect. Dionysiopsis) from southern Iran

The new species Dionysia assadii (Primulaceae) from the Irano–Turanian region in Fars province, Iran, is described and illustrated. It is compared with its closest relative Dionysia esfandiarii Wendelbo and differs from it in leaf shape, leaf margin, hair density of leaves and other organs, shape of calyx and bracts, color of corolla and status of lobes, form and color of seeds, as well as the length of anthers and style in longistylous flowers.

NEW CANDIDATE FOR THE ANCESTOR OF JAPANESE PERSIMMON (DIOSPYROS KAKI THUNB.) FOUND IN YUNNAN PROVINCE OF CHINA

There are few reports for the origin of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and no species is defined as ancestor for it. However, so far, D. glandulosa (syn. D. roxburghii) was reported as a candidate for the origin of persimmon by Ng (Malaysian Forester 41:43-50, 1978), and D. oleifera and D. lotus are also reported to have very close relationship to D. kaki in phylogenetic analyses using the sequences of matK gene of the chloroplast DNA and ITS region of the genomic DNA by our research (Tree Genetics & Genomes 4:149-158, 2008). These three candidate species are all diploid (2n=2x=30) in contrast that almost all of D. kaki is hexaploid (2n=6x=90). Recently, our survey of Diospyros species in China allowed us to find a new possible candidate of D. kaki, called “ye-mao-shi” in Chinese, in addition to these three candidate species. This new candidate seemed to be much closer to D. kaki than the previous three candidates due to morphological similarities of shape and size of leaf, fruit, and calyx. It was just like D. kaki in morphology, except that the fruit skin is pubescent in contrast with glabrous skin for D. kaki. The leaf surface of this new candidate is also a little bit pubescent. We found this candidate at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden in Yunnan Province. According to the survey of specimens at the herbariums of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Kunming Botanical Garden, Wuhan Botanical Garden, and Beijing Botanical Garden in China, this candidate was confused in the classification and was categorized into both D. kaki var. sylvestris and D. kaki. In fact, there were two types classified into D. kaki var. sylvestris and D. kaki; one has pubescent fruit skin and the other has glabrous fruit skin. The candidate having pubescent fruit skin, called “ye-mao-shi”, should be classified as different categorization from D. kaki or D. kaki var. sylvestris. Interestingly, according to our herbarium survey in China, almost all of this candidate was distributed preferentially in Yunnan Province of China. Now, we are trying to analyze this new candidate to validate the genetic relationship to D. kaki in phylogenetic trees. This candidate should be closer to D. kaki among the species we analyzed and we are now planning to analyze the phylogenetic position of this new candidate among other wild Diospyros species we collected.

Distribution and morphological characteristics of Scopolia japonica Maxim. in Korea

The morphological characteristics of the Korean Scopolia japonica Maxim., commonly known as 'Mi-chi-gwang-i-pul' in Korean, were re-evaluated in comparison with results from previous research, while the distribution map was formulated according to existing flora and voucher specimens. The result of the re-evaluation has shown that there are some distinctive discrepancies compared to the previous reports of some characteristics such as the color of the basal stem, numbers of lateral veins, apex shape of calyx and corolla including the color of corolla. The Korean Scopolia japonica Maxim is found throughout Korea except Jeju-do province. The intra-specific species such as S. parviflora (Dunn.) Nakai, S. lutescens Y.N. Lee and S. kwangdokensis Y.N. Lee were treated as synonyms of S. japonica Maxim. in this research.

Taxonomic reinstatement of Teucrium andrusi from T. paederotoides based on morphological and anatomical evidences

Teucrium andrusi, described by Post from Mardin province, Turkey, was synonimized with T. paederotoides in the flora of Turkey. According to the records in the flora of Turkey T. paederotoides was a steno-endemic species, only known from the type locality in Gaziantep and from Mardin province. Specimens of T. paederotoides s.l. were collected from both localities and a detailed comparison of the plants from Gaziantep with those from Mardin revealed that the two populations were sufficiently distinct from each other to be recognised as separate species. Thus, T. andrusi Post is reinstated from the synonymy with T. paederotoides. Teucrium andrusi is morphologically different from T. paederotoides s.s. in terms of its general indumentum, leaf margin, bract and calyx shape, corolla colour and nutlet macro–micromorphology. It can be anatomically distinguished from T. paederotoides s.s. by stoma type, stomatal distribution on the leaf surface, crystal content in the cells and cuticula thickness. Ecological data related with the accompanying species also support species status for T. andrusi. While the two taxa are very similar in pollen and nutlet morphology, trichome density on the nutlets are different.

One Taxon or Two: Are Frasera umpquaensis and F. fastigiata (Gentianaceae) Distinct Species?

Abstract Frasera fastigiata and F. umpquaensis are large, long-lived, perennial herbs with hollow stems, whorled leaves, large nectaries hidden by fringed hoods, and synchronized flowering. They differ in flower color and their ranges are disjunct. Some authors have treated them as conspecific due to their overall morphological similarity. The taxa can be distinguished by isozyme band patterns and by morphological traits including corolla color, relative lengths of corolla and calyx, and calyx lobe shape. Both isozyme differences and morphological differences are not completely fixed, but plants with one atypical feature can be identified by their combination of traits. The taxa should be recognized as distinct species.

Hoya persicinicoronaria (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a New Species from Hainan, China

The new species Hoya persicinicoronaria S. Y. He & P. T. Li (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) is described and illustrated from Hainan, China. The morphology of the related species H. pottsii Traill and H. liangii Tsiang are compared to the new species, which differs in its indumentum, leaf arrangement, leaflet pattern, leaf shape, apex, and size, calyx shape, and corolla color.

A new species ofGymnema(Asclepiadaceae) from the Kollihills in Peninsular India

A new species of Asclepiadaceae, Gymnema kollimalayanum A. Ramachandran & M.B.Viswan., sp. nov. is described here from the Kollihills in the Eastern Ghats of Peninsular India. Th is species is allied to G. hirsutum Wight & Arn. by habit, woody stems, milky latex, umbellate cymose infl orescence, 5-merous fl owers, calyx, corolla, anthers, follicles and comose seeds but diff ers by size and shape of leaves being elliptic or elliptic-rotund, subtruncate at base, abruptly acute at apex, longer petioles, arrangement of fl owers, longer pedicels, shape and size of calyx, corolla, larger size of follicles, seeds and coma.

Chemotaxonomy of Ballota Species

Sixteen taxa of Ballota were investigated by analyzing the contents of diterpenoid and flavonoid compositions, and the relationships were compared with their morphological properties. HPLC chromatograms of diterpenoids and flavonoids from acetone extracts of sixteen Ballota taxa revealed the presence of thirteen compounds. Isolated compounds from Ballota species were evaluated by the unweighted pair-group arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. B. glandulosissima is distinct from all other taxa in the dendogram, and this species is morphologically different from other taxa by having a high number of glandular hairs. The second group is composed of B. saxatilis ssp. saxatilis and B. inaequidens; these two species are in close kinship as evidenced by their morphology (similar calyx shape). In the latter clusters at most, the affinities among taxa, as suggested by diterpenoid and flavonoid pattern, are only partially congruent with affinities based on other evidence. In general, morphologic, anatomic characters, distributions, and habitats are not concordant with the clusters. Also, no concordance was found between the sections, phylogenetic order [1], and those of the groups formed by cluster analyses.

Inheritance of calyx shape in the genus Origanum (Lamiaceae)

AbstractFive different traits responsible for calyx shape within the genus Origanum were found to be determined by five independent genes. The five traits are bell‐shaped vs. tubular‐shaped calyx, angular vs. round teeth on the upper lip, entire vs. denticulate upper lip, fully developed vs. reduced lower lip and entire vs. denticulate lower lip. The simple Mendelian inheritance of most traits for calyx shape could be used to identify hybrids between Origanum species arising from open‐pollinated plants and so avoid tedious artificial pollination resulting from small flower sizes in Origanum. Such hybrids are interesting base material for character transfer (e.g. winter hardiness or seed size) between economically important species.

The C1 subunit of alpha-crustacyanin: the de novo phasing of the crystal structure of a 40 kDa homodimeric protein using the anomalous scattering from S atoms combined with direct methods.

The previously unknown crystal structure of the C(1) subunit of the carotenoid-binding protein alpha-crustacyanin has been determined using the anomalous scattering available at 1.77 A wavelength to determine the partial structure of the S atoms intrinsic to the native protein. The resulting 'heavy-atom' phases, in conjunction with near-atomic resolution (d(min) = 1.15 A) data, were then used to initiate successful structure determination using a direct-methods approach. This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first time such a small anomalous signal ( approximately 1%) has been used to aid the determination of a macromolecular structure. As well as the structure itself, the methods used during data collection and those used in the elucidation of the sulfur 'heavy-atom' partial structure are described here. As predicted, the C(1) subunit adopts a tertiary structure typical of the lipocalin superfamily: an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel with a repeated +1 topology. The beta-barrel has a calyx shape with the two molecules in the asymmetric unit interacting in such a way that the open ends of each calyx face each other, although they do not form a single elongated pocket. A comparison of this structure with those of other members of the lipocalin superfamily has allowed speculation as to the nature of carotenoid binding by the protein.

Pycnostachys recurvata (Lamiaceae), a New Species from Ethiopia

Pycnostachys recurvata, a new species from Ethiopia, is described and illustrated. Com- parisons are made to P pseudospeciosa and P che- valieri, which it resembles by having recurved leaves, and to P niamniamensis, P reticulata, and P deflexifolia, which it resembles in calyx shape. Pycnostachys is a distinct genus belonging to Lamiaceae subfamily Nepetoideae tribe Ocimeae subtribe Plectranthinae. It is characterized by hav- ing dense, head- to spike-like inflorescences and subequally spiny-lobed calyces with scales between the lobes. According to Bruce (1939), who revised the genus, there are 37 species, all in tropical to southern Africa and on Madagascar. According to Cufodontis (1963), the east African P deflexifolia Baker occurs in Ethiopia. However, the Ethiopian material distributed under this name and under P reticulata (E. Meyer) Bentham has been found to represent a distinct taxon, which here is described as a new species. Material from the herbaria C, ETH, K, UPS, and WAG has been studied. gin serrate. Inflorescence terminal on branches, dense, initially head-like, becoming elongate and spike-like in the fruiting stage, sometimes with a few spaced three-flowered whorls at the base, up to 30-70 mm long; bracts narrowly lanceolate-linear, up to 5-7 X 0.6-1.0 mm, recurved. Flowers sessile. Calyx enlarging up to a length of 6.5-8 mm in the fruit, with 5 erect triangular-acute scales alternat- ing with and forming a whorl near inside the lobes; tube bent upward in the proximal half, slightly nar- rowed along the distal half, mostly slightly recurved near the mouth, with 10 slightly prominent longi- tudinal veins and a thicker vein at the throat, with sessile glands and hairy at least in the apical part,

Morphologic variation within and among populations of the camerate crinoid Agaricocrinus (Lower Mississippian, Kentucky and Tennessee): Breaking the spell of the mushroom

Morphologic variation within and among populations of the common monobathrid camerate crinoid Agaricocrinus was investigated using multivariate and bivariate techniques for samples from 15 localities in the Lower Mississippian (late Osagean) Fort Payne Formation of south-central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. Despite a wide range of variability, two morphotypes were distinguished at most localities in both autochthonous and allochthonous carbonate facies: Agaricocrinus americanus and the less common A. crassus. Morphologic characters that can be reliably used to separate these taxa include character of the anal area, width of the second primibrachial, and shape of the arm facets. Many other characters of calyx shape and plate proportions used previously for species recognition, such as depth of the basal concavity, height of the interbrachials, height of the tegmen, and number of arms, are widely variable within populations. Variation within species populations is ontogenetic, although a geographic component is recognized within A. crassus. The definition of A. crassus is emended to encompass a broader range of variation than heretofore realized. Eight species previously reported from the Fort Payne Formation are placed in synonymy: A. arcula, A. dissimilis, A. elegans, A. podagricus, A. ponderosus, A. profundus, and A. tugurium are junior synonyms of A. americanus. A. attenuata is a junior synonym of A. crassus.

Synopsis of the Continental African Species of Fernandoa (Bignoniaceae)

were obviously different from F. magnifica, the only species previously recorded from eastern Africa. These collections differ from F. magnifica most notably in inflorescence structure, calyx shape, and length of anther-thecae. Their ecology is also quite different from that of F. magnifica. All collections are from medium altitude dry forest and bushland on rocky hills in the southern part of the SomaliaMasai Regional Centre of Endemism (White 1983: 112) and in very similar Zambesian vegetation in S Malawi. F. magnifica occurs only in lowland forest and thicket in the Zanzibar-Inhambane Regional Mosaic (White 1983: 187). Comparison of these collections with F. magnifica and with the other African species of the genus has convinced the author that they represent a distinct species which is described below as F. abbreviata. During the course of this work it also became clear that F. magnifica var. lutea differs sufficiently from F. magnifica to be recognised at species level, and it is described fully here. A key to and synopsis of all the continental African species is provided. Pollen morphological studies (Harley & Banks 1994) lend support to the taxonomic changes proposed here. The pollen ofF. abbreviata is differently shaped and smaller than the pollen of F. magnifica. The pollen of F. lutea is smaller than that of F. abbreviata and has thicker walls than either of the other two. Outside continental Africa Fernandoa also occurs on Madagascar, but a treatment of the Madagascan species is outside the scope of this paper. Only a section of the examined collections is cited in this paper. A complete list of all material studied in connection with the preparation of this paper is available on request from the author or from the Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Taxonomical remarks on theStachys recta group

The division of the speciesStachys recta into four subspecies is proposed. Besides the nominate subspecies, subsp.grandiflora (Caruel) Arcangeli, subsp.subcrenata (Vis.) Briq. and the newly combinedS. recta subsp.rhodopaea (Vel.) Chrtek jun. are described. The last subspecies differs from the others mainly by the calyx shape (infundibular here) and by the calyx teeth which are about as long as the tube. It is distributed in Macedonia and Bulgaria.A determination key to the species of theS. recta group is provided.