Species Of Calathea Research Articles

Characterization of morphological diversity in Calathea species and cultivars at the Sukamantri Ornamental Farm, Bogor, Indonesia

ISHS II International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Ornamentals Characterization of morphological diversity in Calathea species and cultivars at the Sukamantri Ornamental Farm, Bogor, Indonesia

Biochemical and Physiological Characteristics of Photosynthesis in Plants of Two Calathea Species.

Plants of the genus Calathea possess many leaf colors, and they are economically important because they are widely used as ornamentals for interior landscaping. Physiological performances and photosynthetic capacities of C. insignis and C. makoyana were investigated. The photosynthetic efficiencies of C. insignis and C. makoyana were significantly increased when the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) increased from 0 to 600 μmol photons·m−2·s−1 and became saturated with a further increase in the PPFD. The two Calathea species had lower values of both the light saturation point and maximal photosynthetic rate, which indicated that they are shade plants. No significant differences in predawn Fv/Fm values (close to 0.8) were observed between dark-green (DG) and light-green (LG) leaf sectors in all tested leaves. However, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II largely decreased as the PPFD increased. An increase in the apparent photosynthetic electron transport rate was observed in both species to a maximum at 600 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD, following by a decrease to 1500 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD. Compared to LG leaf extracts, DG leaf extracts contained higher levels of chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, Chls a + b, carotenoids (Cars), anthocyanins (Ants), flavonoids (Flas), and polyphenols (PPs) in all plants, except for the Ant, Fla and PP contents of C. insignis plants. Calathea insignis also contained significantly higher levels of total protein than did C. makoyana. The adjusted normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), red-green, and flavonol index (FlavI) were significantly correlated to leaf Chls a + b, Cars, Ants, and Flas in C. makoyana, respectively, and can be used as indicators to characterize the physiology of these plants.

Three new species of Calathea (Marantaceae) endemic to Colombia

Calathea neurophylla H. Kenn., C. barryi H. Kenn., and C. velutinifolia H. Kenn., endemic to Colombia, are described as new. Calathea neurophylla is characterized by the single cauline leaf subtending one or more inflorescences of spirally arranged bracts and the markedly ridged, narrowly elliptic leaf blades (length 6.25–8.46 times width). Calathea barryi is characterized by the single cauline leaf subtending several inflorescences with 25–43 spirally arranged bracts and the very closely spaced lateral veins (ca. 67 per 3 cm). Calathea velutinifolia is distinguished by the 4–15 basal leaves, the densely appressed velvety tomentose adaxial the leaf surface and the 8–10 distichous, white bracts.

Genome analysis of species of Calathea utilizing chromosomal and nuclear DNA parameters

The species of Calathea of Marantaceae under Scitaminaceae are economically important as ornamental foliage plants. These are native of South America and distributed throughout the tropics. The plants are tuberous or rhizomatous and propagate mostly by vegetative means. In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the genomic diversity of four different species of Calathea in relation to morphological and cytological characteristics as well as 4C nuclear DNA contents at the inter- and intra-specific levels. Differences were observed in morphological characters including petiole length, leaf area and ornamentation. These characters may serve as identifying parameters of individual species. Chromosome analysis has indicated the somatic chromosome number to range from 2n = 24 to 2n = 28 among these species. The species or varieties of Calathea having the same chromosome number differed in relation to chromosome types and number of chromosomes of individual type. The 4C nuclear DNA contents did not vary much and there was no direct correlation with the ploidy status of these species of Calathea. A variation was recorded among these species in total chromosome length. The chromosome length and volume also did not reveal any direct correlation with chromosome number, instead a consistency in difference of these two characters was noted. Differential coiling of the arm and the ratios of different protein components (histone and non-histone) in chromosome organization have been suggested to be responsible for such differences in chromosome length and volume respectively. It is suggested that cryptic structural alteration in chromosomes has played a role in speciation of this genus.

New combinations in the genus Goeppertia (Marantaceae)

Calathea basiflora , C. rhizanthoides and C. peregrina were recently described for the Flora of Panama and because the majority of the species of Calathea are now placed in Goeppertia, the combinations for these species are hereby provided.

First Report of Leaf Blight on Calathea picturata Caused by Exserohilum rostratum in Taiwan.

Many Calathea species in the family Marantaceae are beautiful ornamental plants with variegated foliage. Among them, C. picturata 'Argentea', an evergreen perennial that has pale green leaves with dark green margins and a red underside, is a popular houseplant in Taiwan. In 2004, a new foliage disease that caused leaf blight of C. picturata 'Argentea' was first observed in a nursery in southern Taiwan. Initial symptoms were tiny, brown spots that appeared on the leaves of all ages, which quickly enlarged and coalesced. These necrotic lesions spread to cover the entire leaves in high temperature and moisture conditions and caused leaves to shrivel and eventually die. A dematiaceous hyphomycete with multicelled conidia was consistently isolated from the diseased leaves after being surfaced sterilized with 10% Clorox and placed on vegetable juice agar (10% V8 juice, 0.02% CaCO3, and 2% agar [VJA]). Pathogenicity of the isolate was tested by spraying 'Argentea' calathea leaves with a conidia suspension (1.6 × 105 conidia/ml) prepared from a culture grown on VJA at 28°C for 7 days. Plant leaves sprayed with distilled water were used as a control. Three pots of 15-cm high 'Argentea' calathea plants were inoculated with 10 ml of a conidia suspension and the experiment was conducted twice at 28°C and 90% relative humidity in a growth chamber. Tiny, brown spots started to show on all inoculated leaves 5 days after inoculation and the progression of symptom development was similar to that observed in nature. Control leaves remained asymptomatic. The same dematiaceous hyphomycete fungus was reisolated from 13 of 16 disease tissues taken from four symptomatic leaves. A colony of the calathea isolate was olive green when grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and conidia production was observed 7 days after incubation in darkness. The conidiophores were either branches from or the ends of normal mycelium, some of them geniculate with conidium produced at each bend measuring 142 to 602 (340) × 3 to 6 (4) μm on disease tissues and 51 to 150 (103) × 3 to 5 (4) μm on PDA. Conidia were multicelled with protruding hilum at the base, terminal cells thickened, olivaceous brown or golden brown in fusiform shape with blunt tips, 5 to 11 septate on disease tissues and 6 to 11 septate on PDA, measuring 46 to 166 (95) × 8 to 19 (13) μm on disease tissues and 58 to 145 (94) × 6 to 15 (11) μm on PDA, germinating by producing germ tubes semiaxially from each end. Morphological characteristics of the calathea isolate fit the description of the genus Exserohilum (2). Comparison of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the calathea isolate with those in GenBank revealed that it shared 99.5% (549 of 552) similarity with a published sequence (GenBank Accession No. EU571210) (3) and Exserohilum rostratum was its closest species. ITS sequence analysis was done as previously described (1). Morphological and molecular data identified the pathogen as E. rostratum (Drechs.) Leonard & Suggs (= Bipolaris rostrata (Drechs.) Shoemaker). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf blight caused by E. rostratum on C. picturata in Taiwan.

Three New Distichous-bracted Species ofCalathea(Marantaceae) from Panama

Three species of Calathea G. Mey. with distichous bracts, assigned to Calathea sect. Calathea (Marantaceae), are described as new from Panama: C. carlae H. Kenn., C. chiriquensis H. Kenn., and C. fredgandersii H. Kenn. All three are found in montane wet or cloud forest habitats at middle to higher elevations, 800–1400 m. Calathea carlae also occurs in Costa Rica, while the other two are endemic to Panama. Calathea carlae differs from related species by the leaf length:width ratios of 1.7–2.13:1, cream-colored bracts, claviculate bracteoles, yellow corollas, and yellow or pink-purple staminodes. Calathea chiriquensis is distinguished by the light green bracts, leaf length:width ratios of 1.3–1.56:1, absence of bracteoles, flowers borne singly rather than in pairs, and yellow flowers. Calathea fredgandersii is distinguished by the subround leaf, leaf length:width ratios of 1.15–1.55:1, a purple band along the leaf margin, a deep purple leaf sheath, verruculose petioles, white bracts, membranous bracteoles, white corollas, and white or pale pink to lilac staminodes.

Three New Costa Rican Species ofCalathea(Marantaceae) from Montane Wet Forests

Abstract. Three species of Calathea G. Mey. in Calathea sect. Calathea (Marantaceae) are described as new from montane wet forest habitats in Costa Rica: C. recurvata H. Kenn., C. tarrazuensis H. Kenn., and C. verruculosa H. Kenn. These are found in montane wet, montane rainforest, or cloud forest habitats at mid to higher elevations from 800 to 1500 m. All three taxa are endemic to Costa Rica. Calathea recurvata differs from related distichous-bracted species by the close vein spacing (30 to 35 lateral veins per 3 cm) of the leaf, pale whitish green to yellowish green bracts with recurved apical margins, claviculate bracteoles, yellow or pink corolla lobes, and yellow or pink-purple staminodes. Calathea verruculosa is distinguished by the shiny dark green ovate leaf, verruculose petioles and peduncles, stiff lime-green bracts with apically recurved margins, claviculate bracteoles, and yellow corolla and staminodes. Calathea tarrazuensis is distinguished by the narrowly ovate-elliptic leaf with length:wi...

Two new species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from South-eastern Brazil

Calathea dryadica and Calathea reginae are described, circumscribed and illustrated. These new species are probably endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State in Southeast Brazil and are considered critically endangered because of the restricted geographic area of occurrence, sometimes enclosed by densely urbanised areas.

Marantaceae: novidades taxonômicas e nomenclaturais III: tipificações, sinonímias e uma nova combinação em Calathea

Dando continuidade ao levantamento dos táxons de Marantaceae ocorrentes no Brasil, propõe-se novidades taxonômicas e nomenclaturais envolvendo algumas espécies de Marantaceae descritas e ilustradas na Flora Fluminensis de Frei José Mariano da Conceição Vellozo. Maranta monophylla, M. prolifera e M. tuberosa são circunscritas aqui a partir das informações morfológicas e fitogeográficas contidas nas descrições e nos comentários existentes nas obras originais, além da análise das estampas publicadas em contribuições subseqüentes e que ilustram com detalhamento as espécies. A partir dos dados coligidos e da comparação com coleções recentes e tipos nomenclaturais é proposta uma nova combinação, dada a necessidade de se transferir M. prolifera para o gênero Calathea. São propostos como sinônimos algumas espécies de Calathea comumente citadas nos levantamentos florísticos realizados no domínio da Floresta Atlântica.

AFLP analysis of genetic relationships among Calathea species and cultivars

Calatheas ( Calathea Mey.) have been largely produced as ornamental foliage plants for interiorscaping due to their brilliant patterns of leaf color and different leaf textures as well as the ability to tolerate low light levels. Genetic relationships among Calathea species and cultivars, however, have not been documented. This study analyzed the genetic relatedness of 34 commonly grown cultivars across 15 species using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers with near-infrared fluorescence-labeled primers. Six EcoRI + 2 bases/ MseI + 3 bases primer set combinations were used in this investigation. Each selected primer set generated 105–136 scorable fragments. A total of 733 AFLP fragments were detected, of which 497 were polymorphic (67.8%). An unweighted pair-group method of the arithmetic averages (UPGMA), principal coordinate analysis (PCOA), and bootstrap analysis were used to analyze the genetic relationships. The 34 cultivars were separated into four clusters. Cluster I contains 19 cultivars that are either from C. roseopicta or C. loesnerii with Jaccard's similarity coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.99. Among the 19 cultivars, at least nine are derived from somaclonal variants or sports. Only C. kennedeae ‘Helen’ is positioned in cluster II. Cluster III has 10 cultivars across seven species; Jaccard's similarity coefficients varied from 0.26 to 0.63. Four species are situated in cluster IV with Jaccard's similarity ranging from 0.19 to 0.41. This study establishes the genetic relationships of commonly cultivated calatheas, provides genetic evidence supporting that C. fasciata, C. orbifolia, C. rotundifolia, C. insignis, and C. ornata are independent species, and raises a concern over genetic vulnerability of cultivars in cluster I because of their close genetic similarities.

Analysis of Genetic Relationships of Calathea Species and Cultivars by AFLP Markers

Calathea, the largest genus in the family Marantaceae, is composed of 100 species native to tropical America in moist or swampy forest habitats. Because of their brilliant patterns of leaf color and different textures plus ability to tolerate low light levels, calatheas have been widely produced as ornamental foliage plants for interiorscaping. Thus far, genetic relationships among its species and cultivars have not been documented. This study analyzed the relationships of 34 cultivars across 14 species using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Six EcoR I + 2/Mse I + 3 primer set combinations were used in this investigation. Each selected primer set generated 105 to 136 scorable fragments. A total of 733 AFLP fragments were detected of which 497 were polymorphic (68%). A dendrogram was constructed using the unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic averages (UP-GMA) technique and a principal coordinated analysis (PCOA) was used to analyze the relationships. The 34 cultivars were divided into four clusters. Cluster I had 19 cultivars derived from C. roseo-picta and C. loesnerii with Jaccard's similarity coefficients from 0.74 to 0.97, of which six are somaclonal variants or sports and two cultivars are genetic identical. Only C. kennedeae `Helen' is positioned in cluster II. Cluster III had 10 cultivars across seven species; Jaccard's similarity coefficients among them varied from 0.41 to 0.63. Four species were situated in cluster IV with Jaccard's similarity between 0.27 to 0.41. Results from this study indicate that broadening of genetic diversity is needed for cultivars in cluster I as they are the most commonly grown calatheas but genetically are very close.

Responses of Calathea species in different growing media

Pot experiments were conducted at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan to investigate the most suitable medium for the growing of Calathea species. Four Calathea species namely: C. ornata; C.nigerica; C. princeps and C.zebrina, were planted each in three growing media made up of top soil; top soil and poultry manure (3:1) and top soil+ poultry manure +river sand (2:1:1). Results showed that the number of leaves, the plant height , and the number of plantlets produced per pot were best enhanced in the substrate of top soil and poultry manure mixtures. Although C.nigerica produced higher number of leaves and taller plants than C. zebrina, the latter may be preferred because of its more attractive leaves and its many plantlets that quickly fill the growing container. Key words: growth , container, media, Calathea Species.

New species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from eastern Brazil

New species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from eastern Brazil

A New Species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from Veracruz, Mexico

A new species, Calathea misantlensis, is described and illustrated. Its closest affinities are with C. coccinea Standley & Steyermark from Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico, and Guatemala, but it differs from that species in inflorescence morphology. RESUMEN. Una nueva especie, Calathea misantiensis, se describe e ilustra. Sus afinidades m~is cercanas son con C. coccinea Standley & Steyermark de Chiapas y Oaxaca (Mexico) y Guatemala, pero difiere de esta especie en la morfologfa de la inflorescencia. Calathea is a New World genus of about 300 species, most of them tropical. While examining specimens for a study of the Marantaceae of Veracruz, six Calathea species were identified as occurring in this state. A few herbarium specimens were tentatively identified as C. coccinea. However, observations from field studies and from plants growing at the botanical garden at Francisco Javier Clavijero del Instituto de Ecologfa, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, led me to conclude that they are actually a new species. Calathea misantlensis Lascurain, sp. nov. TYPE: Mexico. Veracruz: Mpio. Yecuatla, la Zeta, arriba de Luz Bella, 1200 m, 19049'N, 96?49'W, 4 June 1991, C. Gutidrrez 4215 (holotype, XAL). Planta acaulis, rhizomatosa. Folia corrugata, ovata vel amplissime ovata, tenuia, cum acumine, basi rotundata. Spica ovoidea, capitata, compacta, pedunculo subglabro. Bracteae spiraliter dispositae, ovatae, apiculatae, basi obtusae vel rotundatae. Corollae lobis ovatis vel ellipticis, rubris. Staminodium callosum obovatum, cucullatum, rubrum. Capsula obovoidea. Rhizomatous acaulescent deciduous herbs, 11.5 m high. Leaves borne in a basal rosette, new shoots developing from rhizomes. Petiole glabrous to pubescent, ca. 34 cm long. Pulvinus delicate, elliptic in cross section, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface with several longitudinal dark pubescent lines, light yellow, 1.4--4 cm long. Sheath auriculate, delicate, translucent, glabrous, 18.5-34 cm long. Cataphylls membranaceous when live, glabrous to pubescent, 5-18 cm long and probably longer. Lamina corrugate, ovate to widely ovate, delicate, smooth, membranaceous, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface glabrous to pubescent, apex lightly apiculate, base obtuse to rounded, midrib pubescent, darker than the rest, 29.5-47 cm long, 21-27 cm wide. Inflorescences simple, terminal, capitate, ovate to widely ovate, 3.5-7 cm long, 2.5--6.5 cm wide, occasionally with two inflorescences per shoot, one pedunculate and the other sessile, the second one developing in the middle of the peduncle, with one bract, this acuminate, clasping, membranous, redand green-spotted, longer than the pair of flowers that protect or cover it, 5 cm long, 3 cm wide; occasionally developing in the basal portion of the peduncle with one pair of red flowers, with one bract. Peduncle dark brown to red, succulent, subglabrous, to 63 cm long. Bracts closely set, 15-30, spirally arranged, lanceolate to ovate, red to green or yellow, 2-5.5 cm long, ca. 1-1.3 cm wide, the basal ones 3.3 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide, membranaceous or fibrous, apex acute to acuminate, base truncate, abaxial surface pubescent, adaxial surface glabrous, each bract subtending two pairs of flowers, the lowermost margins corrugate. Prophyll bicarinate, carina with villous margins, apex sericeous, 1.3-1.5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm wide. Interphyll membranaceous, glabrous, apex obcordate, 1.1 cm long, 0.8 cm wide. Bracteoles lanceolate, flat in cross section, 1-2 per cymule, membranaceous, glabrous, somewhat fibrous and strong when dry, 1.4 cm long, 1.6 cm wide. Flowers sessile, red, closed and open. Corolla tube with the internal side of throat hirsute in the median part, 1.2-3.8 cm long, ca. 0.5 cm wide. Lobes ovate to elliptic, red, almost equal, 1.2-3.2 cm long, 0.3-0.8 cm wide. Sepals glabrous, equal, persistent in fruit, papyraceous when dry, translucent when live, membranous when live, lanceolate to linear, base white, terminal part red, 1.3-2.7 cm long, 0.2-0.4 cm wide. Outer staminode 1.3 cm long, 0.7 cm wide, sometimes absent. Callose staminode obovate, bilobate, base red, 0.7-1 cm long, callus white. Cucullate staminode, base pilose, 0.70.9 cm long and 0.4-0.6 cm wide, appendix red. Style white, thin, translucent. Stigma white, curved. Ovary glabrous, 0.2 cm long. Capsule obovate, 0.7 NovoN 6: 385-388. 1996. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.47 on Sun, 17 Jul 2016 05:29:02 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Susceptibility of Calathea Species and Cultivars to Bipolaris setariae

Relative susceptibility of five species of Calathea to Bipolaris setariae, the cause of Helminthosporium leaf spot, was tested under greehouse conditions. Calathea louisae ‘Green Feather’ and C. roseopicta were highly resistant, while C. makoyana ‘Peacock Plant’ was moderately resistant. The most susceptible species were C. argentea ‘Silver Portrait’ and ‘Vandenheckei’, and C. insignis ‘Rattlesnake’.

New useful and colourfully‐bracted species of Calathea (Marantaceae) from Ecuador

Two new species from Ecuador are described: Calathea utilis and C. roseobracteata. Calathea utilis, known from Napo and Pastaza Provinces, may be introduced near Sardinas, Napo Province, where the leaves are used for thatch. Calathea roseobracteata, known from a single locality near the border of Pinchincha and Los Rios Provinces, is distinguished by its bright pink bracts.

Morphology and Pollination Biology of an Intersectional Hybrid of Costus (Costaceae)

An intersectional hybridization event between hummingbird-pollinated Costus pul- verulentus (sect. Ornithophilus) and large bee-pollinated C. guanaiensis var. macrostrobilus (sect. Costus) in Belize, Central America, is documented by analyses of morphology and pollination biology. Morphologically the hybrid is intermediate between the parental species and retains floral char- acteristics adaptive to both hummingbird and bee pollination. Nectar secretion rate and sugar concentration but not sucrose:hexose ratio in the hybrid are intermediate between those of the parental species. The hybridization event probably arose by breakdown of strict hummingbird pollination in Costus pulverulentus. Costus L. (Costaceae) occurs in moist habitats in the Neotropics, and is characterized by a spi- rally arranged phyllotaxy and showy terminal inflorescence. Costus is often found associated with species of Calathea, Canna, Heliconia, and Renealmia along the banks of rivers and streams and more disturbed habitats like forest trails, secondary forests, lightgaps, roadsides, and

Feulgen microspectrophotometric estimation of nuclear DNA of species and varieties of three different genera of Marantaceae

Karyological analysis including determination of somatic chromosome number, total chromosome length, volume and karyotype formula andin situ estimation of 4C-nuclear DNA amount were carried out on 14 different species and varieties of the generaCalathea, Maranta andStromanthe. The 4C nuclear DNA amount was estimated through Feulgen microspectrophotometry following single wavelength method and expressed in arbitrary units of relative absorbances. The variation in 4C DNA amounts between the species ofCalathea was not distinct but in two species ofMaranta, a notable variation in nuclear DNA amount was recorded. In addition, the amount of nuclear DNA did not show direct correlation with the total chromosome length and volume. The absence of wide difference in nuclear DNA content at an interspecific level might have some adaptive value.

Sanblasia, a new genus of the Marantaceae

Sanblasia dressleri is described from material from the Serranía de San Blas, E Panamá. The inflorescence has the general appearance of an Ischnosiphon, but the ovary is 3–ovulate, as in Calathea, and the bracteole is channeled and keeled, as in many species of Calathea, and in Pleiostachya.