Species Of Rubiaceae Research Articles

A checklist of the Rubiaceae (coffee family) of Bioko and Annobon (Equatorial Guinea, Gulf of Guinea)

A detailed checklist of the Rubiaceae (coffee family) occurring naturally on the islands of Bioko and Annobon (Equatorial Guinea, Gulf of Guinea) is presented, based on herbarium collections deposited in the herbaria of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and The Natural History Museum, London. The checklist comprises 58 genera and 147 species, including six new generic records and 26 new infrageneric records. The total number of native Rubiaceae species occurring in Bioko is 139; three entities do not have formal names and probably represent new taxa. In Annobon there are 12 native genera and 13 indigenous species of Rubiaceae. The conservation status of two endemic species is assessed using IUCN criteria and it is proposed that they are considered Vulnerable.

An extraordinary new rheophyte in the genus Leptactina (Rubiaceae, Pavetteae) from Rio Muni (Equatorial Guinea)

A distinctive new species of Rubiaceae from Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea, is described and illustrated. Leptactina rheophytica is the only rheophyte known in the genus. Its diagnostic characters are elucidated, its taxonomic affinities are discussed, and notes on its conservation status are provided. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London.

Hedyotis koana R. J. Wang, a new species of Rubiaceae from China

Hedyotis koana R. J. Wang is described as a new species from Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Fujian, and Hainan provinces of China. It is most similar to H. herbacea L. and H. pinifolia Wall. ex G. Don. because they all have narrow leaves and their capsules are loculicidally dehiscent at the top, but it differs from H. herbacea by having termi- nal or upper axillary cyme and narrow leaves, and it can be distinguished from H. pinifolia by having long flowering pedicles, sparse inflorescence, and adaxially glabrous corolla.

Spermacoce latifolia Aubl., a newly naturalized species of Rubiaceae in Zhejiang.

Spermacoce latifolia,a naturalized species of Rubiaceae,was newly reported in Wenzhou of Zhejiang Province.Based upon wild-field work and visiting,its invasive approach was also analyzed in this paper.Spermacoce latifolia,which originally distributed in the tropic area of South America,was probably introduced as arboretum plants or crop seed unintentionally.

Fenologia da floração, morfologia floral e sistema de incompatibilidade em espécies distílicas de Rubiaceae em fragmento florestal do Sudeste brasileiro

This work was carried out at the Estacao de Pesquisa, Treinamento e Educacao Ambiental Mata do Paraiso, Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, a forest fragment in the Atlantic Forest. Its main objective was to analyze the flowering phenology, floral morphology, and incompatibility system of the distylous species of Rubiaceae: Palicourea longepedunculata Gardner, P. marcgravii A. St.-Hil., Psychotria conjugens Mull. Arg., P. hastisepala Mull. Arg., P. hygrophiloides Benth., P. nuda (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wawra, P. sessilis Vell. and Rudgea lanceolata Nutt. It also aimed to verify whether the floral morphs were in balanced equilibrium. The flowering in the species of Psychotria conjugens, P. hastisepala, P. hygrophiloides and P. sessilis were sequential, occurring during the rainy season (September through March). Significant differences were observed in the lengths of the stamens and styles between the thrum and pin flowers, except for P. hygrophiloides, in which only thrum flowers could be observed. Furthermore, dimorphism was observed in the length of stigmatic lobules, corollas, corolla lobules and anthers. Flowers opened in the morning lasting about 24 h, except for P. nuda flowers, that lasted 48 h. In most of the species the floral morph ratio was 1:1, except P. marcgravii, P. conjugens and P. hygrophiloides. Heteromorphic self-incompatibility was observed with growth inhibition of the incompatible pollen tubes occurring in the stigma of most of the species analyzed, except for the pin morphs of P. longepedunculata and P. hastisepala, in which reaction occurred in the style.

Discovery of Cyclotide-Like Protein Sequences in Graminaceous Crop Plants: Ancestral Precursors of Circular Proteins?

Cyclotides are peptides from plants of the Rubiaceae and Violaceae families that have the unusual characteristic of a macrocylic backbone. They are further characterized by their incorporation of a cystine knot in which two disulfides, along with the intervening backbone residues, form a ring through which a third disulfide is threaded. The cyclotides have been found in every Violaceae species screened to date but are apparently present in only a few Rubiaceae species. The selective distribution reported so far raises questions about the evolution of the cyclotides within the plant kingdom. In this study, we use a combined bioinformatics and expression analysis approach to elucidate the evolution and distribution of the cyclotides in the plant kingdom and report the discovery of related sequences widespread in the Poaceae family, including crop plants such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum), which carry considerable economic and social importance. The presence of cyclotide-like sequences within these plants suggests that the cyclotides may be derived from an ancestral gene of great antiquity. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to show that two of the discovered cyclotide-like genes from rice and barley (Hordeum vulgare) have tissue-specific expression patterns.

A new Mantalania species (Rubiaceae) from Madagascar

Mantalania longipedunculata De Block & A.P. Davis, a new species of Rubiaceae (Gardenieae) from Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar, is described, illustrated, and compared with the three other species in the genus. An extinction risk assessment is given, using the categories and criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 151, 421–424.

Six species of Madagascan Genipa transferred to Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae–Gardenieae) and new data on general morphology, placentation and ovary structure in Hyperacanthus

AbstractGenipa in Madagascar currently comprises 11 species of Rubiaceae. These species do not belong in the New World genus Genipa (Gardenieae) but instead should be placed in Old World genera belonging to the tribes Gardenieae and Octotropideae. Six species can be confidently placed in the genus Hyperacanthus (Gardenieae), and the appropriate new combinations are made. Five species belong to the tribe Octotropideae but can not be unequivocally placed in genera at the present time and consequently no combinations are proposed. Three new types of placentation are recorded in Hyperacanthus, which broaden the morphological characterization of the genus. These placentation types are apparently unique within Rubiaceae and perhaps even within Asterideae. Species descriptions, additional material examined, distribution, ecology and conservation assessments are given for each of the six new combinations in Hyperacanthus.

Potential bird dispersers of Psychotria in a area of Atlantic forest on Ilha Grande, RJ, Southeastern Brazil: a biochemical analysis of the fruits

The present study assessed the fruiting pattern, bird foraging behavior, and sugar content of ripe fruits of two sympatric species of Rubiaceae (Psychotria brasiliensis and P. nuda). This study was carried out in an Atlantic forest area on Ilha Grande, RJ, between August 1998 and July 1999. Fruit production occurred year round, with a peak of mature P. brasiliensis fruits in December 1998 and another of P. nuda in February of 1999. Lipaugus lanioides (Cotingidae), Baryphtengus ruficapillus (Momotidae) and Saltator similis (Emberizidae) made the most frequent foraging visits to fruiting P. brasiliensis, so that L. lanioides and B. ruficapillus removed the fruits with sallying maneuvers while S. similis gleaned the fruits. Lipaugus lanioides was by far the most important consumer, and potentially the main disperser of P. brasiliensis. Birds of this genus are heavy frugivores in the tropical forests and are widely assumed to be important seed dispersers. The fruits were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively in relation to the amounts of sucrose and starch. Psychotria brasiliensis (the visited species) showed the smallest quantity of sucrose and the highest amount of starch. These findings suggest that what may influence the birds' choice of fruit is the proportion of starch in the Psychotria species studied here rather than the carbohydrate composition.

The Rubiaceae of São Tomé e Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea): taxonomy and conservation

A synoptic treatment of the Rubiaceae of Sao Tome e Principe (Gulf of Guinea) is presented based on herbarium collections kept at BM, COI, K and LISC. There are 36 genera and 64 species of Rubiaceae represented in the flora of Sao Tome e Principe. Identification keys are provided for genera, species and infraspecific taxa. A new combination is made in Chassalia. Twenty-nine taxa are endemic to these islands, two of which are also endemic to Annobon. The conservation status of the endemic taxa is assessed and IUCN categories of threat are proposed for ten taxa. Nineteen taxa of Rubiaceae are considered under threat in Sao Tome e Principe and ten are considered nearly threatened. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 149, 85–114.

Speciation and hybridization amongHoustonia(Rubiaceae) species: the influence of polyploidy on reticulate evolution

Chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequence variation among populations and species was used to examine the phylogenetic history and hybridization of the North American Houstonia lineage. The ancestral species in the lineage do not show evidence of hybridization; however, the more recently derived species in eastern North America contain a wide degree of morphological and genetic variation both within and among species. Furthermore, there is a clear association between hybridization and polyploidy in the Houstonia lineage, with all potential hybrids occurring among species that contain polyploid populations. This suggests that polyploidy may break down species barriers and allow hybridization among lineages. These results indirectly support speciation models that involve genetic incompatibilities among species arising from gene silencing or genomic reorganization.

Chemotaxonomy of the Rubiaceae family based on leaf fatty acid composition

With 10,700 species distributed in 637 genera, the Rubiaceae family is one of the largest of the angiosperms. Since it was previously evidenced that the fatty acid composition of photosynthetic tissues can be a tool for chemotaxonomic studies, the fatty acid composition of leaves from 107 Rubiaceae species highly representative of the diversity of the family was determined. Principal component analysis allowed a clear-cut separation of Coffeae, Psychotrieae and Rubieae. The occurrence of C 16:3 fatty acid, a marker of the prokaryotic plastidial lipid biosynthetic pathway, concerned at least two branches: Theligoneae/Rubieae and Anthospermeae–Anthosperminae which appeared to be in close relationship. Additional experiments were carried out to ensure the correlation between the presence of C 16:3 fatty acid and the prokaryotic biosynthetic pathway.

Five New combinations and One New Name in Rubiaceae from South-East Asia

Five new combinations and one new name are proposed for six Rubiaceae species from South-East Asia. Four new combinations are proposed in Cyclophyllum and one in Psychotria; a new name is proposed for one Psychotria species.

Pollen of the Spermacoce (Rubiaceae) species from the Northern Territory of Australia: morphology and taxonomic significance

Complementary to the revision of the genus Spermacoce in the Northern Territory of Australia, pollen morphology of 48 of the 53 native Spermacoce species from the Northern Territory has been investigated by scanning electron and light microscopy. There is considerable variation for most diagnostic pollen characters. The average equatorial diameter (E) ranges from 10.5 to 41.7 µm. Grains are invariably colporate with the apertures situated at the equator (being zonocolporate). The number of apertures varies from 3 to 17. The endoaperture is generally an endocingulum, often with a secondary thinning at the ectocolpus; one species has endocolpi. The sexine is usually perforate, but psilate, foveolate, and (micro)reticulate patterns were also found. Supratectal elements are present as granules or microspines scattered over the whole surface or confined to a region around the ectoapertures. The inner nexine surface is granular, often with irregular grooves (endocracks). The pollen morphological variation observed allows the distinction of four pollen types. Three of these types are not yet recorded in other palynological studies of Spermacoce. Pollen characters are often useful to delimit species and groups of related species.

Re-assessment of monophyly, evolution of myrmecophytism, and rapid radiation in Neonauclea s.s. (Rubiaceae)

The biologically interesting ant–plant association, myrmecophytism, occurs in ca. 140 of the 11,000 species and 22 of the 630 genera of the coffee family (Rubiaceae). These myrmecophytic Rubiaceae species are predominantly distributed in Southeast Asia, especially the Malesian region, with comparatively few species in mainland Africa and the Neotropics. The mostly Southeast Asian genus Neonauclea s.s is one of the three Rubiaceae genera with extensive radiation of myrmecophytes and also the most speciose genus of the tribe Naucleeae s.l. We perform parsimony phylogenetic analyses of Neonauclea s.s., previously resolved as paraphyletic, and its allied genera using both ETS and ITS sequencing data to test: (1) the paraphyly of Neonauclea s.s.; (2) the phylogenetic relationships within the Ludekia–Myrmeconauclea–Neonauclea complex; and (3) the evolution of myrmecophytism within the complex. The earlier proposed paraphyly of Neonauclea s.s. appears to be the result of the combined effects of parallel substitutions in Metadina trichotoma and the sampled ITS putative pseudogenes of Neonauclea longipedunculata and losses of some synapomorphies of Neonauclea s.s. in the latter. The analyses present strong support for the monophyly of Myrmeconauclea and Neonauclea s.s. and their sister-group relationships. Our findings additionally favor the hypothesis of multiple origins of myrmecophytism in the Bornean Neonauclea, which have independently been exploited by at least three Cladomyrma ant species. Furthermore, we interpret the low levels of variation in both the ETS and ITS sequences as indication of a recent and rapid radiation for Neonauclea s.s. (with 65 species) and a recent and slow radiation for Myrmeconauclea (with three species). We argue that the rapid diversification of Neonauclea s.s. is partly associated with the nature of its fruits and its ability to colonize a wide range of habitats. We postulate that both ecological and geographical events may have been responsible for the radiation of the non-myrmecophytic Neonauclea species. Finally, we argue that the acquisition of the pseudo-multiple fruits and long-tailed seeds has allowed Myrmeconauclea to specialize on rheophytic habitats but its narrow ecological tolerance may have hindered its speciation.

Comparative leaf anatomy and morphology of some neotropical Rondeletia (Rubiaceae) species

A comparative anatomical and morphological study on the petioles and leaves of 10 neotropical Rondeletia species (representing 10 sections) has been made in order to investigate interspecific variations which may be useful in species identification. All species have bifacial and hypostomatic leaves, contain tannins and crystal sand. The central vascular bundle in the petiole and the midrib are open to the upper side and are collateral. The species differ in presence or absence of non-glandular trichomes, in the structure of the petiole and leaf blade. A combination of these characters may be useful in species identification. The results, however, do not support the classification into 10 sections but provide a comprehensive petiole and leaf anatomical and morphological character-set typical for the genus.

Fenologia de Rubiaceae do sub-bosque em floresta Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil

Phenological studies of different species within a single family occuring in the same habitat, may help to understand the possible factors regulating the phenophases. During 14 months, we observed the vegetative and reproductive phenological patterns of ten understorey species of Rubiaceae of a Brazilian Atlantic forest, Nucleo Picinguaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Leaf production and leaf fall occurred simultaneously in all studied species, throughout the observation period, resulting an evergreen appearance to the understorey. Flowering was also observed along the year, althougth the number of species flowering was higher during the wettest and hotest season. Our result contrasts with the seasonal flowering pattern observed for canopy species of Rubiaceae at the same area. The correlations between rainfall, temperature and Rubiaceae flowering were not significant. The fruit production was distributed along the study period, increasing at the end of the rainy season, resulting in a continuous availability of resources for frugivores. Reproductive phenological patterns differed among the Rubiaceae species in such a way that different factors seem to be regulating the phenophases of each species.

A new species of Neurocalyx (Rubiaceae) from Peninsular India

A new species of Rubiaceae from the Kalakkad‐Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu, India, Neumcalyx bremeri, is described and illustrated. Conservation status assigned as Critically Endangered by applying IUCN Red List Category criteria is provided.

A New Species of Rothmannia (Rubiaceae) from Yunnan, China

A new species in Rubiaceae (Garden-ieae), Rothmannia daweishanensis Y.M. Shui & W. H. Chen, is described from Yunnan, China. Its diagnostic characters and close relationship with Rothmannia vietnamensis Tirvengadum are discussed.

The Philippine Rubiaceae genera: updated synopsis in INTKEY databases of the DELTA system

Changes in generic concepts and delimitation resulted in 80 genera (6 of which are cultivated) of Philippine Rubiaceae. Generic descriptions of all genera are coded in DELTA format (Version 2000) and translated by the directive CONFOR into INTKEY database for interactive identification and information retrieval. The descriptions incorporate mostly compiled data of Philippine Rubiaceae species and observations on over 130 characters. Recently accepted classification (subfamily, tribes, and subtribes) and significant characters defined by Robbrecht (1988, 1993) are appended to the generic descriptions. The database is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.uni-bayreuth.de/ departments/planta2/wgl/delta_ru/index.html.