Staminal Tube Research Articles

Floral ontogeny reveals potential synapomorphies for Senegalia sect. Monacanthea p.p. (Leguminosae).

Senegalia was recently described as non-monophyletic; however, its sections exhibit robust monophyletic support, suggesting a potential reclassification into separate genera-Senegalia sect. Monocanthea p.p. is the largest section. It contains 164 species of pantropical distribution and includes all of the current 99 neotropical species of Senegalia; however, no morphological characteristics are available to differentiate this section. To characterize this section, we examined floral developmental traits in four species of Senegalia sect. Monocanthea p.p. These traits were previously considered as potentially distinguishing features within Acacia s.l. and include the onset patterns of the androecium, the timing of calyx union, the origin of the staminal disc, and the presence of stomata on the petals. Furthermore, we analyzed previously unexplored traits, such as corolla union types, inflorescence development, and micromorphological features related to the indumentum, as well as the presence and location of stomata. The characteristics proposed as potential synapomorphies of the group include the postgenital fusion of the corolla and the presence of a staminal disc formed at the base of the filaments. The other analyzed floral characteristics were not informative for the characterization of the group. Future studies of floral ontogeny will help to establish more precise patterns, mainly whether corolla union and staminal tube formation occur similarly in African and Asian sections of Senegalia.

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, a new genus and species of Thismiaceae from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship.

The family Thismiaceae, known as "fairy lanterns" for their urn- or bell-shaped flowers with basally fused tepals, consists of non-photosynthetic flowering monocots mainly in tropical regions, extending into subtropical and temperate areas. Here, we propose a new mycoheterotrophic genus, Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane (Thismiaceae), with its monotypic species Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane from Kimotsuki Mountains in the Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island, southern Japan. Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia Airy Shaw in having a cluster of tuberous roots, a feature previously observed only in this genus within the family Thismiaceae. However, it differs in having solitary flowers (vs. 2-6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), anther thecae largely separated (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absent). Additionally, Relictithismia differs from the geographically overlapping genus Thismia Griff. in its stamen structure and the position of the annulus. In Relictithismia, the stamens lack connectives, and its free filaments arise from the annulus located inside the perianth mouth, while in Thismia, the stamens typically have connate connectives, forming a staminal tube pendulous from the annulus located at the mouth of the floral tube. Our morphological and phylogenetic data indicated that R. kimotsukiensis holds an early-diverging position within the family, situated outside the Old World Thismia clade. This paper offers an extensive description and color photographs of R. kimotsukiensis, complemented by notes on its phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history.

Grias portillae (Lecythidaceae): A new tree species from northwestern Ecuador

Grias portillae, a new tree species of Lecythidaceae from the evergreen lower montane Andean slopes at environs of Lita, in northwestern Ecuador, is here described and illustrated. It is characterized by the leaf blades with short-caudate apex, flowers with dark-purple petals, androecium creamish-white, fused in a developed staminal tube, stamens 18–21, arranged in one level on top of rim, and anthers with expanded, cucullate connectives with lateral flaps that encloses most of the thecae. Grias portillae is assessed provisionally as Endangered, and an updated key to all species of this genus is provided. The presence of colleters on the margins of the leaves is reported here for the first time as a new generic character in Grias.

Flower inclusions of Canarium (Burseraceae) from Miocene Zhangpu amber (China)

The Miocene amber from Zhangpu (Fujian Province, southeastern China) has recently displayed a significant palaeobiodiversity with numerous inclusions of insects, fungi, angiosperms as well as a few gastropods and feathers. In this paper, we investigate for the first time flower inclusions from the Zhangpu amber, using synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray micro-computed tomography (SRμCT). Our results show that both flowers are morphologically bisexual but functionally male, whorled, and trimerous. The perianth is differentiated into a synsepalous calyx and a polypetalous corolla. The obdiplostemonous androecium comprises six connate stamens forming a staminal tube around a fleshy nectary disk and an aborted syncarpous gynoecium with a superior ovary. Both flowers also share a subtending bract, a pair of bracteoles and secretory ducts. We recognize two new fossil species of Canarium, C. wangboi n. sp. and C. leenhoutsii n. sp., distinguished from one another by the shape, length and extent of fusion of the calyx, the shape and length of the corolla, the fusion and length of the staminal tube and the shape of the nectary disk. The genus, which belongs to the Burseraceae family, is nowadays distributed pantropically in the warm regions of Africa, Asia and Northeast Oceania. This study represents the first fossil record of Canarium flowers and gives new insights into the diversity of the Zhangpu amber forest. Moreover, it supports the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the sedimentary plant fossils deriving from the amber bearing layer, indicating a warm and humid climate in Zhangpu during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum.

Revisión Taxonómica de las Especies de Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) del Cono Sur (Argentina, Sur de Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay) y Bolivia

The genus Alternanthera Forssk. (Amaranthaceae) is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas. It includes herbs or suffrutices with opposite leaves, perfect flowers protected by a bract and two bracteoles, with capitate stigma and appendages in the staminal tube (or pseudostaminodes) arranged alternately with the stamen filaments, which bear functionally unilocular anthers. Here, a taxonomic revision of the 31 species of Alternanthera that inhabit the Southern Cone and Bolivia is presented. The name A. piptantha Pedersen is synonymized with A. altacruzensis Suess. Type species are designated for genera Brandesia Mart., Bucholzia Mart., Mogiphanes Mart., Steiremis Raf., and Telanthera R. Br. In addition, lectotypes are designated for Achyranthes porrigens Jacq., Alternanthera mexicana (Schltdl.) Hieron. var. gracilis Suess., A. nodiflora R. Br. var. linearifolia Moq., A. tenella Moq., Gomphrena elongata Willd. ex Roem. & Schult., T. meyeriana Regel & Körn, T. rufa (Mart.) Moq. var. glabrata Seub., and a second-step lectotype for A. denticulata R. Br. Identification keys are included for the differentiation of species, subspecies, and varieties, as well as their morphological descriptions, geographic distribution, habitat, vernacular names, uses, illustrations, nomenclatural notes, and information about the studied specimens.

Morphological Variation among Four Species Belonging to Genus Sida L. (Family Malvaceae) from Western Uttar Pradesh, India

STUDIES on the morphological features of four species of genus Sida L.; viz. Sida acuta Burm. f., Sida cordata Burm. f., Sida cordifolia L. and Sida rhombifolia L. belongs to family Malvaceae have been conducted in the present study. These species grow widely in the Agra city of western Uttar Pradesh; India. The present work focused on the determination of variations in the morphological attributes of the leaf, calyx, petal, staminal tube, stigma and trichomes, using compound microscopy to examine some minute morphological features. The overall study revealed that morphological characteristics in the four species of genus Sida exhibit considerable variation. S. rhombifolia leaf has a rhomboid-shaped lamina, while the rest of the studied species have cordate-ovate to suborbicular-cordate and linear shapes. S. acuta has large sized corolla (1.5cm in diameter), and calyx (10mm in diameter) followed by S. cordifolia (8mm), S. cordata and S. rhombifolia (7mm). Trichomes showed a wide variation from glandular to non-glandular, unicellular to multicellular, spiral, straight, stellate, branched and unbranched. Therefore, the study could be exploited as a baseline tool to characterize and identify the individual species of the genus Sida.

<p><strong><em>Miersia putaendensis sp. nov.</em> (Gilliesieae, Amaryllidaceae), a new species endemic to Central Chile</strong></p>

A new species, Miersia putaendensis (Amaryllidaceae), endemic to Central Chile, is described. The new species differs from all known species of Miersia by featuring a white staminal tube with a purple spot and two upper linear, cuneiform floral appendages directed towards the front in its frontal lobe, the apex of which is toothed and deflexed. It inhabits southern slopes of sclerophyll woodlands and scrubs, particularly along rocks. Currently, the species is critically endangered. A detailed description, illustration, distribution map of the new species, and a dichotomous key with all accepted species of Miersia are provided.

Nomenclatural and taxonomic updates in Rourea subgen. Rourea sect. Multifoliolatae (Connaraceae).

The pantropical genus Rourea Aubl. (Connaraceae) is composed of ca. 70 species, most of which occur in the Neotropics. Rourea is currently subdivided into three subgenera, with the American taxa included in Rourea subgen. Rourea. Forero (1976) recognised six sections for the species of the New World, with Rourea subgen. R. sect. Multifoliolatae being exclusive to Brazil, characterised by multifoliolate leaves, relatively small leaflets and the staminal tube (0.8–)1–1.5 mm long. Following Forero’s (1976) treatment, additional botanical collections have become available in Brazilian herbaria, allowing re-evaluation of species concepts. This work recognises and revises 12 species in this section, mainly restricted to southeastern Brazil and southern Bahia. A nomenclatural and taxonomic study of these species is here presented, including an identification key, morphological descriptions, illustrations and geographic distribution maps. A new species is also described.

<p><strong>The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the Southeast and South Asian bamboo genera <em>Neohouzeaua</em> and <em>Ochlandra</em> (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) </strong></p>

Among the tropical woody bamboos, the Melocanninae is one of the most clearly recognized subtribes morphologically and has also been consistently well delimited in molecular phylogenetic work. The relationships among those genera in this subtribe, however, have been contentious because of poorly understood generic delimitations, in part due to poor specimen material or insufficiently assessed morphological traits, sometimes exacerbated by poorly accessible provenances. We address the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of two groups which together include the largest number of species in this subtribe: the Neohouzeaua-Schizostachyum complex, distributed from India to South China, Southeast Asia and southwest Pacific, and the endemic Indian genus Ochlandra. Three Neohouzeaua species (including the generic type), 12 Schizostachyum species (including the generic type and several species of uncertain placement), together with five species of Ochlandra and representatives of Cephalostachyum, Melocanna and Pseudostachyum were assessed in a molecular phylogenetic analysis together with members of other well-distinguished subtribes. Members of Neohouzeaua and Schizostachyum align into two main groups that were not completely well-supported statistically but which members possess mostly reflexed culm leaf blades, or mostly erect culm leaf blades. Other characters which provide obvious differences between taxa, such as the number of flowers in a pseudospikelet, fusion of filaments into a staminal tube, and presence of lodicules, were inconsistent between these groups. Neohouzeaua and Schizostachyum cannot be clearly distinguished in either morphological or molecular terms, and thus are united under the latter name, which takes precedence. In reviewing names in Neohouzeaua and their basionyms, several lectotypifications are designated. Three new combinations in Schizostachyum are proposed. On the other hand, Ochlandra forms a distinct clade and its monophyly is demonstrated, supported by clear morphological characters.

Two new species of Cinnamodendron (Canellaceae) from Brazil

Two new species of Canellaceae from Brazil, Cinnamodendron brasiliense and Cinnamodendron catarinense, are here described. These species are known from the Atlantic Forest in the States of Sao Paulo (southeastern Brazil) and Santa Catarina (southern Brazil), respectively. Cinnamodendron brasiliense shares morphological similarities with C. occhionianum, but it can be distinguished by being a shrub or treelet up to 6 m tall with one or two flowers per inflorescence and obovoid fruits up to 1.8 cm long; whereas C. occhionianum is a tree 8–20 m tall with four or five flowers per inflorescence and globose fruits up to 1.5 cm long. Cinnamodendron catarinense resembles C. sampaioanum, but it has more flowers per inflorescences (6–8), the staminal tube below the anthers is shorter (about 1 mm long), and the anthers are longer (2.2–2.5 mm) than those of C. sampaioanum, which has 1–3 flowers per inflorescence, a staminal tube below anthers of ca. 3.2 mm long, and anthers 1–1.2 mm long. With the addition of these two species, Brazil becomes the country with the highest number of species of Cinnamodendron, holding six of the eight known species for South America. In this work, a key to all the species of Cinnamodendron from South America is also provided, as well as illustrations in photographs and line drawings of the two new species.

<p><strong><em>Quararibea bragae </em></strong><strong>(Malvaceae; Malvoideae):<em> </em>a new species with multiple domatia from Brazil</strong></p>

Quararibea bragae from the Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo State (Brazil) is proposed as a new species. Quararibea bragae is similar to Q. turbinata in vegetative characteristics, such as the shape and consistency of its leaves and type of domatia. However, it can be distinguished by the leaves’ indumentum and by the positioning and quantity of domatia on the abaxial surface of the leaves. Reproductive characteristics are differentiated by the shape and indumentum of the staminal tube and the shape of the fruit. We present a morphological description and comments, illustration, notes on ecology and distribution, and identification key of Atlantic Forest species.

Evolution of reproductive traits in the mahagony family (Meliaceae)

AbstractMeliaceae are a mostly pantropical family in the Sapindales, bearing flowers typically provided with a staminal tube, formed by filaments that are fused partially or totally. Nevertheless, several genera of subfamily Cedreloideae have free stamens, which may be adnate to an androgynophore in some taxa. The fact that the family exhibits a wide diversity of floral and fruit features, as well as of sexual systems and pollination syndromes, presents interesting questions on the evolutionary processes that might have taken place during its history. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of 20 reproductive morphological traits of Meliaceae, upon an available molecular phylogenetic framework, using 31 terminals from the family's two main clades (Cedreloideae and Melioideae), plus six Simaroubaceae taxa as outgroup. We aimed to identify and/or confirm synapomorphies for clades within the family and to develop hypotheses on floral evolution and sexual systems in the group. Our reconstruction suggests that the ancestor of Meliaceae was possibly provided with united stamens and unisexual flowers in dioecious individuals, with a subsequent change to free stamens and monoecy in the ancestor of Cedreloideae. Most characters studied show some degree of homoplasy, but some are unique synapomorphies of clades, such as the haplostemonous androecium. An androgynophore defines the Cedrela‐Toona clade. The comparative approach of our study and the evolutionary hypotheses generated herein reveal several aspects demanding further structural investigation, and possible evolutionary pathways of the reproductive structures along with the lineages' diversification, mostly related to the specialization of sexual systems, floral biology, and dispersal strategies.

<p><strong>Rock star flowers: <em>Conchocarpus hendrixii </em>(Galipeinae, Rutaceae), a new species from Eastern Brazil with notes on its phylogenetic position in the genus</strong></p>

A new species, Conchocarpus hendrixii (tribe Galipeinae, Rutaceae), is described and illustrated. To date, this new species is known from populations observed in the municipalities of Cardoso Moreira and São Fidélis in Serra da Bandeira/Serra da Vista mountain ranges in northern Rio de Janeiro state in the Atlantic Rainforest biome and was brought to light as an undescribed species thanks to photographs shared on the social media site Facebook. The epithet “hendrixii” is in honor of Jimi Hendrix, guitarist and singer-songwriter, who wrote the song “Purple Haze,” in reference to the purple color of the flowers of the new species. Analyzes showed that flowers of the new species bear a staminal tube, a characteristic present only in C. odoratissimus among the Conchocarpus. However, this species bears flowers with much shorter staminal tubes (c. 2–2.5 mm in length v. 1–1.2 cm in the new species) and smaller flowers, among other morphologically dissimilar characteristics. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using nuclear (ITS-1 and IT-2) and plastidial markers (trnL-trnF and rps16 intron) were conducted and demonstrated that the new species belongs to an internal clade in Conchocarpus, together with species formerly assigned to Almeidea (currently included in Conchocarpus). The presence of pantoporate pollen grains, a synapomorphic trait to this clade supports the molecular results. Conservation status as well as data from foliar and floral (with an emphasis on the staminal tube) anatomy are presented.

A New Distylous Waltheria L. (Byttnerioideae, Malvaceae) From the State of Bahia, Brazil

Abstract—A new distylous Waltheria species from Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. Waltheria saundersiae is endemic to the campos rupestres from Bahia and is a shrub with erect to flexuous branches. It can be confused morphologically with Waltheria cinerescens, W. maritima, and W. selloana, however, it is distinguished mainly by the bark ornamentation, leaf arrangement, leaf blade margin, inflorescence position, stylar polymorphism type, calyx size, and staminal tube indument.

A Common But Overlooked New Species in the Hyper-Diverse Genus Inga Mill. from the Northwestern Amazon

Abstract—Inga kursarii is a new species collected in the terra firme forests of the northwestern Amazon, one of the regions with the highest tree species diversity in the world. According to morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the new species is morphologically similar and sister to Inga gracilifolia Ducke, but it can be distinguished by having 5‐6 pairs of caducous leaflets, elliptical leaflets with acute apex and slightly asymmetrical base, spiked inflorescence, subsessile flowers, calyx tube with 4 lobes, tufts of hairs at the apex of calyx lobes, corolla tube with non-reflexed lobes, shorter staminal tubes, and capitate stigma. In addition, analyses of the chemical defensive profile (chemocoding) show that both taxa are chemically different, with I. kursarii having a chemistry based on gallocatechin/epigallocatechin gallates, and I. gracilifolia producing a series of dihydroflavonols. Finally, we present a table with a comparison of diagnostic characters that allows separation of the two species.

Threatened endemic species of Hibiscus l. (Malvaceae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Hibiscus L. is one of the largest genera of Malvaceae, Southeast Brazil has six endemic species of 14 native species, mainly distributed in cerrado. These Hibiscus are hairy shrubs, with showy flowers of pink corolla, dark base, 5-toothed staminal tube apex, loculicidal capsule of 5 cells. The species inhabit wet ecosystems of the atlantic rainforest and cerrado. After the last study of Hibiscus taxonomy evidencing four endemic species from Minas Gerais state, showed to have the largest endemism center of Hibiscus in Brazil, therefore, using IUCN classification methodology, we indicated H. hilarianus and H. multiformis as vulnerable, H. itirapinensis as endangered and H. mariae as critically endangered. The species are represented by small isolated populations distributed at the mountains and plateaus between Espinhaço mountain range and Planalto Paulista, considered a region with great endemic biodiversity. According to the previously analysis, it is recommended specific studies with techniques and appropriate methodology to research the development and evolutionary characteristics of hibiscus species in Minas Gerais state.

Pollination partial recovery across monospecific plantations of a native tree (Inga vera, Leguminosae) in the Atlantic forest: Lessons for restoration

In the last decades several approaches have been adopted for tropical assisted forest restoration from monospecific plantations to the establishment of highly-diverse tree stands. However, the long-term viability of restored forest and their capacity to provide the required services demand continuous evaluation to guide future initiatives. We aimed to evaluate the existence of pollination recovery in monospecific tree plantations in a hyper fragmented landscape of the Atlantic forest in northeast Brazil. By using Inga vera as a model species, we compared several relevant aspects relative to tree reproduction such as reproductive phenology, floral structures, nectar consumption, fruit- and seed-set, between monospecific plantations and native conspecific populations. Populations of I. vera from both native forest stands and planted areas flowered in overlapping periods in the dry season, while fruiting occurred at the beginning of the rainy season. Flowers of planted populations were significantly larger (11% in the size of the calyx, corolla and androecium – staminal tube and filaments) relative to natural populations. Flowers of both planted and natural populations secrete ca. 46 μl of nectar with concentration of 20.2% and 45.8 mg of sugars throughout the anthesis. However, the average volume of nectar consumed by visitors per flower in planted populations was 30% lower than in natural populations. The frequency of pistils with pollen tubes and the average number of seeds per fruit were similar between natural and planted populations. Nevertheless, surprisingly, the natural fruit set was 49% lower in planted relative to natural populations. Lower consumption of nectar and natural fruit set in planted populations of I. vera, in relation to the natural populations, indicate a partial recovery of the pollination process through the practice of planting single species of a tree in clusters of individuals. Our results add some doubts about the long-term viability and the ability of monospecific plantations in delivering services such as increased pollination capacity in human-modified landscapes.

Synopsis of the spurred species of Lobelia section Stenotium (Campanulaceae) in Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico, and the description of two new species

The genus Lobelia is cosmopolitan and comprises 423 species in 18 sections. Lobelia sect. Stenotium is the most diverse group with 153 species, has a wide distribution in continental North America and is segregated into two subgroups based on the presence of spurred flowers. There are 16 spurred Lobelia species that occur in streamside or seep areas, throughout pine and oak mixed forests from USA to Costa Rica, but they are frequent along the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO), Mexico, where 10 species grow. In this paper we present a synopsis of the spurred species of Lobelia in the SMO and propose two new taxa. First, Lobelia rzedowskii is morphologically similar to L. ayersiae, L. cordifolia and L. endlichii but differs by its rosulate leaves, blades 0.5–1.5 × 0.4–1 cm, subsessile, racemose to paniculate inflorescences, with (4–)10–35(–191) flowers, flowers 4–6 mm long including hypanthium, spur 0.5–1 × 0.5–0.8 mm, with the lower two calyx lobes positioned at the middle portion of the spur, white corolla with a yellow spot above lobe sinuses on the throat and staminal tube 1.3–2.5 mm long. Second, Lobelia saturnini is morphologically similar to L. knoblochii, L. macrocentron, L. mcvaughii and L. villaregalis, but differs from them by leaves (2–)4–14(–17) mm long, petioles 2–6(–17) mm long, solitary flowers, flowers 12–16 mm long including hypanthium, hypanthium 1.2–2.5 mm long, spur 2–3 mm long, pedicels (1.3–)2–9(–12) cm long and anthers 1–2.2 mm long. We include an identification key for spurred species of Lobelia in the SMO, photographs, distribution notes with a map, and illustrations.

Preface to “A revision of American Trichilia (Meliaceae)”

Trichilia P.Browne is one of the largest genera of Meliaceae, containing 81 described species in tropical America, 20 species in Africa and 2 species in Madagascar. It is placed in the subfamily Melioideae (Pennington & Styles 1975, Muellner et al. 2003) where it is a well-defined genus with a distinctive floral and fruit structure. It is clearly separated from all other genera of the family by the flowers with a staminal tube of partially or completely fused stamens bearing the anthers at the apex of the filaments or on the margin of the staminal tube and by the fruit which is a 2–3-valved loculicidal capsule containing fleshy seeds partly or completely surrounded by an arillode or rarely a sarcotesta.

Floral Development of Parkia multijuga and Stryphnodendron adstringens, Two Andromonoecious Mimosoid Trees (Leguminosae)

Premise of research. This study compares the development of staminate and hermaphrodite flowers of Parkia multijuga and Stryphnodendron adstringens, two andromonoecious mimosoid trees, in order to determine whether diclinous flowers result from the same developmental processes. The issues involving the interesting structure of the perianth were also addressed.Methodology. Flowers and flower buds of various sizes were processed for surface and histological observations.Pivotal results. Five sepal primordia emerge in the floral meristem from the abaxial side in a sequential order in P. multijuga and from the adaxial side of the flower in a modified helical order in S. adstringens. Five petal primordia initiated simultaneously in P. multijuga and S. adstringens. The carpel primordium initiates concomitantly with five antesepalous stamen primordia in P. multijuga and after petal elongation in S. adstringens. All connections among floral organs in P. multijuga (gamosepaly, gamopetaly, epipetaly, and staminal tube) and S. adstringens (gamosepaly and gamopetaly) are postgenital. A sixth sepal primordium found in some S. adstringens flowers is formed late in the development. Early ontogenetic stages are similar between hermaphrodite and staminate flowers of both species, and only in middevelopmental stages does the carpel primordium stop elongating; no ovule, style, or stigma is formed, leaving only a small carpellodium in the center of the staminate flowers.Conclusions. Our ontogenetic studies show that carpel abortion, not carpel absence from inception, results in staminate flowers in two andromonoecious legumes.