Showing papers in "Taxon in 1999"
TL;DR: The possibilities of calculating similarity based on ordinal characters are evaluated by distinguishing subtypes of the ordinal scale by extending Gower's general coefficient of similarity to ordinal data types, facilitating cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling.
Abstract: Summary The possibilities of calculating similarity based on ordinal characters are evaluated by distinguishing subtypes of the ordinal scale. Multivariate analysis is most problematic when ordinal variables appear together with other scale types in the data. This difficulty is solved by extending Gower's general coefficient of similarity to ordinal data types, facilitating cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. Two alternatives, a non-metric and a metric version, are offered. The modified formula implies that ordinal variables are equally weighted with the others, and that partially and fully ranked data are both applicable, due to the inherent standardisation procedure. A morphological data set derived for the moss genus Tortula illustrates the new approach.
328 citations
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128 citations
TL;DR: The internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced for 33 populations of 31 species of Artemisia and support the monophyly of the genus in its classical, broad sense, including Seriphidium and Oligosporus.
Abstract: The internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced for 33 populations of 31 species of Artemisia. The sequence data support the monophyly of the genus in its classical, broad sense, including Seriphidium and Oligosporus. Five main clades are defined, corresponding largely to the four main groups traditionally recognised in the genus: "Artemisia" (s.str.), "Absinthium", "Dracunculus", and "Seriphidium", plus the American "Tridentatae" segregated from the latter, except that "Artemisia", scattered over four different clades, is in need of a redefinition and restriction to the A. vulgaris clade. ITS data also support the hypothesis that the "Tridentatae" and "Seriphidium" are independent groups, and help differentiate the species in the A. herbaalba complex.
117 citations
83 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an extended entity-relationship model covering biological collections is presented, which stands for any object containing, being or being part of a living, fossilised, or conserved organism.
Abstract: The article describes an extended entity-relationship model covering biological collections, i.e. natural history collections of biotic origin; data collections used in floristic or faunistic mapping, survey, and monitoring projects; live collections such as botanical or zoological gardens, seed banks, microbial strain collections and gene banks; as well as novel collection kinds such as of secondary metabolites or DNA samples. The central element in the model is the unit, which stands for any object containing, being or being part of a living, fossilised, or conserved organism. The unit may be gathered (observed or collected) in the field and derived units may recursively emerge from it through specimen processing, breeding or cultivation. In addition, units may form associations (e.g. host/parasite), ensembles (lichen on a rock with fossils), and assemblages (herd, artificial grouping). Gathering events, specimen management (acquisition, accession, storage, preservation, exchange, ownership), and taxonomic or other identifications relate to the unit and are treated in detail. Geographic and geo-ecological data have not been fully modelled; taxonomic (name) data and descriptive information are treated by reference to other published models.
42 citations
36 citations
TL;DR: The last report of the Committee for Algae dealt with activities during the period 1981-1987, and the present report, which starts a new numbering series, is the first from the Committee constituted at the Berlin Congress in 1987.
Abstract: The last report of the Committee for Algae (Taxon 36: 66-69. 1987) dealt with activities during the period 1981-1987. The present report, which starts a new numbering series, is the first from the Committee constituted at the Berlin Congress in 1987. The initial members were C. E. de M. Bicudo (Sao Paulo), P. Compere (Meise, Belgium), T. V. Desikachary (Madras), L. M. Irvine (London), J. Komarek (Trebon, Czech Republic), R. L. Moe (Berkeley, Secretary), P. G. Parkinson (Wellington), W. F. Prud'homme van Reine (Leiden), P. C. Silva (Berkeley, Chairman), R. Simonsen (Bremerhaven), A. Soumia (Paris), K. L. Vinogradova (St. Petersburg), W. J. Woelkerling (Melbourne), M. J. Wynne (Ann Arbor), and T. Yoshida (Sapporo). Simonsen resigned on 30 November 1992. In addition, two members consistently failed to respond and are considered to have resigned. Moe moved to Waterville, Maine, in December 1989 and returned to Berkeley in August 1992. The lack of essential literature at the small college in Waterville hindered Moe's activities as Secretary and caused the Chairman to conduct the business of the Committee directly. The first concern of the Committee was with regard to conserved family names. Prior to the Montreal Congress of 1959, conservation was limited in practice to generic names, which were (and still are) conserved against all homotypic synonyms, whether or not they are listed, and those heterotypic synonyms that have been specifically rejected and thus are listed. At Montreal, a group of spermatophyte taxonomists prepared a list of 422 names of angiosperm families that was approved by the Nomenclature Section. This list (Montreal Code, Appendix II) was contrary to Art. 14.4 in specifying that "The names in this list are to be retained in all cases, with priority over unlisted names". Moreover, it was contrary to Art. 13, which sets the starting point for valid nomenclature of spermatophytes at 1 May 1753, in establishing a later starting point for names of families on the list (A. L. de Jussieu, Genera plantarum, 1789). At the Edinburgh Congress, in 1964, 12 names of gymnosperm families were added to Appendix II. When Silva pointed out these discrepancies at the Sydney Congress, in 1981, Nicolson made a motion from the floor that Art. 14 be changed to accommodate Appendix II (that is, by stating that family names, unlike generic names, are conserved against unlisted taxonomic synonyms). This exception was approved by the Nomenclature Section and was inserted in Art. 14.5 by the Editorial Committee when editing the Sydney Code.
32 citations
26 citations
TL;DR: The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) as discussed by the authors is a collaborative effort between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Australian National Herbarium.
Abstract: The Plant Names Project is a collaborative venture between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Australian National Herbarium. The Index kewensis, the Gray card index, and the Australian plant names index are being combined and the data edited to produce the International plant names index (IPNI). IPNI will consist of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of all seed plants. Its goal is to eliminate the need for finding and checking basic bibliographic information about plant names; such names will be presented in a distributed data base, freely available and with the data standardised against authority data and ultimately verified. IPNI will be a dynamic resource, globally current, continually improving in accuracy, and allowing, indeed encouraging, direct contributions by all members of the botanical community.
TL;DR: After Gothan and Eckhold, Greguss is perhaps the most prolific author of names of morphogenera for fossil woods.
Abstract: After Gothan and Eckhold, Greguss is perhaps the most prolific author of names of morphogenera for fossil woods. Mainly a neoxylologist, he wrote world-famous books (Greguss, 1955a, 1959, 1967) about both softand hardwoods. Neoxylology was always his main subject of research (Gulyas, 1984) but in the 1940s, encouraged by Elemer Vadasz of the Hungarian Geological Survey, he began to study fossil woods as well.
TL;DR: The Index Nominum Algarum (ING) is an ongoing project with the goal of producing and maintaining an index of scientific names of algae, both living and fossil, at all ranks, which now comprises about 180,000 entries.
Abstract: Summary Silva, P. C. & Moe, R. L.: The Index Nominum Algarum. - Taxon 48: 351-353. 1999. ISSN 0040-0262. The Index Nominum Algarum (ING) is an ongoing project with the goal of producing and maintaining an index of scientific names of algae, both living and fossil, at all ranks. Initiated by Silva in 1949, it now comprises about 180,000 entries. Although it is currently in the form of a card file housed in the Herbarium of the University of California at Berkeley, it is being converted into a database that will be searchable on-line. Meanwhile, the cards, only about 10 % of which are backed by an electronic file, have been archived as digital images on compact discs. An important by-product of the INA is the Bibliographia Phycologica Universalis (BPU), which now comprises about 65,000 references. Both the INA and the BPU have been made available to the taxonomic community continuously since their inception.
TL;DR: To accommodate this species, a unispecific new genus, Stonesiella, is created, diagnosed by characters of the inflorescence and bracts, and the absence of all synapomorphies of the other Pultenaea-group genera.
Abstract: The phylogeny of genera related to Pultenaea was investigated using three independent data sets: morphology and nucleotide sequences of non-coding DNA from the nucleus (ITS) and the chloroplast (trnL-F). Elucidating the relationships of two species anomalous in Pultenaea P. neurocalyx and P. selaginoides was the principal question. Despite some incongruence among the data sets, P. neurocalyx is unambiguously placed with Eutaxia, but its formal taxonomic placement either as a species of Eutaxia or as a monotypic new genus is left undecided pending a species-level analysis of that group. The precise phylogenetic position of P. selaginoides is not clear, due to incongruence between the ITS and trnL-F data sets. Its most likely relationship is with Almaleea, as indicated by both morphology (weakly) and trnL-F (strongly). To accommodate this species, a unispecific new genus, Stonesiella, is created, diagnosed by characters of the inflorescence and bracts, and the absence of all synapomorphies of the other Pultenaea-group genera. The appropriateness of recognising monotypic genera is discussed. Monophyly of Pultenaea s.str. (excluding P. selaginoides and P. neurocalyx) is supported equivocally.
TL;DR: The previous report of this Committee appeared in Taxon 39: 289-292 as discussed by the authors, where the authors started their discussions with the 12 members elected in Berlin in 1990 and two members resigned: G. H. Inoue died in December 1989 and D. A. Vitt in October 1992.
Abstract: The previous report of this Committee appeared in Taxon 39: 289-292. 1990. We started our discussions with the 12 members elected in Berlin. H. Inoue died in December 1989 and two members resigned: G. A. M. Scott in July 1991, D. H. Vitt in October 1992. Thus there were 10 members for the first ballot of February 1992 and 9 members for the second ballot of December 1992, namely H. Bischler (France), S. R. Gradstein (The Netherlands), R. Grolle (Germany, Chairman), D. G. Horton (USA), P. Isoviita (Finland), Z. Iwatsuki (Japan), R. E. Stotler (USA), J. Vana (Czechoslovakia) and G. Zijlstra (The Netherlands, Secretary). "(M)" indicates Musci and "(H)" indicates Hepaticae. "Votes (I)" indicates the first ballot. "Votes (II)" indicates the second ballot. A minimum of two thirds, i.e., seven votes in favour were required for recommendation by this Committee on the first ballot but only six on the second. The votes are recorded in the order yes-no-abstention. Those not submitting ballots were counted as "not voting". This report begins with entries for Anoectangium and Conocephalum, names that already are in Appendix IIIA of the Code but for which the entries need revision.
TL;DR: Taxonomic assessment and cladistic analysis of both morphological and chemical data support the transfer of A. pearsonii, previously misplaced in A. Macrifoliae, to A. ser.
Abstract: A chemotaxonomic study of the genus Aloe indicates a remarkable quantitative and qualitative similarity in leaf exudate composition between 12 species. The diagnostic leaf exudate profile found in all representatives of this group a combination of homonataloin A and B with either or both of two recently described cinnamoyl chromones, aloeresin E and F, together with various coumaroyl chromones may serve as a "fingerprint". Taxonomic assessment and cladistic analysis of both morphological and chemical data support the transfer of A. pearsonii, previously misplaced in A. ser. Macrifoliae, to A. ser. Mitriformes, and are consistent with the broadening of the circumscription of the latter to include 5 anomalous species: A. angelica, A. yavellana, A. peglerae, A. melanacantha, and A. erinacea.
TL;DR: The floral and seed anatomy as well as the distinctive fruit anatomy support a position of Setchellanthus that is near-basal to the core Capparales.
Abstract: Floral, seed, and fruit anatomy of the unispecific Mexican genus Setchellanthus are described. The genus has floral features that are characteristic of some traditionally defined Capparales or close allies of an expanded order Capparales, viz., a (5-)6(-7)-merous flower with a 3-merous gynoecium and an androecium comprising (5-)6(-7) fascicles of stamens that develop centrifugally; a short androgynophore and well-developed gynophore; a 3-loculed gynoecium with a 3-lobed style and 3 conduplicate valves that separate from the vascular placental column at maturity much as do the valves of Cleome or Brassicaceae. Setchellanthus, however, has straight seeds with a spatulate embryo and a non-fibrous exotegmen; it lacks the reniform seeds with fibrous exotegmen characteristic of the core Capparales. Vascular bundles in the fruit wall are amphivasal and show an extensive secondary growth that produces tracheids like those of the secondary xylem of stems; bordered pits are present in the wall of the inner epidermis cells. The floral and seed anatomy as well as the distinctive fruit anatomy support a position of Setchellanthus that is near-basal to the core Capparales.
TL;DR: The bearded hilum is the only morphological synapomorphy supporting S. Petrocoptis, a small genus of chasmophytic plants endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, which is included as a subgenus within a widely defined Silene.
Abstract: Petrocoptis, a small genus of chasmophytic plants endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, is included as a subgenus within a widely defined Silene. Thus, in Europe, Silene comprises subg. Silene itself, subg. Lychnis, subg. Viscaria, subg. Conoimorpha, and subg. Petrocoptis. It is anticipated that, based on nuclear rDNA sequences, S. subg. Petrocoptis will be found to be monophyletic. The bearded hilum is the only morphological synapomorphy supporting S. subg. Petrocoptis. Four species (seven taxa) are recognised within S. subg. Petrocoptis: S. glaucifolia subsp. glaucifolia and subsp. pseudoviscosa, S. laxipruinosa, S. montserratii subsp. montserratii and subsp. crassifolia, S. pardoi subsp. pardoi and subsp. guarensis. Morphological features of diagnostic value are discussed. A key and maps of the recognised taxa are provided.
TL;DR: The present report relates the outcome of a ballot on five proposals to amend the Code that are relevant to mycology that was completed by 13 members, and recommends three of the proposals to conserve and five to reject names.
Abstract: The previous report of the Committee was published in Taxon 47: 445-447. 1998. The Committee for Fungi still consists of the same 15 members: U. Braun (Halle, Germany), B. J. Coppins (Edinburgh, U.K.), V. Demoulin (Liege, Belgium), W. Gams (Baarn, Netherlands), P. M. Kirk (Egham, Surrey, U.K.), L. Holm (Uppsala, Sweden), P. M. J0rgensen (Bergen, Norway), T. W. Kuyper (now Wageningen, Netherlands), E. Parmasto, Chairman (Tartu, Estonia), G. Redeuilh (Maule, France), S. Redhead (Ottawa, Canada), G. J. Samuels (Beltsville, Maryland, USA), H. J. Sipman (Berlin, Germany), J. Walker (Baulkham Hills, N.S.W., Australia), and Zhuang Wen-Ying (Beijing, China). The present report relates the outcome of a ballot which was completed by 13 members. The Committee recommends three of the proposals to conserve and five to reject names; two of the proposals had to be amended. One proposal to conserve and two to reject names are found unjustified. The remaining open proposals have not yet received an unequivocal vote or have not yet been voted upon. A short-notice ballot on five proposals to amend the Code that are relevant to mycology was answered by 11 members.
TL;DR: Neophoenix matoposensis is a newly described taxon obtained after forced growth from soil of experimental fire plots in southern Zimbabwe, related to three other austral genera with transparent thecae, but differs in several gametophytic and sporophytic characters.
Abstract: Neophoenix matoposensis is a newly described taxon obtained after forced growth from soil of experimental fire plots in southern Zimbabwe. It is related to three other austral genera with transparent thecae, but differs in several gametophytic and sporophytic characters. Forced diaspore bank analysis is shown to be of value in uncovering mosses that are small in stature and appear to have a short life cycle and limited time of above-ground exposure. The technique may prove useful in biodiversity analysis in general. Two similarly hyalothecoid pottiaceous species were also uncovered in soil samples from the same area: Bryoceuthospora aethiopica is new to Zimbabwe, Uleobryum occultum (of which U. curtisii is a new synonym) is new to Africa, having been previously known from Brazil and Australia.
TL;DR: It is suggested that in order to maximise the informativeness and usefulness of phylogenetic classifications, the same reference taxon should be used in definitions of a series of nested clades, and accordingly, reference taxa should be chosen so as to allow definition of the maximum number of nestedClades.
Abstract: Phylogenetic definitions of taxon names (De Queiroz & Gauthier, 1992) are becoming increasingly prevalent. All three common types of such definitions use reference taxa to delimit named clades: "the least inclusive clade containing A and B" (node-based), "the most inclusive clade containing A but not B" (stem-based), and "the clade diagnosed by trait X homologous with that in taxon A" (apomorphybased). The first two types of definitions rely on at least two reference taxa, whereas the last implicates a trait and at least one reference taxon. It is clear, therefore, that choice of reference taxa can greatly influence the characteristics and usefulness of phylogenetic nomenclature. It has recently been shown that reference taxa in phylogenetic definitions should be species, and possibly ultimately the individual type specimens of those species (e.g. Schander & Thollesson, 1995; Bryant, 1996). This leads to the possible dilemma as to which species, out of the many possible, should be used as reference taxa in phylogenetic taxonomy. Yet, whereas many aspects of phylogenetic taxonomy have been debated extensively (e.g. in this journal: Liden & al., 1997; Moore, 1998; and seven papers in volume 47, part 2 (McNeill, 1998)), the issue of reference taxa has received surprisingly little attention. Here, it is suggested that in order to maximise the informativeness and usefulness of phylogenetic classifications, the same reference taxon should be used in definitions of a series of nested clades, and accordingly, reference taxa should be chosen so as to allow definition of the maximum number of nested clades. When so applied, phylogenetic classifications will be more immediately informative and user-friendly, which should facilitate their increasing acceptance. Consider the highly simplified amniote phylogeny depicted in Fig. 1, and the following sets of node-based definitions: Primates: the least inclusive clade containing human and monkey. Placentalia: the least inclusive clade containing human and dog. Theria: the least inclusive clade containing human and opossum. Mammalia: the least inclusive clade containing human and platypus. Amniota: the least inclusive clade containing human and chicken.
TL;DR: The 21 members of the General Committee have not changed since the last report (in Taxon 45: 525-527. 1996), except that for the last (third) ballot referred to below their number had dropped to 20; the reason being that one member (A. Anton), who never responded, was considered to have resigned as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The 21 members of the General Committee have not changed since the last report (in Taxon 45: 525-527. 1996), except that for the last (third) ballot referred to below their number had dropped to 20; the reason being that one member (A. Anton), who never responded, was considered to have resigned. Since the last report there have been three Committee circulars and three ballots. 18 or 19 Committee members
TL;DR: Neurolejeunia fukiensis was hitherto the only species of Neurolejeunea found in China and the whole of Asia and is here transferred to CheilolejeuneA, primarily on account of the following diagnostic features: a narrow stem.
Abstract: Neurolejeunea fukiensis was hitherto the only species of Neurolejeunea found in China and the whole of Asia. It is here transferred to Cheilolejeunea, primarily on account of the following diagnostic features: a narrow stem (its ventral merophytes 2 cells wide), very shortly bifid to emarginate underleaves, the absence of ocelli, an elongate second tooth and obsolete first tooth of the leaf lobule, and a distal hyaline papilla. By this transfer, Neurolejeunea becomes a New World genus.
TL;DR: Pollen of Setchellanthus caeruleus was studied by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy and found to differ profoundly from that of potentially related families such as the Brassicaceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, and Limnanthaceae, which support the segregation of S. caerulesus into a new separate family.
Abstract: Pollen of Setchellanthus caeruleus was studied by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy and found to differ profoundly from that of potentially related families such as the Brassicaceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, Cistaceae (Helianthemum canadense, here re-investigated and found to have pollen shed in tetrads), and Limnanthaceae. These differences support the segregation of S. caeruleus into a new separate family.