Showing papers in "Taxon in 2002"
341 citations
TL;DR: Those who want a classification to recognise only monophyletic taxa should adopt an appropriate nomenclatural system such as is offered by the PhyloCode, because to do otherwise will tend to lead to bad taxonomy.
Abstract: Over the past 50 years it has been pointed out with increasing frequency that our traditional Linnaean system of classification and nomenclature is incompatible with a phylogenetic system which recognises only monophyletic groups. Dividing up an evolutionary tree into mutually exclusive families, genera, and species which are all monophyletic is a logical impossibility. Darwin had emphasised that evolution is descent with modification. The rise of cladistic thinking in the last 40 years has promoted an obsession with monophyletic taxa, with classification based solely on descent at the expense of modification. Despite strong psychological pressures on a generation of biologists who have been brought up on the dogma of monophyly, the Hennigian view of classification is now increasingly seen as illogical and out-of-date. Some are therefore supporting the PhyloCode, which is based on a logical position but is impractical for general purpose classification and communication since it recognises no ranks and abandons binomials. Others still cling to the nonsensical concept of recognising families, genera, species, etc., and all being monophyletic. Linnaean classification is the optimal tool for cataloguing biodiversity and will inevitably be maintained, but this requires recognition of paraphyletic taxa and some rethinking of the practice and purposes of biological classification. Those who want a classification to recognise only monophyletic taxa should adopt an appropriate nomenclatural system such as is offered by the PhyloCode. To do otherwise will tend to lead to bad taxonomy.
132 citations
128 citations
TL;DR: Dioscoreaceae now contain four distinct genera, Dioscorea, Stenomeris, Tacca (previously in Taccaceae), and Trichopus, and the Malagasy endemic Avetra sempervirens is here reclassified as a second species of this genus.
Abstract: Analyses of morphological and molecular characters for Dioscoreales Hook, f. (Chase & al., 1995b; Caddick & al., 2000a; Caddick & al., 2002) have redefined the order, which now comprises three families, Burmanniaceae, Dioscoreaceae, and Nartheciaceae. Since recent analyses of morphological and molecular data sets (Caddick & al., 2002) have indicated well-supported relationships within Dioscoreaceae R. Br., a formal reclassification of the family is presented here. Dioscoreaceae now contain four distinct genera, Dioscorea, Stenomeris, Tacca (previously in Taccaceae), and Trichopus. The Malagasy endemic Avetra sempervirens is close sister to Trichopus zeylanicus, and is here reclassified as a second species of this genus. The dioecious Dioscoreaceae genera, Borderea, Epipetrum, Nanarepenta, Rajania, Tamus, and Testudinaria, are nested within Dioscorea in phylogenetic analyses (Caddick & al., 2002), and are therefore sunk into it.
117 citations
TL;DR: The results provide evidence of genetic segregation in one hybrid accession, that several of the field sampled trees are naturally occurring hybrids, and that relative warps analysis can reveal aspects of shape variation not detected by the other analyses.
Abstract: Quantitative comparisons of leaf morphology for evaluating taxonomic relationships may be conducted by traditional morphometrics, outline analyses, or geometric morphometrics. These approaches were employed for examining relationships among trees of two species of maple, Acer rubrum and A. saccharinum, and their hybrid (A. ×freemanii). Leaf samples from six hybrid trees (three each from two accessions) and 40 trees field identified as either species were pressed and dried. Leaf outline and landmark data were captured for each leaf, and linear and angular measures were derived from the landmark configurations. A vector of character means, a mean leaf outline, and a consensus landmark configuration were generated for each tree. Traditional morphological measurements, a single-parameter outline descriptor, elliptic Fourier coefficients of the outlines, and relative warp scores for the landmarks were used to depict relationships among the 46 OTUs. All three data types reveal similar patterns with respect to the two species, and the hybrids are generally intermediate between the two species. The results provide evidence of genetic segregation in one hybrid accession, that several of the field sampled trees are naturally occurring hybrids, and that relative warps analysis can reveal aspects of shape variation not detected by the other analyses.
106 citations
85 citations
TL;DR: Weberbauer collected nearly 57 collection numbers, of which approximately 50% are type material, and at least four of which represent taxa still only known from the type as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The year 2001 marked the centennial arrival of the most famous 20 t h century botanist and explorer in Peru, August Weberbauer. To honor this occasion, a brief account is presented of his botanical contributions to the area in northern Peru that has been established as a national park. In this area, Weberbauer collected nearly 57 collection numbers, of which approximately 50% are type material, and at least four of which represent taxa still only known from the type.
62 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that desert green algae evolved from aquatic green algae at least five independent times, and are derived from freshwater, not marine, green ancestors.
Abstract: Green algae are present in desert soils as components of microbiotic communities that also include cyanobacteria and other prokaryotes, lichens, non-lichenized fungi, invertebrates, and other photosynthetic eukaryotes such as diatoms, eustigmatophytes, and xanthophytes. The green algae that occur in crusts are morphologically simple unicells, packets of cells, or weak filaments, yet represent a diverse assemblage of taxa spanning the classes Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Charophyceae. As part of an ongoing study of the biodiversity of microbiotic crust communities in the western United States and Northern Mexico, a large number of green algae were isolated and characterized morphologically and genetically. Phylogenetic analyses using ribosomal RNA gene sequence data have greatly aided our understanding of the diversity and evolution of desert green algae. Our results indicate that desert green algae evolved from aquatic green algae at least five independent times. In addition, the desert green algae are derived from freshwater, not marine, green ancestors. Some lineages of green algae have a high proportion of desert taxa, while other lineages thus far have no known desert representatives. Many of the isolates are likely to be new taxa. These taxa represent independent lineages of green plants that have evolved to inhabit desert environments. Because they are distinct from but phylogenetically related to embryophyte taxa, these other "land plants" can offer important biochemical and physiological comparisons to desert-dwelling embryophytes.
61 citations
TL;DR: The sporophytic features of Anacamptodon, which contrast with those of all the other members of Amblystegiaceae, are interpreted as adaptations to an epiphytic habitat and suggest, together with other recent taxonomic works in Hookeriales, that characters related to sporophyty specializations are among the most homoplastic.
Abstract: Results from a previous broad-scale analysis employing trnL-trnF sequence data for 168 Hypnalean and 11 Hookerialean taxa, and an analysis employing two chloroplast regions, trnL-trnF and atpB-rbcL, one nuclear region, the internal transcribed spacers of 18S-26S rDNA, plus 68 morphological characters for a reduced data set of 54 Hypnalean taxa, were used to circumscribe Amblystegiaceae. The analyses provided two well-supported main clades including taxa traditionally included in Amblystegiaceae s.l. and recognized as Amblystegiaceae s.str. [Anacamptodon, Amblystegium, Campyliadelphus, Campylium, Cratoneuron, Cratoneuropsis, Drepanocladus s.str., Gradsteinia, Hygrohypnum s.str. (including the type species, H. luridum, but excluding a number of other species previously accommodated in the genus), Hypnobartlettia, Leptodictyum, Palustriella, Pseudo-calliergon, and Serpoleskea] and Calliergonaceae stat. nov. (Calliergon, Hamatocaulis, Loeskypnum, Straminergon, and Warnstorfia). Scorpidium and "Hygrohypnum" ochraceum were closely related to Calliergonaceae but were not included in the family because of the lack of support. All these genera but Anacamptodon have previously been included in Amblystegiaceae s.l. The sporophytic features of Anacamptodon, which contrast with those of all the other members of Amblystegiaceae, are interpreted as adaptations to an epiphytic habitat and suggest, together with other recent taxonomic works in Hookeriales, that characters related to sporophytic specializations are among the most homoplastic. Several other taxa (Calliergonella, Campylophyllum, Conardia, Donrichardsia, "Hygrohypnum" smithii, Platydictya, Sanionia), previously included in Amblystegiaceae s.l., appeared more closely related to other Hypnalean families. Recircumscribed Amblystegiaceae, and several clades within the family, have no identifiable morphological synapomorphies. A new system of classification for recircumscribed Amblystegiaceae, including morphological delimitation of presented clades based on maximum likelihood reconstruction of ancestral character states, is proposed and appropriate nomenclatural changes made.
61 citations
TL;DR: The molecular evidence does not support monophyly of the largely African genus Gnidia; at least four major lineages could be identified and are more closely related to Drapetes, Struthiola, Passerina and Lachnaea (all African).
Abstract: Phylogenetic relationships of the African and Australian Thymelaeaceae were investigated by parsimony analysis of 41 rbcL nucleotide sequences, including 27 genera and several outgroup taxa. In a second analysis, plastid trnL intron and trnL-F intergenic spacer sequences for the same taxa were included as well. The results from the separate analyses produced highly congruent, although not identical, results. Lastly we combined both sequence regions in one analysis to improve resolution and support. Thymelaeaceae are monophyletic with Thymelaeoideae, Aquilarioideae, Gonystyloideae and Gilgiodaphnoideae clearly recognised. Gonystylus and Lethedon are grouped together, contrary to previous studies that placed Lethedon in Aquilarioideae. The molecular evidence does not support monophyly of the largely African genus Gnidia; at least four major lineages could be identified. Pimelea (Australian) is embedded within one of these lineages, and the others are more closely related to Drapetes (New Zealand and South America), Struthiola, Passerina and Lachnaea (all African).
TL;DR: The phylogenetic relationships of the lichenised families Caliciaceae and Physciaceae are investigated with parsimony analyses of combined mtSSU and nITS rDNA sequences and the enclatural consequences of two different scenarios of changes in the present classification are discussed.
Abstract: The phylogenetic relationships of the lichenised families Caliciaceae and Physciaceae (Lecanorales, Ascomycota) are investigated with parsimony analyses of combined mtSSU and nITS rDNA sequences. Physciaceae include two well-supported groups, which correspond to the informally recognised “Buelliagroup” and “Physcia-group” . The prototunicate, mazaedia-forming representatives of Caliciaceae are derived from within Physciaceae, and fall within the “Buellia-group” . Nom enclatural consequences of two different scenarios of changes in the present classification are discussed.
TL;DR: The PhyloCode suggests that by adopting its rules, taxonomists will gain clarity, uniqueness and stability compared with the use of Linnaean Taxonomy, but this claim is questioned.
Abstract: The PhyloCode suggests that by adopting its rules, taxonomists will gain clarity, uniqueness and stability compared with the use of Linnaean Taxonomy. This claim is questioned here by suggesting (1) that replacing the Types of Linnaean Taxonomy with the Specifiers of PhyloCode increases the complexity of decisions which have to be made, some of which go beyond nomenclature; (2) deciding which PhyloCode definition of a name to use demands knowledge of phylogenetic support and likelihood of future changes in ideas of relationships; (3) Phylogenetic Nomenclature will have limited value because it names only monophyletic groups, and (4) confusion over naming taxa is not avoided by the PhyloCode and can lead to problems when used alongside Linnaean Taxonomy. The problems concerning Linnaean rank and raised by Phylogenetic Nomenclature are upheld.
TL;DR: The internal transcribed spacers of 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA were newly sequenced for eight species of Umbelliferae andPhylogenetic analyses of new data, plus previously reported sequences of 52 other species using neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, and maxim um likelihood methods yielded similar results.
Abstract: The internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA were newly sequenced for eight species of Umbelliferae (six species from subfamily Saniculoideae: Actinolema macrolema, Astrantia minor, Eryngium giganteum, E. coeruleum, Hacquetia epipactis, and Lagoecia cum inoides, two species from subfamily Hydrocotyloideae: Dickinsia hydrocotyloides and Azorella trifurcata), as well as Hohenackeria exscapa, a species of uncertain position in the family. Phylogenetic analyses of new data, plus previously reported sequences of 52 other species using neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, and maxim um likelihood methods yielded similar results: (1) Actinolema is sister to Astrantia corresponding to Drude’s treatments; (2) in Astrantia, molecular divergence is revealed between sects. Astrantiella (A. minor) and Astrantia (A. major, A. maxima); (3) Eryngium appears to be paraphyletic; (4) Hacquetia might be treated as a part of Sanicula; and (5) Lagoecia is very distant from all other Saniculoideae and close to some genera of Apioideae. Our results correspond to matK data previously published: (1) Hohenackeria forms a clade with Bupleurum, in a position near the base of the Apioideae tree; (2) Azorella is sister to a large cluster uniting all Saniculoideae and Apioideae, being slightly closer to them than to the Hydrocotyle-Araliaceae clade; (3) Dickinsia is very distant from phenetically similar Hydrocotyle, falling within a large cluster of Apioideae, but also including Lagoecia and Naufraga.
TL;DR: The phylogenetic relationships of Isoetes (Isoetaceae) were investigated by means of a cladistic analysis using plastid rbcL sequences and a representative sample of 18 species, supporting a basal split in I soetes separating two main groups.
Abstract: The phylogenetic relationships of Isoetes (Isoetaceae) were investigated by means of a cladistic analysis using plastid rbcL sequences and a representative sample of 18 species The analysis supports a basal split in Isoetes separating two main groups, one including aquatic species from South America (I bradei and I amazonica) and West Africa (I kersii and I schweinfurthii), and the other including aquatic, amphibious and terrestrial species representing all major continents Higher level relationships remain unresolved, but supported groups do conflict with previous morphology-based hypotheses Comparatively low levels of sequence divergence indicate that the use of more rapidly evolving regions will be required to resolve higher level relationships The phylogenetically isolated nature of Isoetes will in such analyses make standard outgroup comparisons problematic, and results presented here will in this respect prove important by providing support for choosing among alternative rooting options
TL;DR: Apium ventricosum, more commonly known as Sium frigidum, appears a close relative of Sinocarum, and Sinodielsia and Meeboldia are revealed to be clearly distinct genera.
Abstract: The internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced for 13 species of Apioideae from the Sino-Himalayan flora [Apium ventricosum (= Sium frigidum), Arcuatopterus thalictrioideus, Cyclorhiza peucedanifolia, Meeboldia achilleifolia, Notopterygium forbesii, N. weberbauerianum, Pternopetalum delavayi, P. vulgare, Pterocyclus rivulorum, Sinocarum cruciatum, Sinodielsia delavayi, Tongoloa elata, and Trachydium simplicifolium], relationships of which are controversial or obscure and unresolved on the basis of morphological data. Phylogenetic trees inferred by neighbor-joining, parsimony analysis, and Bayesian inference are topologically congruent, but not identical. The newly obtained data permit testing of several hypotheses regarding these taxa. Some of the early hypotheses treat local species under well-known European genera (e.g., Apium, Carum, Pimpinella, etc.), but these are not supported by phylogenetic analysis of nuclear rDNA spacer sequences. In particular, Sinodielsia, Meeboldia, Tongoloa, and Pternopetalum are distant from Pimpinella; Pternopetalum, Sinocarum and Tongoloa are remote from Carum; Arcuatopterus is separate from Peucedanum and Angelica; Pternopetalum is distinct from Cryptotaenia; and Notopterygium and Pterocyclus are separate from Pleurospermum. Chinese Notopterygium is shown to be closely related to Siberian and Mongolian Hansenia; this, plus similarity in fruit structure, suggests that they are congeneric. Apium ventricosum, more commonly known as Sium frigidum, appears a close relative of Sinocarum. Affinities of most Sino-Himalayan Apioideae, therefore, are found among taxa from the same and adjacent territories. Wide disjunction between presumptively related taxa has been revealed only in Cyclorhiza and Komarovia. Sinodielsia and Meeboldia are also revealed to be clearly distinct genera.
TL;DR: Four families of the eleven or so families of Caryophyllales have been particularly successful at adapting to xeric environments; common themes among these distantly related plants are leaf and/or stem succulence, and anatomical and physiological adaptations.
Abstract: Four families of the eleven or so families of Caryophyllales have been particularly successful at adapting to xeric environments: (1) ice plants (Aizoaceae), (2) cacti (Cactaceae), (3) "Old World cacti" (Didiereaceae); and (4) portulacs (Portulacaceae). Ice plants adapted to the harsh conditions of the deserts of southern Africa; many evolved leaf succulence to an extreme degree, some went underground, others lost the ability to make normal wood, and all had to adapt their reproductive strategies in pollination or seed dispersal. Cacti adapted to deserts of South, Central, and North America by losing their leaves over time and evolving various types of succulent stems. Cacti also adapted by greatly reducing the presence of vessels in their wood, evolving a novel tracheid type termed wide-band tracheids, and evolving CAM and C 4 metabolisms. Plants of Didiereaceae adapted to the harsh Madagascan environment by evolving both stem and leaf succulence and the columnar stem form, but these plants maintained their normal, non-anomalous woody growth. Members of Portulacaceae evolved in many different xeric areas of southern Africa, but all evolved leaf succulence and limited stem succulence, much the same as found in Aizoaceae. Each family evolved varying strategies for living in water-stressed environments. Common themes among these distantly related plants are leaf and/or stem succulence, and anatomical and physiological adaptations.
TL;DR: A morphological cladistic analysis of the southern Indian and Sri Lankan Strobilanthinae demonstrates significant limitations of all three historical approaches to the classification of the group and suggests that any attempt to provide an informative formal classification of Strobils will be problematic.
Abstract: Strobilanthinae comprise approximately 350 species from south and southeast Asia and Melanesia. Three main classifications of Strobilanthinae have been advocated, differing markedly in the number of groups recognised, their circumscription, and the rank assigned to them. But there remains no consensus concerning the best approach to the classification of the group. To investigate this issue, a morphological cladistic analysis of the southern Indian and Sri Lankan Strobilanthinae, comprising 66 species, is described. The results of the analysis demonstrate significant limitations of all three historical approaches to the classification of the group and, furthermore, suggest that any attempt to provide an informative formal classification of Strobilanthinae will be problematic. The only satisfactory approach consistent with these results is to place all previously recognised taxa in synonymy of an expanded Strobilanthes and to recognise informally those infrageneric monophyletic groups that can be clearly diagnosed.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the lower level of Linnaeus' hierarchy is a special case of the noun + adjective combination that pervade folk classifications in particular and human language in general.
Abstract: The naming systems of Linnaeus and Bentham in particular are examined to clarify the relationships between naming and ideas of relationships. Linnaean binomials were adopted largely for practical reasons. Furthermore, Linnaeus proposed his names in the context of system, putting organisms in groups of 10. This allowed botanists of moderate capabilities to know at least the genera. Although binomials are names of taxa of the two lowest levels of a rank hierarchy, much of Linnaeus' work does not fit easily in the currently widely accepted view of Linnaeus as a hard-bitten essentialist. Neither Lamarck nor the later Bentham believed in a rank hierarchy, although to name organisms both used what is here called a flagged hierarchy: name terminations indicating only a set of inclusion relationships, not ranks of nature implied by a rank hierarchy. Bentham was clear that the adoption of a flagged hierarchy with groups of a particular size in the Genera plantarum was to facilitate botanists' understanding of the system as a whole. Systematists like Bentham and Linnaeus managed information and presented classification systems simultaneously. I conclude that the lower level of Linnaeus' hierarchy is a special case of the noun + adjective combination that pervade folk classifications in particular and human language in general. Linking essentialism and "Linnaean" nomenclature is at best a red herring, thus few nineteenth-century botanists believed in a fully-developed rank hierarchy. Naming hierarchies are mostly such that at each level members belong to only one group, and this is at a higher level; most such hierarchies are fairly shallow. Historically, uninomials have seemed more attractive when generic limits were in flux, but suboptimal when relationships were more stable. Naming systems in general incorporate a substantial element of convention, emphasizing particular numbers of groups and groups of particular size; this facilitates comprehension and communication. Similar conventions will be needed whatever naming system is used.
TL;DR: It is concluded that Randia is comprised of several distinct groups, each with its own geographical distribution and one group of Mexican, Central American, and Antillean Randia, including the type species, can be recognized as Randia in a strict sense.
Abstract: Relationships among 38 taxa of Randia (Rubiaceae, Gardenieae) are estimated using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS), the 5S non-transcribed spacer (5S-NTS), and six morphological characters. In addition to Randia, 13 species from eight related genera in Gardenieae (four African, four neotropical) formed the ingroup. Three species from three more distantly related genera in Gardenieae (one African, two neotropical) were chosen as the outgroup. Representatives of the African ingroup genera Calochone, Macrosphyra, Oligocodon and Preussiodora formed a well supported monophyletic group as did the neotropical genera Rosenbergiodendron, Sphinctanthus and Tocoyena. Only when including morphological characters did Randia form a monophyletic group corresponding approximately to contemporary circumscription of the genus, but in this analysis Casasia appears sister to a group of Mexican, Central American, and Antillean Randia. There is no strong jackknife support, however, for either Randia or Casasia to be monophyletic. It is concluded that Randia is comprised of several distinct groups, each with its own geographical distribution. One group of Mexican, Central American, and Antillean Randia, including the type species, can be recognized as Randia in a strict sense. Two other South American groups can be recognized as separate taxa. One of these groups comprises mainly lowland species, and the second is comprised of strictly Andean species.
TL;DR: Nectary types suggest primitiveness of Delospermeae in relation to Ruschieae among the highly succulent ruschioid taxa and support previous hypotheses suggesting that more derived Ruschioideae originated in the summer-rainfall region of southern Africa.
Abstract: Mesembryanthemaceae Fenzl, here defined as excluding Aizoaceae Rudolphi s.str., are divided into five major groups, primarily on the basis of characters of the floral nectary. In terms of nectary type, the meronectary is considered a synapomorphy for the family Mesembryanthemaceae. The koilomorphic meronectary is a synapomorphy for subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae, considered the basal group; it is not further divided at tribal level. Four distinct nectary types characterize the more specialized subfamily Ruschioideae Schwantes in Ihlenf., Schwantes & Straka emend. Bittrich & H.E.K. Hartmann, and are used here to establish a new tribal classification for the group. Tribe Apatesieae Schwantes emend. Chesselet, G.F. Sm. & A.E. van Wyk (seven genera) is characterized by a broad, flat holonectary. Fruits in this tribe have diversified and several have lost hygrochastic properties. The group is regarded as primitive among Ruschioideae. Subtribe Dorotheanthinae Schwantes ex Ihlenf. & Struck (three genera) is raised to tribal level as Dorotheantheae (Schwantes ex Ihlenf. & Struck) Chesselet, G.F. Sm. & A.E. van Wyk. Plants in this tribe have semi-succulent leaves and all are annuals. The group has flowers with broad, flat meronectaries, and is not defined by any synapomorphy in terms of nectary type. Tribe Delospermeae Chesselet, G.F. Sm. & A.E. van Wyk (27 genera) is newly proposed to include all taxa with a lophomorphic meronectary; it has diversified mostly in the summer-rainfall region of southern Africa. Tribe Ruschieae, as emended here, incorporates 71 genera. It is characterized by a lophomorphic holonectary and has diversified mostly in the arid winter-rainfall region of southern Africa. Nectary types suggest primitiveness of Delospermeae in relation to Ruschieae among the highly succulent ruschioid taxa and support previous hypotheses suggesting that more derived Ruschioideae originated in the summer-rainfall region of southern Africa.
TL;DR: Plagiochila section Bidentes Carl was erected for some of the tiniest species of the genus that often possess caducous or fragmenting leaves, and current discussions focus on whether P sect.
Abstract: Plagiochila section Bidentes Carl was erected for some of the tiniest species of the genus that often possess caducous or fragmenting leaves. Current discussions focus on whether P sect. Bidentes represents a natural species group or should be broken up into two lineages, P. sect. Bidentes s.str. and P sect. Caducilobae Inoue. Phylogenetic analyses of nrITS sequences of 28 species of Plagiochila produced several independent lineages that correspond with morphologically and phytochemically defined sections of Plagiochila (i.e., P sects. Arrectae, Fuscoluteae, Glaucescentes, Hylacoetes, Plagiochila, Rutilantes, and Vagae). Plagiochila bidens, the type ofP sect. Bidentes, is placed in a clade with several members of P sect. Arrectae Carl; therefore, P sect. Bidentes is treated as a synonym of P. sect. Arrectae. The type of P sect. Caducilobae, P caduciloba H.L. Blomq., as well as several other members of the "Bidentes/Caducilobae-complex", cluster with members of P sect. Rutilantes Carl, a group to which can therefore be assigned the majority of species currently placed in P sect. Bidentes, i.e., excluding the type. Morphologically, members of P. sect. Rutilantes are characterized by a "free" perianth. In contrast, the members ofP sect. Arrectae usually possess perianths that are covered by bracts at least in the basal half. Plagiochila loriloba Herzog ex Carl [syn.: P. cuneata var. loriloba (Herzog ex Carl) Herzog] is recognized at the rank of species.
TL;DR: Thirty-two additional herbaria have been called to the authors' attention since the last installment of this series was published in August 2002, bringing the total number of herbarias added since the publication of Edition 8 to 425.
Abstract: Thirty-two additional herbaria have been called to our attention since the last installment of this series was published in August 2002. Information on these herbaria is presented below in alphabetical order by country. This brings the total number of herbaria added since the publication of Edition 8 to 425. Information for 3209 herbaria and 9722 people in 165 countries is available for searching by country, institution, city, state, acronym, staff member, correspondent, and research specialty at http://www.nybg.org/bsci/ ih/ih.html. Telephone and fax numbers as well as e-mail and URL addresses are included. Note that the Index is fully searchable on research specialty, so it also serves as a PLANT SPECIALISTS INDEX.
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the impact of pollination and breeding system on inflorescence, floral, seed and fruit characters via a list of character states that may better reflect breeding systems (autogamy vs. xenogamy in their
Abstract: Systematics is devoted to the study of the diversity of life. At its center is taxonomy, a venerable field devoted to the formal description and classification of living things. As a consequence of Darwin’ s explanation for the origins of diversity, systematics broadened immensely, and since then has been central in the development of evolutionary biology, including many new fields of study. Systematists were among the first to recognize and interpret significant evolutionary patterns in nature. The importance of reproductive characters in systematic studies of plants has been recognized since at least the time of the adoption of Linnaeus’ sexual system of classification. In a brief paper in the early 20 th century, Sprague (1925) pointed out that the majority of characters (20 of the 24 he cited) employed in understanding angiosperm classification were those of the flowers, fruits and seeds. He also discussed functional interpretations of some of these characters, including their roles in pollination, in his analysis of “ evolutionary progressions” (= more or less, polarity interpretations of these characters). Subsequently, Grant (1949) made the observation that floral characters (exclusive of the calyx) constitute 37‐ 40% of those used in taxonomic treatments of species with specialized pollination systems, while in wind and “ promiscuous” pollinated plants, they constituted only 4‐ 15% of the characters. Lloyd (1965) and Ornduff (1969) emphasized the impact of pollination and breeding system on inflorescence, floral, seed and fruit characters via a list of character states that may better reflect breeding systems (autogamy vs. xenogamy in their
TL;DR: It is shown that Venturia is a monophyletic unit that cannot be separated into smaller groups correlated with these anamorph genera, and it is inevitable that these genera be merged.
Abstract: Members of the ascomycetous genus Venturia Sacc. and some allied genera of Venturiaceae E. M11ll. & Arx ex M. E. Barr produced anamorphs that so far are classified in the hyphomycetous genera Fusicladium, Pollaccia Baldacci & Cif. and Spilocaea. Monographic studies in these genera, including light and scanning electron microscopic as well as molecular (PCR) examinations have recently been finished (Schubert, Taxonomische Revision der Gattung Fusicladium (Hyphomycetes, Venturia-Anamorphen), Diplom-Arbeit, Martin-Luther-Universitit Halle: 1-136. 2001; Ritschel, Taxonomische Revision der Gattungen Pollaccia und Spilocaea (Hyphomycetes, Venturia-Anamorphen), Diplom-Arbeit, Martin-Luther-Universitit Halle: 1-88. 2001). They suggest that the separation of these anamorphic genera of Venturia is not tenable since the conidiogenesis and structure of the conidiogenous loci are uniform. They are only discriminated by differences in the mode of proliferation of the conidiogenous cells, which are sympodial in Fusicladium and percurrent in Pollaccia and Spilocaea. Like the case with the anamorphs of Mycosphaerella Johanson [Mycosphaerellaceae Lindau] (Crous & al. in Stud. Mycol. 45: 107-121. 2000), this conidiogenous feature, in our opinion, is no longer suitable for the discrimination of the genera concerned. Recent molecular examinations clearly show that Venturia is a monophyletic unit that cannot be separated into smaller groups correlated with these anamorph genera. Thus, it is inevitable that these genera be merged. Spilocaea is the earliest legitimate name for the genus in its new expanded circumscription (Schubert, op. cit.). Most anamorphs of Venturia have been classified in Fusicladium, which comprises, according to our present monographic studies, about 40 recognised species, whereas Spilocaea, as previously defined, only comprises seven species. Numerous species of Venturia with Fusicladium anamorphs cause economically important plant diseases, e.g., V carpophila E. E. Fisher [anam. F carpophilum (Thiim.) Oudem.], V cerasi Aderh. [anam. F cerasi (Rabenh.) Erikss.] and V pyrina Aderh. [anam. F pyrorum (Lib.) Fuckel] (Deighton in Mycol. Pap. 112: 1-80. 1967. Barr in Canad. J. Bot. 46: 799-864. 1968. Ellis, Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes: 271-273. 1971. Ellis, More Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes: 237-240. 1976. Sivanesan in Biblioth. Mycol. 59: 1-139. 1977. Sivanesan, The Bitunicate Ascomycetes and their anamorphs: 604-623. 1984). Hughes (in Canad. J. Bot. 31: 565-573. 1953) reintroduced the name Spilocaea for Fusicladium-like hyphomycetes with percurrent conidiogenous cells. Before 1953, Venturia anamorphs were usually referred to as Fusicladium (e.g., Saccardo, Syll. Fung. 4: 345-347. 1886. Lindau, Pilze Deutschl., Fungi imperf.: 774-790. 1907. Vassiljevsky & Karakulin, Parazitnye nesovershennye griby I: 193-208. 1937), including Spilocaea pomi, the type of Spilocaea, which was transferred to Fusicladium by Lind (Danish Fungi: 521. 1913). Therefore, to avoid the introduction of 40 new combinations and to maintain the traditional use of this generic name, which includes numerous names of important plant diseases, we propose conservation of Fusicladium against Spilocaea.
TL;DR: The nomenclature of the taxa often called Matricaria recutita L. (common chamomile) and Tripleurospermum perforatum (Merat) Lainz (scentless mayweed) is discussed with reference to nomen clatural history, recent typifications, and the provisions of the International Code of Botanical NomenClature.
Abstract: The nomenclature of the taxa often called Matricaria recutita L. (common chamomile) and Tripleurospermum perforatum (Merat) Lainz (scentless mayweed) is discussed with reference to nomenclatural history, recent typifications, and the provisions of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Justification is presented for the use of the name Matricaria chamomilla L. for common chamomile and the epithet inodorum rather than perforatum for scentless mayweed, both of which have been avoided in much recent literature. Varietal nomenclature of M. chamomilla is addressed, and the combination Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. inodorum is validated.
TL;DR: When compared with data based on molecular random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPDs), PEFCs produced the most concordant data sets as revealed by cluster analyses, indicating that shape per se is a less biased estimator of genetic variation than metric leaf descriptors in the genus Chaenomeles.
Abstract: The efficiency of classical metric descriptors (MDs), normalised elliptic Fourier coefficients (EFCs), and the power series of normalised elliptic Fourier coefficients (PEFCs) in revealing variation in leaf shape was evaluated and compared for species in the genus Chaenomeles, using canonical variates analyses (CVAs) and reclassification tests. For EFCs 30 harmonics (and for PEFCs 40 harmonics) were needed to achieve 100% correct reassignment of plants. By contrast, MDs were considerably less efficient and only 87%, 77% and 66% of the plants were correctly reassigned to species, populations, and maternal families, respectively. Furthermore, when compared with data based on molecular random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPDs), PEFCs produced the most concordant data sets as revealed by cluster analyses. To obtain comparable estimates of variability and differentiation, the AMOVA approach was used both for molecular data and, as a novelty, for quantitative morphometric data. The variation was partitioned by hierarchical extraction of variance components from matrices of standardised squared Euclidean distances, and differentiation estimates were obtained as Φ-statistics. All descriptor sets partitioned the variance in a similar way. Surprisingly high correlations were found between RAPDs and elliptic Fourier transforms for the among-family estimates of variance components (RAPDs vs. PEFCs: 0.89, P = 0.003; RAPDs vs. EFCs: 0.86, P = 0.006). In contrast, only a moderate correlation was found between RAPDs and MDs (0.71, P = 0.049). This may indicate that shape per se (the size component excluded) is a less biased estimator of genetic variation than metric leaf descriptors in the genus Chaenomeles. Estimates of population differentiation based on EFCs and PEFCs were always lower than differentiation estimates based on RAPDs, whereas the differentiation estimates based on MDs were in general higher than estimates based on RAPDs, except for one species including hybrid populations.
TL;DR: The results from this first ever comprehensive taxonomic needs assessment covering plants, animals and micro-organisms for the African continent as a unit are reported on and forms an important part of the Final Report.
Abstract: The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has recognised the currently existing taxonomic impediment to ensure the conservation and management of the world's biodiversity. In response, COP has formulated the concept of a Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) to promote a concerted effort among international funding agencies, national and sub-national governments, and non-governmental bodies. The GTI Africa Regional Workshop was held at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa, from 27 February to 1 March 2001. The Workshop was attended by a total of 43 delegates, representing 32 countries (23 African) and 36 institutions or organisations. The Kirstenbosch Declaration was compiled during the Workshop and summarises the major decisions and proposals made by the delegates at the Workshop. A Final Report summarising the discussions and decisions from the GTI Africa Regional Workshop is being prepared and will be distributed to all interested parties. A taxonomic needs assessment for Africa has been conducted as part of this project. The results from this first ever comprehensive taxonomic needs assessment covering plants, animals and micro-organisms for the African continent as a unit, are reported on here and forms an important part of the Final Report. The needs assessment highlights the prominent taxonomic impediment currently existing in the continent. Taxonomic capacity building is urgently needed in Africa; therefore, African taxonomic institutions can benefit immensely from the Global Taxonomy Initiative.
TL;DR: The overall accuracy of the IUCN list is rather low, and the importance of global taxonomic monographs as a source of basic data for the accurate compilation of Red Lists is stressed.
Abstract: Upon comparison with recent monographs of Juncaceae and Potamogetonaceae, the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants is shown to be an inadequate information source for conservation decisions. A substantial proportion ofnames listed in the IUCN RL represent synonyms, often belonging to widespread taxa, or remain doubtful taxonomically. If a new Red List is derived from the two new monographic accounts, and compared with the 1997 IUCN RL, the correct data from the latter represent 10-25% of the former. It may concluded that the overall accuracy of the IUCN list is rather low. The importance of global taxonomic monographs as a source of basic data for the accurate compilation of Red Lists is stressed.