Living at its dry limits: Tillandsiales in the Atacama Desert
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Morphometric analysis of the Saccharum complex (Poaceae, Andropogoneae)
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Saccharum s.l. comprises 35–40 species, including sugarcane (S. officinarum), and is distributed in the tropics and subtropics. The term “Saccharum complex” refers to four related genera: Saccharum, Erianthus s.l. (including E. sect. Ripidium, or Tripidium), Narenga, and Sclerostachya. Miscanthus and Miscanthidium are also closely related to this g...
Genome size variation in Deschampsia cespitosa sensu lato (Poaceae) in Eurasia
...Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
The grass Deschampsia cespitosa is a variable taxon out of which many varieties, subspecies and endemic species have been separated. In this paper, the variation in genome size (GS) and ploidy of this grass including several of its subspecies and two related species in Eurasia was investigated by flow cytometric (FCM) measurements. GS and ploidy da...
Leaf wax composition and distribution of Tillandsia landbeckii reflects moisture gradient across the hyperarid Atacama D...
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
In the hyperarid Atacama Desert, water availability plays a crucial role in allowing plant survival. Along with scant rainfall, marine advective fog frequently occurs along the coastal escarpment fueling isolated mono-specific patches of Tillandsia vegetation. In this study, we investigate the lipid biomarker composition of the bromeliad Tillandsia...
Phylogenetic re-assessment of the delimitation of Plocama and its species relationships and limits (Rubiaceae, Putorieae...
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
The monospecific genus Aitchisonia (Rubiaceae), a suffrutescent plant endemic to Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, was merged in the genus Plocama of the monogeneric tribe Putorieae sensu Backlund et al. (Spermacoceae alliance, subfamily Rubioideae). This decision was based on the phylogenetic placement of the specimen Rafei and Zangooei 25651 (FUMH...
For the birds? Contrasting pollination and breeding systems of the paintbrush lilies Scadoxus puniceus and S. membranace...
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Adaptation to pollinators can include the spatial arrangement of flowers on inflorescences. A brush-like arrangement of flowers has evolved in multiple plant families. The accessible rewards in these “brush flowers” are often utilized by both birds and insects, making it challenging to assess which are the main contributors to pollination. We inves...
Molecular species delimitation reveals underestimated diversity in the tree genus Nothapodytes (Icacinaceae)
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Nothapodytes (Icacinaceae) is a genus of seven to eleven evergreen or deciduous tree species distributed in tropical Asia from India to Japan. Nothapodytes nimmoniana sensu lato is the most widespread species of the genus, being reported sporadically throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Japan’s southwest islands. Nothapodytes amamianu...
Edaphochloris, gen. nov.: a new genus of soil green algae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) with simple morphology
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Nannochloris-like green microalgae have evidently evolved by convergent evolution and are often unidentifiable by microscopy, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their relatively simple morphology conceals an extremely high phylogenetic, physiological, and ecological diversity. The use of molecular tools has revolutionized algal diver...
Phylogeny of Globba section Nudae and taxonomic revision of the new Globba subsection Pelecantherae
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
A molecular systematic study of Globba section Nudae (Zingiberaceae) using ITS and matK sequences identifies three major clades, Globba subsection Nudae, G. subsection Mediocalcaratae and a new subsection, Globba subsection Pelecantherae, which is described here. The two species belonging in this subsection, Globba pelecanthera and Globba securifer...
Systematics of the Iranian genera Aphanopleura, Demavendia, Haussknechtia, Psammogeton, and Zeravschania (Apiaceae tribe...
Published in Plant Systematics and Evolution
Previous molecular phylogenetic investigations of Apiaceae tribe Pimpinelleae have focused primarily on its largest genus Pimpinella and its closest allies. The monophyly and phylogenetic placements of five Iranian genera of the tribe have not been addressed sufficiently (Aphanopleura, Demavendia, Haussknechtia, Psammogeton, and Zeravschania). To e...
