Canna tandilensis Ciciar. (Cannaceae-Zingiberales), a new species from Argentina.

Canna tandilensis is proposed as a species new to science. Plants grow wild terrestrial, in rocky places exposed to solar radiation forming dense colonies whose individuals of small to medium length, produce reduced inflorescences with large and few yellow to bright orange flowers and narrow and reflexed staminodes. The specific epithet refers to the city of Tandil at the south of Buenos Aires Province where the holotype comes from. It is related to other species having reduced inflorescences, narrow leaves and staminodes, and nectar guides in androecium pieces such as C. lineata. A detailed description of the new species is given, along with a study of the morphological vegetative and floral characters. These characters were compared with those from two other species C. glauca and C. lineata. According to these new evidences two groups of similar species of the genus are suggested. The number of species surveyed until now in Argentina rises to sixteen.

Floral morphology and development in quillajaceae and surianaceae (Fabales), the species-poor relatives of leguminosae and polygalaceae

Background and Aims: Molecular phylogenies have suggested a new circumscription for Fabales to include Leguminosae, Quillajaceae, Surianaceae and Polygalaceae. However, recent attempts to reconstruct the interfamilial relationships of the order have resulted in several alternative hypotheses, including a sister relationship between Quillajaceae and Surianaceae, the two species-poor families of Fabales. Here, floral morphology and ontogeny of these two families are investigated to explore evidence of a potential relationship between them. Floral traits are discussed with respect to early radiation in the order. Methods: Floral buds of representatives of Quillajaceae and Surianaceae were dissected and observed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Key Results Quillajaceae and Surianaceae possess some common traits, such as inflorescence morphology and perianth initiation, but development and organization of their reproductive whorls differ. In Quillaja, initiation of the diplostemonous androecium is unidirectional, overlapping with the petal primordia. In contrast, Suriana is obdiplostemonous, and floral organ initiation is simultaneous. Independent initiation of five carpels is common to both Quillaja and Suriana, but subsequent development differs; the antesepalous carpels of Quillaja become fused proximally and exhibit two rows of ovules, and in Suriana the gynoecium is apocarpous, gynobasic, with antepetalous biovulate carpels. Conclusions: Differences in the reproductive development and organization of Quillajaceae and Surianaceae cast doubt on their potential sister relationship. Instead, Quillaja resembles Leguminosae in some floral traits, a hypothesis not suggested by molecular-based phylogenies. Despite implicit associations of zygomorphy with species-rich clades and actinomorphy with species-poor families in Fabales, this correlation sometimes fails due to high variation in floral symmetry. Studies considering specific derived clades and reproductive biology could address more precise hypotheses of key innovation and differential diversification in the order.

Combined phylogenetic analyses reveal interfamilial relationships and patterns of floral evolution in the eudicot order Fabales

Relationships between the four families placed in the angiosperm order Fabales (Leguminosae, Polygalaceae, Quillajaceae, Surianaceae) were hitherto poorly resolved. We combine published molecular data for the chloroplast regions matK and rbcL with 66 morphological characters surveyed for 73 ingroup and two outgroup species, and use Parsimony and Bayesian approaches to explore matrices with different missing data. All combined analyses using Parsimony recovered the topology Polygalaceae (Leguminosae (Quillajaceae + Surianaceae)). Bayesian analyses with matched morphological and molecular sampling recover the same topology, but analyses based on other data recover a different Bayesian topology: ((Polygalaceae + Leguminosae) (Quillajaceae + Surianaceae)). We explore the evolution of floral characters in the context of the more consistent topology: Polygalaceae (Leguminosae (Quillajaceae + Surianaceae)). This reveals synapomorphies for (Leguminosae (Quillajaceae + Surianaceae)) as the presence of free filaments and marginal/ventral placentation, for (Quillajaceae + Surianaceae) as pentamery and apocarpy, and for Leguminosae the presence of an abaxial median sepal and unicarpellate gynoecium. An octamerous androecium is synapomorphic for Polygalaceae. The development of papilionate flowers, and the evolutionary context in which these phenotypes appeared in Leguminosae and Polygalaceae, shows that the morphologies are convergent rather than synapomorphic within Fabales.

Contrasting phylogenetic signals and evolutionary rates in floral traits of Neotropical lianas

The diversity of floral forms has long been considered a prime example of radiation through natural selection. However, little is still known about the evolution of floral traits, a critical piece of evidence for the understanding of the processes that may have driven flower evolution. We studied the pattern of evolution of quantitative floral traits in a group of Neotropical lianas (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae) and used a time-calibrated phylogeny as basis to: (1) test for phylogenetic signal in 16 continuous floral traits; (2) evaluate the rate of evolution in those traits; and (3) reconstruct the ancestral state of the individual traits. Variation in floral traits among extant species of Bignonieae was highly explained by their phylogenetic history. However, opposite signals were found in floral traits associated with the attraction of pollinators (calyx and corolla) and pollen transfer (androecium and gynoecium), suggesting a differential role of selection in different floral whorls. Phylogenetic independent contrasts indicate that traits evolved at different rates, whereas ancestral character state reconstructions indicate that the ancestral size of most flower traits was larger than the mean observed sizes of the same traits in extant species. The implications of these patterns for the reproductive biology of Bignonieae are discussed. (C) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 378-390.

Phylogenetic Analyses of Eriotheca and Related Genera (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae)

Molecular and morphological data have shown that Bombacoideae and Malvoideae together form a well-supported Malvatheca clade. Phylogenetic relationships in Bombacoideae have been studied, but some genera in Bombax s. I. have not been adequately sampled for sufficiently variable molecular markers. The relationships of Eriotheca, for example, have yet to be resolved. Here, nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (trnL-Fand matK) sequence data from 50 exemplars of Bombacoideae and seven additional taxa from other genera of Malvatheca were used to test monophyly of Eriotheca and its relationships with related genera of Bombax s. I. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of individual and combined sequence data suggest that Eriotheca is not monophyletic as currently circumscribed but forms a paraphyletic grade containing Pachira s. 1. The newly discovered Eriotheca + Pachira clade has a probable synapomorphy of striate seeds. In addition, two other moderately supported clades emerged within the core Bombacoideae: Pseudobombax + Ceiba s. 1. and Bombax + Spirotheca + Pachira quinata. These three clades, and the African Rhodognaphalon together constitute the major clade of core Bombacoideae, whereas Adansonia appears to be more closely related to Catostemma, Scleronema, and Cavanillesia. The phylogenetic results imply three independent migrations from the New to Old World and homoplasy in staminal morphology.

Análises morfológicas e moleculares dos gêneros Galium L.e Relbunium (Endl.)Hook.f. (RUbieae-Rubiaceae)no estado do Rio Grande do Sul-Brasil

Desde o início da história taxonômica de Relbunium, muitos foram os trabalhos que enfatizaram sua autonomia e posição taxonômica. Atualmente, alguns estudos sugerem que as espécies pertencentes a Relbunium devam ser incluídas em uma seção do gênero Galium. Porém, recentes estudos moleculares na tribo Rubieae, destacam Galium como um grupo parafilético, e Relbunium como um gênero independente e monofilético. O problema taxonômico referente a Galium e Relbunium é de difícil solução, devido à ausência de estudos que integrem caracteres morfológicos, ecológicos e moleculares. No presente trabalho objetivou-se adicionar informações para o conhecimento básico das espécies de Relbunium e Galium para o sul do Brasil, a partir de caracteres morfológicos e moleculares, buscando responder a seguinte questão: “Relbunium pode ser considerado um gênero ou apenas uma seção dentro de Galium?”. Para atingir os objetivos, foi analisada a morfologia das espécies, com ênfase nas folhas, flores e frutos para duas espécies de Galium e treze de Relbunium: G. latoramosum, G. uruguayense, R. equisetoides, R. gracillimum, R. hirtum, R. humile, R. humilioides, R. hypocarpium, R. longipedunculatum, R. mazocarpum, R. megapotamicum, R. nigro-ramosum, R. ostenianum, R. richardianum e R. valantioides. Chaves de identificação foram geradas a partir dos resultados das análises morfológicas. As folhas foram analisadas quanto à forma, ápice, padrão de venação, tricomas, estômatos, distribuição de idioblastos secretores e vascularização do hidatódio. Esses caracteres não evidenciaram a separação entre os gêneros, auxiliando apenas na individualização das espécies. A morfologia das flores e frutos auxiliou na diferenciação dos gêneros e espécies estudadas. As flores são comumente bispóricas, a exceção de G. latoramosum. Brácteas involucrais, ausentes em Galium, estão presentes nas espécies de Relbunium, de duas a quatro; nesse gênero há presença de antopódio, ausente em Galium. A corola possui tricomas glandulares unicelulares na face adaxial, e na face abaxial os tricomas, quando presentes, são simples e idioblastos secretores estão presentes apenas em R. gracillimum. O androceu tem quatro estames alternipétalos e exsertos, com anteras dorsifixas e tetrasporangiadas, de deiscência longitudinal. O ovário é ínfero, bicarpelar, bilocular, com um rudimento seminal anátropo e unitegumentado por lóculo. O desenvolvimento dos frutos, a estrutura do pericarpo e da testa foram descritos. Os frutos são do tipo baga, em R. gracillimum e R. hypocarpium, ou esquizocarpo, nas demais espécies. A consistência do pericarpo pode variar de carnosa, nos frutos do tipo baga, a levemente seca, nos frutos esquizocarpos. Entre as espécies, observou-se uma variação com relação ao exocarpo, que pode ser liso, piloso ou com idioblastos secretores. A testa é constituída por apenas uma camada de células, que em R. hypocarpium mostra-se descontínua. Além das descrições morfológicas, foram realizados estudos moleculares das espécies, através do seqüenciamento de fragmentos do DNA nuclear (ITS) e plastidial (trnL-F). A partir dos resultados obtidos formam elaborados cladogramas com base nos dados morfológicos e moleculares. O cladograma construído a partir dos dados morfológicos (vegetativos e reprodutivos) evidenciou a distinção dos dois gêneros, ou seja, sustenta Relbunium como táxon independente. Nesse cladograma observa-se que a VI presença ou ausência de brácteas foi determinante, e proporcionou a separação dos gêneros. A uniformidade dos caracteres morfológicos vegetativos entre as espécies auxiliou apenas na distinção das espécies de Relbunium. Com relação aos dados moleculares, os fragmentos de DNA utilizados mostraram-se pouco informativos. A análise do fragmento ITS, em especial, contribuiu para confirmação da relação entre algumas espécies (R. hirtum e R. ostenianum, e R. humile e R. mazocarpum). A análise combinada dos dados morfológicos e moleculares não caracterizou Relbunium como um clado monofilético, sendo sua manutenção não sustentada, isso, principalmente, devido à falta de diferenças moleculares entre as espécies. Conclui-se que para o grupo em questão as análises morfológicas, das folhas, flores e frutos, foram suficientes para destacar Relbunium como um gênero autônomo e monofilético na tribo Rubieae.

Morfologia floral e biologia reprodutiva de genótipos de aceroleira

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Taxonomia de Papilionoideae (leguminosae) da Mata Atlântica do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Leguminosae is the third largest family of angiosperms with about 19.325 species and 727 genera, and it is pantropically distributed. Papilionoideae is the most diverse of the three legume subfamilies, with around 13.800 species (71%), 478 genera, and 28 tribes. Papilionoid legumes include herbs, shrubs, lianas or trees with pinnate, trifoliolate, unifoliolate or simple leaves, flowers frequently papilionate with descending imbricate petal aestivation, the petals highly differentiated into standard, keel, and wings, androecium usually diplostemous, and seeds without pleurogram, with conspicuous hilum, and the embryo radicle usually curved. The current study aims to carry out a taxonomic account of the Papilionoideae from Atlantic Forest remnants in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, across the herbaria data surveys, collections of field samples and morphological analysis of the collected specimens and/or herbaria materials. Identification key, descriptions, diagnostic characters, illustrations, and geographic distribution of the 68 species and 32 genera within the following tribes Phaseoleae (11 genera/24 species), Dalbergieae (9/20), Swartzieae (3/3), Millettieae (2/4), Sophoreae (2/2), Abreae (1/1), Crotalarieae (1/3), Desmodieae (1/7), Indigofereae (1/3), and Sesbanieae (1/1). The most species-rich genera were Desmodium Desv. (7 species), Centrosema (DC.) Benth. (5), Stylosanthes Sw. (5), Aeschynomene L. (4) and Macroptilium (Benth.) Urb. (4). Concerning to the habit, the herbaceous and shrubby has predominated with 60% (41 spp.), following by the vine and lianas with 28% (19 spp.) and the woody with only 12% (8 spp.). Thirty two species and the following genera are newly recorded for the flora of Rio Grande do Norte: Chaetocalyx, Cochliasanthus, Crotalaria, Galactia, Geoffroea, Macroptilium, Rhynchosia, Swartzia, Trischidium, and Vigna

Flower morpho-anatomy in Epiphyllum phyllanthus (Cactaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Floral development in Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae, Alismatales) with emphasis on gynoecial features

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Floral anatomy of Eriocaulon elichrysoides and Syngonanthus caulescens (Eriocaulaceae)

The floral anatomy of Eriocaulon elichrysoides Bong. and Syngonanthus caulescens (Poir.) Ruhland, from Brazilian mountain rock savannas (campos rupestres) was studied. The staminate flowers of E. elichrysoides present a diplostemonous androecium with six stamens, and those of S. caulescens present an isostemonous androecium with three stamens and three scalelike staminodes. Eriocaulon elichrysoides and S. caulescens have three nectariferous pistillodes located in the central portion of the receptacle. The pistillate flowers of E. elichrysoides present three simple styles while those of S. caulescens present three simple styles interspersed with three nectariferous appendices. Both the styles of E. elichrysoides and the nectariferous appendices of S. caulescens are vascularized by the dorsal vascular bundles of the carpels. The styles of S. caulescens lack vascularization. At the base of the gynoecium of E. elichrysoides there are six staminodes and there are three in the S. caulescens. Entomophily is suggested as the pollination syndrome in E. elichrysoides and S. caulescens as they present staminate and pistillate flowers with nectariferous structures. The ancestral character in Eriocaulon is probably given by the presence of the two staminal whorls. The staminate flowers of S. caulescens are probably derived from the reduction of a diplostemonous ancestral androecium. It remains open whether the pistillate flowers with nectariferous, appendices present an ancestral character or a derived one.

Floral anatomy of Paepalanthoideae (Eriocaulaceae, Poales) and their nectariferous structures

• Background and Aims: Eriocaulaceae (Poales) is currently divided in two subfamilies: Eriocauloideae, which comprises two genera and Paepalanthoideae, with nine genera. The floral anatomy of Actinocephalus polyanthus, Leiothrix fluitans, Paepalanthus chlorocephalus, P. flaccidus and Rondonanthus roraimae was studied here. The flowers of these species of Paepalanthoideae are unisexual, and form capitulum-type inflorescences. Staminate and pistillate flowers are randomly distributed in the capitulum and develop centripetally. This work aims to establish a floral nomenclature for the Eriocaulaceae to provide more information about the taxonomy and phylogeny of the family. • Methods: Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and chemical tests were used to investigate the floral structures. • Key Results: Staminate and pistillate flowers are trimerous (except in P. flaccidus, which presents dimerous flowers), and the perianth of all species is differentiated into sepals and petals. Staminate flowers present an androecium with scale-like staminodes (not in R. roraimae) and fertile stamens, and nectariferous pistillodes. Pistillate flowers present scale-like staminodes (except for R. roraimae, which presents elongated and vascularized staminodes), and a gynoecium with a hollow style, ramified in stigmatic and nectariferous portions. • Conclusions: The scale-like staminodes present in the species of Paepalanthoideae indicate a probable reduction of the outer whorl of stamens present in species of Eriocauloideae. Among the Paepalanthoideae genera, Rondonanthus, which is probably basal, shows vascularized staminodes in their pistillate flowers. The occurrence of nectariferous pistillodes in staminate flowers and that of nectariferous portions of the style in pistillate flowers of Paepalanthoideae are emphasized as nectariferous structures in Eriocaulaceae. © The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.

Pollination ecology of the Cerrado species Eschweilera nana (Lecythidaceae subfam. Lecythidoideae)

Eschweilera nana is pollinated by a guild of pollinators consisting of mostly bees. Effective pollinators are large bees able to force their way into the closed androecium to access nectar. The morphology of the flowers diminishes self pollination and promotes cross-pollination. Although many pollinators make diurnal visits to the flowers, fruit set was very low in comparison with the number of flowers produced. Breeding system tests yielded only two fruits, one produced by xenogamy and another one in the control test. The results of this study are consistent with studies of other Cerrado plants pollinated by guilds of insects and support the conclusion of other pollination studies of Lecythidaceae that fruit set is low in comparison with the high numbers of flowers produced. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden.

Ecologia da polinização de Eschweilera nana Miers, uma Lecythidaceae do cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Anatomia floral e aspectos reprodutivos de espécies de Poales (Monocotiledôneas)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)