Andina , a new genus of Pottiaceae, is described with seven species from the Andes. Andina elata and A. granulosa are transferred from Pseudocrossidium, A. coquimbensis, A. oedocostata, and A. pruinosa from Didymodon, and A. churchilliana and A. limensis are newly described. The genus can be distinguished from all other Pottiaceae by a combination of characters: absence of a stem hyalodermis, axillary hairs with brownish basal cells, cucullate leaf apices, strongly recurved to revolute leaves with margins infolded at the apex, red to orange coloration of the lamina when exposed to potassium hydroxide, ventral costal outgrowths differentiated as a pad of bulging and papillose cells, filaments, or lamellae, and upper laminal cells usually bulging on both surfaces. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of plastid DNA sequences (trnL-trnF and trnG) were undertaken to estimate the phylogenetic position of the new genus. The molecular data suggest a close relationship of Andina to the genera Gertrudiella and Didymodon with which it shares a common ancestor.

Species of Riella subgenus Trabutiella are characterized by their winged involucres. Although several species are included in this subgenus, to date only one, R. affinis, is monoicous. During the course of a worldwide revision of Riella including samples throughout the distribution area of R. affinis, populations with exceptionally different spore characters were discovered after examination of herbarium and fresh specimens and laboratory cultures. Morphological traits studied included spore characters measured by light and SEM microscopy. All samples had a high gametophytic similarity. Nonetheless, samples from Californian populations differed from the remaining ones of R. affinis in female involucre morphology, and more conspicuously in spore morphology and ornamentation. Statistical analyses of spore morphological traits confirmed the significant differences between the two species. Therefore, a new monoicous species of Riella subgen. Trabutiella is described as R. heliospora. This species can be distinguished from R. affinis by the female involucres with broader wings, the spores showing a triradiate mark on the proximal face, the presence of a conspicuous reticulum of basal membranes on the distal and proximal faces, longer and less dense spines on the distal face, and a conspicuous wing-like marginal webbing at the equatorial plane.

Phylogenetic relationships among 23 species of Botrychium s. s. were investigated using sequence data from three plastid DNA regions: rbcL, trnL^UAA -trnF^GAA intergenic spacer, and rpL16 intron. Individual and combined maximum parsimony and a combined maximum likelihood analysis showed strong support for the monophyly of Botrychium s. s., and all analyses identified three main, well-supported clades. However, within those three clades all analyses did not produce identical tree topologies. The Lanceolatum clade contained the diploid B. lanceolatum and seven polyploids, the Lunaria clade contained the diploids B. lunaria and B. crenulatum, and the Simplex-Campestre clade contained 13 species distributed across five subclades. Relationships among the five subclades were not resolved in either of the combined analyses. The Simplex subclade contained four diploids (B. simplex, B. montanum, B. mormo, and B. pumicola), the Pallidum subclade contained the diploid B. pallidum and the tetraploid B. gallicomontanum, the Minganense subclade contained three tetraploids (B. minganense, B. paradoxum, and B. × watertonense), the Ascendens subclade contained the tetraploid B. ascendens, and the Campestre subclade contained the diploids B. campestre and B. lineare and the tetraploid B. spathulatum. Multiple accessions of five species revealed cpDNA sequence variation within four species, and potential species or population-specific substitutions were identified for some taxa.

Based on morphological and molecular evidence (DNA sequences from six plastid regions: atpβ, rbcL, trnG-trnR, trnL-trnF, atpβ-rbcL, and rps4-trnS), the new fern species Leucotrichum madagascariense is described from Madagascar, where it is found in the North (Marojejy), Centre (Andringitra), and South (Andohahela) regions. Leucotrichum madagascariense has long, whitish laminar hairs, among the other distinguishing characters of the genus: arching fronds, laminar apices subconform to the lateral pinnae, dark sclerenchyma covered by the green laminar tissue, and laterally marginate petioles. Its most remarkable feature is the lack of rhizome scales, a character that is shared with the Neotropical L. pseudomitchelliae. However, our phylogenetic results suggest that this character has evolved twice independently within the genus. In contrast, the sister relationship between the new Madagascan species and the group composed of L. schenckii and L. mortonii is morphologically supported by linear and deeply pinnatifid laminae, incised 2/3–3/4 of the way to the rachis along its length. Leucotrichum madagascariense is the only representative of the genus known from the Old World. Because it is nested within a clade of five Neotropical species, we hypothesize that its occurrence outside the Neotropics results from one long-distance dispersal event from America, likely southeastern Brazil, to Madagascar.

Polyphyly among genera of grammitid ferns has necessitated several nomenclatural innovations. The genus Galactodenia is here described to accommodate two species that were previously placed in Terpsichore, G. delicatula and G. subscabra, and three new species that are here described, G. pumila, G. parriseae, and G. vareschii. In recent phylogenetic studies, the two previously described species form a clade sister to the clade of Lellingeria, Melpomene, and Stenogrammitis, and are not closely related to either Terpsichore or Alansmia, two genera that they have been previously considered close to. Galactodenia can be diagnosed by having concolorous rhizome scales, monomorphic fronds with non-calcareous hydathodes, and hairs that are simple and 2-celled or 1-furcate and 3-celled with large translucent clavate glands that produce a viscid exudate. Most species of Galactodenia are found in montane forests from southern Mexico and the West Indies to Bolivia, from 2,000–4,000 m. One exception to this is G. pumila, which is known only from isolated granite inselbergs at 1,500 m, in southwestern Venezuela. All five species are illustrated, and a distribution map and a key are provided.

A new species of Lockhartia from Colombia is described and illustrated. The new species, Lockhartia niesseniae, is similar to L. biserra and L. micrantha, from which it differs by the obovate petals and a subrhombic, shortly apiculate middle lobe of the lip. The differences between those species and a key to Colombian species of Lockhartia are provided.

A new Psilochilus species from the Western Cordillera of Colombia, Psilochilus vallecaucanus is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to P. macrophyllus, from which it differs by a long-clawed lip with obscure, obtuse lateral lobes. The relevant morphological features are illustrated. A key to the species of Psilochilus is provided. The information about the ecology and distribution of the new species is provided.

The purported hybrid origin of Goodyera × tamnaensis was tested based on morphological and molecular markers. Goodyera × tamnaensis shares several morphological characteristics with G. schlechtendaliana and G. velutina and is sympatric with them, raising the possibility of a hybrid origin. We investigated nuclear ITS sequences as well as three cpDNA intergenic spacer (trnH-psbA and trnS-trnG) and intron (trnL) sequences to document hybridization and the origin of G. × tamnaensis. In the ITS region of G. × tamnaensis, 28 nucleotide polymorphic sites were observed. Of these, G. × tamnaensis shares ten specific character states with G. schlechtendaliana, and two specific character states with G. velutina. These 28 nucleotide polymorphic sites were confirmed by the analysis of cloned sequences. Individuals of G. × tamnaensis have the plastid sequences of either G. schlechtendaliana or G. velutina. We found a correlation between the plastid sequence of an individual of G. × tamnaensis and its leaf morphology; leaves are most similar to the parental species that donated the plastid genome to the hybrid. Our molecular data support the view that G. × tamnaensis is a hybrid between G. schlechtendaliana and G. velutina, and that it has originated more than once.

The inflorescences of 110 species of Carex were studied in the context of the latest phylogenetic framework of the tribe Cariceae, including broad taxonomic coverage by sections. Their structure is analyzed to infer their taxonomic value and to place these structures within a phylogenetic framework based on recent work in the genus. The inflorescence-unit is a paracladium. It consists of a branch composed of a prophyll, peduncle, bract, and pseudospike with one or more spikelets. The particular features and general trends of the inflorescences are analyzed, summarized, and interpreted according to hypotheses of the evolution of the genus. Such evolutionary patterns as ramification, homogenization, reduction, and sexual specialization combine in different ways during the evolution of the Carex inflorescence. Taking into account the inflorescence structure, we discuss the inclusion of the unispicate species of Carex in the Caricoid Clade and the differences among Caricoid, Vignea, and Core Carex clades.

Carex sect. Ceratocystis is distributed in Eurasia and North America, with a few disjunct taxa in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite being one of the most intensively studied groups within Carex, its taxonomy remains a complex issue due to hybridization and faint morphological boundaries. Two main contrasting approaches to its taxonomy may be distinguished, synthetic and analytical, widely differing in the number of considered taxa. The status of several morphotypes from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin are particularly problematic. We used phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid rps16 and 5′trnK sequences along with cytogenetic data to evaluate the main taxonomic approaches and to infer evolutionary patterns in Europe and North Africa, with a special focus on the problematic morphotypes. Three major clades were found which mostly match morphological features of the utricle. Carex durieui should be excluded from section Ceratocystis. Although a linear agmatoploid series has been generally proposed to account for the cytogenetic evolution of section Ceratocystis, our results suggest chromosome number increase but not in a linear fashion. Different extensive hybridization areas in South Europe are suggested for some of the problematic morphotypes (Pyrenean-Cantabrian Mountains, Atlantic-Iberian Strip and Corsica).

Mimosa tucumensis (Leguminosae), a new species from M. sect. Mimosa ser. Mimosa subser. Mimosa is described and illustrated. This taxon is found in southern Brazil (Paraná State), in “campos de altitude,” an environment different from the typical habitat of other entities in this subseries. Mimosa tucumensis is morphologically close to M. debilis, M. velloziana, and M. sensibilis, but differs from these principally by the presence of humifuse stems with adventitious roots, considerably longer petioles and peduncles, and foliar venation. In addition, cytological characterization of this new taxon is provided and discussed in relation to the nearest species. This taxon appears to be narrowly restricted to grasslands on a handful of closely adjacent peaks in the Paraná State adding to the notable endemism of this area. On the basis of morphological, cytological, and geographical data, some evolutionary considerations are inferred.

In this revision of the Thai species of the genus Derris and the morphologically similar genera, Aganope and Paraderris, all currently recognized species are enumerated. Two new species, Derris glabra Sirichamorn and Derris pseudomarginata Sirichamorn, are described and illustrated. Keys to the genera and species are provided, together with descriptions and notes for all taxa.

Mimosa foreroana, a new species of Mimosa sect. Mimadenia ser. Glanduliferae, is described and illustrated. It is apparently endemic to vereda Ijagüí, in the Department of Nariño, Colombia. This species is distinguished by a combination of characters, including minute glands on vegetative and reproductive structures, leaves with two to three pairs of pinnae and one to three pairs of leaflets per pinna, and short tub-shaped or trough-shaped nectaries near mid-petiole and close to the insertion of the pinnae and leaflets. In addition, scanning electron micrographs of the glands, a map of distribution, and a key to the species of Mimosa ser. Glanduliferae are presented.

Morus (Tribe Moreae, Moraceae) consists of ca. 13 species of trees distributed in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North, Central, and South America. The broad geographical distribution of the genus, overlapping ranges of many taxa, and documented hybridization between some species present interesting questions of taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography. Phylogenetic data for Morus also contribute to higher level taxonomic work in the family. We used sequence data from ITS of the nrDNA and the chloroplast trnL-trnF intergenic spacer to study phylogenetic relationships of Morus. Phylogenies based on separate data sets were not statistically incongruent, and the combined tree reveals that Morus, as currently circumscribed, is non-monophyletic. Subgenus Morus (sensu Leroy) is resolved as a clade and consists of two well-supported clades: one of Asian taxa and one of North American taxa. Sampled members of the genus Trophis (two, including the type) form a clade sister to subgenus Morus. Morus mesozygia (Africa; subgenus Afromorus) and M. insignis (Neotropics; subgenus Gomphomorus), which have not been included to date in other phylogenetic studies of the family, are placed outside the subgenus Morus-Trophis clade. This work is an important step in elucidating relationships of Morus and along with other recent phylogenetic studies in Moraceae, underscores the need for further work within Tribe Moreae to clarify natural generic relationships.

Dorstenia romaniucii A. Ferreira & M. D. M. Vianna (Moraceae) is described and illustrated as a new species, similar to the Atlantic Forest species D. turnerifolia Fisch. & C. A. Mey and distinguished by oval marginal bracts in two rows and intermixed flowers in the inflorescence. The classification of D. romaniucii along with D. turnerifolia clearly lies with species of Dorstenia sect. Lecania based on their elongated internodes allied to subulate stipules and suffrutescent habit. Dorstenia romaniucii is known only from Espirito Santo state, southeastern Brazil and is designated as a critically endangered species because its extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 100 Km² in an extremely fragmented area, in the Atlantic Forest domain.

The phylogeny of Celastraceae subfamilies Cassinoideae (120 species in 17 genera in both the Old and New World tropics and subtropics) and Tripterygioideae (39 species in seven genera) was inferred using plastid (matK, trnL-F) and nuclear (ITS and 26S rDNA) loci together with morphological characters. Subfamily Cassinoideae include those Celastraceae genera with drupes, berries, or nuts that have one to five locules and one to two seeds per locule, while Tripterygioideae include those genera with one to two seeded samaras that lack arillate seeds. We infer that both subfamilies are grossly polyphyletic groups, with Cassinoideae consisting of ≥ eight separate lineages and Tripterygioideae consisting of ≥ six separate lineages. Crossopetalum, from tropical America, is part of an early derived lineage sister to a taxonomically diverse Austral-Pacific clade. Myginda is not distinct from Crossopetalum. Gyminda Orthosphenia Rzedowskia Schaefferia are a clade that is only distantly related to Crossopetalum. The monotypic Hartogiopsis is in a clade with other Madagascan genera and sister to the more widely distributed Pleurostylia. Fraunhofera and Plenckia are a clade nested within New World Maytenus; taxonomic changes are required for ≥ one of these genera. Platypterocarpus is part of a primarily African clade and is only distantly related to Tripterygium and Wimmeria.

The Pyrola picta species complex (Pyroleae: Monotropoideae: Ericaceae) is thought to be composed of three morphological taxa within a single species, Pyrola picta. All taxa typically inhabit mature coniferous or Fagaceous forests of North America west of the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico between ca. 250 and 3,000 m in elevation. Taxa within P. picta are distinguished from each other on the basis of leaf morphology and the degree to which they employ mycoheterotrophy rather than photosynthesis, but considerable variation has been documented in both of these features, confounding diagnosis. For this study Pyrola picta, P. picta f. aphylla, and P. picta ssp. dentata were collected from populations throughout their range in western North America and examined for genetic differences to determine whether they indeed constitute a single polymorphic species or, alternatively, multiple distinct species. Multiple individuals per population were described morphologically and then examined genetically using both amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and nucleotide polymorphisms of the nuclear ITS region. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS nucleotide sequence polymorphism using the parsimony criterion in addition to maximum likelihood and Bayesian models provide concordant estimates for the monophyly of multiple taxa within P. picta, suggesting that members of this species complex may actually represent multiple, reproductively isolated species. Statistical analyses of AFLP support the hypothesis that members of the P. picta complex are genetically distinct taxa that exhibit considerable phenotypic overlap and low levels of interspecific genetic admixture. With caveats, we propose that the current taxonomic description of members within the P. picta species complex be reevaluated given the evidence for genetic distinction among its members.

The Neotropical genus Stylogyne (Myrsinoideae - Primulaceae) is revised for Brazil. Eighteen species occur in this country exclusively in the Atlantic and Amazon forests. Stylogyne incognita, S. lasseri, S. serpentina, and S. spruceana are new records for Brazil. Stylogyne araujoana, S. martiana, S. sordida, S. carautae, S. depauperata, S. leptantha, and S. warmingii were considered threatened species. This paper provides diagnostic descriptions, keys for identification, and maps detailing the distribution of species in Brazil. New synonyms are proposed for S. atra, S. cauliflora, S. nigricans, and S. pauciflora.

Utilizing 10 cpDNA regions and thorough taxon sampling, a phylogeny is reconstructed for Lithospermum and related members of both Lithospermeae, the tribe to which it is assigned, and Boraginaceae. Lithospermum is supported as monophyletic, and the genus is hypothesized to have originated in the Old World, after which there was one colonization of the New World. The heterostylous breeding system is inferred to have originated within Lithospermum either seven times or six times with one loss, and with other independent origins within Lithospermeae. The stability of the 10-region matrix is investigated, as are the number and combination of regions necessary to accurately reconstruct phylogenies. The combination of concatenated regions is important, and the following regions are recommended for future phylogenetic studies of genera of Boraginaceae: the rpl16 intron, matK, psbA-trnH, trnL-rpl32, and trnQ-rps16. The use of these recommended regions is conservative, and it contrasts with most intrageneric studies of Boraginaceae, which often are based on the trnL-trnF spacer and nuclear ribosomal ITS.

Two new shrubby species of Stadia (Rubiaceae) from northeastern Brazil are described and illustrated. Staelia glandulosa inhabits rocky fields on white sand areas, and differs from S. virgata in its shrubby habit, entirely glandular stipular bristles, large flowers, number of calyx lobes and large seeds. Staelia harleyi was found in the Cerrado biome on sandstone rocks at altitudes of 1,000 m, recognizably different from S. virgata because the plant is shrubby, its calyx is a conspicuous tube, the calyx lobe is longer than the corolla tube, the corolla lobes are internally pilose, the ventral face of seeds has transverse furrows and the bracteole is sagittate at the apex. Electron microphotographs of the fruit and seed and images of both species in their habitats are provided.

Conyza notobellidiastrum and C. rivularis are two South American species that recently were transferred to Podocoma, based mainly on corolla, style, and cypsela characters. Following evidence obtained from comparative morphological and molecular studies developed in Podocoma, Podocominae, and Astereae in general, Conyza notobellidiastrum and C. rivularis were excluded from Podocoma. A new genus, Exostigma, is described to include these two species: Exostigma notobellidiastrum and E. rivulare. Moreover, C. notobellidiastrum var. oblongifolia is placed in synonymy with. C. primulifolia, lectotypes are designated for the names Conyza notobellidiastrum and C. rivularis, and the appropriate new combinations are made.

Eupatorieae is one of 43 tribes circumscribed in Asteraceae and it is characterized mainly by opposite leaves, discoid heads, tubular, white, pink, or lilac florets, style branches linear to clavate, and cypsela walls with black or carbonized resin-like deposits in mature stages. The tribe is essentially Neotropical, found in Mexico, Central America, and South America, with 29 genera, of which Trichogonia is one of them. Trichogonia is found only in South America and is characterized by stems with prominent longitudinal ridges and the presence of dense pubescence on the upper throat and lobes of the corolla. The present work is a taxonomic revision of Trichogonia with illustrations and geographic distribution maps for every species. Morphological data were obtained from the field and from specimens from 26 herbaria. From a total of 20 recognized species, 17 occur in Brazil, one is endemic to Bolivia (T. capitata), and two are endemic to Paraguay (T. chodatii and T. phlebodes). From the species currently known to occur in Brazil, 14 are endemic, while T. salviifolia Gardner and T. arguta have widespread distributions. Narrow endemics are found in the states of Bahia (T. harleyi, T. spathulifolia, T. tombadorensis) and Minas Gerais (T. hirtiflora). Other species share a distribution between Pernambuco and Bahia (T. heringeri), Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia (T. campestris), Bahia and Goiás (T. cinerea and T. laxa), Bahia and Minas Gerais (T. villosa), Goiás and Minas Gerais (T. grazielae). Trichogonia occur mostly in savannas cerrados, caatingas, campos gerais, and campos rupestres. Thirteen lectotypifications are designated and 14 new synonyms are proposed in this paper.

The small genus Macroclinidium, with five species, and the monospecific xMacropertya are endemic to Japan. Macroclinidium is characterized by unbranched stems with a few cauline leaves arranged near the middle part of the stem. xMacropertya, proposed as hybrid genus between Pertya ovata and Macroclinidium robustum, is characterized by having branched stems with many alternate leaves, and leafless basal portion. The cladistic relationships of Macroclinidium and xMacropertya based on 32 morphological characters were investigated. Catamixis, Ainsliaea and Pertya are the genera closest to Macroclinidium and xMacropertya. Oldenburgia from South Africa, is hypothesized to be sister to the latter five. Macroclinidium and xMacropertya are distinguished from Ainsliaea by their barbellate (vs. plumose) pappus, and from Pertya and Catamixis principally by their herbaceous (vs. shrubby) habit. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in four most parsimonious trees each with 80 steps. The analysis recovered Macroclinidium as monophyletic and xMacropertya as sister to Pertya. The inclusion of taxa of proposed hybrid origin (xMacropertya, Macroclinidium xkoribanum and M. xsuzukii) did not increase homoplasy conspicuously nor did it affect the outcome. A key to the species of Macroclinidium is provided, as well as morphological descriptions, illustrations, and a distribution map.

Traditionally the genus Pleurospermum and the related genera Aulacospermum, Hymenidium, Hymenolaena, Physospermopsis, Pseudotrachydium, Pterocyclus, and Trachydium, have been problematic taxa with regard to their circumscription and composition. Pleurospermum s. s. includes one or two closely related boreal species but more than 40 other species, distributed mainly in the Sino-Himalayan floristic area, have been attributed to it by different authors in various classifications. Relationships in this taxonomic group are unclear. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear (nrITS) and cpDNA (psbA-trnH and trnL-trnF) sequences of representative species of Pleurospermum s. l. and closely related Hymenidium, Aulacospermum, Trachydium, Physospermopsis, Pseudotrachydium, Sinolimprichtia, Pterocyclus, and Hymenolaena (55 species in all) was conducted and compared with an analysis of morphological characters. Only two traditional genera were supported as monophyletic groups in the molecular trees, namely Aulacospermum (including Pseudotrachydium) and Hymenolaena. Two stable groups were revealed within Hymenidium. One group included H. chloroleucum, H. heterosciadium, H. hookeri, and H. delavayi. The second included H. lindleyanum, H. stellatum, H. huzhihaoi, H. wilsonii, and Trachydium roylei. Various species of Hymenidium and Trachydium were scattered throughout the tree. The molecular data did not confirm an early divergence between northern and Sino-Himalayan species of Pleurospermum. This indicates that Pleurospermum s. l. and most of the other genera included in this study are polyphyletic.