The lastreopsid ferns are a group of mostly terrestrial ferns within the Dryopteridaceae, found in parts of Africa, Madagascar, the Neotropics, southern Asia, Australasia, and some Pacific Islands. Within this group is the paraphyletic genus Lastreopsis s. l., which has been segregated into Lastreopsis s. s. and Parapolystichum. However, there remain several incertae sedis species of Lastreopsis s. l. awaiting phylogenetic analysis to determine their correct generic placement. This study examined six incertae sedis species, using new sequence data from a total of 14 species (18 specimens) of Lastreopsis s. l. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that two of the six incertae sedis species are members of Lastreopsis s. s., and four fall within the newly segregated genus Parapolystichum. Two of the species in Lastreopsis s. s. form a “vieillardii” group that is sister to Lastreopsis subg. Rhopalotricha. Given its phylogenetic position and the shared spore ornamentation, the taxa in the “vieillardii” group are assigned to Lastreopsis subg. Rhopalotricha. The new accessions derive from Australasia and the Pacific. Their inclusion does not alter existing relationships in Lastreopsis s. s. or Parapolystichum. The Bayesian search supported a monophyletic Lastreopsis s. s. (in contrast to previous studies that recovered the clade, but lacked support), and in Parapolystichum, all of the new accessions were nested in an Australasian group. New combinations are provided for Parapolystichum calanthum, P. grayi, P. kermadecense, and P. pacificum, and a revised description of Lastreopsis subg. Rhopalotricha is provided.

Subgenus Iris is wholly Eurasian, distributed in temperate regions from northeastern China to eastern and southern Europe where they occur in mountainous and/or dry rocky sites from near sea level to elevations of 4,500 m. These species have an easily discerned synapomorphy, a multicellular beard on each petaloid sepal. Currently two large and relatively well known and four smaller and less known sections are recognized in the subgenus. This study investigated the monophyly of circumscribed sections and relationships among these sections. Seventy-one taxa, representing each of the six sections and about 80% of the recognized species in subgen. Iris, and 11 outgroup taxa were included in the study. Also included were five Asian species that share some morphological characteristics with subgen. Iris but are typically considered in other subgenera. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data recovered six major clades but sects. Psammiris, Pseudoregelia, and Regelia, are not monophyletic as currently circumscribed. The sister clade to subgen. Iris is comprised of I. domestica and I. dichotoma, two beardless species that occur in eastern Asia. Iris verna, a species from the eastern United States is sister to I. domestica I. dichotoma subgen. Iris. The sepal of I. verna has pubescence but not a beard of multicellular trichomes.

Carex kucyniakii is a poorly known, morphologically unusual Vietnamese sedge (sect. Hemiscaposae, Cyperaceae) that is part of an early diverging lineagewithin the genus. Fieldwork in Lào Cai Province resulted in the rediscovery of this species near its type locality and the detection of significant variation in the morphology of plants in nearby populations. Subsequent morphological andmolecular studies revealed that C. kucyniakii is a complex of three species. These taxa are endemic to the southern slopes of the Hoàng Lien Mountains, in Lào Cai Province, and exhibit extraordinary morphological features including the widest leaves known for any Cyperaceae (pseudopetiolate and up to 12 cm), and for some taxa pink-red inflorescences. Of the three species recognized in the complex, C. kucyniakii is characterized by a combination of glabrous perigynia, scales, and peduncles, while in C. geographica sp. nov. and C. thinii sp. nov. these structures are pubescent/scabrous. In addition, the scales and perigynia in C. kucyniakii are green or brown while those in C. geographica and C. thinii are suffused with pink or red. Differences in pistillate and staminate scale morphology and anther length distinguish the latter two species. The Vietnamese Carex flora contains a high proportion of morphologically exceptional and poorly understood taxa, many from early diverging lineages in the genus. Our findings support the supposition that Indochina and East Asia could be the center of origin for the world's largest flowering plant genus and that the sedge flora of northern Vietnam contains a number of taxonomic novelties still remaining to be discovered.

The grass tribe Andropogoneae is distributed in warm regions around the globe but has been poorly studied in mainland Southeast Asia. This is particularly true for the cosmopolitan genera Andropogon and Schizachyrium, with several species that appear to be narrowly distributed in this region. Additionally, lesser-known species in the genera Hemisorghum, Kerriochloa, and Pseudosorghum also occur inmainland Southeast Asia. A phylogeny is needed to address questions of taxonomy and trait evolution. Whole chloroplast genomes of Andropogoneae species and two outgroup species of Garnotia (tribe Arundinelleae) were analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI). Ancestral character states were reconstructed usingML for four morphological characters key to Andropogon and Schizachyrium identification.Apreviously-unidentified clade of Southeast Asian endemic taxa is found, including one species formerly classified in Andropogon. Other Southeast Asian taxa fall in an unresolved grade outside the major radiation of the tribe. Andropogon and Schizachyrium are both polyphyletic. Convergent evolution and reversal of characters are common throughout Andropogoneae. Addition of species from mainland Southeast Asian finds unexpected phylogenetic diversity. Southeast Asian Schizachyrium sanguineum forms two separate clades, which could reflect cryptic species differentiation, hybridization, introgression, or some combination.

In this paper we assess the impact of polyploidy and hybridization in the Bouteloua curtipendula species complex (BCC). The BCC is a monophyletic group of perennial grasses in the Chloridoideae subfamily. We tested for evolutionary signatures of hybridization and polyploidy in the BCC by obtaining 77 chromosome counts from anther mother cells (2n = 20 to >100) and comparing the phylogenetic pattern of diploids and polyploids in nuclear and chloroplast trees. We sequenced ITS and trnT-L-F regions for 96 and 70 individuals, respectively, resulting in 150 nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences, including 54 cloned sequences. We found no evidence for recombination between ITS sequences with a PHI test. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were used to estimate the ITS phylogeny. Diploid samples were found in all clades, while most of the polyploid samples were concentrated in a single clade. Cloned diploids contained one to three copies of ITS with >99% sequence similarity. The tetraploids B. purpurea and some B. curtipendula samples had a low amount of variation among ITS copies, while the cloned polyploids possessed several highly divergent ITS copies. Pollen size correlates with ploidy-level in the BCC, but is not a clear indicator of genome size. We found evidence that the BCC lineage has a complicated evolutionary history that has included autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy.

A new species, Cyphostemma dehongense, is described from Dehong, Yunnan, China, and C. auriculatum is newly recorded from Vietnam. These are the first records of the genus Cyphostemma from the two countries, extending both the easternmost and northernmost distribution limit of Cyphostemma. Through field explorations over two years, we discovered four populations of C. dehongense and collected specimens of the species with both flowers and fruits. Cyphostemma dehongense and C. auriculatum are morphologically similar, but differ in ovary size, style length, and fruit size. In addition to morphological comparisons, molecular data were used to determine the phylogenetic position of the new species and the newly recorded taxon. Ten nucleotide variation sites were detected between C. dehongense and C. auriculatum based on five chloroplast loci (atpB-rbcL, rps16, trnC-petN, trnH-psbA, and trnL-F) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). An identification key is provided for the three species of Cyphostemma from Asia.

Senegalia is a genus of the legume family (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) that has a pantropical distribution with centers of diversity in Brazil, Mexico and southern Africa. The genus is characterized by plants having bipinnate leaves, presence of petiolar nectaries, prickles on the branches, and pollen grains arranged in polyads with 16 grains. Morphology is an important tool for identification of Senegalia species, but it is not sufficient to resolve all taxonomic issues and elucidate the evolutionary history of this genus. Prior molecular analyses of Mimosoideae have lacked breadth of samplingwithin Senegalia, leavingmany relationships uncertain, particularly the relationship among Brazilian species and other members of the genus. The aim of this study was to identify Senegalia s. s. lineages that contain Brazilian species, and to investigate the relationship of these species with non-Brazilian Senegalia species. We present the first comprehensively sampled phylogeny of American and African Senegalia, however Asian species are not sampled.We sequenced four plastid and one nuclear DNA (ITS) regions for 125 samples of 59 Senegalia and one Parasenegalia species. Both Bayesian andmaximum likelihood analyses were performed.Neither the American or African species form monophyletic lineages. The lack of monophyly of these groups suggests a more complicated evolutionary history of the genus than previously considered, including probable transatlantic dispersal events.

Studies have shown that the genus Acacia Miller s. l. is polyphyletic, consisting of at least seven distinct groups of species. One of these major groups, Senegalia s. l., was also determined to be non-monophyletic. This has resulted in the recent recognition of two new genera, Parasenegalia Seigler and Ebinger, consisting of seven species, and Pseudosenegalia Seigler and Ebinger, consisting of two species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of these genera and sister taxa, especially Mariosousa Seigler and Ebinger, determined that each is monophyletic, although Parasenegalia visco (Lorentz andGrisebach) Seigler and Ebinger is weakly supported as sister to the rest of Parasenegalia. Pseudosenegalia is sister to the rest of the ingroup, however the node containing Parasenegalia, Mariosousa, and the remaining ingroup grade of Ingeae and Acacia s. s. is poorly supported. These results provide a phylogenetic resolution for the major genera of the American species of Acacia s. l., but full phylogenetic resolution requires a subfamily-based investigation. Simple synapomorphies do not correlate with all genera and these traits are discussed in the context of the phylogeny. A key to the four genera is presented.

The genus Ruellia (Acanthaceae) consists of some ca. 350 species that are concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Old World Ruellia have never been the focus of explicit phylogenetic study, yet comprise the earliest diverging lineages in the genus and contain upwards of 100 species. We sampled 52 accessions representing 29 OW species of Ruellia for phylogenetic analysis. Results yielded five clades that were strongly supported and marked by morphological synapomorphies. Analyses additionally recovered a newly recognized lineage within the tribe Ruellieae, a small radiation of plants in the deserts of Namibia and Angola, and the name Dinteracanthus is available for reinstatement. Divergence time analysis using a primary fossil calibration revealed relatively young estimates for crown ages of all five clades of OWRuellia (2.5 Ma - 630,000 ypb) as well as for Dinteracanthus (2.0 Ma). Ancestral state reconstruction of pollination systems among OW Ruellia suggest a minimum of two transitions from short-tongued insect pollination to nocturnal moth pollination, one from short-tongued insect to bird pollination, and one reversal from nocturnal moth pollination back to short-tongued insect pollination. We formally delimit the five clades of OW Ruellia as sections and present a key to aid in their identification: sect. Eusiphon, sect. Dipteracanthus, sect. Madagasikara, sect. Pseudoruellia, and sect. Discifolia. We provisionally treat 77 of 97 species of OW Ruellia among these five sections, with the remaining names considered to be unresolved.

One of the largest genera within the Lamiaceae, Stachys, is in extreme need of taxonomic revision due to its demonstrated phylogenetic polyphyly. Among the New World Stachys, a group of seven species belonging to the Stachys coccinea complex is widely distributed in Mexico, where four of the species in this complex are considered endemic. The members of this complex are characterized by having large and red, orange, or purple corollas. The observed morphological variation, however, may insufficiently circumscribe this number of species, and an assessment combining the use of morphological and molecular data is needed. Here, we evaluated the circumscription of the Stachys coccinea complex and relationships among its members using phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast (cp) DNA sequence data and numerical analysis applied to morphological data. We found that morphological variation in this complex insufficiently circumscribed members of the complex, possibly caused by plasticity of diagnostic morphological characters. In addition, the utilized cpDNA regions, which are commonly used in plant phylogenetic reconstruction (trnL intron, trnL-F spacer, and rps16 intron sequences), render relationships among most of the species in the complex unresolved.We propose that the Stachys coccinea complex be recircumscribed, reducing the number of members to three species: Stachys coccinea, S. lindenii, and S. albotomentosa, keeping the original circumscription of these species and including S. pacifica, S. manantlanensis, S. torresii, and S. jaimehintonii as varieties of S. coccinea.

Calamus javensis (Calamoideae) is a slender rattan common in tropical rainforests. The species is very polymorphic and forms a species complex together with some undetermined forms and the species C. acuminatus, C. amplijugus, C. congestiflorus, C. corrugatus, C. elopurensis, C. hypertrichosus, C. impar, and C. tenompokensis.Within the complex, themorphological variation and similarities among the entities are too difficult to solve with traditional morphological observation. Therefore, two multivariate analyses, MDS (multidimensional scaling) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) with UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) were used for two datasets, quantitative data only and in combination with qualitative data. The inclusion of qualitative characters did not make significant differences in the cluster results. Of all nine taxa included in the complex, only two clusters resulted from the analysis next to two forms based on few specimens. Only C. tenompokensis was recognized as a separate cluster, while all other taxa were combined into one typical C. javensis cluster. Morematerial may result in the recognition of the two forms as distinct species.

Allopolyploidy is a major mode of speciation in flowering plants and particularly in the grass tribe Andropogoneae, which includes sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and relatives. A new species of Saccharum from South America (S. intermedium) is described here, supported by morphological, molecular and cytogenetic evidence. Previous molecular analyses indicated an allopolyploid origin of the new species through interspecific hybridization between S. angustifolium and S. villosum. The new taxon has intermediate morphology between the two parental species. Cytogenetic analyses of the three species were performed, including chromosome counts, meiotic regularity, and pollen viability and morphology. The new taxon is hexaploid (2n = 60), while the parental species are triploids (2n = 30), confirming the ploidy level suggested by the number of paralogues in phylogenetic trees based on low-copy nuclear genes. This represents the first chromosome count for S. intermedium and a new cytotype for S. villosum. Although both parental species are triploids, they surprisingly exhibited regular meiosis and high pollen viability, indicating they are male-fertile, as is the hexaploid new species. Data on geographic distribution and phenology is also presented, aswell as a key for the South American species of Saccharum.

We describe and illustrate the new mimosoid legume Inga bifoliolata (Leguminosae) from the highly endangered Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain. The new species is morphologically unique among all Atlantic Forest-inhabiting taxa because of the leaves consistently bearing only two leaflets. Only a few Amazonian Inga species are known to have bifoliolate leaves, yet they are clearly distinct from the new species described herein, which is further characterized by an unwinged leaf petiole and spicate inflorescences on which the sessile flowers are laxly arranged and have puberulous corollas.

The genus Polygala (Polygalaceae) contains ca. 600 species that are distributed worldwide. A recent taxonomic evaluation of Polygala in Madagascar recognized 19 species in the island, as well as two new species from Toliara Province. The first new species from the area around Saint Augustin, Polygala labatii, is only known from two collections and belongs to the endemic P. sect. Madecassa. The second new species, Polygala mandrarensis, is distributed in the region of the Mandrare River basin and belongs to P. sect. Tetrasepalae. In this work, we describe and illustrate these two new species of Polygala. We also provide a key to the infrageneric taxa of Polygala in Madagascar, as well as keys to P. sect. Madecassa and the Malagasy species of P. sect. Tetrasepalae, and present a distribution map and make preliminary conservation assessments using IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

North America is home to approximately 55 species of Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae), more than 30 of them endemic to the biodiversity hotspot known as the California Floristic Province. Although several species of Ceanothus are widespread in North America, most of the species are micro-endemics, known from a small number of occurrences and generally associated with special ecological conditions. As botanical exploration of North America continues, it is expected that more such micro-endemics will be discovered. However, field work is not the only way in which additional Ceanothus diversity will come to light; the strongly variable morphology of Ceanothus means that specimens are difficult to identify, and many biological entities that probably deserve taxonomic recognition are already represented in herbaria but have not yet been recognized as new. We here describe three new taxa of Ceanothus, two initially noted among existing collections, and another discovered during botanical exploration in San Diego County. All three are edaphic micro-endemics found only in the southern California Floristic Province, California. These include 1) Ceanothus foliosus var. viejasensis D. O. Burge&Rebman, restricted to gabbro-derived soils on ViejasMountain in SanDiego County, 2) Ceanothus pendletonensis D. O. Burge, Rebman, &M. R. Mulligan, found on granodiorite-derived soils of the central Santa Margarita Mountains in San Diego County, and 3) Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. obispoensis D. O. Burge, endemic to rhyolite-derived soils near Hollister Peak in San Luis Obispo County.

Rafflesia lagascae is a rare endo-holoparasitic species with a disjunct distribution on Luzon Island. It is morphologically very similar to R. manillana from nearby Samar. This study aims to contribute to the taxonomy and conservation of R. lagascae and R. manillana (i.e. the R. lagascae complex) by resolving their patterns of genetic diversity and structure. The results of analyses of a microsatellite data set indicate that despite their frequently extremely small sizes and geographic isolation, Rafflesia populations display moderate genetic diversity and do not show evidence of pronounced inbreeding. Most populations appear to have limited gene flow among them. Patterns of genetic diversity of staminate and pistillate Rafflesia flowers growing on the same Tetrastigma host plants indicate that the R. lagascae complex is monoecious and that host plants are regularly infected by multiple Rafflesia plants. PCoA and Bayesian cluster analyses show that the complex is composed of three genetically isolated taxa. One of these constitutes R. manillana, supporting the morphology-based hypothesis that it is taxonomically distinct from R. lagascae. The second taxon in this complex is composed of a morphologically cryptic R. lagascae population from Mt. Labo, which is genetically distinct from all remaining R. lagascae populations that were studied and that form the third taxon. We recommend that these three taxa are managed as different conservation entities.

Microlicia stenodonoides is herein described and illustrated. It is distinguished from other Microlicia species by its remarkable dwarf arboreal habit, main stem 5–10 cm in diameter with leaf scars, leaves up to 4.5 cm long, grouped in the apex of terminal branches, and large flowers (up to 4 cm in diameter). The set of characters presented by M. stenodonoides is similar to that of species of the genus Stenodon. However, it is ascribed to the genus Microlicia especially due to stems without thickened cortex, 4–6-merous flowers with conspicuously dimorphic stamens, and visible ventral appendages. Comments on ecology, distribution, conservation status, period of flowering and fruiting of the new species are provided. Additionally, images and a key for the identification of species of Microlicia that occur in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park are presented.

A new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from Goiás state is described and illustrated, and a discussion on leaf microscopy is also provided. Microlicia chrysoglandulosa sp. nov. resembles M. martiana, M. psammophila, and M. tenuifolia by the slender and fastigiate branches, triangular sepals, and stamens with tetrasporangiate thecae. However, it differs by the remarkable indumentum of spherical short-stalked glandular trichomes on the internodes, abaxial leaf surfaces andmargins, pedicels, hypanthium and sepals. The presence of a bright golden cuticle covering the glandular trichomes is reported here for the first time in Microlicia.

The genus Rorida J.F.Gmel. is resurrected for Cleome L. sect. Thylacophora Franch. within the non-monophyletic Cleome. Rorida is strongly supported as monophyletic by molecular data and is also morphologically very distinctive, with simple leaves, four stamens, and triangular, very shortly clawed, dimorphic petals, appendaged at the base. Twelve species are recognized in desert and semidesert regions from northeastern Africa through the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. Rorida cornus-africani is described as new from Somalia and new combinations are made for the other eleven species. All names are typified, including 10 lectotypes designated here. An identification key and distribution maps for all species are provided.

Oxypetalum is the largest genus of Oxypetalinae (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) and presents its highest diversity in southern South America. A new species, Oxypetalum globosum, from montane environments of northern Argentina, is described, illustrated, and compared to similar species. Data on its habitat, distribution, ecology, and phenology are provided. This is an outstanding species within Oxypetalum due to its flowers with maroon, globose corollas, with patent, rounded corolla lobes, and a bright pink, exserted, hemispheric stylar-head appendage, which suggest fly- pollination. The difficulties in delimiting genera of Oxypetalinae are discussed. A key to the species of Oxypetalum from northern Argentina is included.

Cauliflory is an unusual condition that evolved multiple times in the plant family Bignoniaceae and is found in three of the eight tribal-level clades that are recognized in the family (i.e. tribe Bignonieae, Paleotropical clade, and Tabebuia Alliance). We found a new cauliflorous species of Bignoniaceae during fieldwork in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil conducted as part of ongoing taxonomic and phylogenetic studies in Adenocalymma (tribe Bignonieae). This new species is here described as Adenocalymma cauliflorum. The new taxon resembles A. macrophyllum in the cauliflorous habit and A. cinereum in the yellow and tubular corolla, with anthers and stigma exserted. Here, we present a detailed description for Adenocalymma cauliflorum, an illustration, and information on its habitat, phenology, distribution and extinction risk. A key for the cauliflorous species of Adenocalymma is also presented.

In this paper we propose a new circumscription of Aniseia that includes Iseia and reduces Aniseia martinicensis var. ambigua and A. cernua to the synonymy of A. martinicensis. The new combination Aniseia luxurians is made. The three species of Aniseia recognized herein are characterized by simple trichomes; simple leaves with entire margin, mucronate apex and eucamptodromous venation; axillary cymose inflorescences, or solitary flowers; unequal to subequal sepals; campanulate corolla; single style; glandular trichomes at bases of filaments, sagittate anthers, and 2-globose and papillose stigma. Furthermore, twelve new synonyms and eleven lectotypifications are proposed herein. We provide an identification key, illustrations, comments on geographical distribution, and specimen-based distribution maps, as well as taxonomic and nomenclatural information.