This study evaluated the morphological variation and genetic structure of seven natural populations of the Stigmatodon goniorachis complex (Bromeliaceae) endemic to vertical faces of inselbergs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. A cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) corroborated the existence of four clearly separated species, S. brassicoides, S. costae, S. francae, and S. goniorachis, and unveiled two distinct morphological groups in the S. goniorachis populations. The main components of variation revealed by PCA analysis were: inflorescence peduncle diameter, floral bract length, and hypanthium length. Bayesian population structure analysis based on nuclear microsatellites performed on 145 individuals from six populations initially identified as S. costae, S. francae, and S. goniorachis revealed four genetic clusters (k = 4), two of which consisted of specimens initially identified as S. goniorachis. This result was supported by other genetic analyses including AMOVA, population pairwise genetic distances, and UPGMA analysis. Both morphological and genetic analyses indicated two distinct groups among the four populations initially identified as S. goniorachis, which led to the recognition of a new species described here, Stigmatodon carioca. This new species is morphologically distinct, particularly in the distribution of leaf trichomes and the position of the leaf blade, which occurs in the revolute form. Besides the description of the new species, we present a comparative study that allows the morphological differentiation of the five species.

Homolepis (Paspaleae, Arthropogoninae) is a monophyletic genus consisting of five species distributed from Central America to Argentina. The purpose of this work is to test the taxonomic value of leaf histological characters for this genus, including the vascular formula. Cross sections and paradermal preparations were obtained and analyzed. The present study expanded the number of species anatomically described and the number of descriptors used for their characterization. The species of Homolepis were anatomically distinguished among them. An identification key was presented based exclusively on leaf blade anatomy, with illustrations for all species. Anatomical characters useful for the taxonomy were central bulliform cell height versus width relation, as well as their thickness in relation to the leaf blade, presence of fusoid cells, mesophyll classification, relative height of the adaxial chlorenchyma cells^*, and presence of interfascicular high cells^*. Regarding the midvein, the significant features were the presence of axillary bulliform cells, of collenchyma, of radiate chlorenchyma, of adaxial auxiliary vascular bundle^*, and of medulla, as well as the relative height of its colorless cells^*. The features with asterisks were used here for the first time for Poaceae. The presence of third order bundles restricted to the leaf margin and the vascular formula were useful to distinguish Homolepis from other Poaceae genera, such as Mesosetum and Paspalum, although these same features were poor at discriminating among Homolepis species. Leaf anatomical similarities group H. aturensis with H. isocalycia, as well as H. glutinosa with H. villaricensis, while H. longispicula is distinguished from the remaining species of the genus. The data can be useful for the elaboration of a phylogenetic proposal with morphological markers for the Homolepis species.

Homolepis (Paspaleae, Arthropogoninae) é um gênero monofilético constituído por cinco espécies distribuídas da América Central até a Argentina. O objetivo deste trabalho é testar o valor taxonômico de caráteres histológicos foliares para este gênero, inclusive a fórmula vascular. Secções transversais e preparados paradérmicos foram obtidos e analisados. O presente estudo expandiu o número de espécies descritas anatomicamente e o número de descritores usados para sua caracterização. As espécies de Homolepis foram distinguidas anatomicamente entre si. Uma chave de identificação é apresentada com base exclusivamente na anatomia da lâmina foliar, com ilustrações para todas as espécies. Os caráteres anatômicos úteis para a taxonomia foram relação altura versus largura das células buliformes centrais, assim como sua espessura em relação à lâmina foliar, presença de células fusoides, classificação do mesofilo, altura relativa do clorênquima adaxial^* e presença de células altas interfasciculares^*. Em relação à nervura mediana, os fatores significantes foram a presença de células buliformes axilares, colênquima, clorênquima radiado, feixe vascular auxiliar adaxial^* e de medula, assim como a altura relativa de suas células incolores^*. Os fatores com asteriscos foram aqui usados pela primeira vez para Poaceae. A presença de feixes vasculares de terceira ordem restritos à margem foliar e a fórmula vascular foram úteis para distinguir Homolepis de outros gêneros de Poaceae, tais como Mesosetum e Paspalum, embora estes mesmos fatores sejam pouco discriminantes das espécies de Homolepis entre si. Semelhanças anatômicas foliares agrupam H. aturensis com H. isocalycia, assim como H. glutinosa com H. villaricensis, enquanto H. longispicula é distinta das demais espécies do gênero. Os dados podem ser úteis para a elaboração de uma proposta filogenética com marcadores morfológicos para as espécies de Homolepis.

This paper presents a taxonomic revision of the genus Abutilon in India, supported by detailed seed morphology. Twelve species and two varieties are recognized from India and each described with their synonymy, nomenclature notes, illustrations, habitat specificity, geographical distribution, phenology, and specimens observed in various herbaria across India. A comprehensive key is provided for the identification of species and varieties. Lectotypes are designated for nine names including a second-step lectotype for A. fruticosum. Infraspecific taxa are reevaluated, resulting in the synonymization of A. bidentatum var. major, A. fruticosum var. chrysocarpa, and A. hirtum var. heterotrichum with their respective species. A. indicum subsp. guineense is reinstated as distinct species and A. pakistanicum is determined to be an excluded species. Throughout the study, seed micro-morphology is identified as a crucial tool for discriminating taxa at the interspecific and infraspecific levels. The previously proposed infraspecific classification of A. indicum is invalidated in this study which is corroborated by morphology and distribution of the taxa. This study provides the first comprehensive taxonomic account of the genus Abutilon in India with discussion on fruit dehiscence.

Neea contracta, a new species known only from central Amazonia, in Brazil, is described. In addition to morphological characteristics, we use spectral data associated with discriminant analyses as further evidence of the distinctiveness of this species. Besides the description, we provide a distribution map and notes on the taxonomy of N. contracta, a comparative table distinguishing N. contracta from morphologically similar species, and an updated key to the 18 species of Neea known for Amazonas State, Brazil.

During the past 20 yr, the phylogenetics of Boraginaceae has taken shape using plastid DNA regions and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), but these regions only reflect a limited understanding of the evolutionary history of the family. Using hybridization-enrichment sequencing, 531 nuclear regions from lineage-specific and Angiosperms353 loci were sequenced and aligned for 49 species from across Boraginaceae. Additionally, the Angiosperms353 loci were incorporated with a broader dataset of the same loci from 115 accessions of Boraginales and relatives. Based on multiple phylogenetic approaches and datasets, the resolved phylogenies of Boraginaceae were quite similar to our current understanding, yet multiple taxa were recognized in different positions. These included: 1) Echiochiloideae as sister to Cynoglossoideae instead of to the rest of the entire family, 2) Moritzinae as nested within Boragininae, and 3) Lasiocaryeae and Trichodesmeae not resolved as sisters. These different positions recovered, via different methods, using hundreds of nuclear loci suggest that incomplete lineage sorting, hybridization, and lineage-specific shifts in substitution rates may have occurred during the early origin of the family. In analyses of Boraginales, Namaceae was resolved as non-monophyletic, providing evidence that a broader Hydrophyllaceae may again be appropriate, and Lennoaceae was nested in Ehretiaceae. While both sets of loci allowed for a well-resolved and well-supported phylogeny to be reconstructed, the lineage-specific loci recovered some of the more intriguing phylogenetic relationships in part because these loci appear to be less conserved than those from Angiosperms353. The two sets of loci provide an interesting complement for understanding patterns of evolution within the family and order.