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Background: Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a widely spread skin disorder; the topical application of corticosteroids is the first choice for treatment. Natural products have a great contribution in the treatment of this disease; Asphodelus microcarpus seeds are rich in anthraquinones and known to possess both anti-inflammatory and antidermatitis effects. Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate the anti-eczematic activity, acute toxicity, and molecular modeling of A. microcarpus seeds. Materials and Methods: Nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet, and mass spectroscopy were applied for characterization of isolated metabolites; induction of eczema was conducted by 2% and 0.2% w/v dinitrochlorobenzene in acetone; eczema was treated with topical application of the different seed extracts in the form of ointments (1% w/w); Swiss albino mice (25–30 g) were used for the determination of LD50and anti-eczematic effect. Docking studies were performed by Molecular Operating Environment software. Results: A. microcarpus seed extract exhibited promising ant-eczematic activity, six anthraquinones were isolated from chloroform portion and characterized as 10,7'-bichrysophanol (1), asphodelin (2), chrysophanol-8-O-methyl ether (3), chrysophanol (4), physcion (5), and emodin (6). Compounds 1, 3, and 5 exerted significant anti-eczematic effect. Conclusion: Six known anthraquinone derivatives were isolated and characterized for the first time from the seeds of A. microcarpus. Chloroform fraction (1% w/w) showed significant anti-eczematic effect compared to standard mometasone furoate (0.1 w/w). The docking study proved the anti-eczematic activity of anthraquinone content by their affinity to the target human histamine H1receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:: It has been hypothesized that two flower types permit flexible allocation of resources to female and male functions, yet empirical evidence for the sex‐allocation hypothesis remains scarce in gynomonoecious species. To characterize resource allocation to pistillate and perfect flowers and allocation of perfect flowers between gynomonoecious and hermaphroditic individuals, we examined the flexibility and whether female‐biased allocation increases with plant size in the hermaphroditic‐gynomonoecious herb Eremurus anisopterus. METHODS:: Frequency of gynomonoecious individuals, flower production, and plant size were investigated in different populations. Floral allocation was compared among the three flower types of E. anisopterus. KEY RESULTS:: Frequency of gynomonoecious plants varied from 2–17% in nine populations. Only larger plants produced female flowers at the bottom of racemes. Both female and perfect flower production tended to increase proportionately with plant size in gynomonoecious individuals. Female flowers did not produce less biomass than perfect flowers from hermaphroditic or gynomonoecious plants. However, both female and perfect flowers from gynomonoecious individuals had lighter stamen mass, but larger pistil mass, than perfect flowers from hermaphrodites. CONCLUSIONS:: Although the prediction of an increase in female flower number with plant size was not observed in E. anisopterus, the flexibility of sex allocation in gynomonoecious species was confirmed in that gynomonoecious individuals had a female‐biased floral allocation compared to hermaphroditic individuals. Such comparisons of gynomonoecious to hermaphroditic individuals permit us to unveil a sexual adjustment strategy: flexibility of sexual investments within plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new compound, 9-dihydroxyl-2'-O-(Z)-cinnamoyl-7-methoxy-aloesin (1), and eight known compounds (2–9) were isolated fromAloe vera.Their structures were elucidated using 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra. Compound9exhibited reversible competitive inhibitory activity against the enzyme tyrosinase, with an IC50value of 9.8 ± 0.9 µM. A molecular simulation revealed that compound9interacts via hydrogen bonding with residues His244, Thr261, and Val283 of tyrosinase. Additionally, compounds3and7were shown by half-leaf assays to exhibit inhibitory activity towardsPepper mild mottle virus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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The record of fossil monocotyledonous pollen in New Zealand is summarized and discussed in terms of age and palaeoecological implications. The fossil monocot pollen record covers reports of taxa variously ranging from the Palaeogene to the present, with diverse groups represented, including Alstroemeriaceae: Luzuriagoideae ( Luzuriaga), Amaryllidaceae (aff. Hymenocallis?), Arecaceae (including Nypa and aff. Metroxylon), Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae ( Arthropodium, Cordyline), Asteliaceae ( Astelia and Collospermum), Cyperaceae, Anarthriaceae (including Hopkinsiaceae and Lyginiaceae) or Flagellariaceae?, Orchidaceae, Pandanaceae, Poaceae, Restionaceae (aff. Empodisma), Ripogonaceae ( Ripogonum), Typhaceae ( Typha and Sparganium) and Asphodelaceae (= Xanthorrhoeaceae): Hemerocallidoideae ( Dianella and Phormium). There are also monosulcate and reticulate lilioid and echinate and gemmate arecoid palynomorphs known from the Late Cretaceous. The possible biogeographical and palaeoecological implications of these records, especially for tropical or subtropical taxa occurring at mid to high southern latitudes, are also discussed. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178, 421-440. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macrofossil record of monocotyledons for New Zealand and Australia is updated on the basis of recent finds. In particular, reports for mummified leaf fossils with good cuticular preservation reveal significant fossil age or range extensions for a number of families in several different orders, including Ripogonaceae in the Eocene of Tasmania and New Zealand (and South America), and calamoid and other Arecaceae from the Eocene of southern New Zealand. There are also earliest macrofossil records for several families or subfamilies, including Alstroemeriaceae: Luzuriagoideae ( Luzuriaga), Arecaceae, Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae ( Cordyline), Asteliaceae ( Astelia), Cymodoceaceae (aff. Ruppia), Cyperaceae, Restionaceae, Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae ( Dendrobium and Earina), Asphodelaceae (previously Xanthorrhoeaceae): Hemerocallidoideae ( Dianella/ Phormium) and Xeronemataceae ( Xeronema) from the Miocene of New Zealand. In addition, an Ensete-like seed associated with Pakawaua ( Musaceae) and a leaf fragment of a second Musaceae-like species of Miocene age are presented. The biogeographical and palaeoecological implications of these records, especially for tropical or subtropical taxa occurring at mid to high southern latitudes, is discussed. In particular, the role and ecology of the relatively high-diversity monocot fossils in the sclerophyllous swamp forest at Newvale Mine in Southland and the lake-edge rainforest at Foulden Maar are explored. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178, 394-420. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daylily orHemerocallisspp. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) is one of the most economically important flowering crops in the world. Ploidy level of 149 genotypes both local to China and introduced from the United States and New Zealand were assessed with an outcome of 79 diploids, 22 triploids and 48 tetraploids. A large proportion of introduced cultivars were tetraploid (42%), half were diploid and the rest, 8%, were triploid. Most Chinese cultivars were diploid; only one was tetraploid. Among the 29 wild genotypes collected from the Taihang Mountain range, 13 (45%) were triploid and 16 (55%) were diploid; no tetraploids were identified. For the 31 genotypes with known ploidy, 22 matched previous counts with the rest showing a lower ploidy. As different ploidy is common in daylily, we suggest that ploidy levels should be assessed in breeding programmes for specific breeding purposes. Karyotypes of three diploid, three triploid and two tetraploid genotypes were constructed and they were assigned to ‘3A’, ‘2B’ and ‘3B’ categories based on Stebbins’ karyotype classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Easter Island, a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, is currently primarily covered by grasslands, but palaeoecological studies have shown the former presence of different vegetation. Much of its original biota has been removed during the last two millennia, most likely by human activities, and little is known about the native flora. Macrofossil and pollen analyses of a sediment core from the Raraku crater lake have revealed the occurrence of a plant that is currently extinct from the island: Dianella cf. intermedia/adenanthera (Xanthorrhoeaceae), which grew and disappeared at the Raraku site long before human arrival. The occurrence of Dianella within the Raraku sedimentary sequence (between 9.4 and 5.4 cal. kyr b.p.) could have been linked to the existence of favorable palaeoenvironmental conditions (peatland rather than the present-day lacustrine environment) during the early to mid Holocene. This finding contributes new knowledge about indigenous plant diversity on Easter Island and reinforces the usefulness of further macrofossil and pollen analyses to identify native species on Easter Island and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The net effect of pollen production on fecundity in plants can range from negative – when self-pollen interferes with fecundity due to incompatibility mechanisms, to positive – when pollen availability is associated with increased pollinator visitation and fecundity due to its utilization as a reward. We investigated the responses of bees to pollen and nectar rewards, and the effects of these rewards on pollen deposition and fecundity in the hermaphroditic succulent shrub Aloe tenuior. Self-pollinated plants failed to set fruit, but their ovules were regularly penetrated by self-pollen tubes, which uniformly failed to develop into seeds as expected from ovarian self-incompatibility (or strong early inbreeding depression). Bees consistently foraged for pollen during the morning and early afternoon, but switched to nectar in the late afternoon. As a consequence of this differential foraging, we were able to test the relative contribution to fecundity of pollen- versus nectar-collecting flower visitors. We exposed emasculated and intact flowers in either the morning or late afternoon to foraging bees and showed that emasculation reduced pollen deposition by insects in the morning, but had little effect in the afternoon. Despite the potential for self-pollination to result in ovule discounting due to late-acting self-sterility, fecundity was severely reduced in artificially emasculated plants. Although there were temporal fluctuations in reward preference, most bee visits were for pollen rewards. Therefore the benefit of providing pollen that is accessible to bee foragers outweighs any potential costs to fitness in terms of gender interference in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outcrossing rates and seed set were estimated at both the population and individual plant scale within four populations of Xanthorrhoea johnsonii. Sites differed with respect to habitat disturbance (time since fire), plant density, mean plant height, and mean inflorescence length. Allozyme data from progeny arrays of 24 seeds per plant from ten plants at each site were used to determine maternal outcrossing rates, which were found to be consistently high at all sites (> 90%). Small but significant levels of inbreeding were recorded at three of the four sites. There was close agreement between tm and ts measures, which indicated that most inbreeding was a result of within plant selfing rather than biparental inbreeding. Outcrossing rates were estimated within top, middle, and bottom thirds of spikes on six plants at a fifth site. Significant differences from complete outcrossing were recorded in the middle and/or bottom sections of three plants. Total seed set per plant and seed set per flower varied significantly among the four sites. Xanthorrhoea johnsonii appears to be able to maintain relatively high outcrossing rates under different ecological conditions, although levels of both seed set per plant and seed set per flower are much more variable. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 335-345. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Microsporogenesis leading to monosulcate pollen grains has already been described for a wide range of monocot species. However, a detailed study of additional callose deposition after the completion of the cleavage walls has been neglected so far. The study of additional callose deposition in monosulcate pollen grain has gained importance since a correlation between additional callose deposition and aperture location has recently been revealed. Methods Microsporogenesis is described for 30 species belonging to eight families of the monocots: Acoraceae, Amaryllidaceae, Alstroemeriaceae, Asparagaceae, Butomaceae, Commelinaceae, Liliaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae. Key Results Five different microsporogenesis pathways are associated with monosulcate pollen grain. They differ in the type of cytokinesis, tetrad shape, and the presence and shape of additional callose deposition. Four of them present additional callose deposition. Conclusions In all these different microsporogenesis pathways, aperture location seems to be linked to the last point of callose deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Larvae of an undescribed gall midge species were found feeding within leaf sheaths and between leaves of potted plants of flax lilies Dianella revoluta, D. tasmanica, D. caerulea (all native to Australia) and New Zealand flax Phormium tenax (native to New Zealand) in South Australia. The larvae were previously recorded infesting Phormium tenax in New Zealand. The new species is described and named Resseliella xanthorrhoeae Kolesik. Larvae, pink when young and red when mature, feed gregariously, causing extensive tissue necrosis. Pupation takes place in the soil. Large necrotic areas remain visible after the fully grown larvae exit the sheaths until the end of the infested leaves' life, temporarily decreasing ornamental value of the plants. Infested plants recover from the injury by shedding off infested leaves and producing fresh leaves. The new species is the first Resseliella Seitner reported from Australia and New Zealand and the first species of this genus known to infest plants from the family Xanthorrhoeaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karyomorphological studies were carried on three species of Haworthia Duval (family: Xanthorrhoeaceae) namely H. radula (Haw.) Duval, H. glauca Bak.var . herrei and H. limifolia Marl .var. keithii. Karyotyping through Image Analyzing System in three species of Haworthia (family: Xanthorrhoeaceae) reflected karyotypic orthoselection with same basic chromosome number ( x = 7) and bimodal karyotype. In H. radula (2 n = 14) two satellites were found one in each on the long arm of the two long chromosomes. H. glauca var . herrei and H. limifolia var. keithii possessed 2n = 28 somatic chromosomes. In addition pollen mitosis of each species was done. Pollens are endowed with expected number of n = 7 and bimodal chromosomes. Therefore karyotyping through Image Analyzing System suggests that H. radula is diploid (2n = 14) whereas H. glauca var . herrei and H. limifolia var. keithii are autotetraploid (2n = 28) plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Pollen-collecting bees are among the most important pollinators globally, but are also the most common pollen thieves and can significantly reduce plant reproduction. The pollination efficiency of pollen collectors depends on the frequency of their visits to female(-phase) flowers, contact with stigmas and deposition of pollen of sufficient quantity and quality to fertilize ovules. Here we investigate the relative importance of these components, and the hypothesis that floral and inflorescence characteristics mediate the pollination role of pollen collection by bees. Methods For ten Aloe species that differ extensively in floral and inflorescence traits, we experimentally excluded potential bird pollinators to quantify the contributions of insect visitors to pollen removal, pollen deposition and seed production. We measured corolla width and depth to determine nectar accessibility, and the phenology of anther dehiscence and stigma receptivity to quantify herkogamy and dichogamy. Further, we compiled all published bird-exclusion studies of aloes, and compared insect pollination success with floral morphology. Key Results Species varied from exclusively insect pollinated, to exclusively bird pollinated but subject to extensive pollen theft by insects. Nectar inaccessibility and strong dichogamy inhibited pollination by pollen-collecting bees by discouraging visits to female-phase (i.e. pollenless) flowers. For species with large inflorescences of pollen-rich flowers, pollen collectors successfully deposited pollen, but of such low quality (probably self-pollen) that they made almost no contribution to seed set. Indeed, considering all published bird-exclusion studies (17 species in total), insect pollination efficiency varied significantly with floral shape. Conclusions Species-specific floral and inflorescence characteristics, especially nectar accessibility and dichogamy, control the efficiency of pollen-collecting bees as pollinators of aloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide here a subfamilial scheme for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae. Our recommendation is that the first family has three subfamilies (Agapanthoideae, Allioideae and Amaryllidoideae), the second has seven (Agavoideae, Aphyllanthoideae, Asparagoideae, Brodiaeoideae, Lomandroideae, Nolinoideae and Scilloideae) and the last has three (Asphodeloideae, Hemerocallidoideae and Xanthorrhoeoideae). Tribal names are provided for the large subfamilies Allioideae, Amaryllidoideae and Scilloideae. The use of these subfamily names permits easier descriptions of characters by specialists for these well-supported subclades, but the use of the broader family limits greatly simplifies the taxonomy of Asparagales and thus makes the teaching of these families much easier. A new subfamilial name, Xanthorrhoeoideae, and a new tribal name, Oziroëeae, are proposed. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 161, 132–136. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf surface morphology was analysed in 32 species representing the maculate species complex (the poorly resolved section Pictae) in the genus Aloe (Xanthorrhoeaceae). Few comparative morphological data are available for the complex. Leaf surface and stomatal characters observed by scanning electron microscopy show taxonomically significant interspecific variation. Most species are characterized by irregularly outlined, four- to six-sided epidermal cells, the periclinal walls of which are flat and embellished with micropapillae and the anticlinal walls of which are indicated by channels on the leaf surface. The outer stomatal pore is typically sunken or plane and surrounded by four lobes on the leaf surface that may overarch the epistomatal chamber. The guard cells have distinct outer and inner stomatal ledges. Two geographical groups, comprising southern and east African species, are distinguishable by their leaf surface morphology. These characters are diagnostic in A. ellenbeckii, A. prinslooi and A. suffulta and support changes in the delimitation of A. greatheadii, A. macrocarpa and A. swynnertonii. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160, 418–428. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring components from various species of Aloe have been used as traditional folk medicine since the ancient times. Over the last few decades, the therapeutic effects of extracts and phytochemical compounds obtained from Aloe vera have been proven in preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, compounds from other Aloe species apart from Aloe vera have been investigated for the treatment of different diseases, with a particular focus on cancer. In the present review, the effects of phytochemical compounds obtained from different Aloe species are discussed, with a specific focus on the effects on cell signalling in cancer and normal cells, and their selectivity and efficacy. This information will be useful for the application of Aloe-derived compounds as therapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other standard drugs for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis is an isolated member of the Liliiflorae endemic to the Mediterranean region. It is herbaceous, but in its rhizome possesses a secondary thickening meristem (STM). The secondary tissues produced are similar to those known in various arborescent Monocotyledons. Ultrastructural features of the STM cells are described. A relictual intrafascicular cambium also occurs in the bundles of the primary system of the rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal therapy is a potential alternative applied to pharmacological alleviation of depression symptoms and treatment of this disorder, which is predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be the most serious health problem worldwide over the next several years. It has been well documented that many herbs with psychotropic effects have far fewer side effects than a variety of pharmaceutical agents used by psychiatrists for the treatment of depression. This systematic review presents literature data on the antidepressant activity of representatives of the genera Hemerocallis (H. fulva and H. citrina Baroni, family Xanthorrhoeaceae) and Gladiolus (G. dalenii, family Iridaceae) and on biologically active compounds and their mechanisms of action to consider the application of herbal preparations supporting the treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloes and allies are prominent members of African succulent vegetation and especially of the highly diverse Cape Flora. The main goal of this study was to obtain age estimates for alooids by calibrating a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on two chloroplast markers (the trnL-trnF spacer region and rbcL gene) and one gene marker (ITS) using a relaxed molecular clock. Seventy four species from all succulent genera of alooids were analysed with MrBayes to infer species relationships. We discuss the age estimates to address the question whether vicariance or dispersal could account for the diversification of Madagascan alooids. In the combined maximum clade credibility tree obtained from BEAST the succulent alooids have split from asphodeloids around 51.8 Mya in Early Miocene. Divergence time age estimation for succulent drought resistant alooids (late Oligocene to early Miocene) correspond well with dates identified for several other plant lineages in southern Africa and does match with the start of dry period in Miocene which triggered speciation and evolutionary radiation of these genera and families. All climbing aloes and some tree aloes which were recently split into new genera are amongst the early diverged group in alooids and the crown node of this group diverged around 16.82 (15.5–22.4) Mya. The oldest node age estimation for aloes from Madagascar (5.1 Mya) is in early Pliocene and our findings support the hypothesis that the Africa-Madagascan divergence is best explained by oceanic long-distance dispersal rather than vicariance. This study is one of the first to give age estimates for clades of alooids in Xanthorrhoeaceae as a starting point for future studies on the historical biogeography of this family of succulent plants which are important for ethnomedicine, and as ornamental and horticultural plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors discuss a proposal to conserve the family name Asphodelaceae. The name Asphodelaceae which was published in the book Genera Plantarum in 1789, is used for family nomenclature. The name Hemerocallidaceae was established by botanist Robert Brown followed by Xanthorrhoeaceae. Asphodelaceae would remediate a situation where a well-established name is being displaced.