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After a confused taxonomic history, Prosthechea (Laeliinae, Orchidaceae) has been circumscribed in a broad sense to include species previously placed in Encyclia subg. Osmophytum. However, recent alternative classifications resurrecting old names such as Anacheilium and Hormidium, and proposing new genera such as Euchile, Panarica, Pollardia, and Pseudencyclia were presented, splitting Prosthechea into narrower genera. In this study, we provide a molecular phylogeny of Prosthechea to reassess alternative generic classifications and shed light on evolutionary aspects of this highly diverse Neotropical lineage. Eighty species of Prosthechea s.l. and 12 species of related genera were sampled. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses of sequences from three plastid regions (rpl32‐trnL, trnD‐trnT, ycf1) and nrITS were included. Possible conflicts between nuclear and plastid data were assessed with partitioned Bremer support. Ancestral state reconstructions of morphological characters relevant to the genus taxonomy are provided. Our results reinforce the monophyly of the lineage corresponding to a broad circumscription of Prosthechea. The small lineages corresponding to Euchile, Panarica, and Hormidium are monophyletic, whereas the larger Anacheilium, Pollardia, and Pseudencyclia are not monophyletic. Splitting Prosthechea into smaller genera is not supported by our phylogeny, and nonmonophyly also hinders the proposal of a comprehensive infrageneric classification. The phylogenetic relationships recovered reflect better the biogeographic patterns than the previously proposed morphological affinities, pointing to the existence of homoplastic floral traits within the genus. Conflicts between nuclear and plastid partitions were detected, suggesting a possible scenario of reticulate evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcoelia and the monospecific Taeniorrhiza and Chauliodon are notable among Afrotropical angraecoid orchids for being leafless. However, the affinity among these genera was not addressed in previous molecular phylogenetic studies, thus precluding the understanding of how many times has leaflessness evolved in angraecoids. The discovery of an additional species ascribable to Taeniorrhiza in Gabon, and a revision of all material referrable to this genus in herbarium collections, created the possibility to investigate the phylogenetic position of Taeniorrhiza relative to Microcoelia and Chauliodon. Based on phylogenetic inference using ITS‐1 and two plastid regions (matK/trnK, trnL‐trnF), and including 20 of the 34 species of Microcoelia recognised prior to our study, we here demonstrate that Taeniorrhiza and Chauliodon are deeply imbedded in Microcoelia, and are thus treated here as synonyms of the last. Accordingly, we describe the novelty from Gabon as a new species of Microcoelia: Microcoelia nguemae sp. nov. The new species is illustrated with colour photographs, and also with line drawings. Its preliminarily IUCN conservation status is provided. The novelty is notable for the dorsiventrally asymmetric distribution of pneumathodes along its roots and for bearing the longest lip spur in this Afro‐Malagasy epiphytic genus. The new phylogenetic framework suggests a single origin of leaflessness in Afrotropical angrecoids and reveals the informative value of the rostellum to reconstruct relationships within Microcoelia. This serves as the basis of a newly proposed sectional treatment for Microcoelia, recognising 37 species, one new section, a new status for the defunct genus Encheiridion and the redefinition of Microcoelia sect. Microcoelia and sect. Brachyglossa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the taxonomic confusion surrounding the names Deppea Schltdl. & Cham. and Deppia Raf. The authors explain that Deppea is a monotypic genus in the Rubiaceae family, while Deppia is a genus in the Orchidaceae family. Both names were derived from the same individual, Paul Ferdinand Deppe, and have similar spellings. The authors argue that if the names are considered sufficiently alike to be confused, Deppia would be an illegitimate name as a later homonym of Deppea. However, if the names are not considered sufficiently alike, Lycaste would be a synonym of Deppia. The authors also discuss the possibility of altering the original spelling of Deppia to 'Deppea' to avoid homonymy. [Extracted from the article]

Clowesia is a relatively small Neotropical genus of Orchidaceae sister to the much larger Catasetum. A hypothesis of internal relationships was proposed in the 1990s, based solely on morphological and life history characters, which so far has not been robustly tested, which is done herein. The genus encompasses seven formally described species; here, we synonymize one species, describe Clowesia arevaloi as a new species endemic to Ecuador, propose the new combination Clowesia scurra and designate lectotypes for C. dodsoniana and C. thylaciochila. Furthermore, we propose an epitype for C. glaucoglossa, and a type for Warsewitschia. We also propose a lectotype and establish the correct authorship for Warsewitschia, a hitherto ignored synonym of Clowesia. We present a phylogenetic analysis of combined molecular evidence (ITS, ETS, matK‐trnK, trnS‐G, yfc1), evaluate the evolution of reproductive characters and explore the biogeography of the genus. Our main results are: Clowesia, as well as its composing clades hypothesized in the 1990s, is monophyletic, and the relationships between species feature a divergence pattern associated with their reproductive strategies, the most important of all being the place where the pollinarium is positioned on the bee's body. Likewise, we estimate the origin of the genus in Megamexico in the Miocene; the divergence and diversification of the main clades within appears to be associated with the expansion and contraction of vegetation types, as well as the closing of the isthmus of Panama, which eventually allowed the return to the Amazon, the area where currently most species of Catasetinae are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, little is known about the past evolutionary trajectories of rare and endangered orchids native to mainland China, Japan, and Korea (the CJK region). In this study, we focus on two endangered orchids, Cypripedium japonicum (present in the three countries) and C. formosanum (endemic to Taiwan), to understand the divergence/speciation models that would have been operating in this group, including genetic diversity, geographic structure, and colonization pathways across the region. Using a combination of five cpDNA regions, we reconstructed phylogenetic trees and investigated the genetic diversity/structure of 20 populations. Ecological niche modeling was used to gain insight into the paleodistribution and dispersal corridors at the Last Glacial Maximum and to survey climatic niche differences. Populations from mainland China + Korea, Japan, and Taiwan formed three distinct monophyletic lineages and were placed into separate genetic clusters, agreeing with geographic barriers and species boundaries. Populations of C. japonicum in mainland China harbored the highest diversity, suggesting the presence of multiple glacial refugia. The Korean populations would have originated from either western/central or eastern China, probably using a dispersal corridor across the East China Sea shelf. The divergence of C. formosanum is proposed under an allopatric speciation model, also highly influenced by a climate niche shift. In the context of previous studies, a deep divergence in cpDNA sequences between Chinese + Korean and Japanese populations of C. japonicum may be taken as an example of the speciation events of the CJK flora since the late Neogene that have led to its current species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1959) typified I Vanilla i with I V. mexicana i , which he considered, at least in part, to be a synonym of I V. planifolia i Andrews (in Bot. Repos.: t. 538. As clearly stated in the protologue, Miller had the aromatic, cultivated I Vanilla i in mind when describing the genus I Vanilla i , mistakenly believing it was the same species illustrated by Plumier, and reproduced by Catesby. I Vanilla i is commonly accepted as a monophyletic genus, subdivided into two subgenera, within one of which two sections are recognized (Soto Arenas & Cribb, l.c.; Karremans & al., l.c.). [Extracted from the article]

A phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus Dendrochilum s.l. (including Bracisepalum) is based on nucleotide sequences of the nuclear ribosomal ITS and two plastid regions (matK, ycf1). The trees based on parsimony analysis of the nrITS and plastid partitions, respectively, are largely congruent, the only strongly supported conflict being the exact position of D. arachnites. Maximum likelihood analysis of the combined molecular matrix resulted in a tree with very high topological congruence to the parsimony consensus tree and to a fossil‐calibrated Bayesian inference tree that was used for dating. Our results confirm that monophyly of Dendrochilum is only supported if Bracisepalum is included in the former. They also suggest that only two subgenera (Dendrochilum, Platyclinis) should be recognized, whereas all other subgenera and sections previously proposed on a morphological basis should be treated as synonyms of subg. Platyclinis. Indeed, mapping of five vegetative and nine floral characters of alleged systematic value, using DELTRAN and ACCTRAN optimization, demonstrates pronounced morphological homoplasy. Molecular time calibration dates the origin of the genus to the Miocene and contradicts the hypothesis that most extant Dendrochilum species did not evolve until the Holocene. Inferred phylogenetic relationships between extant species, in combination with previously identified hotspots of narrow endemism, suggest that species endemism in Dendrochilum is predominantly centric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchid flora of southern Africa is taxonomically well‐known, although the phylogenetic relationships within and between several emblematic genera remain poorly understood. A case in point are the morphologically related genera Bartholina (2 spp.)—also known as spider orchids—and Holothrix (ca. 46 spp.) (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae: Orchidinae). In this paper, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships for those two orchid genera. We sequenced one nuclear (ITS) and two plastid (trnL+trnL‐F, matK) DNA regions, for 62 accessions, representing 29 species (out of 48 species, 60%) of the Holothrix/Bartholina alliance. The concatenated matrix included 3507 molecular characters and was analyzed using maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and parsimony. Our results showed that Holothrix is paraphyletic, with Bartholina nested within Holothrix. We identified five monophyletic lineages, strongly supported by molecular data, and several morphological synapomorphies that will form the basis of a new infrageneric classification. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree clarified the taxonomy of the Holothrix villosa species complex and showed that H. villosa var. condensata is best treated at the rank of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous phylogenetic analyses focused on angraecoid orchids suggested that the genus Ypsilopus was paraphyletic and that some species of Tridactyle and Rangaeris belong to a clade that included Ypsilopus. These studies, based on three to four genes, sampled few taxa in each genus, and did not include the type of Rangaeris, nor did they take morphological variation into account. To delineate Ypsilopus more precisely, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of the genus and seven other closely related genera by analysing sequence variation at the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS‐1) and at five plastid markers (matK, rps16, trnC‐petN intergenic spacer, trnL‐trnF intergenic spacer, ycf1), from 42 specimens representing 36 taxa. Trees based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference confirm that two species of Tridactyle are nested with three Ypsilopus species, including the type of the latter, and two species of Rangaeris are grouped with this clade. Moreover, we examined morphological variation among all species belonging to these three genera, highlighting morphological features that characterize Ypsilopus, and we used these data to assign the two species of Tridactyle included in the molecular analyses, three other species of Tridactyle not included in the molecular analyses and two species of Rangaeris to Ypsilopus. New combinations for Tridactyle citrina, T. furcistipes, T. sarcodantha, T. tanneri, T. tricuspis, Rangaeris amaniensis and R. schliebenii in Ypsilopus are thus proposed, and one new section (i.e., Ypsilopus sect. Barombiella) is described. Keys to the species of Ypsilopus and closely related genera are provided, along with a table of characters that can be used to differentiate these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphologically overlapping and frequently syntopic species of Spiranthes (Orchidaceae) found in the Sierra Nevada of California and Cascade Range of Oregon—S. porrifolia, S. romanzoffiana, and S. stellata—have long been a source of taxonomic confusion. Much of this confusion is attributed to hypothesized hybridization between species, and a lack of agreement concerning the distinctiveness of S. stellata from S. romanzoffiana. We used molecular phylogenetics incorporating low‐copy nuclear, nuclear ribosomal, and chloroplast DNA sources, in addition to morphological data, to clarify the evolutionary relationships of this complex. Our results indicate that contrary to long‐held hypotheses, hybridization between S. porrifolia and S. romanzoffiana appears to be rare or absent. Furthermore, a realignment of taxon status is necessary for S. stellata subsp. stellata and S. stellata subsp. perexilis, with subsp. perexilis elevated to full non‐hybrid species rank as S. perexilis comb. & stat. nov., and subsp. stellata changed to S. ×stellata, indicating its likely recurrent allopolyploid origin between the sister species S. perexilis and S. romanzoffiana. We also describe S. ×sierrae nothosp. nov., representing rare allopolyploid hybrids between S. perexilis and S. porrifolia, and provide the first pollinator records for S. perexilis and S. ×stellata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nomenclature of 15 orchid names described by João Barbosa Rodrigues and currently treated in the genus Gomesa (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae) is reviewed. Thirteen names (Baptistonia echinata, Gomesa sessilis, Oncidium biflorum, O. geraense, O. hydrophilum, O. montanum, O. nitidum, O. odontochilum, O. uliginosum, Ornithophora quadricolor, Rodriguezia eleutherosepala, R. microphyta, Theodorea gomezoides) are lectotypified and the holotype of Oncidium suscephalum is located. Original materials of Oncidium brunnipetalum are likely lost. Seven of the names are considered accepted species, seven are treated as synonyms and one is treated as a name of uncertain application. Regarding names not assigned by Barbosa Rodrigues, a lectotype to Oncidium varicosum and a neotype to Sigmatostalix radicans are herein designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1824) for I D. undulatum i R. Br. Mabberley (l.c.: 241-253) has argued that at least part of the work of Dietrich was not merely overlooked but deliberately ignored, and it may be that the name I D. brownii i fell victim to this attitude. Ormerod (l.c.) correctly pointed out that I Dendrobium brownii i is a valid and older name for the species currently known as I D. discolor i . However, in our opinion there are several reasons why adopting the name I D. brownii i would be a disadvantageous nomenclatural change and that these reasons imply that it would be best to formally reject the name in the sense of the I Code i (Art. [Extracted from the article]

If our proposal is denied, it would require moving all the names from these genera to I Anguloa i , requiring 140 new combinations (79 names from I Lycaste i , 1 from I Neomoorea i , 42 from I Sudamerlycaste i , and 18 from I Xylobium i ), which is more than twice the names that would be combined into I Lycaste i . The number of new combinations needed to move I Neomoorea i and I Xylobium i into either I Anguloa i or I Lycaste i would be the total number of species of their respective genera, since no combinations of the names in these genera have been published in either I Anguloa i or I Lycaste i . [Extracted from the article]

Great diversity of life forms has favored the colonization and dominance of angiosperms in almost every terrestrial habitat. This is certainly the case in the Orchidaceae, in which the diversity of life forms includes epiphytes, terrestrial geophytes and mycoheterotrophs. In this study we investigated the evolution of life form in tribe Epidendreae focusing on the clade comprised of Basiphyllaea, Bletia and Hexalectris. We estimated divergence dates, ancestral areas, patterns of niche evolution and divergence/convergence of climate preferences in order to understand whether shifts in climate preferences can be linked to the evolution of novel life forms, allowing species to extend their distribution ranges into novel habitats. Our analyses corroborated the shift from epiphytism to terrestrial life forms in Epidendreae, which occurred in a clade with Basiphyllaea‐Bletia‐Hexalectris that originated in Mexico and Central America from the Mid‐Eocene to the Oligocene, coincident with the origin of other aridity‐adapted plant groups. Dispersal occurred to North America, South America and the Antilles. Some small aridity‐adapted groups in Hexalectris diverged more recently in the Pliocene and Pleistocene when aridification in North America occurred. Of the climate variables analyzed, annual mean temperature, annual precipitation and precipitation of the wettest month were found to diverge for the terrestrial clade relative to values associated with the other Epidendreae clades. For niche evolution, Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck models indicated that the adaptive optima differed between epiphytes and terrestrial life forms, suggesting a shift of climatic niche between the terrestrial life form clade of Basiphyllaea‐Bletia‐Hexalectris and the rest of the clades with epiphyte life forms. We suggest that the shift to terrestrial life forms, most noticeable in Hexalectris, favored the colonization of novel habitats with a large range of temperatures, extending the distribution of this genus northward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

John Lindley's vehicle for very rapid publication was his "New Plants" column in the Gardeners' Chronicle. Six inexplicably overlooked names published there are listed and disposed of, necessitating an overdue new combination in Gongora and adjustments in other tropical American Orchidaceae (Aspidogyne, Barkeria), though one name in Aphelandra (Acanthaceae) of Guatemala remains unplaced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serapias nitida is a name whose taxonomic identity has been considered to be in doubt. Here we show that S. nitida can be linked to a species of the genus Buchtienia. We propose the new combination Buchtienia nitida and put a recently described species into synonymy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships were inferred for the African-centred orchid subtribe Eulophiinae, which includes the large genus Eulophia and three closely related genera, Oeceoclades, Pteroglossaspis and Acrolophia. We sequenced one nuclear (ITS) and four chloroplast (rbcL, trnK-matK, rp!32-trnL, tmQ-5' rpslô) markers for 86 samples, representing 58 species (62 taxa) and one outgroup. The combined sequence matrix had 6525 characters and was analysed using parsimony and Bayesian criteria. Our results show that Acrolophia and Oeceoclades are monophyletic but are nested in Eulophia as currently circumscribed, thus rendering it paraphyletic. We argue for retaining Acrolophia and Oeceoclades, and splitting Eulophia into two genera on the basis of evidence that each of these four clades is genetically and morphologically distinct. We propose to reinstate the genus name Orthochilus for one of the Eulophia clades and transfer 35 taxa, including those assigned to Pteroglossaspis, to Orthochilus. Thirty-two of these are new combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most names in the other embedded genera exist in I Eulophia i , but not for species published as I Geodorum i , an older name. (c. 250) will need new combinations, whereas if it is rejected against I Eulophia i , only the 9 species of I Geodorum i and a few others (18) will need transferring to I Eulophia i . We advocate instead a broad generic concept of I Eulophia i including all these genera, all of which, except I Geodorum i , have been included by at least some authors in I Eulophia i in the past. [Extracted from the article]

A total of 46 lectotypes, one neotype and one epitype are designated for species of Goodyerinae and Spiranthinae originally described by Jose Mariano da Conceicao Vellozo and Joao Barbosa Rodrigues. Moreover, three new previously accepted names are treated as synonyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchid genus Epidendrum, with 1500 species occurring within the Neotropical region, represents a very promising model system for evolutionary and ecological studies offering an expanded repertoire of research opportunities in the breadth of modern plant biology. Epidendrum displays a significant degree of morphological variation, chromosome number diversity and ecological interactions, which challenges widely held views on reproductive barriers and habitat selection. The widespread geographical distribution of many species and populations offers interesting opportunities to investigate how climatic changes and historic demographic processes shaped the current patterns of genetic and species diversity across different biomes and landscapes. Questions involving chromosome barriers to gene exchange and the role of postzygotic genetic barriers in species cohesion (e.g., the contributions of habitat selection and niche divergence on species cohesion) could be easily addressed when using the variety of natural hybrid zones found across Epidendrum. Several key evolutionary questions could be addressed with this model system, such as the identification of the first stages of adaptive radiation, the evolution of pollination strate-gies, the adaptive ecological significance of trait variation and hybridisation, the influence of historical demographic events on lineage diversification and speciation. With the advance of cost-effective molecular techniques and by combining ecologi-cal and phenotypic data, researchers can now tackle these questions and foster significant progress in the field of Neotropical plant diversification and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jumellea is an orchid genus centered on Madagascar but also occurs on some of the neighboring oceanic islands (the Mascarenes and Comoros) and in southern and eastern Africa. Prior to our study the genus contained ca. 55 morphologically distinct species, of which six are found in the Comoros (three endemic, three shared with Madagascar), nine in the Mascarenes (four endemic, four shared with Madagascar), two in southern and eastern Africa (both endemic), and 41 species endemic to Madagascar. We perform Bayesian and parsimony phylogenetic analyses of Jumellea based on combined chloroplast (matK, trnL-F, rps16,ycfl) and nuclear (nrlTS) data from 60 specimens representing 47 species, four subspecies, and two varieties of Jumellea: (1) to assess the phylogenetic value of growth form, leaf, bract and lip shape, and spur length, presently used for rec-ognizing informal groups within the genus; and (2) to test the monophyly of some variable species (e.g., J. gracilipes, J. lignosa). We find no support for the informal groups of Jumellea, as all the characters tested are evolutionarily labile. Jumellea lignosa (comprising J. lignosa subsp. lignosa, subsp. tenuibracteata, subsp. acutissima, and subsp. latilabia) is not monophyletic un-less subsp. tenuibracteata is excluded. Jumellea gracilipes s.l. (including J. ambongensis, J. imerinensis, and J. unguicularis) is polyphyletic. As a result, we resurrect these three latter species, and recognize J. lignosa subsp. tenuibracteata at species level. Furthermore, we propose new circumscriptions for the following species: the Comorian J. arachnantha (including the Malagasy J. sagittata)-, the Reunionese J. exilis (including the Malagasy J. flavescens)', the Reunionese J. recta (including the Malagasy Jumellea sp. 1); the Reunionese J. recurva (including the Malagasy J. pandurata); and the Reunionese J. steno-phylla (including the Malagasy J. gracilipes 2 and 3). Finally, Jumellea arborescens and J. maxillarioides are recorded from Madagascar and the Comoros. Finally, the number of species of Jumellea has now increased from 55 to 57: seven species in the Comoros (four shared with Madagascar), nine species in the Mascarenes (four shared with Madagascar), two species in Africa, and 39 species, three subspecies, and two varieties restricted to Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic position of two enigmatic Asian orchid genera, Thaia and Tangisinia, were inferred from molecular data and morphological evidence. An analysis of combined plastid data (rbcL+matK+psaB) using Bayesian and parsimony methods revealed that Thaia is a sister group to the higher epidendroids, and tribe Neottieae is polyphyletic unless Thaia is removed. Morphological evidence, such as plicate leaves and corms, the structure of the gynostemium and the micromorphology of pollinia, also indicates that Thaia should be excluded from Neottieae. Thaieae, a new tribe, is therefore tentatively established. Using Bayesian and parsimony methods, analyses of combined plastid and nuclear datasets (rbcL, matK, psaB, trnL-P, ITS,Xdh) confirmed that the monotypic genus Tangtsinia was nested within and is synonymous with the genus Cephalanihera, in which an apical stigma has evolved independently at least twice. The tribe Neottieae (excluding Thaia) is strongly supported as monophyletic based on molecular analyses and divided into three clades as follows: Palmorchis diverged earliest; Cephalanthera (including the former Tangisinia) is sister to the remaining of the genera; and Aphyllorchis is immediate sister to Limodorum, forming a third dade with Neottia Guett. (including Listera) and Epipactis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic utility of sequences from two non-coding regions of plastid DNA, psbA-trnH and trnS-trnG, and one nuclear region, nrITS, was examined in an assessment of phylogenetic relationships among Neotropical sections of Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Dendrobieae). The nrITS region was 6 to 7 times more variable than the two cpDNA regions. No major incongruencies between the nuclear and cpDNA datasets were detected. The combined analysis revealed a well-resolved phylogeny at sectional level based on both maximum parsimony and Bayesian approaches. Six sections of Bulbophyllum are recognized for the Neotropics. Five of these were pre-existent but needed to be recircumscribed and one is proposed as new. We did not find disagreements between maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses, but the latter showed better resolved relationships between the sections, which are supported by morphological features. Of the two main clades of Neotropical Bulbophyllum species, one has two lineages and occurs predominantly north of the Equator. The second contains four lineages which are highly diverse in southeastern Brazil. Our results suggest a single colonization event in the Neotropics, from Africa to northern South America, followed by dispersion through the Andes to southeastern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiary geological processes and Quaternary climatic oscillations significantly contributed in determining plant species ranges in the Mediterranean basin, making it difficult to distinguish between relative influence of habitat fragmentation and long-distance dispersal in shaping actual species distribution across disjointed regions. We studied the phylogeographic structure of Anacamptis longicornu, a Western Mediterranean orchid species spanning over the main continental islands (Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Balearic Islands) and North Africa. We aimed to answer the question whether the highly disjointed distribution of this orchid was determined by: (I) recent over-sea dispersion after the last glacial phase; (2) range fragmentation after the refilling of Mediterranean basin at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC); (3) ancient dispersal events linked to the insurgence of favourable bioclimatic conditions in the basin. Haplotype differentiation, haplotype network, and mismatch analysis support the hypothesis that the current distribution ofA. longicornu is more likely explained by allopatric separation and restricted gene flow in connection with fragmentation of a continuous range or a series of ancient dispersal events, after the MSC but before the most recent glaciations. Recent over-sea dispersion, if occurring, must have played a marginal role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exceptionally wide range of systematic data has been accumulated on subtribe Orchidinae, which dominates the European orchid flora. Despite (or perhaps because of) this wealth of information, delimitation of genera within the subtribe continues to prompt extensive debate among taxonomists. Here, we use the controversial genus Orchis s.l. as a case-study to explore the broader issues that surround the definition and circumscription of genera, and suggest a new approach to selecting among competing formal classifications that focuses on the biological cohesion of the resulting taxa. Levels of postzygotic reproductive isolation, assessed as differential embryo mortality through extensive artificial crosses between species, are compared with three taxonomic treatments: a pre-cladistic morphological classification permitting polyphyly; a cladistic classification generated by applying monophyly to Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences; and a `post-cladistic' classification that aimed to compromise between morphological and molecular differences and permitted paraphyly. The monophyletic cladistic classification is by far the most consistent with levels of postzygotic isolation through embryo mortality. Reproductive isolation, sequence divergence and morphological similarity can all usefully be quantitatively compared with formal classifications, though floral morphology in orchids offers a high risk of rapid co-evolutionary divergence with pollinator guilds, often generating spurious monospecific 'genera'. Best practice in taxonomy reflects reciprocal illumination between key biological datasets and formal classifications, pursued in a rigorous framework of precise definitions of taxa and wellfounded evolutionary-phylogenetic concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use the mitochondrial region coxi to assess the usefulness of this marker in addressing evolutionary relationships within the tribe Orchideae. Despite the low overall variation uncovered in this region, one good phylogenetic rnrker was identified. A large group I intron was shared across subtribe Orchidinae and some species of Habenariinae sensu DressIer. The clades identified in the coxi tree were weakly supported, but consistent with previous studies based on nuclear ribosomal spacers (nrlTS). Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis of the combined coxl/ITS data matrix allowed us to highly improve the resolution of the ITS-only analysis and confirm several previously controversial relationships. A second purpose of this study was to analyse the evolution of the group I cox/ intron in Orchideae. This intron has a patchy distribution in angiosperms that has bccti claimed to be mostly due to horizontal transfer events. Our results suggest that, despite the differences observed in the co-conversion tracts in the tribe, vertical transfer is more consistent with the observed phylogenetic trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to clarify the patterns of chromosome evolution in Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae), chromosome counts were made of 18 O. sect. Pseudophrys taxa from the central-western Mediterranean Basin (lberian Peninsula and North Africa). The present results provide, for the first time, the chromosome numbers of O. algarvensis, O. arnoldii, O. bilunulata and O. dianica; four other taxa (O. atlantica, O. lupercalis, O.fusca, O. sicula) yielded chromosome numbers not previously reported for the Iberian Peninsula. The results support the idea that the basic plesiomorphic number of Ophrys is x = 18, with 2n = 36 in most species. About 40% of the specimens were polyploids. Karyomorphological data do not support classification of the investigated species into groups. However, the data reveal some geographical differentiation and suggest a possible direction of chromosomal evolution in Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the taxonomic revision of the genus Macradenia, we observed that a review was needed concerning four names, M. delicatula,M. paraensis, M. regnellii, and M. rubescens, published by the Brazilian botanist João Barbosa Rodrigues. Original illustrations are designated as lectotypes for M. paraensis, Trichopilia multiflora (a synonym of M. paraensis) and M. rubescens. Macradenia rubescens is treated as a synonym of M. surinamensis, the latter lectotypified here using a Wullschlaegel specimen from GOET. A Warming specimen at W is designated as the lectotype of Warmingia eugenii, and W. loefgrenii and M. regnellii, two synonymys of W. eugenii, are lectotypified from specimens at BR and P, respectively. No original material is known for M. delicatula, and, as a result, the precise application of this name is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the Asiatic orchid genus Holcoglossum (Vandeae, Aeridinae) were inferred from sequences of chloroplast matK and trnL-F genes and nuclear ITS regions of 25 taxa (12 Holcoglossum, 11 Aeridinae, 2 outgroups). Analysis of combined datasets with parsimony and Bayesian methods revealed that Holcoglossum is highly supported as monophyletic, including two debatable species, H. amesianum and H. subulifolium, and consists of three well-supported major subclades which agree well with biodiversity centers of Holcoglossum: one tropical subclade comprising four species, another forming a polytomy comprising six species restricted to the temperate alpine region of the Hengduan Mountains, and the third with two species somewhat distributed between the first two regions. However, these three major subclades are only partly in accordance with previous infrageneric classifications based on morphological characters. The lip lamella, long and conical spur and tapering stipe seem to have evolved at least twice in Holcoglossum, similarly the pollination system shift has occurred at least twice. Vicariance analyses and molecular phylogeny suggest that Holcoglossum dispersed from tropical regions to the Hengduan Mountains and then radiated there as a result of the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses information from the 2,875 angiosperm species described from Brazil between the years 1990 and 2006 to provide insights into the present status of botanical collections and taxonomic research in this country. The analysis shows that approximately one new species is described every two days, mostly from the Atlantic rainforest and cerrado biomes. Most species described belong to Orchidaceae (297 species), Fabaceae (288), Bromeliaceae (280), Asteraceae (166) or Poaceae (126). The average number of collections per square kilometer in Brazil is 0.59, a number well below with the ideal index of three collections per square kilometer and indicates a need for more intensive collection efforts, especially in view of the land-use pressures causing loss of vegetational types before their floristic composition is known. We conclude that reaching an adequate knowledge of the Brazilian flora is a goal that can only be achieved through intensive investment in improving scientific collections and training human resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-five years after the last major revision, the results of a molecular phylogenetic analysis have necessitated a re-classification of the Disinae (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae). The small genus Schizodium, endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, is deeply embedded in the genus Disa and its generic status can thus no longer be maintained. We propose a monogeneric subtribe Disinae and a subdivision of Disa into eighteen sections and one nothosection. Excluding the latter, the sections are monophyletic, well-supported, morphologically distinguishable and are delimited to maximize the congruence with the previous classification. All 180 described and one undescribed species, as well as four named, natural hybrids are enumerated and assigned to sections arid the nothosection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents PCR primers and PCR conditions for low-copy nuclear genes in Ophrys and related orchid genera identified via screening of both published and newly designed primers. For Ophrys, the most useful markers identified in this screen are !the LFY/FLO gene which contains an intron of 2 kb size and the MADS-box P1/GLO gene whose 2 first introns contain single nucleotide polymorphisms with variation at the populational level. In the taxa tested, our PCR primers amplified single-copy regions. Phylogenetic analysis of closely related taxa of Ophrys section Pseudophrys, based !n LFY, revealed the following groups that are delimited by morphology: O. lutea s.I.; O. omegaifera s.l. with O. iricolor nested in this group; the two O. fusca s.l. taxa, O. leucadica and O. bilunulata; and the O. fusca s.l. taxon O. cinereophila together with a group of endemics from Crete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although originally ascribed to the genus Gymnadenia R. Br. (Orchidinae: Orchidaceae), the Balkan endemic orchid (2. frivaldii Hampe ex Griseb. has since been more frequently assigned to Pseudorchis Séguier (syn. Leucorchis E. Mey., Bicchia Parl.). Molecular phylogenetic analysis using the ITS region of rDNA reveals a large disparity between the two genera and demonstrates that frivaldii is embedded well within Gymnadenia s.s. Macromorphological and SEM studies further elucidate the floral and vegetative similarities between G. frivaldii and Pseudorchis, notably the heterochronically reduced gynostemium and small, short-spurred labellum; these similarities represent convergent evolutionary transitions, whereas other characters such as contrasting stigma and tuber morphologies provide stronger phylogenetic signals. The sequence-based phylogeny suggests that G. frivaldii represents one of three cases of independent paedomorphic floral reduction inferred in the genus; simplification has been more severe than in G. odoratissima but less severe than in the closely related Gymnadenia subgenus Nigritella. Alternatively, an effectively instantaneous evolutionary origin through hybridisation with a (most likely diploid) species of subgenus Nigritella remains possible. Reports of rare hybridisation between G. frivaldii and members of subgenus Nigritella are acceptably well documented, whereas reports of hybridisation with several other more phylogenetically distant orchid species (including the often sympatric Pseudorchis albida) are considered less secure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraordinary floral diversity in orchids reflects the importance of orchid-pollinator associations in orchid evolution, and pollination biology is regarded as a driving force in orchid diversification and speciation. As a consequence, a prominent role has been attributed to the specificity of orchid-pollinator associations and to pollinator mediated pre-mating barriers for maintaining reproductive isolation among orchid species. Changes in floral morphology, coloration or odor may lead to the attraction of different pollinators and to the occupation of different ethological niches. Although this concept is appealing, it does not find strong support in Mediterranean orchids, subtribe Orchidinae, where phylogenetic studies have revealed that speciation is not strictly associated with shifts in pollination biology and where numerous literature reports described the wide occurrence of hybridization. Most Mediterranean orchids are food-deceptive, by generally mimicking rewarding plants, and the low specificity of this pollination strategy is the main cause of the observed hybridization. Genetic analyses of hybrid zones have revealed that most hybrid individuals were first generation hybrids. These findings, together with the absence of polyploid chromosome numbers, suggest that hybridization is of limited importance as basis for speciation in Mediterranean orchids. However, strong karyotype differences between closely related species that share pollinators, suggest that chromosomal changes play a prominent role in reducing hybrid fitness and maintaining reproductive isolation among sympatric Mediterranean orchid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the morphological and molecular investigation of the percentage and maternity of Anacamptis albuferensis in Mallorca, Spain. Sequencing of nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer and plastid trnL regions with polymerase chain reaction-restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis; Provision of further evidence of the generic cohesion of the genus Anacamptis; Morphological contrast between the parents that is matched by an intermediacy of the hybrid.

Describes the taxa of the genus Cyrtopodium R. Br, Orchidaceae. Vegetative specimens of the names of the taxa; Designation of epitypes; Correlation of the distribution of terrestrial species of Cyrtopodium with soil type, soil humidity, and surrounding vegetation.

A lectotype is selected for Chrysobaphus roxburghii Wall. (= Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl.) using a specimen from WU. Specimens from the Wallichian Catalogue (Numer. List), cited as types for C. roxburghii in some recent publications, are determined as not original material for the name. The only other original element known is a Rumphius illustration, t. 41. fig. 3 (miscited as t. 51 fig. 3 in the protologue). The Rumphius illustration is not a good choice for lectotype becasue its identity is ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the proposed conservation of the name Serapias helleborine for an orchid species. Topics covered include the failure of previous attempts to typify the name Serapias helleborine, the selection of a drawing of a plant collected by L. Fuchs around 1550 in Germany and the use of specimens from the Burser Herbarium to serve as the types of elements for the Serapias species.

The article focuses on the proposal to conserve the name Ophrys subfusca (Orchidaceae) with a conserved type. Topics discussed include Ophrys subfusca was first described under its basionym O. lutea Cav. var. subfusca by Reichenbach fil, Ophrys lutea var. subfusca was renamed Ophrys lutea subsp. O. subfusca by Murbeck, and designation of O. subfusca due non availability of matching botanical specimen in Reichenbach's herbarium.

The article discusses the proposal to conserve the name Dendrobium officinale against Dendrobium stricklandianum, Dendrobium tosaense, and Dendrobium pere-fauriei belonging to the family Orchidaceae. It mentions description of Chinese medicine plant, Dendrobium officinale in 1936 based on plants from a herbal medicine market in Zhengjiang Province, China. It mentions various characteristics of Dendrobium including slender stems, leaf uniformly green, and flower bract with brownish zone.