Search

In the montane flora of Taiwan, Anaphalis nepalensis is the most widely present species of Anaphalis (Compositae), yet its taxonomic status is uncertain. In the present study, we employed both morphological and molecular data to demonstrate that A. nepalensis is misidentified and does not occur in Taiwan. In contrast, the name has been misapplied in Taiwan to the previously described endemic species, A. nagasawae, which can be further divided into two varieties based on the number of heads in the inflorescence: A. nagasawae var. nagasawae has one or two heads, while A. nagasawae var. niitakayamensis has three to five heads. Furthermore, the typification of A. nagasawae, A. nepalensis and Gnaphalium niitakayamense are discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cryptic lineage is a genetically diverged but morphologically unrecognized variant of a known species. Clarifying cryptic lineage evolution is essential for quantifying species diversity. In sympatric cryptic lineage divergence compared with allopatric divergence, the forces of divergent selection and mating patterns override geographical isolation. Introgression, by supplying preadapted or neutral standing genetic variations, can promote sympatric cryptic lineage divergence via selection. However, most studies concentrated on extant species introgression, ignoring the genetic legacy of introgression from extinct or unsampled lineages ("ghost introgression"). Cycads are an ideal plant for studying the influence of ghost introgression because of their common interspecific gene flow and past high extinction rate. Here, we utilized reference‐based ddRADseq to clarify the role of ghost introgression in the evolution of a previously identified sympatric cryptic lineage in Cycas revoluta. After re‐evaluating the evolutionary independency of cryptic lineages, the group‐wise diverged single‐nucleotide polymorphisms among sympatric and allopatric lineages were compared and functionally annotated. Next, we employed an approximate Bayesian computation method for hypothesis testing to clarify the cryptic lineage evolution and ghost introgression effect. SNPs with the genomic signatures of ghost introgression were further annotated. Our results reconfirmed the evolutionary independency of cryptic lineage among C. revoluta and demonstrated that ghost introgression to the noncryptic lineage facilitated their divergence. Gene function related to heat stress and disease resistance implied ecological adaptation of the main extant populations of C. revoluta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study analyzed the epidermal morphology of Asparagaceae in detail and assessed its systematic importance. At the familial level, no consistent characteristics were found, but anticlinal wall and stomata morphology provided systematic information of different tribes, especially Ophiopogoneae and Polygonateae. In Ophiopogoneae, Liriope and Ophiopogon had similar epidermis, which implying a close relationship between them, and was also supported by related studies. The leaves of Polygonateae exhibited rounded and undulate anticlinal wall. Polygonatum arisanense var. formosanum had a rounded anticlinal wall, whereas other species exhibited undulate anticlinal walls. Different epidemis of Po. arisanense var. formosanum supported the variety treatment of Po. arisanense. The intergeneric relationship was also interpreted based on the anticlinal wall and stomata. Therefore, the epidermis could provide the systematic value of Asparagaceae. The present study also revealed the linkage of stomata and habitat types, though the adaptative significance of epidermal traits needs further study. Research Highlights: Anticlinal wall and stomatal morphology had systematic potential on tribal or generic levels of Asparagaceae.Stomatal types of Asparagaceae might be linked to environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]