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Deprea is the genus with the second highest species richness in tribe Physalideae (Solanaceae) and comprises 50 species that are mainly distributed in the Andes of South America. The taxonomy of Deprea has been unstable after controversial hypotheses about its position and circumscription. Additionally, biogeographical inferences are only based on observations of the restricted area of distribution of some species and no ancestral area estimation have been performed. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis and an ancestral area reconstruction of Deprea in order to establish its circumscription, resolve its position within Physalideae, and reconstruct its biogeographical history. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Forty-three Deprea species and 26 related taxa were sampled for three DNA markers ( psbA-trnH , ITS, and waxy ). A Bayesian binary MCMC model was applied in order to infer ancestral areas. Deprea is resolved as a strongly supported monophyletic group according to its current circumscription and is placed within subtribe Withaninae of Physalideae. The phylogenetic relationships enabled us to solve taxonomic problems including the rejection and acceptance of previous synonyms. The most probable ancestral area for Deprea is the Northern Andes of South America and the Amotape-Huancabamba zone. Our phylogeny provides increased resolution and support for the current position and circumscription of Deprea . Better resolution of interspecific relationships was also obtained, although some affinities remain unclear. The phylogenetic and ancestral area reconstructions provide a framework for addressing taxonomic problems and investigating new evolutionary questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an integral study of fruits belonging to native argentinean species of Lamiaceae, we conducted a research of Lepechinia Willd. native species (Lamiaceae-Nepetoideae-Mentheae). The aim of the present investigation was to perform a detailed morphohistological fruit characterization of L. floribunda, L. meyenii and L. vesiculosa and evaluate the possible taxonomic value of these characters. We worked with fresh and herbarium material. The observations were made with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Shape, color and presence of the abscission scar waxes were the exomorphological diagnostic characters while abscission scar shape and position, and the surface SEM view of nutlets did not show differences for all three species. In terms of histology, L. floribunda and L. meyenii have similar pericarp structure, differing only by the thickness of the layers. In contrast, L. vesiculosa shows differences at the mesocarp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study which determined the identity of Witheringia (W. ) sellowiana, a narrow endemic species from São Paulo, Brazil. A review of the related literature on the studies of the family Solanaceae is offered. The typification of W. sellowiana and its transfer to Aureliana is described. Also listed are the distinctive taxonomical key to the species of Aureliana.

Solanum delicatulum, a species only known to southern Brazil, is reported for the first time for Argentina and Paraguay. The species is described and illustrated, and a discussion about its synonymy is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic survey of Aureliana Sendtner, a small neotropical genus of 5 species: A. fasciculata (Vellozo) Sendt. [with 3 varieties: var. fasciculata, var. tomentella (Sendt.) Barboza et A. T. Hunz. nov. comb., and var. longifolia (Sendt.) A. T. Hunz. et Barboza nov. comb.], A. brasillana (A. T. Hunz.) Barboza et A. T. Hunz. nov. comb., A. tomentosa Sendt., A. velutina Sendt. and A. wettsteiniana (Witas.) A. T. Hunz. et Barboza nov. comb. The 7 taxa grow in Brazil, but 3 of them deserve a special mention: A. fasciculata var. tomentella reaches southeastern Paraguay and Argentina (eastern Misiones); instead A. fasciculata var. longifolia and A. fasciculata var. fasciculata show a rather peculiar distribution because aside of their eastern area, both have been collected in Bolivia (Santa Cruz and Pando). After a discussion on the complicated taxonomical history of the genus, the authors point out its relationships with 6 allied genera of the Solaneae, above all with Capsicum L.; a key to identify these 7 genera is included as well. Each taxon is described together with remarks about their geographical distribution and affinities. Five plates and a map are included in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Capsicum (Solanaceae), native to the tropical and temperate Americas, comprises the well-known sweet and hot chili peppers and several wild species. So far, only partial taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses have been done for the genus. Here, the phylogenetic relationships between nearly all taxa of Capsicum were explored to test the monophyly of the genus and to obtain a better knowledge of species relationships, diversification and expansion. Methods Thirty-four of approximately 35 Capsicum species were sampled. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed using two plastid markers (matK and psbA-trnH) and one single-copy nuclear gene (waxy). The evolutionary changes of nine key features were reconstructed following the parsimony ancestral states method. Ancestral areas were reconstructed through a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis. Key Results Capsicum forms a monophyletic clade, with Lycianthes as a sister group, following both phylogenetic approaches. Eleven well-supported clades (four of them monotypic) can be recognized within Capsicum, although some interspecific relationships need further analysis. A few features are useful to characterize different clades (e.g. fruit anatomy, chromosome base number), whereas some others are highly homoplastic (e.g. seed colour). The origin of Capsicum is postulated in an area along the Andes of western to north-western South America. The expansion of the genus has followed a clockwise direction around the Amazon basin, towards central and south-eastern Brazil, then back to western South America, and finally northwards to Central America. Conclusions New insights are provided regarding interspecific relationships, character evolution, and geographical origin and expansion of Capsicum. A clearly distinct early-diverging clade can be distinguished, centred in western-north-western South America. Subsequent rapid speciation has led to the origin of the remaining clades. The diversification of Capsicum has culminated in the origin of the main cultivated species in several regions of South to Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]