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In Euphorbiaceae tribe Hippomaneae is the pantropical genus Microstachys, comprised by 24 species, mostly from Brazil. Palynological studies with several representatives of the genus are sc...

Microstachys crassifolia, a new species from Chapada dos Veadeiros region in the State of Goias, central Brazil, is here described and illustrated. Its habit and general morphology resembles that of M. nana Silva & Esser, an endemic species from the State of Parana, southern Brazil. Both species are hemicryptophytes from grasslands, with a well-developed underground system, glabrous leaves and reddish inflorescences and fruits, but M. crassifolia has fleshy leaves without glands while M. nana has membranaceous leaves with pateliform, submarginal glands.

Fifteen insect gall morphotypes were found on 11 plant species (8 families) in three fragments of the Dense Ombrophylous Lowland Forest, in the municipalities of Maracajá, Içara and Araranguá, Santa Catarina. Most of the galls occurred in leaves, followed by stems galls and a single gall morphotype in Leandra sp. (Melatomastaceae), occurred in both leaves and stems. Glabrous and isolated galls were more frequent than hairy and gregarious galls. Lauraceae was the family of plant with greater wealth of galls. It was pointed out the first record of the plant Microstachys serrulata (Euphorbiaceae) for the state of Santa Catarina. Galls found in Ilex theezans (Aquifoliaceae), Microstachys serrulata (Euphorbiaceae), Dahlstedtia muehlbergiana (Fabaceae), Nectandra oppositifolia (Lauraceae), Leandra sp. (Melastomataceae), Miconia sellowiana (Melastomataceae), Myrcia multiflora (Myrtaceae) and Urera nitida (Urticaceae) were recorded for the first time in the State of Santa Catarina.

Resumo Myrtaceae está representada no Brasil por 23 gêneros e 974 espécies e é uma das famílias mais representativas na Cadeia do Espinhaço. A Serra Geral é um dos soerguimentos que compõem o Espinhaço Setentrional e representa uma lacuna florística na região. Desta forma o objetivo deste trabalho foi produzir o inventário florístico e o estudo taxonômico para a família Myrtaceae na Serra Geral de Licínio de Almeida, Bahia. Foram realizadas excursões ao campo entre 2012 e 2015 e os materiais foram depositados nos herbários HUEFS e ALCB. Foram reconhecidos oito gêneros e 43 espécies, sendo Psidium o gênero mais diverso (14 spp.), seguido de Eugenia (10 spp.), Myrcia (oito spp.), Myrciaria (cinco spp.) e Campomanesia (três spp.); Blepharocalyx, Calyptranthes e Plinia foram representados por uma espécie cada. Psidium rhombeum e Psidium ganevii são endêmicas da Bahia, enquanto que Calyptranthes clusiifolia é uma nova ocorrência para áreas serranas na Bahia. São apresentados uma chave de identificação específica, descrições e comentários, além de fotos e ilustrações diagnósticas. Abstract Myrtaceae is represented by 23 genera and 974 species in Brazil, and it is one of the most representative families in the Espinhaço Range. The Serra Geral is one of the mountain ranges that make up Northern Espinhaço and represents a floristic gap in the region. Thus, the main purpose of this work was to produce a floristic inventory and taxonomic study for Myrtaceae in Serra Geral of Licínio de Almeida, Bahia. Nine field trips were carried out between 2012 and 2015, and the collected specimens were processed and housed in ALCB and HUEFS herbaria. Eight genera and 43 species of Myrtaceae were found, amongst which Psidium proved the most diverse genus (14 spp.), followed by Eugenia (10 spp.), Myrcia (8 spp.), Myrciaria (5 spp.) and Campomanesia (3 spp.). Blepharocalyx, Calyptranthes and Plinia are represented by a single species each. Psidium rhombeum and Psidium ganevii are endemic species to Bahia, while Calyptranthes clusiifolia is a new occurrence in the state. This study presents a specific identification key, descriptions and comments, as well as photos and diagnostic illustrations, for each species.

Although the pineapple was common throughout tropical America well before 1492, its wild and cultivated forms were poorly known until the late twentieth century. The genus Ananas includes A. comosus, a self-incompatible diploid, vegetatively propagated from axillary suckers and the fruit crown, and A. macrodontes, a self-fertile, crownless tetraploid reproducing through seeds and stolons. The former presents five botanical varieties: the wild var. microstachys and var. parguazensis; the edible pineapple, var. comosus; the smooth-leaved var. erectifolius; and the spiny var. bracteatus, two fiber cultigens now exploited as ornamentals. Diversity studies indicate that var. comosus and var. erectifolius are related to populations of var. microstachys from the northern Amazon, whereas var. bracteatus evolved in the southeast, through the introgression of A. macrodontes genes. While the Guianas constitute the likely center of pineapple domestication from wild and intermediate forms, the wide western Amazon cultivar diversity suggests a secondary center where sexual recombination mostly involved domesticated forms. According to archaeological and linguistic data, the edible pineapple has been cultivated for more than 3000 years in Amazonia and coastal Peru, and 2500 years in Mesoamerica, implying a very early domestication and neotropical diffusion. In the sixteenth century, Portuguese traders diffused Cultivars Singapore Canning, Selangor Green, and Perola from coastal Brazil to tropical Asia and coastal Africa. A wider diversity was cultivated in the nineteenth-century European glasshouses, of which only 'Queen' and 'Smooth Cayenne' have survived and diffused to tropical production regions. The much wider Amazonian cultivar diversity has not been exploited yet.

Pscheidt, A.C., H.-J. Esser & I. Cordeiro (2017). A new species of Microstachys (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae) in Paraguay. Candollea 72: 27–30. In English, English and Spanish abstracts. A new species, Microstachys dasycarpa Pscheidt, Esser & Cordeiro (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae), endemic to Paraguayan Chaco, is described and illustrated. The genus Microstachys A. Juss. is represented in this area by other three species : Microstachys corniculata (Vahl) Griseb., Microstachys hispida (Mart.) Govaerts and Microstachys serrulata (Mart.) Mull. Arg., with which this new species is compared.

The taxonomic status of the Bulbostylis capillaris complex in southern South America is re-assessed. B. communis and B. contracta are names proposed for taxa previously assigned to B. capillaris. B. capillaris var. elatior and f. fasciculata are reduced to the synonymy of B. communis var. communis. A new variety, B. communis var. scabrida is described. B. capillaris f. stenantha is placed in synonymy under B. contracta. B. capillaris var. pyriformis is reduced to synonymy under B. loefgrenii (Boeckeler) Prata & M. G. Lopez. B. tenuifolia (B. capillaris var. tenuifolia) is excluded from the Argentinean flora. Some consideration is given to B. capillaris var. microstachys (Scirpus microstachys).

Croton section Pedicellati is described, with a disjunct distribution in Mexico and South America. It is recovered sister to Croton section Lamprocroton in Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood, and Maximum Parsimony analyses of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL-F DNA sequence data. Two new subsections, Croton subsection Lamprocroton and Croton subsection Argentini, are recognized within Croton section Lamprocroton. These well-supported sister clades include species with bifid and multifid styles, respectively. Croton breedlovei, a new lepidote species of section Pedicellati, endemic to Chiapas, Mexico, is described. Croton breedlovei is morphologically and phylogenetically closer to other lepidote species from Brazil than it is to the stellate C. tenuilobus, also from Mexico. This suggests two separate dispersal events from South America for the two Mexican species in the section. The replacement names C. longicolumellus and C. tenuicaulis are made for the later homonyms C. microcarpus and C. microstachys...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important root symbionts that can provide benefits to plant hosts, yet we understand little about how neighboring hosts in a plant community contribute to the composition of the AMF community. We hypothesized that the composition of the plant neighborhood, including the identities of both host and neighbor, would alter AMF community composition. We tested this in a glasshouse experiment in which a native perennial grass (Nassella pulchra) and three annual grasses (Avena barbata, Bromus hordeaceaous and Vulpia microstachys) were grown in two neighborhoods: conspecific monocultures and heterospecific perennial-annual mixtures. To identify AMF taxa colonizing plant roots, we used a combination of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and cloning. Both host and neighbor were important in structuring AMF communities. Unique AMF communities were associated with each plant host in monoculture. In heterospecific neighborhoods, the annual neighbors V. microstachys, A. barbata, and B. hordeaceus influenced N. pulchra AMF in different ways (synergistic, controlling, or neutral) and the reciprocal effect was not always symmetric. Our findings support a community approach to AMF studies, which can be used to increase our understanding of processes such as invasion and succession.

To clarify the last pineapple classification, which only recognizes the tetraploid crownless A. macrodontes and the diploid A. comosus, with three cultivated and two wild botanical varieties, we re-establish A. comosus var. microstachys and revise ancient synonymies, underlining misinterpretations and distinguishing horticultural names from botanical names whenever possible.

The riodinid Rhetus belphegor (Westwood) (n. comb., previously in the genus Nirodia) is a critically endangered butterfly confined to the “campos rupestres”; a high-altitude rocky outcrop vegetation from southeast Brazil. The aim of this study is to unveil its biology and evaluate its systematic position. Based on museum data and public contribution of data (in the context of citizen science), R. belphegor is restricted to the “Espinhaço Mountain Chain”, and occurs exclusively above 1000 m. Adults were found resting upside down on rock walls. Females searched for host plants during the hottest hours of the day, depositing 1–2 eggs on leaves of the herbaceous subshrub Microstachys serrulata (Euphorbiaceae). The non-myrmecophilous larvae developed through six instars and the developmental time from egg to adult was ~50 days. Larvae are covered with abundant setae. Morphology of immature stages and molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that Nirodia is part of Rhetus, justifying the generic change. Our data supports that Nirodia is the only species in its clade associated with high mountains, in contrast to its lowland congeners. The description of the immature biology and clarification on its systematic position are essential steps for the establishment of better and more effective conservation efforts for this magnificent Brazilian butterfly., LAK was supported by CNPq (163119/2013-9) and CAPES (3200-14-0). NS was supported by CNPq (141254/2013-0) and CAPES (3700/14-3). AVLF thanks the CNPq (fellowship 302585/2011-7), the National Science Foundation (DEB-1256742) and the BIOTA-FAPESP Program (11/50225-3). NW acknowledges funding from the Academy of Finland (265511). This publication is part of the RedeLep “Rede Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Lepidópteros” SISBIOTA-Brasil/CNPq (563332/2010-7), of the project “Identificação Molecular de Biodiversidade de Invertebrados Terrestres” (Grant 564954/2010-1) included in the “Rede Nacional de Identificação Molecular da Biodiversidade—BR-BoL” (MCT/CNPq/FNDCT 50/2010), and of the collaborative grant ‘Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: A multidisciplinary framework for biodiversity prediction in the Brazilian Atlantic forest hotspot’, US NSF, NASA and FAPESP (Grant 2013/50297-0).

Se analizaron los patrones de distribución de los géneros de Euphorbiaceae bajo un enfoque panbiogeográfico, empleando el método del análisis de parsimonia de endemismos (PAE). Se obtuvieron cuatro trazos generalizados, que unen las regiones siguientes: (1) Neotropical-Afrotropical (determinado por los géneros Amanoa, Caperonia, Conceveiba, Manprounea, Pogonophora, Savia y Tetrorchidium ); (2) Australiana Templada-Australiana Tropical-Neoguineana-Oriental (determinado por los géneros Actephila, Baloghia, Choriceras, Petalostigma y Sauropus ); (3) Australiana Templada-Australiana Tropical- Neoguineana-Afrotropical-Neotropical (determinado por los géneros Acalypha, Alchornea, Cleidion, Drypetes, Margaritaria, Microstachys, Omphalea y Phyllanthus ); y (4) Neoguineana-Oriental-Afrotopical (determinado por los géneros Glochidion, Macaranga, Microdesmis y Shirakopsis ). Dos trazos generalizados se superponen en la región Afrotropical, la cual es identificada como un nodo.

Nineteen Cymbopogon taxa belonging to 11 species, two varieties, one hybrid taxon and four unidentified species were analysed for their essential oil constituents and RAPD profiles to determine the extent of genetic similarity and thereby the phylogenetic relationships among them. Remarkable variation was observed in the essential oil yield ranging from 0.3% in Cymbopogon travancorensis Bor. to 1.2% in Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats var. motia. Citral, a major essential oil constituent, was employed as the base marker for chemotypic clustering. Based on genetic analysis, elevation of Cymbopogon flexuosus var. microstachys (Hook. F.) Soenarko to species status and separate species status for C. travancorensis Bor., which has been merged under C. flexuosus (Steud.) Wats were suggested towards resolving some of the taxonomic complexes in Cymbopogon. The separate species status for the earlier proposed varieties of C. martinii (motia and sofia) is further substantiated by these analyses. The unidentified species of Cymbopogon have been observed as intermediate forms in the development of new taxa.

We analyzed how abiotic stress and competition interact to control the abundance and performance of the native annual grass Vulpia microstachys (Lonard and Gould; Poaceae) in a heterogeneous environment. At our study site, V. microstachys grows in nonserpentine grasslands dominated by tall invasive grasses, serpentine meadows dominated by short native forbs, and rocky serpentine slopes with a sparse native herb cover. We hypothesized that these three intermixed habitats acted as a gradient of increasing abiotic stress and decreasing aboveground competition, respectively. We further expected that the abundance and performance of V. microstachys would be highest in serpentine meadows, where neither aboveground competition nor abiotic stress were maximal. Soil and biotic variables showed roughly the expected patterns, but V. microstachys did not show the predicted peak in the middle of the gradient. Emergence, seedling survival, and abundance of V. microstachys were highest, and growth and seed production of survivors were lowest, on rocky serpentine slopes. Field experiments revealed that removal of competitors enhanced all demographic parameters, but only in the more productive habitats. An interaction between seed source and habitat, affecting emergence and survival, indicated ecotypic adaptation to the rocky serpentine slope habitat. We conclude that individual variation caused by local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity allows V. microstachys to survive in widely different habitats, none of which are optimal, resulting in considerable variation in demography.

Imprints of fossil insect eggs (oviposition slits of endophytic eggs) on Lower Jurassic plants from Franconia (Bavaria, Germany) are described. Two forms can be distinguished. Form A (2.5–3 mm long, 0.5–0.7 mm wide) is comparable to Hysterites friesii Nathorst 1876, who described it on Podozamites leaves (Coniferales) and considered it to be fungal remains. The present oviposition slits are, however, all on Schmeissneria microstachys leaves (Ginkgoales), and are therefore not considered to be conspecific with Nathorst's species. Form B (ca. 2 mm long, 0.7 mm wide) is more rare, and has only been found on Podozamites distans leaves but cannot be identical with Nathorst's material because they demonstrate a different shape. Form A has been deposited by dragonflies (Odonata); the insects that deposited form B may also have belonged to this group but this cannot be said with certainty. Comparison with other fossil insect egg/plant relationships are made, e.g. with comparable eggs on Triassic material of Equisetites arenaceus. The parent plants must have lived in an aquatic, or more probably semi-aquatic environment.

The essential oil of Cymbopogon microstachys produced from wild plants collected in the foothills of Manipur was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The results showed that the oil contained (E)-methyl isoeugenol (56.4-60.7%) as the major constituent. This is the first time that an oil of C. microstachys has been found with (E)-methyl isoeugenol as the major constituent.

The female fructification belonging to the new genus Schmeissneria, Schmeissneria microstachys (Presl, 1833) Kirchner et Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, comb. nov., has been found attached to short shoots bearing leaves that were formerly called Glossophyllum? sp. A. Weber, 1968 and that are consequently now also called Schmeissneria microstachys. The male fructification Stachyopitys preslii Schenk, 1867 belongs in all probability to the same plant. Furthermore, the female fructification Karkenia hauptmannii, Kirchner et Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, sp. nov. has been found attached to short shoots carrying leaves that have been called Sphenobaiera spectabilis (Nathorst) Florin but are now removed from this species and are consequently also called Karkenia hauptmannii.

Microstachys nana and M. ditassoides subsp. villosa , two new taxa endemic to Brazil, are described, illustrated and compared with related species. Microstachys nana is closely related to M. glandulosa and is distinguished by its herbaceous habit, glabrous to glabrescent branches, pedicellate pistillate flowers, ovary with developed appendages, and inflorescences with spaced flowers. Microstachys ditassoides subsp. villosa is related to M. ditassoides subsp. ditassoides , from which differs by its densely villous branches, leaves with flat and sparsely serrate margins, oblong-obovate staminate sepals obtuse at the apex, and externally glabrous pistillate sepals with cylindrical lateral-basal glands. Two new combinations are proposed: Microstachys glandulosa is based on Cnemidostachys glandulosa , a Brazilian species with broadly elliptic to orbicular, pubescent leaves and marginal glands situated in small lateral lobes; Microstachys stipulacea is based on Gymnanthes stipulacea , as a glabrous species unusual for its long petioles and stipules and broadly elliptic to suborbicular leaves, and known from the border region between Brazil and Uruguay.

The origin of angiosperms has been under debate since the time of Darwin. While there has been much speculation in past decades about pre-Cretaceous angiosperms, including Archaefructus, these reports are controversial. The earliest reliable fossil record of angiosperms remains restricted to the Cretaceous, even though recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggest an origin for angiosperms much earlier than the current fossil record. In this paper, after careful SEM and light microscopic work, we report fossils with angiospermous traits of the Jurassic age. The fossils were collected from the Haifanggou Formation (middle Jurassic) in western Liaoning, northeast China. They include two female structures and an associated leaf on the same slab. One of the female structures is physically connected to the apex of a short shoot. The female organs are borne in pairs on short peduncles that are arranged along the axis of the female structure. Each of the female organs has a central unit that is surrounded by an envelope with characteristic longitudinal ribs. Each central unit has two locules completely separated by a vertical septum. The apex of the central unit is completely closed. The general morphology places these fossils into the scope of Schmeissneria, an early Jurassic genus that was previously attributed to Ginkgoales. Because the closed carpel is a character only found in angiosperms, the closed apex of the central unit suggests the presence of angiospermy in Schmeissneria. This angiospermous trait implies either a Jurassic angiosperm or a new seed plant group parallel to angiosperms and other known seed plants. As an angiosperm, the Liassic age (earliest Jurassic) of Schmeissneria microstachys would suggest an origin of angiosperms during the Triassic. Although still uncertain, this could have a great impact on our perspective of the history, diversity and systematics of seed plants and angiosperms.

Eight underutilised hardwood species, namelyXymalos monospora, Hagenia abyssinica, Fagaropsis angolensis, Strombosia scheffleri, Spirostachys africana, Ostryoderris stuhlmanii, Croton microstachys andSyzygium guineense were tested for their compatibility with Portland cement. Cylindrical samples of cement-wood mixtures consisting of 10∶1 (cement: wood) were measured for compressive strength at 3, 7 and 14 days after the onset of curing. Results indicate that all species exceptCroton microstachys and possiblySpirostachys africana have fairly comparable compatibility with Portland cement. These species, therefore, have the potential for use in the manufacture of cement particleboards.

The pantropical genus Microstachys A. Juss. is reconsidered, including, among other genera, Elachocroton F. Muell. and Sebastiania sect. Microstachyopsis (Miull. Arg.) Pax as synonyms. It is distinguished from Sebastiania Spreng. A lectotype is chosen for Cnemidostachys Mart. & Zucc., another synonym. New combinations are provided for species from Africa (Microstachys acetosella (Milne-Redh.) Esser, M. dalzielii (Hutch.) Esser, M. faradianensis (Beille) Esser) and South America (M. bidentata (Mart. & Zucc.) Esser, M. ditassoides (Didr.) Esser, M. heterodoxa (Mfill. Arg.) Esser, M. nummularifolia (Cordeiro) Esser, M. revoluta (Ule) Esser, M. uleana (Pax & K. Hoffm.) Esser).

Those who understand and love the Amazon forest call it the Green Heaven. Those who misunderstand and despise it know it by the name of the Green Hell. A recent political figure has termed the Amazon a desert of trees which must be destroyed. Unfortunately this latter point of view seems now to be in the ascendency. Why should this vast area of 2,700,000 square miles be protected? There are many reasons for the preservation of this last great wet tropical forest which may comprise as many as 100,000 species of plants. Today I want to discuss with you only one of these reasons-but one which, for the future of mankind, appears to me to be one of the most compelling: its incalculable value as an untapped emporium of germ plasm for new economic plants. The great Russian botanist Vavilov postulated that there were eight major centres of the origin of cultivated plants. Some botanists have pointed out that these centres nearly cover the world's surface. This is not, however, a valid criticism. Most of Africa, with the exception of Abyssinia, has given little to the store of man's economic plants. Australia has yielded no major species. All of North America north of Mexico has been singularly parsimonious. What about the tropical Amazon forests? The tapioca plant, Manihot esculenta, appears to have originated in the Amazon. In pre-Columbian times, it had spread throughout tropical America. It now has taken its place as one of the dozen or thirteen major food plants of the world, having been accepted as the prime source of carbohydrate in many tropical parts of Africa and Asia. The cultivated pineapple, Ananas comosus, is thought to have originated in the western part of the Amazon Valley from wild types such as A. microstachys. Specialists now believe that the cultivated cacao tree, source of chocolate, arose through hybridization of wild species in the westernmost Amazon of Colombia and Ecuador. It is probable that the narcotic coca plant, Erythroxylon Coca, originated in the eastern or Amazonian slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. The southwestern part of the Brazilian Amazon appears to be the home of achiote, Bixa Orellana, now widely cultivated throughout the tropics; it arose possibly from the wild B. excelsa of the Acre area. Another recently domesticated plant of the Amazon is timb6 or barbasco, various species of Lonchocarpus, especially L. utilis, a main source of the insecticide rotenone. For many years now, the guarana plant, Paullinia cupana, has been cultivated in the central part of the Amazon for the preparation of various caffeine-rich beverages. But undoubtedly no native of Amazonia has so altered human life around the globe as the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, one of the most recently domesticated of our major crops. Were it only for the impact of three of these cultigens on modern living

Studies of the inheritance of electrophoretic banding patterns in Festuca microstachys support the hypothesis that three closely related loci, one located in each of the three ancestral genomes, code the multiple phosphoglucose isomerase (glucosephosphate isomerase; D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.9) variants found in this hexaploid species. The close relationship among the three loci is indicated by the observation that hybrid enzymes of intercistronic origin form when the loci in different genomes carry alleles coding homodimers with unlike migration rates. Homozygous individuals fixed for different alleles in different genomes produce hybrid enzymes and, when self-fertilized, they breed true for isozyme patterns normally found only in the heterozygotes of diploid species. Biochemical diversity due to this "fixed heterozygosity" is high in F. microstachys; although this species is more than 99% self-fertilized the proportion of individuals with at least one heterodimer exceeded 61% in all of the 16 natural populations studied and it exceeded 92% in 11 of the populations. This great biochemical diversity may contribute to the ability of F. microstachys to survive in the wide range of habitats in which it is found over western North America.

One of the characteristic elements of the vegetation of western North America is a group of autogamous annual grasses which can be referred to as the Festuca microstachys complex. The plants comprising this complex have many morphological characteristics and ecological preferences in common and they form a phylogenetically distinct group within the Vulpia section of the genus Festuca. Hitchcock and Chase (195 1) separate the Festuca microstachys complex into eight species, primarily on the basis of presence or absence of pubescence on the glumes and/or lemmas and whether the spikelets are appressed or divergent. These eight species are: Festuca pacifica Piper, F. reflexa Buckl., F. confusa Piper, F. grayi (Abrams) Piper, F. microstachys Nutt, F. eastwoodae Piper, F. tracyi Hitchc., and F. arida Elmer. The basis of this taxonomic treatment was that "the differences though small, appear to be constant, hence the recognizable forms are maintained as species, rather than reduced to varieties under leading species." Earlier Henrard (1937) proposed that the complex be reduced to two species, one including the appressed and the other the reflexed forms. Both pubescent and glabrous forms occur within a species in the European fescues and to treat the F. microstachys complex in any other way would, according to Henrard, unduly complicate the situation. Niehaus (1961) went further and suggested tentatively that all eighl forms might be grouped in the species