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The genus Ivodea is endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros and consists of 30 species. This study is the first to include the genus in a molecular phylogenetic analysis. We sequenced the plastid trnL–trnF and the nuclear ITS regions for three Ivodea species and revealed that the genus is monophyletic and most closely related to the African and Malagasy Vepris, refuting earlier suggestions of a close relationship between Ivodea and the Asian, Malesian, Australasian and Pacific genera Euodia and Melicope. Ivodea and Vepris provide another example of closely related pairs of Rutaceous groups that have drupaceous and capsular/follicular fruits, respectively, thus further confirming that fruit types are not suited to delimit subfamilies in Rutaceae, as has often been done in the past. Ivodea was the last of the seven Malagasy genera to be included in the Rutaceae phylogeny, making it possible to conduct an assessment of biogeographic affinities of the genera that occur on the island. Our assessments based on sister-group relationships suggest that the eight lineages (representing seven genera) of Malagasy Rutaceae either have African or have Asian affinities. Two lineages have an African origin, and one lineage has an Asian origin. Taxon sampling is insufficient to interpret the directionality of dispersal events in the remaining lineages.

Oceanic islands are unique in their species composition, which is defined by arrival of colonizers via long distance dispersal followed by establishment of species followed in some cases by adaptive radiation. Evolutionary biologists identified traits facilitating successful colonization of islands as including polyploidy, self‐compatibility, herbaceousness and ability for long‐distance dispersal. Successful establishment and evolutionary diversification of lineages on islands often involves shifts to woodiness and shifts in methods of outcrossing as well as changes in dispersal ability. The genus Melicope colonized numerous archipelagos throughout the Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands, where the lineage comprises currently 54 endemic species and represents the largest radiation of woody plants on the islands. The wide distributional range of the genus illustrates its high dispersibility, most likely due to adaption to bird dispersal. Here we investigate ploidy in the genus using flow cytometry and chromosome counting. We find the genus to be paleopolyploid with 2n = 4x = 36, a ploidy level characterizing the entire subfamily Amyridoideae and dating back to at least the Palaeocene. Therefore Hawaiian Melicope have not undergone recent polyploidization prior to colonization of the islands. Thus Melicope retained colonization success while exhibiting a combination of traits that typically characterize well established island specialists while lacking some traits associated to successful colonizers.

The genus Melicope (Rutaceae) occurs on most Pacific archipelagos and is perfectly suited to study Pacific biogeography. The main goal was to infer the age, geographic origin and colonization patterns of Melicope and its relatives. We sequenced three nuclear and two plastid markers for 332 specimens that represent 164 species in 16 genera of Rutaceae. Phylogenetic reconstruction, molecular dating, ancestral area reconstruction and diversification analyses were carried out. The two main clades (Acronychia-Melicope and Euodia) originated in Australasia and their crown ages are dated to the Miocene. Diversification rates differed among the subclades and were lowest in the Euodia lineage and highest in the Hawaiian Melicope lineage. The Malagasy and Mascarene species form a clade, which split from its SE Asian relatives in the Pliocene/Pleistocene. At least eight colonizations to the Pacific islands occurred. The timing of all colonizations except for the Hawaiian group is congruent with age of the island ages. Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia have been the source of colonizations into the Pacific islands in the Melicope clade. Melicope shows high dispersability and has colonized remote archipelagos such as the Austral and Marquesas Islands each twice. Colonization of islands of the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain likely predates the ages of the current main islands, and the initial colonization to Kaua'i occurred after the splitting of the Hawaiian lineage into two subclades. Wider ecological niches and adaptations to bird-dispersal likely account for the much higher species richness in the Acronychia-Melicope clade compared to the Euodia clade.

A study of the chemical constituents obtained from twigs of Melicope lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) T.G. Hartley (Rutaceae) led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new coumarins, 7-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoxy) coumarin and 7-(3-methyl-4-carboxybutanoxy) coumarin methyl ester, named melilunumarin A ( 1 ) and melilunumarin B ( 2 ), respectively. A new benzaldehyde derivative, 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carboxaldehyde, named melilunumane ( 6 ), was also isolated and characterized, as well as five previously reported compounds, 6-deoxyhaplopinol ( 3 ), marmesin ( 4 ), umbelliferone ( 5 ), kokusaginine ( 7 ) and evolitrin ( 8 ). Among the five isolated coumarins, melilunumarin A ( 1 ), 6-deoxyhaplopinol ( 3 ) and marmesin ( 4 ) exhibited significant inhibitory activity towards Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in Raji cells.

Melicope madagascariensis (Rutaceae) is an endemic plant species of Madagascar that was first classified as a member of the genus Euodia J. R. & G. Forst (Rutaceae) under the scientific name Euodia madagascariensis Baker. Based on morphological characteristics, Thomas Gordon Hartley taxonomically revised E. madagascariensis Baker to be M. madagascariensis (Baker) T.G. Hartley. Chemotaxonomical studies have long been used to help the identification and confirmation of taxonomical classification of plant species and botanicals. Aiming to find more evidences to support the taxonomical revision performed on E. madagascariensis, we carried out phytochemical investigation of two samples of the plant. Fractionation of the ethanol extracts prepared from two stem bark samples of M. madagascariensis (Baker) T.G. Hartley led to the isolation of seven known furoquinoline alkaloids 1–7 and two known methoxyflavones 8 and 9. The presence of furoquinoline alkaloids and methoxyflavones in the title species is in agreement with its taxonomic transfer from Euodia to Melicope. Antiprotozoal evaluation of the isolated compounds showed that 6-methoxy-7-hydroxydictamnine (heliparvifoline, 3) showed weak antimalarial activity (IC50 = 35 µM) against the chloroquine-resistant strain Dd2 of Plasmodium falciparum. Skimmianine (4) displayed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 value of 1.5 µM against HT-29 colon cancer cell line whereas 3,5-dihydroxy-3′,4′,7-trimethoxyflavone (9) was weakly active in the same assay (IC50 = 13.9 µM). Graphical Abstract

Melicope belahe (Baill.) T.G. Hartley (Rutaceae) is an endemic species to Madagascar. The chemical composition of leaf essential oil is reported for the first time. A sample was extracted by hydrodistillation and analysis was carried out by combination of chromatographic (GC), spectroscopic and spectrometric (MS, 13C NMR) techniques. In total, 56 compounds have been identified. The chemical composition was dominated by α-pinene (42.6%) followed by linalool (6.2%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (5.2%).

Meliquercifolins A (1), and B (2), two new coumarins are bearing an acetophenone derivative were isolated from the leaves of Melicope quercifolia along with three known compounds, melicodenines E (3), F (4) and I (5). Structures of two new compounds were identified based on spectroscopic analyses (UV, HR-ESI-MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR). Cytotoxic activities of compounds (1–5) towards three human cancer cells (HeLa, MCF-7, P-388), compounds 1, 4 and 5 showed very potent activity against Hela cells with IC50 values 2.6; 0.8; 1.1 μM, respectively.

Melicope stonei K.R. Wood, Appelhans & W.L. Wagner (section Pelea, Rutaceae), a new endemic tree species from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated with notes on its distribution, ecology, conservation status, and phylogenetic placement. The new species differs from its Hawaiian congeners by its unique combination of distinct carpels and ramiflorous inflorescences arising on stems below the leaves; plants monoecious; leaf blades (5–)8–30 × (4–)6–11 cm, with abaxial surface densely tomentose, especially along midribs; and very long petioles of up to 9 cm. Since its discovery in 1988, 94 individuals have been documented and are confined to a 1.5 km2 region of unique high canopy mesic forest. Melicope stonei represents a new Critically Endangered (CR) single island endemic species on Kaua'i.

Melicope (Rutaceae) is one of the largest plant genera on the Hawaiian Islands. We present here a detailed molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Hawaiian species of this genus and compare the results with the other genera of Hawaiian Rutaceae, Platydesma and Zanthoxylum. Four nuclear and two plastid markers were sequenced, with the goals of untangling phylogenetic relationships, inferring biogeographic events and comparing patterns of distribution among the three genera. Our results show that there were two colonization events (Melicope + Platydesma, and Zanthoxylum) to the Hawaiian Islands, that Hawaiian Rutaceae have an Asian, Australian or Pacific origin and that there were two independent colonization events of Hawaiian Melicope lineages to the Marquesas Islands. The two most widely distributed Hawaiian Melicope spp. are not monophyletic and the current subgeneric classification of Hawaiian Melicope is highly artificial. On the Hawaiian Islands, Melicope and Zanthoxylum show contrasting biogeographic patterns, suggesting different patterns of dispersal. Melicope has a high percentage of single-island endemics suggesting low dispersal ability, whereas Zanthoxylum taxa tend to occur across multiple islands. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174, 425–448.

Four novel geminally dialkylated, non-aromatic acetophenone derivatives 1–4 were isolated from Melicope coodeana. The compounds, related to hop bitter acids, were named Coodeanones A–C, where Coodeanone B was found in both E and Z configuration of the 6′‴–7′‴ double bond. Antibacterial, antifungal and antimalarial activities of the acetophenone derivaties were investigated, and Coodeanone C (4) was found to have activity toward Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) (IC50 = 42.8 μM).

During the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands three new species of Coprosma (Rubiaceae, tribe Anthospermeae) have come to light and are described herein: Coprosma fatuhivaensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence, Coprosma meyeri W. L. Wagner & Lorence, and Coprosma temetiuensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence. Descriptions, illustrations, conservation status, and specimen citations are provided. Amended descriptions of three previously described Marquesan Coprosma species are also provided as well as a key to the species, four of which fall into the Critically Endangered (CR) and two into the Endangered (EN) category. With the description of these the new species, Coprosma becomes the sixth largest lineage in the Marquesas Islands with six species after Psychotria (one lineage which has 9 spp.), Cyrtandra (8 spp.), Bidens (8 spp.), Melicope (7 spp.), and Ixora (7 spp.).

The treatment of Rutaceae in the Chinese flora chose to follow Engler in recognizing Rutoideae and Toddalioideae as two separate subfamilies. Morphological and chemical comparisons, however, suggested grouping those two subfamilies in one subfamily, Rutoideae. This move has received support from molecular phylogenetic analyses, which also showed that the Chinese taxa in Euodia should be placed in Tetradium and Melicope following Hartley. Investigations into the chemistry and molecular phylogeny of Murraya also indicated that the species in the section Bergera without yuehchukene should be removed from Murraya. These findings clearly show the value of molecular cladistics to the taxonomy of Rutaceae in China and also directions for further investigations.

Melicope oppenheimeri K.R. Wood, Appelhans & W.L. Wagner (section Pelea (A. Gray) Hook. f., Rutaceae), a rare endemic tree from West Maui, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated with notes on its ecology, conservation, and phylogenetic placement. The new species differs from Hawaiian congeners by its carpels basally connate 1/5, narrowed into a strongly reflexed beak 10–15 mm long. It also differs in a combination of leaves with 7–10 pair of secondary veins; cymes to 3 cm long; peduncles 5–6.5 mm long; flowers perfect; capsules 4–9 × 40–52 mm; and a densely appressed short-sericeous ovary. Melicope oppenheimeri is known only from an isolated cliff-base plateau in upper Waihe‘e Valley, West Maui. Its discovery brings the number of recognized Melicope J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. species in the Hawaiian Islands to 49. A table is included indicating the conservation status of Hawaiian Melicope and Platydesma H. Mann., which is nested within Melicope sect. Pelea. Melicope oppenheimeri falls into the IUCN Critically Endangered (CR) Red List category.

Plastid (trnL intron and trnL-F spacer) and nuclear (ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA) regions were analyzed to infer the phylogeny and evaluate the classification of Rutaceae subfamilies Rutoideae and Toddalioideae. The inferred phylogeny lends support to merging these two subfamilies established by Engler based on different fruit types. Moreover, Phellodendron, Tetradium, Toddalia, and Zanthoxylum were resolved as a clade, supporting the proposal for a 'proto-Rutaceae' group. The molecular data also showed that members of Euodia sensu lato should be placed in three different genera: Tetradium, Euodia, and Melicope. The latter two genera are more closely related to Acronychia than they are to Tetradium. Except for the discrepancy in the position of Melicope vitiflora, the cladistic results are congruent with the morphological and biochemical interpretations made by two previous authors.

The leaves of Melicope ptelefolia (Rutaceae) afforded a new acetophenone named 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-geranylacetophenone. The structure of the compound was established by mass and NMR spectroscopy.

Leaf extracts of Melicope lunu-ankenda were chemically studied and found to contain mixtures of hydrocarbons and squalene, fatty acids and esters. A geranylated coumaric acid was isolated as the major compound. The crude dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the leaves were found to be strongly larvicidal with LC50 values below 20 microg mL(-1). This is a first isolation of p-O-geranylcoumaric acid from this plant.

Two novel compounds, the lignan, (+)-2- (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo [3,3,0]octane, and the coumarin, (+)-7-(3-methyl-4-carboxybutanoxy)umbelliferone methyl ester, have been isolated from the aerialparts of Melicope hayesii . The known compounds, eudesmin, kobusin, N - p -coumaroyltyramine, N -methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, umbelliferone and 7- (3-methylbut-2-enoxy)umbelliferone were alsoobtained. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR studies.

The investigation of the leaves of Melicope ptelefolia (Rutaceae) afforded, besides N-methylflindersine, two new bisquinolinone alkaloids named melicobisquinolinone A and B. Their structures were established by MS and NMR spectroscopy, especially NOE and HMBC experiments.

Investigation of leaves of Melicope ptelefolia afforded 18 2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyrans, consisting of 14 new members, including one benzodipyran and four known compounds. Their structures were established by mass and NMR spectroscopy, especially NOE and HMBC experiments. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Octandrenolone and five novel related dimethylpyran acetophenones have been isolated from the chloroform extract of roots of Melicope erromangensis and identified by spectroscopic studies and chemical correlations as O-methyloctandrenolone, (+)-trans-3‴,4‴-dihydro-3‴,4‴-dihydroxy-O-methyloctandrenolone, (+)-trans- 3″,4″-dihydro-3″,4″-dihydroxy-O-methyloctandrenolone, and trans-3″,4″-dihydro-3″,4″-dihydroxyoctandrenolone. In addition, four known quinolines and three known flavones have been isolated.

Germination rates, percentage germination success, and phenomena related to germination delay were determined for seeds from freshly collected fruit of Melicope simplex, Myoporum laetum, Myrsine divaricata, and Urtica ferox. The disseminule of Myoporum is unusual in having up to four seeds enclosed in fused endocarp tissue. The tests were carried out in an unheated, partially shaded glasshouse in Christchurch, in a range of conditions similar to those that the seeds might experience after natural dispersal. In the standard treatment (cleaned, kept moist, well lit) subsets of seeds in a cohort germinated at intervals over three, four, or five years, according to species. It took about one month (Urtica), two months (Myrsine), five months (Myoporum), or seven months (Melicope) for the first seeds to germinate. Some seeds of each species germinated through the winter and/or spring in the first year. Otherwise, there were episodes of germination, with different proportionate numbers germinating for e...

BackgroundRutaceae subfamily Rutoideae (46 genera, c. 660 species) is diverse in both rainforests and sclerophyll vegetation of Australasia. Australia and New Caledonia are centres of endemism with a number of genera and species distributed disjunctly between the two regions. Our aim was to generate a high-level molecular phylogeny for the Australasian Rutoideae and identify major clades as a framework for assessing morphological and biogeographic patterns and taxonomy.Methodology/principal findingsPhylogenetic analyses were based on chloroplast genes, rbcL and atpB, for 108 samples (78 new here), including 38 of 46 Australasian genera. Results were integrated with those from other molecular studies to produce a supertree for Rutaceae worldwide, including 115 of 154 genera. Australasian clades are poorly matched with existing tribal classifications, and genera Philotheca and Boronia are not monophyletic. Major sclerophyll lineages in Australia belong to two separate clades, each with an early divergence between rainforest and sclerophyll taxa. Dehiscent fruits with seeds ejected at maturity (often associated with myrmecochory) are inferred as ancestral; derived states include woody capsules with winged seeds, samaras, fleshy drupes, and retention and display of seeds in dehisced fruits (the last two states adaptations to bird dispersal, with multiple origins among rainforest genera). Patterns of relationship and levels of sequence divergence in some taxa, mostly species, with bird-dispersed (Acronychia, Sarcomelicope, Halfordia and Melicope) or winged (Flindersia) seeds are consistent with recent long-distance dispersal between Australia and New Caledonia. Other deeper Australian/New Caledonian divergences, some involving ant-dispersed taxa (e.g., Neoschmidia), suggest older vicariance.Conclusions/significanceThis comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Australasian Rutoideae gives a broad overview of the group's evolutionary and biogeographic history. Deficiencies of infrafamilial classifications of Rutoideae have long been recognised, and our results provide a basis for taxonomic revision and a necessary framework for more focused studies of genera and species.

Melicope patulinervia (Merr. and Chun) Huang is the rare and endangered plant in the Hainan Province, China. In the purpose of exploring the value of its exploitation and utilization, this study was conceived to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and the active ingredients of this plant. Spectrophotometry was the basis for the determinations of total phenol and total flavonoids. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activities of the different parts, different solvents extracts of M. patulinervia were measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Seven plant pathogenic fungi species were used to assay for antimicrobial activity of the extracts of this plant. The results showed that 70% methanol extracts of the leaves had higher level of total flavonoids, with a content of 41.3194±0.071 mg·g-1. But it was strange that the contents of total phenol of the extracts of the plant were significantly less than that of total flavonoids. The antioxidant activities of the different parts, different solvents extracts of M. patulinervia were all weak. The leaf extract showed antimicrobial activity against 4 of the plant of pathogenic fungi species, especially Oxytetracycline hydrochloride. Key words: Melicope patulinervia (Merr. and Chun) Huang, active ingredients, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity.

Melicope stipitata has yielded six acetophenone derivatives; acronylin, evodionol methyl ether, evodionol and three novel compounds. The latter were identified as 5-acetyl-6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyisopropyl)-4-methoxybenzofuran (furostipitol), (rel)-(±)-6-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-4α-ethoxy-3β-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran (3-hydroxydihydropyranostipitol-4-ethyl ether) and (rel)-(±)-6-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-3β,4α-dihydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran (3,4-dihydroxydihydropyranostipitol). 5-Acetyl-6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyisopropyl)-4-methoxybenzofuran was isolated together with a small quantity of another compound, tentatively identified as its dihydrofuran analogue, namely, 5-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyisopropyl)-4-methoxy benzofuran. The 1 H NMR spectra of 3,4-dihydroxydihydropyranostipitol in different solvents is discussed. In addition, the furocoumarins, bergapten, phellopterin, isoimperatorin andisopimpinellin, the angular pyranocoumarin, seselin, the 8-prenylated coumarins, osthol, peroxyauraptenol and osthenon, the biscoumarin, phebalin, the lignan, sesamin, and the triterpene, isobaurenol, were obtained.

Heteroblastic species change their leaf morphology due to changes in light environment. However, growth and biomass allocation pattern do not contribute to their better survival relative to homoblastic congeners in low light. Thus, shade does not select for leaf heteroblasty., Background and aims Leaf heteroblasty involves dramatic phenotypic differences between adult and seedling leaves while leaves of homoblastic plants display only small differences. This study tested whether, in low-light environments, the marked difference in the morphology of seedling leaves that characterizes heteroblastic species confers advantages for seedling survival and growth compared with homoblastic congeners. Methodology Four pairs of heteroblastic and homoblastic species in genera Hoheria, Aristotelia, Pseudopanax and Melicope were grown in simulated full sunlight (100 % of light, red:far red ratio (R:FR) = 1.25) or in simulated forest understorey shade (5 % of full sunlight, R:FR ratio = 0.25) in a glasshouse. Principal results After 9 months, 100 % of seedlings of both homoblastic and heteroblastic species survived in full sun while in the understorey treatment there were 25 % fewer heteroblastic survivors than homoblastic congeners. Compared with homoblastic congeners, all heteroblastic species except for Pseudopanax crassifolius produced more and smaller leaves and branches, but grew more slowly in height, root collar diameter and total biomass both in full sun and in forest understorey treatments. Conclusions Homoblastic species survive and grow better in the forest understorey light treatment, suggesting that heteroblastic seedling leaf morphology does not give an advantage over homoblastic congeners under low light intensities.

During the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands three new species of Coprosma (Rubiaceae, tribe Anthospermeae) have come to light and are described herein: C. fatuhivaensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence, C. meyeri W. L. Wagner & Lorence, and C. temetiuensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence. Descriptions, illustrations, conservation status, and specimen citations are provided. Amended descriptions of three previously described Marquesan Coprosma species are also provided as well as a key to the species, four of which fall into the Critically Endangered (CR) and two into the Endangered (EN) category. With the description of these the new species, Coprosma becomes the sixth largest lineage in the Marquesas Islands with six species after Psychotria (one lineage which has 9 spp.), Cyrtandra (8 spp.), Bidens (8 spp.), and Melicope (7 spp.), and Ixora (7 spp.).

The leaves of Melicopte ptelefolia afforded two new 2,2–dimethyl–2H–1–benzopyran dimers named 5,5’–dimethoxy–alloagerasanin and melifolin. Their structures were established by NMR spectroscopy, especially NOE and HMBC. © 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two new species of Inonotus, I. chikshanyenus sp. nov. and I. formosanus sp. nov. found growing saprotrophically on the decayed stems of Melicope merrillii and Persea zuilhoensis, respectively, in Taiwan are described and illustrated. Their cultural characters are described.

Three new natural products, 3,8-dimethoxy-5,7-dihydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone, 3,6,8-trimethoxy-5,7-dihydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone and 3,6,8,3',4'-pentamethoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavone were isolated from Melicope coodeana syn. Euodia simplex (Rutaceae) along with 3,6,3'-trimethoxy-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone and 3,3'-dimethoxy-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone. The structural assignments are based on (1)H and (13)C NMR data, including discussion of the chemical shifts of C-2 in 3,5-dihydroxy- and 3-methoxy-5-hydroxyflavones. The presence of highly methoxylated and methylenedioxyflavones is characteristic of the genus Melicope, and the present findings support the recent transfer of Euodia simplex to Melicope.

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are of ecological, evolutionary and taxonomic importance in many plants, but are often overlooked in botanical descriptions and have rarely been studied in humid Australian forests. We examined EFNs in a tropical rainforest in northern Queensland, Australia. A total of 29 plant species was found bearing EFNs within the 1-ha study plot at the Australian Canopy Crane Project and an additional 10 EFN species were found in rainforests and other habitats outside, but nearby, the plot. The records include 12 genera in which EFNs have not been previously reported (Ardisia, Bambusa, Castanospermum, Dysoxylum, Melicope, Flagellaria, Glochidion, Ichnocarpus, Merremia, Rockinghamia, Syzygium, Wrightia), including one new family (Flagellariaceae). In the study plot, 13 tree species (17% of tree species with dbh >10 cm), 10 climbing plant species (21%) and six shrubs had EFNs, a similar proportion compared with tropical forests on other continents. Morphology of most EFNs was studied by using scanning electron and light microscopy. Extrafloral nectaries were assigned to five different structural types (sensu Zimmermann 1932): flattened, elevated, pit, scale-like and formless nectaries. EFNs from all species were regularly visited by ants, allowing detection of many otherwise inconspicuous nectaries.

Platydesma, an endemic genus to the Hawaiian Islands containing four species, has long been considered of obscure origin. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have unequivocally placed Platydesma within the widespread genus Melicope as sister to the rest of the Hawaiian species of Melicope. This makes submerging Platydesma into Melicope necessary. We make the necessary new combinations: Melicope cornuta (Hillebr.) Appelhans, K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner, M. cornuta var. decurrens (B.C.Stone) Appelhans, K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner, M. remyi (Sherff) Appelhans, K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner, and M. rostrata (Hillebr.) Appelhans, K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner. An additional species that has been recognized within Platydesma should now be recognized under its original name M. spathulata A. Gray. All Hawaiian species belong to Melicope section Pelea. Our molecular phylogenetic studies also showed that in addition to merging Platydesma into section Pelea, five species described from New Caledonia need to be excluded from the section in order to achieve monophyly of section Pelea.

Melicope balgooyi, a new species of Melicope (Rutaceae) is described. It is known only from the Austral Islands in the South Pacific (French Polynesia). However, it is not closely related to the other two species previously known from the Austral Islands, which are part of Melicope section Vitiflorae . The new spe cies belongs to Melicope section Melicope and is most closely related to species from New Zealand, the Kermadec Islands, and the Society Islands. The new species has alternate to sub-opposite leaves, which is a very rare arrangement in Melicope and has only been described for two other species of the genus so far.

Hawaiian Melicope are one of the major adaptive radiations of the Hawaiian Islands comprising 54 endemic species. The lineage is monophyletic with an estimated crown age predating the rise of the current high islands. Phylogenetic inference based on Sanger sequencing has not been sufficient to resolve species or deeper level relationships. Here, we apply restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to the lineage to infer phylogenetic relationships. We employ Quartet Sampling to assess information content and statistical support, and to quantify discordance as well as partitioned ABBA-BABA tests to uncover evidence of introgression. Our new results drastically improved resolution of relationships within Hawaiian Melicope. The lineage is divided into five fully supported main clades, two of which correspond to morphologically circumscribed infrageneric groups. We provide evidence for both ancestral and current hybridization events. We confirm the necessity for a taxonomic revision of the Melicope section Pelea, as well as a re-evaluation of several species complexes by combining genomic and morphological data.

The names Cissus frutescens and Cissus arborea have a long history of confusion. Cissus frutescens Blanco belongs to the genus Melicope (Rutaceae) and we herein correct a nomenclatural mistake made by T.G. Hartley in the revision of Melicope. The name Melicope confusa (Merr.) P.S. Liu was accepted for this taxon by Hartley. However, Cissus frutescens Blanco represents the earliest name for this entity and a new combination, Melicope frutescens (Blanco) Appelhans & J.Wen is herein proposed. Neotypification of Cissus arborea Blanco is also provided.