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As part of the Fabaceae project of northeastern Mexico and based on field work, collection of botanical samples over the past 37 years, and reviewing botanical materials in national and international herbaria, the diversity of legumes of the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae (excluding tribe Mimoseae), Cercidoideae, and Detarioideae in northeastern Mexico has been recorded. New nomenclatural changes in tribes and genera of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae found in the new scientific bibliography are included. The subfamily Caesalpinioideae (excluding the tribe Mimoseae) includes five tribes: tribe Caesalpinieae, with eight genera (Caesalpinia, Coulteria, Denisophytum, Erythrostemon, Guilandina, Hoffmannseggia, Haematoxylum, and Pomaria) and 21 species; tribe Cassieae with three genera (Cassia, Chamaecrita, and Senna) and 28 species; tribe Ceratonieae with one genus (Ceratonia) and 1 species; tribe Gleditsieae with one genus (Gleditsia) and 1 species. The subfamily Cercidoideae includes two genera (Bauhinia and Cercis) and eight species, and the subfamily Detarioideae includes only one genus and one species (Tamarindus indicus). The total flora of these three subfamilies comprises 18 genera and 63 species, including 56 native species and 7 exotic ones: Bauhinia variegata, Cassia fistula, Ceratonia siliqua, Delonix regia, Erythrostemon gilliesii, Senna alata, and Tamarindus indicus. Endemism includes a total of 22 species and nine infraspecific categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All non-Mimosoid nodulated genera in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae confine their rhizobial symbionts within cell wall-bound 'fixation threads' (FTs). The exception is the large genus Chamaecrista in which shrubs and subshrubs house their rhizobial bacteroids more intimately within symbiosomes, whereas large trees have FTs. This study aimed to unravel the evolutionary relationships between Chamaecrista growth habit, habitat, nodule bacteroid type, and rhizobial genotype. The growth habit, bacteroid anatomy, and rhizobial symbionts of 30 nodulated Chamaecrista species native to different biomes in the Brazilian state of Bahia, a major centre of diversity for the genus, was plotted onto an ITS- trnL-F -derived phylogeny of Chamaecrista. The bacteroids from most of the Chamaecrista species examined were enclosed in symbiosomes (SYM-type nodules), but those in arborescent species in the section Apoucouita , at the base of the genus, were enclosed in cell wall material containing homogalacturonan (HG) and cellulose (FT-type nodules). Most symbionts were Bradyrhizobium genotypes grouped according to the growth habits of their hosts, but the tree, C. eitenorum , was nodulated by Paraburkholderia. Chamaecrista has a range of growth habits that allow it to occupy several different biomes and to co-evolve with a wide range of (mainly) bradyrhizobial symbionts. FTs represent a less intimate symbiosis linked with nodulation losses, so the evolution of SYM-type nodules by most Chamaecrista species may have (i) aided the genus-wide retention of nodulation, and (ii) assisted in its rapid speciation and radiation out of the rainforest into more diverse and challenging habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in stomatal density (SD) and stomatal index (SI) are associated with the conditions of the environment in which they are distributed. Mimosa species are important elements in different plant communities, yet knowledge of the ecological implications of its stomatal characteristics is scarce. For this reason, SD and SI were determined in seven Mimosa species from different environments in this study. Five individuals per species were selected, and a sample of leaflets was obtained from each. Fifteen mature leaflets per individual were then extracted and observed by optical microscopy. SD, SI, epidermal cell density (ECD), and guard cell length (GCL) values were obtained. Differences between species were analyzed through a balanced analysis of variance test, and the correspondence between the stomatal characteristics and 21 climate variables was determined by canonical correspondence analysis. The species differed in all evaluated characteristics. It should be noted that only M. affinis showed differences between the leaflet surfaces. Both DE and ECD were negatively associated with altitude and solar radiation and positively with temperature and precipitation. SI was explained by temperature and seasonality of precipitation, and GCL by temperature oscillation and seasonality of precipitation. The results suggest that the stomatal characteristics of the leaflets confer resistance in the species to alterations in environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims – The neotropical genus Tachigali comprises about 75 recorded species, including names described in Sclerolobium, synonymised in 1993 in Tachigali based on morphological, molecular, and anatomical characters. Most species are found in northern South America and the Atlantic Forest. However, some species are exclusively found in the savannas of central Brazil (Cerrado), Bolivia, and Paraguay. The Tachigali species from northern South America and Central America has already been revised. However, the extra-Amazonian Tachigali species were not correctly typified due to the impossibility of examining all syntypes. Therefore, the present work aims to present the nomenclatural review of the extra-Amazonian species of Tachigali. Material and methods – The list of accepted extra-Amazonian Tachigali names and their basionyms was made and verified through online databases. The original descriptions were consulted online or in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Library. The type specimens were examined in virtual herbaria and through visits to the B, IAN, G, K, M, NY, P, R, RB, US, and W herbaria. The International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants was followed for the type designation and nomenclatural notes. Key results – The nomenclatural review was carried out for 32 names. A total of 15 lectotypifications, representing 12 Tachigali species, and a new combination for Tachigali rubiginosa is proposed herein. Furthermore, the nomen dubium Sclerolobium macrophyllum is presented. Conclusion – Our study provides the nomenclatural review for the extra-Amazonian Tachigali species, including notes about the type materials, collectors, and authors of all species names, in addition to the holotype and lectotype images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caesalpinioideae is the second largest subfamily of legumes (Leguminosae) with ca. 4680 species and 163 genera. It is an ecologically and economically important group formed of mostly woody perennials that range from large canopy emergent trees to functionally herbaceous geoxyles, lianas and shrubs, and which has a global distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Following the recent re-circumscription of 15 Caesalpinioideae genera as presented in Advances in Legume Systematics 14, Part 1, and using as a basis a phylogenomic analysis of 997 nuclear gene sequences for 420 species and all but five of the genera currently recognised in the subfamily, we present a new higher-level classification for the subfamily. The new classification of Caesalpinioideae comprises eleven tribes, all of which are either new, reinstated or re-circumscribed at this rank: Caesalpinieae Rchb. (27 genera / ca. 223 species), Campsiandreae LPWG (2 / 5–22), Cassieae Bronn (7 / 695), Ceratonieae Rchb. (4 / 6), Dimorphandreae Benth. (4 / 35), Erythrophleeae LPWG (2 /13), Gleditsieae Nakai (3 / 20), Mimoseae Bronn (100 / ca. 3510), Pterogyneae LPWG (1 / 1), Schizolobieae Nakai (8 / 42–43), Sclerolobieae Benth. & Hook. f. (5 / ca. 113). Although many of these lineages have been recognised and named in the past, either as tribes or informal generic groups, their circumscriptions have varied widely and changed over the past decades, such that all the tribes described here differ in generic membership from those previously recognised. Importantly, the approximately 3500 species and 100 genera of the former subfamily Mimosoideae are now placed in the reinstated, but newly circumscribed, tribe Mimoseae. Because of the large size and ecological importance of the tribe, we also provide a clade-based classification system for Mimoseae that includes 17 named lower-level clades. Fourteen of the 100 Mimoseae genera remain unplaced in these lower-level clades: eight are resolved in two grades and six are phylogenetically isolated monogeneric lineages. In addition to the new classification, we provide a key to genera, morphological descriptions and notes for all 163 genera, all tribes, and all named clades. The diversity of growth forms, foliage, flowers and fruits are illustrated for all genera, and for each genus we also provide a distribution map, based on quality-controlled herbarium specimen localities. A glossary for specialised terms used in legume morphology is provided. This new phylogenetically based classification of Caesalpinioideae provides a solid system for communication and a framework for downstream analyses of biogeography, trait evolution and diversification, as well as for taxonomic revision of still understudied genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Mimosa L. (Leguminosae; Caesalpinioideae; mimosoid clade), comprising more than 500 species, is an intriguing genus because, like other members of the mimosoid clade, it presents an enormous variation in floral characteristics and high merism lability. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the floral development and identify which ontogenetic pathways give rise to merism variation and andromonoecy in Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, M. pudica, M. bimucronata, and M. candollei. Floral buds at various stages of development and flowers were collected, fixed, and processed for surface analysis (SEM). The development of the buds is synchronous in the inflorescences. Sepals appear simultaneously as individualized primordia in M. caesalpiniifolia and in reversed unidirectional order in M. bimucronata, with union and formation of an early ring-like calyx. Petal primordia appear in unidirectional order, with a noticeably elliptical shape in M. caesalpiniifolia. The wide merism variation in Mimosa results from the absence of organs from inception in the perianth and androecium whorls: in dimerous, trimerous, or tetramerous flowers, the additional organs primordia to compose the expected pentamerous flowers are not initiated. The haplostemonous androecium of M. pudica results from the absence of antepetalous stamens from inception. In the case of intraspecific variations (instabilities), there is no initiation and subsequent abortion of organs in the events of reduction in merosity. In addition, extra primordia are initiated in supernumerary cases. On the other hand, staminate flowers originate from the abortion of the carpel. Mimosa proved to be an excellent model for studying merism variation. The lability is associated with actinomorphic and rather congested flowers in the inflorescences. Our data, in association with others of previous studies, suggest that the high lability in merism appeared in clades that diverged later in the mimosoid clade. Thus, phylogenetic reconstruction studies are needed for more robust evolutionary inferences. The present investigation of ontogenetic processes was relevant to expand our understanding of floral evolution in the genus Mimosa and shed light on the unstable merism in the mimosoid clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantropical Caesalpinia group includes 225 species distributed in 27 monophyletic genera, among which Cenostigma stands out by taxonomic and phylogenetic complexity. The genus includes trees and shrubs with interspecific hybridization and high diversity in north-eastern Brazil (Caatinga domain). Detailed cytogenomic characterizations have been performed only in C. microphyllum revealing enrichment of long terminal repeats (LTR) Ty3/gypsy transposable elements (TEs) and satellite DNA (satDNA) in the heterochromatin. Here, we aimed to perform a comparative analysis of seven Northeast Brazilian species of Cenostigma using cytogenomic and genomic approaches. The comparative genomic analysis revealed repeats stability with similar TE abundance, composition, and chromosomal localization in all species. On the other hand, satDNA were highly variable in abundance, in some cases species-specific. Cytogenomic data confirmed the karyotype stability with the TE elements Athila and Tekay enriching the proximal heterochromatin. Moreover, the satDNA CemiSat163 appeared to be exclusively located on acrocentric chromosomes of the analysed species. The genomic stability in Cenostigma may be related to their relatively recent age (~13.59 Mya), long-life cycle, and/ or similarity in ecological niche among this species. We propose that the genomic stability found in Cenostigma may facilitate the natural interspecific gene flow reported in sympatric species, complicating the interpretation of its systematics and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synoptic compendium of the legumes of the Mimosoideae clade in northeastern Mexico is presented for the first time, including changes in their botanical nomenclature and retypification of genera. Furthermore, based on new information recently published, the taxonomic limits of several new genera segregated from Acacia (Acaciella, Mariosousa, Senegalia, and Vachellia) and Prosopis (Neltuma and Strombocarpa) are clarified and included. Based on field work, collection of botanical samples over the past 30 years, and reviewing botanical materials in national and international herbaria, we have completed the diversity of legumes of the Mimosoideae clade of northeastern Mexico. Three tribes (Acacieae, Ingeae, and Mimosaeae), 22 genera, 92 species, and 19 infraspecific categories were recorded. Only the genus Painteria is endemic to Mexico. Eighty-eight species are native to Mexico, and four are exotic: Acacia salicina, Neptunia prostrata, Neltuma chilensis and Albizia lebbeck. Twenty-eight species are endemic to Mexico, nine species are endemic to northeastern Mexico, and four species are endemic to only one state in Mexico. The 22 registered genera represent 44% and 65% of the generic flora of the Mimosoideae clade for Mexico and the planet, respectively, while the 92 species registered represent 3% and 18% of the species of the clade Mimosoideae for the planet and Mexico, respectively. According to the new nomenclature of legumes, the number of genera in the Mimosoideae clade in northern Mexico has increased from 19 to 24. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of species composition of village land forest reserves and their driving factors informs adequate development of effective restoration strategies and sustainable forest management of miombo woodlands. This study assessed the effects of human disturbance as well as environmental variables on woody plant species composition using 24 square plots of 10 x 10 m in a recently declared village land forest reserve in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot of Tanzania. Ordination analysis technique canonical correspondence analysis was used to identify important vegetation gradients and significant factors that explain the spatial variation in species composition of woody plants. Results showed that, 779 individual woody plants were recorded, of which 379 were seedlings (48.6%), 102 saplings (13.1%) and 298 adults (38.3%). The three most dominant plant species were Brachystegia spiciformis (42.2%), Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (9%) and B. boehmii (8.7%), while the least were Multidentia crassa and Diospyros squarrosa with each species having less than 1% overall abundance. Pterocarpus angolensis, a highly protected and near-threatened tree species, was also recorded but with only very few individuals. Canopy cover and soil pH were the two most important variables explaining the spatial variation in species composition of woody plants. These results emphasise that village forests are important for preserving native and threatened tree species, and improved management should discourage all practices that change natural conditions of canopy cover and soil pH to safeguard the remaining village forests, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neltuma pallida is a tree that grows in arid soils in northwestern Peru. As a predominant species of the Equatorial Dry Forest ecoregion, it holds significant economic and ecological value for both people and environment. Despite this, the species is severely threatened and there is a lack of genetic and genomic research, hindering the proposal of evidence-based conservation strategies. Results: In this work, we conducted the assembly, annotation, analysis and comparison of the chloroplast genome of a N. pallida specimen with those of related species. The assembled chloroplast genome has a length of 162,381 bp with a typical quadripartite structure (LSC-IRA-SSC-IRB). The calculated GC content was 35.97%. However, this is variable between regions, with a higher GC content observed in the IRs. A total of 132 genes were annotated, of which 19 were duplicates and 22 contained at least one intron in their sequence. A substantial number of repetitive sequences of different types were identified in the assembled genome, predominantly tandem repeats (> 300). In particular, 142 microsatellites (SSR) markers were identified. The phylogenetic reconstruction showed that N. pallida grouped with the other Neltuma species and with Prosopis cineraria. The analysis of sequence divergence between the chloroplast genome sequences of N. pallida, N. juliflora, P. farcta and Strombocarpa tamarugo revealed a high degree of similarity. Conclusions: The N. pallida chloroplast genome was found to be similar to those of closely related species. With a size of 162,831 bp, it had the classical chloroplast quadripartite structure and GC content of 35.97%. Most of the 132 identified genes were protein-coding genes. Additionally, over 800 repetitive sequences were identified, including 142 SSR markers. In the phylogenetic analysis, N. pallida grouped with other Neltuma spp. and P. cineraria. Furthermore, N. pallida chloroplast was highly conserved when compared with genomes of closely related species. These findings can be of great potential for further diversity studies and genetic improvement of N. pallida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extracts from the leaves and bark of Senna siamea resulted in the isolation of one new flavone C-glycoside: apigenin-8-C-[6''-(E)-feruloyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside] (1), together with sixteen known compounds including quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (2), vitexin (3), isovitexin (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin-3-O-β-D-arabinopyranoside (6), quercetin (7), kaempferol (8), methyl inositol (9), sucrose (10), betulinic acid (11), vanillic acid (12), stigmastane-3β,6α-diol (13), aurantiamide acetate (14), robinetinidol (15), catechin (16) and epicatechin (17). The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic (1 D and 2 D NMR) and mass spectrometric (ESI-TOF-MS) data. The methanol extracts, fractions and some of the isolated compounds were screened for their antimicrobial properties against five microbial strains. The methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction from the bark showed very weak antifungal activity against C. glabrata with the same MIC value of 128 μg/mL. Compound 7 was weakly active against C. albicans with MIC of 32 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Erythrophleum Afzel ex R.Br. is revised for Australia and three species are recognised, all previously included in E. chlorostachys (F.Muell.) Baill. Erythrophleum arenarium R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett is described as a new species to accommodate populations from desert sands of the Great Sandy Desert and Dampier Botanical Districts in north-western Australia, parapatric to the remaining species. Erythrophleum pubescens R.L.Barrett & M.D.Barrett is described as a new species spanning tropical Australia, and is sympatric with E. chlorostachys sensu stricto in the Northern Territory and adjacent areas of Western Australia and Queensland. Morphological examination has shown these three taxa to be consistently distinct across their respective ranges. Analyses of the nuclear ribosomal ITS1 region recovered three well-supported clades corresponding to the three morphologically defined species, and ITS1 has utility as a marker to separate sterile specimens. Erythrophleum pubescens is widespread in the Australian Monsoon Tropics, from the coast of Western Australia, near Derby, to Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. Erythrophleum chlorostachys is also widespread, from the eastern Kimberley Region, in Western Australia, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, in northern Queensland. A lectotype is chosen for Laboucheria chlorostachya F.Muell. Full descriptions, illustrations of key features and identification keys are provided for the three Australian species. A summary of the significant utilisation of Erythrophleum species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four compounds were isolated from the bark of B. variegata using different chromatographic procedures. • The structure elucidation of isolated compounds was carried out using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D NMR and mass spectrometric data. • Compound 3 displayed cytotoxic activity against DU-145, PC-3, MCF-7, and HT-29 human cancer cell lines. • The study suggests that isolated compounds from B. variegata bark have cytotoxic potential and may be further used for detailed anticancer investigations. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of isolated compounds from the bark of Bauhinia variegata L. (Caesalpiniaceae). Different chromatographic procedures led to the isolation of four compounds (1-4), with betulin type triterpene 1 (BVBH1) being reported as new compound along with three known compounds, 3- α -hydroxy-urs-12, 15-diene 2 (BVBH2), cholesta-5-en-3,7-diol amine 3 (BVBH3), N, N', N''- (cyclopropane-1,2,3-triylidene) trihexanamide 4 (BVBH4) from n -hexane extract of B. variegata bark. The structure elucidation of isolated compounds was carried out using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D NMR and mass spectrometric data. Compound 3 displayed cytotoxic activity against DU-145, PC-3, MCF-7, and HT-29 human cancer cell lines, while compound 4 showed cytotoxic activity against HT-29 and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines, whereas compound 1 and compound 2 did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect against four tested cell lines. The current study suggested that isolated compounds from B. variegata bark have cytotoxic potential and may further be used for the detailed anticancer investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underutilized legumes are common crops in developing countries with superior dietary potentials that could be useful sources of protein as well as some phytoconstituents. They are more tolerant of abiotic environmental conditions like drought than the major legumes. This makes them more adapted to harsh soil and climatic conditions, which helps to minimize the pressure brought on by climate change. However, despite their potential, underutilized legumes have been greatly overlooked compared to the major legumes due to supply constraints. Underutilized legumes in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae are better suited for use as animal feeds with little or no value as food for humans, and the extracts and infusions of the different parts of plant species in this subfamily are traditionally used for the treatment of different diseases. In addition, underutilized legumes in this subfamily contain phytoconstituents that are of pharmacological relevance, some of which have been isolated, characterized and evaluated for use in the treatment of a variety of disorders. Therefore, this review describes the medicinal activities of some selected underutilized legumes from five genera in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae as well as their phytoconstituents, which could be exploited as lead compounds for drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the floral morphology and development of two legume species from the subfamily Caesalpinioideae, Biancaea decapetala (a caesalpinioid), and Albizia julibrissin (a mimosoid), using scanning electron microscopy. The floral organ initiation in A. julibrissin involved the helical orientation of sepals' formation, simultaneous initiation of petals, and formation of the ring meristem in place of stamens. Whereas in B. decapetala, organ whorls grow unidirectionally, from abaxial to adaxial, a characteristic found in the subfamily Papilionoideae. However, the floral development sequence in B. decapetala differs from papilionaceous flowers, as it lacks petal specialization and features a fused staminal tube. While fused sepal tube, free stamens, and short style were observed in flowers of B. decapetala; fused petals, fused staminal tube, and long style occurred in flowers of A. julibrissin. The petal aestivation is valvate in A. julibrissin, compared to ascending cochleate in B. decapetala. The observations during the initiation and developmental stages of floral whorls are essential to unravel the functional specificity of appendages. A. julibrissin belongs to the Mimosoid clade, which was until recently placed outside the Caesalpinioideae subfamily (of which B. decapetala was always been a part of) due to its floral architecture. There has been significant number of discussions and deliberations in the botanical community about the placement of this clade in the subfamily. Understanding of floral development in the subfamily and comparison of caesalpinioids with mimosoids can be crucial in evaluating the phylogenetic placement of the mimosoid clade. While most changes in the developmental sequence may appear subtle and minute, these are imperative for the remarkable disparity in the floral morphology of legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The members of the family Lepidopsocidae (Psocodea: Trogiomorpha) are commonly known as scaly-winged barklice based on the presence of scales on body and wings. Interestingly, the members of the subfamily Thylacellinae, which is the sister group to the remaining members of the family, lack scales and are characterised by densely setose body and wings. We describe the thylacelline Parathylacella oisensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Eocene amber of Oise (France), corresponding to the only known fossil genus of the family. We compare it with the other genera in the subfamily. It shows a similar habitus to the genus Thylacella, and both may be closely related. The description of the new taxon increases the poorly known palaeodiversity of the lepidopsocids. We comment on the putative palaeobiology of this group and discuss new insights into the palaeobiogeography and early diversification of the subfamily Thylacellinae. An association between the thylacelline barklice and Detarieae (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) trees is plausible. The biogeographic distribution might be partially explained by this association, combined with oceanic currents. Studies on Cretaceous lepidopsocids, as well as other Cenozoic specimens, are crucial to understand the evolution of this group over time, and the possible vicariance process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study was carried out to compare macro-microscopy, powder microscopy and HPTLC analysis of six species such as Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb., Senna alata (L.) Roxb., Senna alexandrina Mill., Senna occidentalis (L.) Link., S. uniflora (Mill.) Irwin and Barneby, S. tora (L.) Roxb. of the genus Senna Mill. belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. Materials and Methods: Six selected Senna species were collected, shade dried and pharmacognostic study were performed used techniques such as microscopy and HPTLC analysis. Results: Seed macro-morphology of the selected six species shows significant variations in size, shape, colour, ornamentation and number of seeds per pod. The basic cellular structure of six Senna species was anatomically similar but variation was observed in number of layers. Microscopic characters of the selected species revealed key diagnostic features that can help to determine the relationship between the closely related species; macrosclerieds and osteosclerdies were observed in Senna auriculata and S. occidentalis. Powder microscopy of selected six Senna species varied in colour, texture and odour. Numerous rosette crystals in cotyledonary cells were found only in Senna tora which is a significant variation from other five Senna species. HPTLC finger print profiling was performed with ethanol extract at 254 nm, 366 nm and 575 nm derivatization using vannilin-sulphuric acid and the results were documented. In 254 nm 14 bands were separated but the major peak at Rf 0.31 (22.24%) appeared in S. alexandrina. Conclusion: A detailed morphological and pharmacognostical evaluations play an important role to avoid misidentification and delimitation of selected six Senna species and HPTLC profiling is an additional analytical tool for species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this experiment, chrysophanol analysis in Senna occidentalis (aerial parts) extract obtained by optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) variables (temperature, time, and liquid-to-solid ratio) using response surface methodology (RSM) was performed by employing the HPLC-UV method. For UAE process optimization, a highly significant quadratic model (p < 0.001) was projected to attain maximum chrysophanol yield. The extraction temperature, time, and liquid-to-solid ratio for the best UAE method were determined to be 49.3 °C, 57.7 min, and 18.7 mL/g, respectively. The optimized extract was subjected to a chrysophanol analysis utilizing HPLC-UV (fitted with a Pinnacle C18 column), and a gradient mobile phase composed of 0.5% formic acid (solvent A), acetonitrile (solvent B), methanol (solvent C), at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and an optimum wavelength of 279 nm, respectively. It furnished a compact and intense peak of chrysophanol at Rt = 23.809 min. The experimental value (20.47 mg/g) of chrysophanol obtained was close to the predicted value (19.32 mg/g), indicating that they agreed under the optimized extraction condition. UAE also displayed remarkable improvement in chrysophanol extraction compared with the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) method. Hence, our improved ultrasonic extraction process showed a potential use for effective chrysophanol extraction from commercial herbal supplements comprising the Senna species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multicellular discoid convex teliospore heads represent a prominent generic feature of the genus Ravenelia. However, recent molecular phylogenetic work has shown that this is a convergent trait, and that this genus does not represent a natural group. In 2000, a rust fungus infecting the Caesalpinioid species Cenostigma macrophyllum (= C. gardnerianum) was described as Ravenelia cenostigmatis. This species shows some rare features, such as an extra layer of sterile cells between the cysts and the fertile teliospores, spirally ornamented urediniospores, as well as strongly incurved paraphyses giving the telia and uredinia a basket-like appearance. Using freshly collected specimens of Rav. cenostigmatis and Rav. spiralis on C. macrophyllum, our phylogenetic analyses based on the nuc 28S, nuc 18S, and mt CO3 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3) gene sequences demonstrated that these two rust fungi belong in a lineage within the Raveneliineae that is distinct from Ravenelia s. str. Besides proposing their recombination into the new genus Raveneliopsis (type species R. cenostigmatis) and briefly discussing their potentially close phylogenetic affiliations, we suggest that five other Ravenelia species that are morphologically and ecologically close to the type species of Raveneliopsis, i.e., Rav. corbula, Rav. corbuloides, Rav. parahybana, Rav. pileolarioides, and Rav. Striatiformis, may be recombined pending new collections and confirmation through molecular phylogenetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphondylia leucaenae Skuhravá sp. nov. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is described from Mexico. Galls occur in flower buttons deforming the fruits of Leucaena diversifolia and L. leucocephala galls (Fabaceae). The presence of these make it impossible to form fruits and cause the death of the branch. Male, female, larva, pupa, and gall are described, and the biology is commented. This new species is only the gall midge species known on Leucaena genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nodulation is a hallmark yet non-universal characteristic of legumes. It is unknown whether the mechanisms underlying nitrogen-fixing symbioses evolved within legumes and the broader nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) repeatedly de novo or based on common ancestral pathways. Ten new transcriptomes representing members from the Cercidoideae and Caesalpinioideae subfamilies were supplemented with published omics data from 65 angiosperms, to investigate how gene content correlates with nodulation capacity within Fabaceae and the NFC. Orthogroup analysis categorized annotated genes into 64150 orthogroups, of which 19 were significantly differentially represented between nodulating versus non-nodulating NFC species and were most commonly absent in nodulating taxa. The distribution of six over-represented orthogroups within Viridiplantae representatives suggested that genomic evolution events causing gene family expansions, including whole-genome duplications (WGDs), were unlikely to have facilitated the development of stable symbioses within Fabaceae as a whole. Instead, an absence of representation of 13 orthogroups indicated that losses of genes involved in trichome development, defense and wounding responses were strongly associated with rhizobial symbiosis in legumes. This finding provides novel evidence of a lineage-specific predisposition for the evolution and/or stabilization of nodulation in Fabaceae, in which a loss of pathogen resistance genes may have allowed for stable mutualistic interactions with rhizobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims – The genus Englerodendron (Leguminosae-Detarioideae) has recently been enlarged to include Isomacrolobium and Pseudomacrolobium, and currently includes 18 tropical African species. The recent discovery of a new species in Gabon has led us to re-evaluate the delimitation of several taxa in the genus.Material and methods – This paper is based on field work by the authors in Gabon, and on a study of herbarium material from BR, BRLU, K, LBV, MO, P, and WAG; normal practices of herbarium taxonomy have been applied.Results – Englerodendron nguemae is described and illustrated as a new species, endemic to Gabon. It is remarkable for the variation in its leaves, which may be 2-jugate, 1-jugate, or unifoliolate on the same plant. The species is most similar to E. brachyrhachis, but the latter has uniformly 2-jugate leaves; E. nguemae also differs in its longer and more broadly winged leaf rachis (if present) that is convex (not flat) above, its stamen filaments pubescent at the base, and its glabrous style. Several collections from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, previously associated with E. obanense, are considered here to represent two different taxa. One of them, E. macranthum (a new combination and name at new rank based on Macrolobium isopetalum var. macranthum, which is raised to species status), is endemic to the Mayombe range and differs from E. obanense by its inflorescences branched from the base or nearly so, and its shorter 1-seeded pods. The other taxon, still imperfectly known and here treated as Englerodendron sp. A, is endemic to the Kivu region; it differs from E. obanense by its large foliaceous stipules and from E. conchyliophorum by the lack of a basal auricle on the stipules. In addition, the first records of E. leptorrhachis from Equatorial Guinea, and of E. conchyliophorum from the Republic of the Congo, are documented, and a revised key to the now 21 species (one undescribed) of Englerodendron is presented.

Acacia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade) is the largest and most widespread genus of plants in the Australian flora, occupying and dominating a diverse range of environments, with an equally diverse range of forms. For a genus of its size and importance, Acacia currently has surprisingly few genomic resources. Acacia pycnantha, the golden wattle, is a woody shrub or tree occurring in south-eastern Australia and is the country's floral emblem. To assemble a genome for A. pycnantha, we generated long-read sequences using Oxford Nanopore Technology, 10x Genomics Chromium linked reads, and short-read Illumina sequences, and produced an assembly spanning 814 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 2.8 Mb, and 98.3% of complete Embryophyta BUSCOs. Genome annotation predicted 47,624 protein-coding genes, with 62.3% of the genome predicted to comprise transposable elements. Evolutionary analyses indicated a shared genome duplication event in the Caesalpinioideae, and conflict in the relationships between Cercis (subfamily Cercidoideae) and subfamilies Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae (pea-flowered legumes). Comparative genomics identified a suite of expanded and contracted gene families in A. pycnantha, and these were annotated with both GO terms and KEGG functional categories. One expanded gene family of particular interest is involved in flowering time and may be associated with the characteristic synchronous flowering of Acacia. This genome assembly and annotation will be a valuable resource for all studies involving Acacia, including the evolution, conservation, breeding, invasiveness, and physiology of the genus, and for comparative studies of legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal remedies have long been relied upon for the treatment and prevention of illness. Aim: In this study, the antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy of plant extracts used in traditional medicine was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Antibacterial activity was assessed using disc diffusion, while antioxidant power was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results: Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and potential antioxidant characteristics were observed in ethanol extracts of Cassia bonducella, Caesalpinia coriaria, Cassia alata, Brownea coccinea, Cassia siamea, Cassia javanica, Amherstia nobilis, and Bauhinia acuminata. Conclusion: Traditional uses of these plants to treat conditions related to pathogenic microorganisms and oxidative stress have been confirmed by their promising antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, which have been used in a wide variety of herbal medicines. To learn more about the medicinal potential of these plants for human use, more research is needed to identify and isolate their active principles, conduct toxicological tests to ensure their safety, and conduct in vivo experiments on appropriate animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern African species of Chamaecrista were all treated under Cassia in Gordon-Gray's treatment for the Flora of Southern Africa. However, given the subsequent generic recircumscriptions in the subtribe Cassiinae, and the expanded collections of these taxa, there is a need to revisit the taxonomy of the group. The present study aimed to conduct a detailed taxonomic revision of the species of Chamaecrista indigenous to the flora of southern Africa region. Extensive fieldwork was carried out to study the taxa in their natural environment and morphological characters were additionally studied using herbarium material. The revision presented here includes comprehensive descriptions, a key to the species, nomenclature, typifications, diagnostic characters with illustrations, and geographical distribution maps of all recognised taxa. Eleven species of Chamaecrista are recognised for the flora of southern Africa, two of which are described as new, i.e. Chamaecrista grandiglandulata and C. gordon-grayei. In addition, one new subspecies is described, namely C. gordon-grayei subsp. longipedicellata, while Chamaecrista comosa var. capriconia is raised to the rank of subspecies, viz. Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia. The typifications published here include lectotypes designated for Chamaecrista plumosa and C. stricta, neotypes designated for C. capensis var. flavescens, C. comosa, and C. plumosa var. diffusa, and an isolectotype designated for C. stricta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chamaecrista is one of the largest genera of Leguminosae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Traditionally, it has been divided into six sections, of which Chamaecrista sect. Absus is the largest, with 31 series. Chamaecrista sect. Absus ser. Setosae comprises nine species. Chamaecrista setosa is the most widely distributed species, comprising four varieties, distinguished by the type and distribution of glandular trichomes, and the leaflet venation. Given the importance of leaflet venation in the delimitation of the taxa, here we performed a study of leaflet architecture of all species of the series and a more detailed morphological study for the Chamaecrista setosa complex. For the study of leaf architecture, 2D images of the leaflets were made using the Faxitron x-ray technique. The morphological studies were based on herbarium specimens. We present the details of the leaflet architecture for the species of Chamaecrista sect. Absus ser. Setosae, and we propose nomenclatural changes for a variety of Chamaecrista setosa and some corrections to typifications. During our studies we also found a new species, Chamaecrista forzzae, which is morphologically similar to Chamaecrista setosa and Chamaecrista multiseta. It is here described and illustrated. Chamaecrista é um dos maiores gêneros da subfamília Caesalpinioideae em Leguminosae. Tradicionalmente é reconhecido seis seções, a maior destas é Chamaecrista sect. Absus com 31 séries. Chamaecrista sect. Absus ser. Setosae compreende nove espécies, sendo Chamaecrista setosa a espécie mais amplamente distribuída e com quatro variedades distintas basicamente pelo tipo e distribuição dos tricomas glandulares e pela venação dos folíolos. Considerando a importância dada à venação foliolar na delimitação dos táxons, realizamos aqui um estudo da arquitetura foliolar para todas as espécies da série e um estudo morfológico mais detalhado para o complexo Chamaecrista setosa. Para o estudo da arquitetura foliolar, foram feitas imagens 2D dos folíolos usando a técnica de raio-x Faxitron. Os estudos morfológicos foram feitos com base em espécimes de herbário. Como resultados, detalhamos a arquitetura do folíolo para as espécies de Chamaecrista sect. Absus ser. Setosae, propomos uma mudança nomenclatural para uma das variedades de Chamaecrista setosa e realizamos algumas correções nas tipificações. Durante nossos estudos, também encontramos uma nova espécie, Chamaecrista forzzae, morfologicamente similar à Chamaecrista setosa e Chamaecrista multiseta, aqui descrita e ilustrada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nitrogen‐fixing symbiosis is globally important in ecosystem functioning and agriculture, yet the evolutionary history of nodulation remains the focus of considerable debate. Recent evidence suggesting a single origin of nodulation followed by massive parallel evolutionary losses raises questions about why a few lineages in the N2‐fixing clade retained nodulation and diversified as stable nodulators, while most did not. Within legumes, nodulation is restricted to the two most diverse subfamilies, Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae, which show stable retention of nodulation across their core clades.We characterize two nodule anatomy types across 128 species in 56 of the 152 genera of the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae: fixation thread nodules (FTs), where nitrogen‐fixing bacteroids are retained within the apoplast in modified infection threads, and symbiosomes, where rhizobia are symplastically internalized in the host cell cytoplasm within membrane‐bound symbiosomes (SYMs).Using a robust phylogenomic tree based on 997 genes from 147 Caesalpinioideae genera, we show that losses of nodulation are more prevalent in lineages with FTs than those with SYMs.We propose that evolution of the symbiosome allows for a more intimate and enduring symbiosis through tighter compartmentalization of their rhizobial microsymbionts, resulting in greater evolutionary stability of nodulation across this species‐rich pantropical legume clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent results have demonstrated that the genus Desmanthus is non-monophyletic because the genus Kanaloa is nested within it, with a single species, Desmanthus balsensis placed as sister to the clade comprising Kanaloa plus the remaining species of Desmanthus. Here we transfer D. balsensis to a new segregate genus Mezcala, discuss the morphological features supporting this new genus, present a key to distinguish Mezcala from closely related genera in the Leucaena subclade, and provide a distribution map of M. balsensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent phylogenomic analyses of 997 nuclear genes support the long-held view that the genus Entada is congeneric with Elephantorrhiza. Entada is resolved as monophyletic only if the genus Elephantorrhiza is subsumed within it. The two genera were distinguished solely by relatively minor differences in the mode of dehiscence of the fruits (a craspedium separating into one-seeded endocarp segments in Entada versus a craspedium with the whole fruit valve breaking away from the persistent replum in Elephantorrhiza) and the craspedial fruit type itself provides a shared synapomorphy for the re-circumscribed Entada. Here, we provide a synopsis of Entada, including 11 new combinations in total, for the eight species, one subspecies and one variety previously placed in Elephantorrhiza, as well as a new combination for a subspecies of Entada rheedei Spreng. not previously dealt with when Entada pursaetha DC. was placed in synonymy. These new combinations are: Entada burkei (Benth.) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada elephantina (Burch.) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada goetzei (Harms) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada goetzei subsp. lata (Brenan & Brummitt) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada obliqua (Burtt Davy) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada praetermissa (J.H. Ross) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada rangei (Harms) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada rheedei subsp. sinohimalensis (Grierson & D.G. Long) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada schinziana (Dinter) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; Entada woodii (E. Phillips) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov.; and Entada woodii var. pubescens (E. Phillips) S.A. O'Donnell & G.P. Lewis, comb. nov. We provide a revised circumscription of the genus Entada which now comprises 40 species distributed pantropically, with the greatest diversity of species in tropical Africa. We present a complete taxonomic synopsis, including a map showing the global distribution of the genus and photographs showing variation amongst species in habit, foliage, flowers and fruits. A short discussion about extrafloral nectaries, mainly observed in the Madagascan species, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Osodendron is here newly described to accommodate three species and one subspecies of African mimosoid legumes. These taxa have previously been included by several authors in Albizia, Cathormion and/or Samanea, but they have been shown to be phylogenetically unrelated to any of these, being instead the sister-group of the recently described Neotropical genus Robrichia, which is similar in vegetative morphology and especially its very similar indumentum, but is decidedly different in pod morphology. A taxonomic treatment of the three species in the genus is presented, with species descriptions, photographs, distribution maps and an identification key. The type species Osodendron altissimum (Hook. f.) E.J.M. Koenen occurs in swamp and riverine rainforest and gallery forests, with the typical subsp. altissimum widespread across tropical Africa, while Osodendron altissimum subsp. busiraensis (G.C.C. Gilbert) E.J.M. Koenen is only known from the Busira river catchment in the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of the other two species, Osodendron dinklagei (Harms) E.J.M. Koenen is a common tree of rainforest and the forest-savannah transition including semi-deciduous and secondary forest as well as gallery forest and is restricted to Upper Guinea and the similar, but vegetatively more variable Osodendron leptophyllum (Harms) E.J.M. Koenen occupies comparable vegetation types in Lower Guinea and extends marginally into the Sudanian and Zambezian savannahs in gallery forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data sampling all species of Leucochloron alongside representatives of genera of the Inga and Albizia clades of the larger ingoid clade of mimosoid legumes (sensu Koenen et al. 2020) confirm the non-monophyly of the genus Leucochloron. We show that Leucochloron bolivianum is placed in the Albizia clade, while the remaining four species of Leucochloron are placed in the Inga clade, in line with previous results. To rectify this non-monophyly, L. bolivianum is segregated as the new genus, Boliviadendron, with a single species, Boliviadendron bolivianum, narrowly endemic to the interior Andean valleys of Bolivia. We illustrate this new segregate genus, present a map of its distribution and discuss the striking lack of morphological distinctions between Boliviadendron and Leucochloron, as well as the phylogenetic and morphological affinities of Boliviadendron to the genera Enterolobium and Albizia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrochorea and Balizia were established to accommodate four and three species, respectively, that were previously included in different ingoid genera, based primarily on differences in fruit morphology. Both genera have Amazonia as their centre of diversity, extending to Central America and the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Previous phylogenetic evidence showed Balizia to be paraphyletic with respect to Hydrochorea, and species of Hydrochorea and Balizia were placed in a large unresolved polytomy with species of Jupunba. Here we present a new phylogenomic analysis based on 560 exons, from which 686 orthologous alignments were derived for gene tree inference. This analysis confirms a paraphyletic Balizia in relation to Hydrochorea, together with two African species formerly placed in Albizia nested within the clade. Jupunba macradenia was resolved as sister to the clade combining those taxa. However, quartet support is low for several of the branches at the base of the clade combining the genera Jupunba, Balizia and Hydrochorea, suggesting that rapid initial divergence in this group led to extensive incomplete lineage sorting and consequently poor phylogenetic resolution. Because of these phylogenomic complexities, we decided to use morphology as the main guide to consider Hydrochorea as a distinct genus from Jupunba, and Balizia as a new synonym for Hydrochorea. The taxonomic treatment includes the study of collections from various herbaria and fieldwork expeditions. We present a re-circumscribed Hydrochorea accommodating a total of 10 species, including six new combinations, five new synonyms, one new taxonomic status, two corrections of nomenclature category for lectotypes, and a second step lectotype and three new lectotypes. A new species from the Brazilian Amazon is described and illustrated. An identification key for all species of Hydrochorea is presented, together with comments and illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following recent mimosoid phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies demonstrating the non-monophyly of the genus Albizia, we present a new molecular phylogeny focused on the neotropical species in the genus, with much denser taxon sampling than previous studies. Our aims were to test the monophyly of the neotropical section Arthrosamanea, resolve species relationships, and gain insights into the evolution of fruit morphology. We perform a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of sequences of nuclear internal and external transcribed spacer regions and trace the evolution of fruit dehiscence and lomentiform pods. Our results find further support for the non-monophyly of the genus Albizia, and confirm the previously proposed segregation of Hesperalbizia, Hydrochorea, Balizia and Pseudosamanea. All species that were sampled from section Arthrosamanea form a clade that is sister to a clade composed of Jupunba, Punjuba, Balizia and Hydrochorea. We find that lomentiform fruits are independently derived from indehiscent septate fruits in both Hydrochorea and section Arthrosamanea. Our results show that morphological adaptations to hydrochory, associated with shifts into seasonally flooded habitats, have occurred several times independently in different geographic areas and different lineages within the ingoid clade. This suggests that environmental conditions have likely played a key role in the evolution of fruit types in Albizia and related genera. We resurrect the name Pseudalbizzia to accommodate the species of section Arthrosamanea, except for two species that were not sampled here but have been shown in other studies to be more closely related to other ingoid genera and we restrict the name Albizia s.s. to the species from Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. Twenty-one new nomenclatural combinations in Pseudalbizzia are proposed, including 16 species and 5 infraspecific varietal names. In addition to the type species Pseudalbizzia berteroana, the genus has 17 species distributed across tropical regions of the Americas, including the Caribbean. Finally, a new infrageneric classification into five sections is proposed and a distribution map of the species of Pseudalbizzia is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphologically variable genus Archidendron is the second largest mimosoid legume genus from the Indomalayan-Australasian region, yet it has not been well represented in phylogenetic studies. Phylogenies that have included multiple representatives of Archidendron suggest it may not be monophyletic, and the same applies to Archidendropsis, another understudied genus of the Archidendron clade. The most comprehensive phylogeny of Archidendron and Archidendropsis to date is presented, based on four nuclear markers (ITS, ETS, SHMT and RBPCO). Exemplars from all genera of the wider Archidendron clade are sampled, including representatives of all series within Archidendron and the two subgenera of Archidendropsis. Our results confirm that Archidendron and Archidendropsis are not monophyletic. Within Archidendron, only one series (ser. Ptenopae) is resolved as monophyletic and species of Archidendron are divided into two primarily geographic lineages. One clade is distributed in western Malesia and mainland Asia and includes most representatives of series Clypeariae, while the other is mostly restricted to eastern Malesia and Australia and includes representatives of the seven other series plus two samples of series Clypeariae. No taxonomic changes are made for Archidendron due to the high level of topological uncertainty and the lack of discrete macromorphological characters separating these two lineages. Each of the two subgenera of Archidendropsis is monophyletic but they are not closely related. A new genus endemic to Queensland (Australia), Heliodendron Gill.K. Br. & Bayly, gen. nov., is described for the former Archidendropsis subg. Basaltica, and combinations for its three species are proposed: Heliodendron basalticum (F. Muell.) Gill.K. Br. & Bayly, comb. nov., Heliodendron thozetianum (F. Muell.) Gill.K. Br. & Bayly, comb. nov., and Heliodendron xanthoxylon (C.T. White & W.D. Francis) Gill.K. Br. & Bayly, comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific legume genus Serianthes was recently placed in the Archidendron clade (sensu Koenen et al. 2020), a subclade of the mimosoid clade in subfamily Caesalpinioideae, which also includes Acacia, Archidendron, Archidendropsis, Falcataria, Pararchidendron, Paraserianthes and Wallaceodendron. Serianthes comprises ca. 18 species, five subspecies and two varieties that are characterised by bipinnately compound leaves with alternate sessile leaflets, branched axillary corymbiform panicles and woody indehiscent pods. Generic relationships, as well as species relationships within genera in the Archidendron clade, remain uncertain. While the sister relationship between Serianthes and the genus Falcataria is strongly supported by molecular data, the distinction between Serianthes and the monotypic genus Wallaceodendron has been questioned, based on their similar flower and fruit morphologies. We combined three gene-enriched hybrid capture DNA sequence datasets (generated from the 964 mimobaits v1 probe set, the expanded 997 mimobaits v2 probe set and the GoFlag angiosperm 408 probe set) and used their overlapping markers (77 loci of the target exonic and flanking regions) to test the monophyly of Serianthes and to investigate generic relationships within the Archidendron clade using 55 ingoid plus two outgroup taxa. We show that Serianthes is monophyletic, confirm the Serianthes + Falcataria sister relationship to Wallaceodendron and recognise this combined clade as the Serianthes clade within the Archidendron clade. We also evaluated the use of overlapping loci across datasets in combination with concordance analyses to test generic relationships and further investigate previously unresolved relationships across the wider ingoid clade. Concordance analysis revealed limited gene tree conflicts near the tips of the Archidendron clade, but increased discordance at the base of the clade, which could be attributed to rapid lineage divergence (radiation) and/or incomplete lineage sorting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senegalia comprises 219 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Two sections are currently recognised within Senegalia and these are most readily distinguished by the differences in disposition of their cauline prickles, i.e. sect. Senegalia with prickles at or near leaf nodes and sect. Monacanthea with mostly internodal prickles. Previous phylogenetic studies, based primarily on small numbers of plastid DNA loci, found Senegalia to be monophyletic with two large subclades corresponding to the sections. Here, we present new phylogenomic evidence from 997 single-copy nuclear gene sequences for a small, but representative set of species. These new analyses show that Senegalia is non-monophyletic, but instead, forms a grade that is paraphyletic with respect to the remainder of the ingoid clade (i.e. Ingeae + Acacia s.s. + Acaciella), comprising two well-supported subclades most likely representing the same clades as found in previous phylogenetic studies of the genus and, interspersed between these, a third, moderately supported clade, comprising the genera Mariosousa, Pseudosenegalia and Parasenegalia. In marked contrast to the nuclear phylogeny, the two Senegalia clades are sister groups in the plastid phylogeny, based on analyses of 72 chloroplast genes, rendering the genus monophyletic, based on plastid data alone. We discuss this new evidence that Senegalia is nonmonophyletic in relation to the marked cytonuclear discordance, high gene tree conflict and lack of resolution across this senegalioid grade and review the consistency of the key morphological characters distinguishing the two sections of Senegalia. We conclude that it is likely that Senegalia will need to be split into two (or possibly more) genera: a re-circumscribed Senegalia s.s. that corresponds to the existing Senegalia sect. Senegalia plus the S. ataxacantha group (Senegalia sect. Monacanthea s.s.; future studies may show that this group warrants generic status) and a new genus corresponding to the remainder of sect. Monacanthea (here designated as Senegalia sect. Monacanthea p.p.). However, re-delimiting Senegalia now would be premature given that the key morphological characters are not fully congruent with the two sections and pending denser phylogenetic sampling of taxa. A judiciously selected list of critical taxa is presented to facilitate future phylogenomic studies. Finally, we discuss the identity of Albizia leonardii, which is also placed in this senegalioid grade in these new phylogenomic analyses and place it in synonymy with Parasenegalia vogeliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the most complete molecular phylogeny to date of the Pithecellobium clade of subfamily Caesalpinioideae. This neotropical group was informally recognised (as the Pithecellobium alliance) at the end of the 20th century by Barneby and Grimes (1996) and includes five genera and 33 species distributed from the southern United States and Caribbean Islands to north-eastern South America. Our aims were to further test the monophyly of the group and its genera and to identify sister group relationships within and amongst the genera. A phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences (ITS and ETS) was performed. The results provide further support for the monophyly of the Pithecellobium clade. The genera Ebenopsis, Pithecellobium and Sphinga were strongly supported as monophyletic. Havardia and Painteria were found to be non-monophyletic, prompting their re-circumscriptions and the description of two new genera: Gretheria and Ricoa. New combinations are made for the three species transferred to the new genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-monophyly is a prominent issue in mimosoid legumes, even in some of the less speciose genera such as the neotropical genus Stryphnodendron. This genus includes 35 species occurring from Nicaragua to Southern Brazil mostly in humid forests and savannas. Previous taxonomic studies of Stryphnodendron have highlighted morphologically distinct groups within the genus, recognized by differences on leaves (number of pinnae and size of leaflets), inflorescences (a simple or compound thyrse), and fruit types (legume, nucoid legume or follicle). Recent phylogenetic analyses have confirmed the non-monophyly of Stryphnodendron, supporting the recognition of three independent and morphologically well-delimited genera. Here we re-circumscribe Stryphnodendron and propose the two new genera Gwilymia and Naiadendron. In addition, we also provide an updated taxonomic account of the closely related genus Microlobius, including the proposal of a lectotype for the single species in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae with ca. 4,600 species in 152 genera is the second-largest subfamily of legumes (Leguminosae) and forms an ecologically and economically important group of trees, shrubs and lianas with a pantropical distribution. Despite major advances in the last few decades towards aligning genera with clades across Caesalpinioideae, generic delimitation remains in a state of considerable flux, especially across the mimosoid clade. We test the monophyly of genera across Caesalpinioideae via phylog-enomic analysis of 997 nuclear genes sequenced via targeted enrichment (Hybseq) for 420 species and 147 of the 152 genera currently recognised in the subfamily. We show that 22 genera are non-monophyletic or nested in other genera and that non-monophyly is concentrated in the mimosoid clade where ca. 25% of the 90 genera are found to be non-monophyletic. We suggest two main reasons for this pervasive generic non-monophyly: (i) extensive morphological homoplasy that we document here for a handful of important traits and, particularly, the repeated evolution of distinctive fruit types that were historically emphasised in delimiting genera and (ii) this is an artefact of the lack of pantropical taxonomic syntheses and sampling in previous phylogenies and the consequent failure to identify clades that span the Old World and New World or conversely amphi-Atlantic genera that are non-monophyletic, both of which are critical for delimiting genera across this large pantropical clade. Finally, we discuss taxon delimitation in the phylogenomic era and especially how assessing patterns of gene tree conflict can provide additional insights into generic delimitation. This new phylogenomic framework provides the foundations for a series of papers reclassifying genera that are presented here in Advances in Legume Systematics (ALS) 14 Part 1, for establishing a new higher-level phylogenetic tribal and clade-based classification of Caesalpinioideae that is the focus of ALS14 Part 2 and for downstream analyses of evolutionary diversification and biogeography of this important group of legumes which are presented elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust evidence from phylogenomic analyses of 997 nuclear genes has recently shown, beyond doubt, that the genus Prosopis is polyphyletic with three separate lineages, each with affinities to other genera of mimosoids: (i) Prosopis africana is an isolated lineage placed in the grade of Plathymenia, Newtonia and Fillaeopsis that subtends the core mimosoid clade; (ii) the remaining Old World species of Prosopis form a clade that is sister to the Indo-Nepalese monospecific genus Indopiptadenia and (iii) New World Prosopis has the Namibian / Namaqualand monospecific endemic genus Xerocladia nested within it. This means that it is now clear that maintaining the unity of the genus Prosopis sensu Burkart (1976) is no longer tenable. These three distinct lineages of Prosopis species correspond directly to Burkart's (1976) sectional classification of the genus, to previously recognised genera and to the differences in types of armature that underpin Burkart's sections. Here, we address this non-monophyly by resurrecting three segregate genera - Anonychium, Neltuma and Strombocarpa and provide 57 new name combinations where necessary, while maintaining the morphologically distinctive and geographically isolated genera Xerocladia and Indopiptadenia. The genus Prosopis itself is reduced to just three species and an emended description is presented. The impacts of these name changes for a genus of such high ecological and human use importance are discussed. These impacts are mitigated by clear differences in armature which facilitate identification and by potential benefits from the deeper biological understanding brought about by recognition of these divergent lineages at generic rank. We provide an identification key to genera and present a map showing the distributions of the segregate genera, as well as drawings and photos illustrating variation in armature and fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present ontogenetic study reveals variations throughout floral development in three morphologically representative species from the genus Tachigali, allowing a better understanding of floral organs diversity, flower symmetry and their homologies, especially in Fabaceae, a diverse family that exhibits a wide variation in floral architecture. Tachigali (Caesalpinioideae) corresponds to an important Neotropical legumes tree genus with 58 species in Brazil. Species of the genus Sclerolobium Vogel were incorporated in its circumscription, increasing the diversity of its floral morphology. Methods: This work aims to perform an ontogenetic study of T. denudata, T. paratyensis and T. spathulipetala, morphologically representative species of Tachigali, in order to describe the floral development and to better comprehend the floral morphology varieties among the species, using scanning electron microscopy. Results: We found the studied species to have floral buds with acropetal and helical development along the inflorescence axis; sepals and petals with helical development, varying the position of the primordia in the bud, according to the different species; stamens with unilateral development and carpel with adaxial curvature. These data correspond to original records of Tachigali ontogeny and contribute to an improved understanding of floral morphology and symmetry with data related to the zygomorphic and early development of the sepals and petals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to integrate cytogenetic and ecological approaches into a phylogenetic framework to better understand the evolution and systematics of Senna series Aphyllae , an endemic group of arid and semi-arid regions of South America. We counted the chromosome numbers at the population level in three species of series Aphyllae using a conventional technique (GIEMSA) and in situ hybridization (FISH). Phylogenetic reconstructions and inference of chromosome evolution were based on four plastid DNA regions and one nuclear marker. A principal component analysis was carried out using environmental data. Finally, ecological niche models (ENM) were implemented: (1) to identify the abiotic factors that constraint the potential geographical distribution of series Aphyllae and (2) to understand the ecological drivers for species diversification. The basic chromosome number is x = 12. Senna aphylla showed three cytotypes with (2 n = 24, 48 and 60) and S. pachyrrhiza has two cytotypes (2 n = 24 and 48). Senna crassiramea appeared to be polyploid with 2 n = 48. In diploid S. pachyrrhiza , two 45S and three 5S rDNA sites were reported. In tetraploid S. crassiramea , four 45S and four 5S rDNA sites were detected. The ENM and ecological speciation tests suggest that in series Aphyllae speciation was sometimes associated with conservatism and sometimes with niche divergence. Our results contribute to the evolutionary knowledge of Neotropical legumes and understanding of drivers of diversification in arid regions in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ayurveda has a rich treasure of medical preparations and formulations. The scientific procedures of drug preparations have specific action, site and mode of action. Mashi kalpana is one of the drug preparation methods explained in Ayurveda. This study aims to find the difference between Latakaranja Mashi extracted by three different methods using analytical tests. Latakaranja seeds [Caesalpinia bonducella (L.) Roxb. Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpiniaceae)] were burnt in sarava (sealed mud casserole) by three different methods to obtain Batch-A drug sample (incineration method), Batch- B drug sample (combustion method), and Batch- C drug sample (only internal kernels incineration method) to obtain the carbonized form. The best Mashi form was analyzed using various macroscopic tests, solubility tests and physicochemical analysis of all three samples. The best Mashi was extracted through the incineration method of Batch-A drug sample with black color, 33.70 % ash value, 3.739 % of acidinsoluble ash, pH of 9.3 and specific gravity of 1.081. This sample is soluble in water and alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Coulteria from the seasonally dry forest of the Rio Balsas Depression, Mexico is described and illustrated. Coulteria sousae is morphologically most similar to Coulteria pringlei but differs from it by having smaller flowers (1 cm long), long stipitate fruit, leaflets that are glabrous and coriaceous at maturity, and an allopatric distribution. The conservation status of this species is suggested to be Endangered (EN), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the petiole glands in Chamaecrista are usually termed extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), additional studies on the morphoanatomy and chemical nature of the exudates are necessary to properly classify a plant secretory structure. The correct classification of such structures is also important in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Based on standard anatomical procedures for light microscopy our study aims to broaden our current understanding of the EFNs in Chamaecrista. We describe and compare the ontogenesis and the morphoanatomy of the petiole EFNs in C. debilis and C. desvauxii var. langsdorfii, species that belong to two distinct sections in Chamaecrista. The morphoanatomy along with the presence of sugars in exudates supports the classification of the petiole glands in both species as EFNs. The EFN development is rapid, and their secretory activity starts before the young leaves complete their expansion. The major difference among the EFNs of both species is their outer morphology which is useful on the taxonomy. Both EFNs are anatomically similar and composed of a secretory epidermis, a nectariferous parenchyma and vascular tissue more abundant in phloem in comparison to xylem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present study, the tannins from stem and root barks of Tessmannia burttii Harms (Caesalpiniaceae), a plant species abundantly growing in Tanzania and other parts of Africa, were investigated for their suitability in hides tanning. Tannin powder was extracted at selected temperatures (30, 50 and 80 °C) and the influence of each temperature on the crosslinking capacity was evaluated. The interaction mechanism between hide powder collagen and the tannins was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), trinitrobenzensulfonic (TNBS) acid assay and amino acid hydrolysis methods. Extraction temperatures showed low influence on crosslinking capacity of the tannins. However, extract obtained at 50 °C exhibited best performance in terms of gap size between Tonset and Tpeak. The stem bark extract yield was higher than that from the root bark, but both were within the recommended ranges. The tannin content (61%) of T. burttii stem bark extract was above recommended value (10%), whereas its total phenolic content and total flavonoic content were found to be above that of commercial Acacia mearnsii tannin. The study of cross-linking parameters as a function of pH showed cross-linking to occur via a covalent mechanism at the basic amino groups. However, the bonds were not resistant to acid hydrolysis. The observed interaction mechanism indicated that tannins from stem and root barks of T. burttii belong to the condensed tannin, similar to A. mearnsii (black wattle), a commercial tannin source that was used in this study as a reference. Findings from this study depict that T. burttii extracts are auspicious eco-friendly alternative source of vegetable tannins to overcome the use of chromium salts in the leather industry. Graphical abstract