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Background - Studies of neotropical Monimiaceae revealed a new species of Mollinedia endemic to the state of Espírito Santo, eastern Brazil. In this study, we describe, illustrate, and compare the new species with related taxa. In addition, ecological comments and extinction risk assessment of the new species are provided. Methods - This study was based on herbarium material and field work observations. The risk of extinction assessment follows the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species' Criteria and Categories and the latest version of the IUCN Guidelines. Results - Mollinedia ruschii sp. nov. has habitat specificity with few individuals recorded, mainly in the Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia, a protected area created by Augusto Ruschi, a Brazilian naturalist and researcher, to whom we dedicate the name of the new species. Phytosociological and forest dynamics studies and intensive field work in the area where the species occurs, enabled the detection of the decline of mature individuals in previous decades. Following the IUCN Red List criteria, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the anatomy and histochemistry of Mollinedia clavigera leaves and stems through photonic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Noteworthy features of leaves were: presence of paracytic stomata on both surfaces; simple as well as bifurcate non-glandular trichomes; prismatic calcium oxalate crystals; flat-convex midrib with a central and two dorsal bundles; concave-convex petiole with a single vascular bundle in open archh. Stems were cylindrical and showed prismatic and styloid crystals in the pith. Histochemical analysis detected lipophilic and phenolic compounds, starch grains and lignified elements such as brachysclereids and fibers. These features may assist in future identifications and quality control of M. clavigera, avoid misidentification between other genus members, once species and genus studies are scarce.

This study aimed to evaluate the morphology and biometry of fruits and seeds, as well as germination potential of Mollinedia clavigera Tul. seeds, of the family Monimiaceae, an endemic species from Brazil. The internal and external structures have been identified for the evaluation of morphology. For biometric characteristics of fruits and seeds, we considered the diameter and length, plus the weight and number of seeds per kilogram. Germination was evaluated under the temperature of 20, 25 and 30ºC in two substrates (paper and vermiculite). As a morphological result, we identified common features to the Monimiaceae family, as well as the presence of Curculionidae larvae in the seeds. Biometric data showed mean values of 7.42 mm in length and 6.13 mm in diameter of fruits, 6.91 mm in length and 5.07 mm in diameter of seeds. Results have identified the temperatures of 20 and 25º C are the are the most suitable for germinaon, wich happend 23 days after experiment beginning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. This is the first comparative study of inflorescence morphology through all seven families of the order Laurales (Atherospermataceae, Calycanthaceae, Gomortegaceae, Hernandiaceae, Lauraceae, Monimiaceae, and Siparunaceae) and the larger subclades of these families. Methodology. We studied 89 species of 39 genera from herbarium specimens and partly from liquid-fixed material, focusing on the branching patterns in the reproductive region. In addition, we used the information from the literature. Pivotal results. There are recurrent branching patterns. Botryoids, thyrsoids, and compound botryoids and thyrsoids are the most common forms. Panicles, racemes, and thyrses are rare. Panicles and racemes occur in some highly nested Lauraceae and thyrses in Hernandiaceae. Thus, the presence of thyrso-paniculate inflorescences is not characteristic for Laurales, in contrast to the statement by Weberling. Conclusions. An evolutionary interpretation is still difficult because the existing molecular phylogenetic analyses are not fine grained enough and also because the previous phylogenetic results are not robust enough to make firm conclusions within the order. However, the present structural results show that there are trends of occurrence of certain patterns in families or subclades within families, and these may be useful in a morphological matrix of magnoliids (see work by Doyle and Endress for basal angiosperms). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complex cladistic analysis of molecular and morphological data of the Monimiaceae family is carried out. The hypothetic modes of the family dispersal are reconstructed basing on the data received for the studied representatives of the Monimiaceae family from all parts of the range and available fossils data. The family supposedly originated in Africa and penetrated into South America via the Antarctic way, and through the Arabian Peninsula and Sri-Lanka to South-Eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and further then to Madagascar.

A new gall midge, here named Asphondylia daphnandrae Kolesik sp. nov., is described and a segment of its cytochrome oxidase unit I mitochondrial gene is sequenced. Asphondylia daphnandrae is significant as the first gall midge known to feed on a plant from the family Atherospermataceae (Laurales). The host plant tree Daphnandra johnsonii is endemic to the Illawarra region, New South Wales, Australia, and is currently threatened with extinction. Larvae of the new species of gall midge were found feeding inside deformed fruits, impeding the sexual reproduction of this endangered plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant Mollinedia stenophylla Perkins (Monimiaceae) is endemic to southern Brazil and, until 2015, had not been seen for 122 years. We located a single population of the species on the margin of a watercourse in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state. We describe the location of the species, comment on its morphology, ecology and conservation, assess its conservation status, propose conservation measures, and discuss the potential value of local action plans for this and other narrow endemic plant species. Mollinedia stenophylla has whorled leaves, clonal reproduction and a low height, unusual traits in the genus Mollinedia. Using the IUCN Red List criteria we assess the species as Critically Endangered. This example highlights the importance of investing time in plant surveys and taxonomy, especially in megadiverse countries such as Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single staminate flower preserved in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is described as Setitheca lativalva gen. et sp. nov. The fossil's affinities appear to be with Monimiaceae and allied families of order Laurales. The perianth is composed of ca. 12 spirally arranged tepals of varying size and shape. A single whorl of 10 stamens is attached to the margin of a flat central disc. There is no gynoecium. In some of the stamens, the bilocular anthers are held upright, but in the others, the filaments are arched abaxially and the anthers are reflexed. Dehiscence is extrorse via 2 lateral, dorsally-hinged valves, as also occurs in some members of Hernandiaceae. The spherical pollen appears to be inaperturate. Such features as the unisexual flowers, valvate anthers, and a perianth of numerous, spirally arranged tepals are consistent with assignment of the fossil to this order of angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new generic name Pendressia Whiffin is proposed to replace the name Endressia Whiffi (Monimiaceae) which is illegitimate, being a later homonym of Endressia J.Gay (Apiaceae). The new combination Pendressia wardellii (F.Muell.) Whiffin is proposed for Wilkiea wardellii, and descriptions of both the genus and species are provided. The distinctiveness and relationships of Pendressia are discussed, and notes on habitat and distribution of the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper aimed to characterize the anatomical structure of the wood of specimens of Mollinedia glabra (Spreng.) Perkins growing in two contiguous formations of restinga vegetation at Praia Virgem, in the municipality of Rio das Ostras, RJ. Both the Open Palmae (OPS) and the Sandy Strip Closed Shrub (SSCS) formations are found in coastal regions that receive between 1,100 and 1,300 mm of rainfall per year. Sapwood samples were collected in both formations. Typical anatomical features for this species include: solitary vessels, radial multiples or clusters elements, that are circular to angular in outline, 5-15 barred scalarifor perforation plates, ood parenchya scanty, septate fiber-tracheids, and wide multiseriate rays with prismatic crystals. Statistical analyses indicated a significant increase in the frequency of vessel elements and an increase in fiber-tracheid diameters in OPS individuals. These characteristics are considered structural adaptations to increased water needs caused by a greater exposure to sunlight. Continuous pruning may be responsible for the tyloses observed in OPS plants. The greater lengths and higher frequencies of the rays in SSCS trees ay be due to the greater diaeters of their branches. ur results suggest that . glabra develops structural adaptations to the restinga micro-environmental variations during its development.Este trabalho objetiva caracterizar a estrutura anatômica do lenho de Mollinedia glabra, ocorrente em duas formações vegetais contíguas na restinga da Praia Virgem, município de Rio das Ostras, RJ. Essas formações Arbustiva Aberta de Pal-mae (AAP) e Arbustiva Fechada do Cordão Arenoso (AFCA) estão sobre cordão arenoso e recebem precipitações anuais de 1.100-1.300 mm. Foram obtidas amostras do lenho das duas forações. São características anatôicas gerais da espécie: elementos de vasos solitários, em arranjos radiais ou cachos, de seção de circular a angular; placa de perfuração es-calariforme, com 5-15 barras; parênquima axial escasso; fibro-traqueídes septadas e raios multisseriados largos, com cristais prismáticos. A análise estatística evidenciou aumento significativo na frequência dos elementos de vasos e aumento no diâmetro das fibrotraqueídes nos indivíduos de AAP. Essas características são consideradas adaptações estruturais ao aumento da necessidade de água causada por maior exposição à luz solar. A realização de podas frequentes pode ter relação com a formação de tilos nesses indivíduos. O aumento significativo no comprimento e frequência de raios podem representar uma resposta ao maior diâmetro dos indivíduos em AFCA. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que M. glabra desenvolve adaptações estruturais às variações micro-ambientais da restinga durante seu desenvolvimento.

The Monimiaceae is represented in the Neotropical region by six genera. Macropeplus Perkins is a Brazilian genus comprising four species restricted to high-montane Atlantic Forest areas, which have not been properly examined from the anatomical point of view. This study characterizes the anatomical structure and histochemical aspects of the leaves of Macropeplus dentatus and M. ligustrinus, and adds to our taxonomic knowledge ofthe genus. The individuals studied were collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park and in the Caraça Natural Park in southeastern Brazil. Among the characteristics common to the two species, hypostomatic leaves, dorsiventral structure, paracytic stomata, a subepidermal layer, collateral vascular system in the form of an arc in the petiole, semicraspedobrochidodromous venation, and the presence of prismatic crystals were registered. Intracellular metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, lipids and mucilage, were identified. The petiole shape, occurrence and distribution of secretory cells and brachysclereids, in association with other morphological features, were relevant to species identification.A família Monimiaceae está representada na região Neotropical por seis gêneros. Macropeplus Perkins é um gênero, exclusivamente brasileiro, constituído por quatro espécies restritas às Florestas Alto-Montanas e que carecem de estudos anatômicos. O presente trabalho visa caracterizar a estrutura anatômica e a histoquímica da folha de Macropeplus ligustrinus (Tul.) Perkins e Macropeplus dentatus (Perkins) I. Santos & Peixoto, a fim de ampliar o conhecimento sobre esses táxons e auxiliar na taxonomia do gênero. Os indivíduos amostrados estão localizados no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (RJ) e do Parque Natural do Caraça (MG). Dentre as características observadas comuns às espécies destacam-se: estrutura dorsiventral, folha hipoestomática, estômatos paracíticos, estrato subepidérmico, sistema vascular colateral em forma de arco no pecíolo, padrão de venação do tipo semicraspedobroquidódromo e presença de cristais prismáticos. Alguns metabólitos especiais foram identificados como substâncias fenólicas, lipídios e mucilagem, sendo o último detectado pela primeira vez na família. O contorno do pecíolo, a ocorrência e distribuição das células secretoras e das braquiesclereídes, em associação com os dados morfológicos, são úteis na distinção dessas espécies.

O Município de Presidente Figueiredo, do Estado do Amazonas, Brasil, foi visitado durante três anos consecutivos (1996 a 1999), com o objetivo de obter-se amostras botânicas da área para estudos do Subprojeto "Elaboração de Revisões e Monografias Taxonômicas", com a finalidade de elaborar-se a Flórula para o Município. As coleções feitas nesse período encontram-se depositadas no acervo do Herbário do INPA e as informações gerais sobre os taxa aqui estudados foram complementadas com as obtidas das coleções feitas anteriormente por outros pesquisadores. Para a família Myristicaceae Br. R. foram identificadas 23 espécies e duas variedades, distribuídas em quatro gêneros. Destes, Iryanthera Warb. e Virola Aubl. destacaram-se pela diversidade em espécies, sendo Iryanthera ulei Warb. e Virola calophylla (Spruce) Warb. var. calophylla as espécies mais coletadas. A família Monimiaceae Juss. está representada apenas pelo gênero Mollinedia Ruiz & Pavón, pela espécie M. ovata Ruiz & Pavón; já a família Siparunaceae (A. DC.) Schodde encontra-se representada pelo gênero Siparuna Aubl. com oito espécies, sendo S. cristata (Poepp. & Endl.) A. DC. a espécie mais coletada.The Township of Presidente Figueiredo, in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, was visited for three consecutive years, from 1996 to 1999, with the aim of acquiring botanical samples from the area, in order to carry out studies on the "Taxonomic Monographies and Revisions Preparation" Subproject for the purpose of preparing a survey of the flora. Collections pertaining to the present work are deposited at INPA's herbarium and, general information on the taxa studied here were complemented with those obtained from earlier collections conducted by other researchers. Twenty three (23) species and two varieties, distributed in four genera were identified for family Myristicaceae Br. R. Of these Iryanthera Warb. and Virola Aubl. stood out on account of their species diversity, being Iryanthera ulei Warb. and Virola calophylla (Spruce) Warb. var. calophylla the most collected ones. Family Monimiaceae Juss. is only represented by genus Mollinedia Ruiz & Pavón through species M. ovata Ruiz & Pavón, yet family Siparunaceae (A. DC.) Schodde is represented by genus Siparuna Aubl. with eight species, being S. cristata (Poepp. & Endl.) A. DC. the most collected one.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The history of the basal angiosperm family Monimiaceae is based largely on fossil wood and leaf and floral fossils of uncertain affinity. Fossilized leaves w ith a well-preserved cuticle and Hedycarya-like flowers, including one w ith in situ pollen tetrads and fruits from an early Miocene lacustrine diatomite deposit in southern New Zealand implies a long record for Hedycarya in New Zealand. The flowers contain pollen grains that are very similar to those of the modern New Zealand species Hedycarya arborea and the Australian H. angustifolia but are considerably smaller. METHODS: We undertook comparative studies of the leaf, flower and fruit morphology of the newly discovered macrofossils and compared the in situ pollen grains from the flower with dispersed pollen grains from extant species. KEY RESULTS: The leaves are referred to a new, extinct species, Hedycarya pluvisilva Bannister, Conran, Mildenh. & D.E.Lee, (Monimiaceae), and associated with fossilized Hedycoryo-likeflowersthat include in situ pollen and an infructescence of three drupes from the same site. Phylogenetic analysis placed the fossil into Hedycarya, sister to H. angustifolia in a clade with H. arborea and Levieria acuminata. A new name, Planarpollenites fragilis Mildenh., is proposed for dispersed fossil pollen tetrads at the site and those associated with the flower. CONCLUSIONS: The fossils are similar to those of modern Australian and New Zealand Hedycarya species, suggesting that the genus and related taxa have been significant components of the rainforests of Australia and the former Zealandian subcontinent for most of the Cenozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The floral history of early angiosperms is far from complete. The fossil discussed here has the potential to expand our knowledge of timing, reproductive biology, and paleobiogeography in early angiosperms. METHODS: Cutting-edge methodologies in CT scanning in conjunction with tomography software have opened new possibilities for discovering details in amber-preserved fossils that were inaccessible for meaningful study in the past. KEY RESULTS: The fossil is small and complex, cupulate, with numerous stamens and a suite of characters distributed in the modern families of Laurales. The most parsimonious placement of the fossil based on morphology is as a sister taxon of Atherospermataceae + Gomortega (Gomortegaceae). CONCLUSIONS: This fossil taxon, a Laurasian Lauralean from the mid-Cretaceous, is an importan t example of fossil Laurales with implications for biogeography and timing in the radiation and extinction in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Monimiaceae, Siparunaceae, and Atherospermataceae, formerly included in the broad "old" Monimiaceae family, have long been known for their uses in traditional medicine and have proven to be rich sources of chemically diverse specialized metabolites with numerous potent biological and therapeutical properties. The progress made recently has expanded their phytochemistry and pharmacology albeit to different extents. This review focuses on the non-volatile constituents isolated from the three plant families during the last two decades and their emerging therapeutic potential. Based on the data collected from multiple databases without statistical analysis, approximately 93 components, of which 35 undescribed compounds including γ-lactones, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and homogentisic acid derivatives, have been reported. Moreover, diverse biological activities of pure isolated compounds such as anticancer, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiviral, and antibacterial activities have been evidenced. Besides offering new important perspectives for different diseases' management, the chemical and biological diversities among the isolated compounds, open promising avenues of research and contribute to renewed interest in these families needing further studies. This review provides an updated overview of their potential as sources of leads for drug discovery, while also highlighting ongoing challenges and future research opportunities. [Display omitted] • Monimiaceae, Siparunaceae and Atherospermataceae plant families are reviewed. • Non-volatile compounds isolated the last two decades are summarized. • Undescribed γ-lactones, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids are highlighted. • Pure isolated specialized metabolites exhibit diverse biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) is one of most important pest of stored seeds worldwide, but its current control method is based on the use of synthetic insecticides, usually leading to undesirable problems such as insecticide residues on treated food, human intoxications, and insect resistance development. Therefore the search of friendly alternative methods is required. The aim of this study was to assess, under laboratory conditions, the insecticidal properties of Peumus boldus Molina, Laurelia sempervirens (Ruiz & Pav.) Tul., and Laureliopsis philippiana (Looser) Schodde essential oils against S. zeamais. The phytochemical analysis of the three essential oils showed 1,8-cineole, safrole and methyleugenol as the common components; all of them documented with insecticidal activity from essential oils from other plant species. The highest toxicity (100% mortality) of these three oils acting as a contact insecticide was observed at 24 h exposure at 4% concentration. The estimated LC50 values for P. boldus, L. sempervirens, and L. philippiana were 0.37, 1.02, and 0.28 μL g-1, respectively. Peumus boldus exhibited the highest fumigant activity with 100% adult mortality at 30 μL oil L-1 air. At ≥ 0.5% (v/w) concentration, all essential oils showed repellent activity. These three essential oils showed a promissory insecticidal activity against the maize weevil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La familia Monimiaceae es reconocida en el Perú por presentar dos géneros y casi 50 especies (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004; Renner & Hausner, 2005), arbustivas y arbóreas. En este trabajo reconocemos dos especies endémicas en dos géneros, las que habitan las regiones Bosques Muy Húmedos Premontanos y Bosques Húmedos Amazónicos, entre los 140 y 1800 m de altitud. Ninguna especie endémica está representada en el Sistema Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado.

Highlights: [•] P. boldus tea blunts iron induced oxidative stress in liver mitochondria. [•] Boldine had a modest antioxidant effect in isolated mitochondria. [•] Boldine was a better scavenger of DPPH radical than P. boldus tea. [•] P. boldus and boldine can have synergic antioxidant properties. [•] P. boldus and boldine can have synergic antioxidant properties as well as synergic effects in hepatoprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) and the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst) are two key pests of stored-grain products worldwide. The insecticidal activity of boldo (Peumus boldus Molina) powder, liquid ethanolic and hexanic extracts against S. zeamais and T. castaneum were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The evaluated variables were mortality, emergence of adult insects (F0, and grain weight loss. The experimental design was completely randomized. The mortality in S. zeamais was 100% even at the lowest powder concentration (0.5% w/w), whereas emergence of F1 adult insects was 0% and grain weight loss was ≤ 0.08%. For T. castaneum, only 8 and 16% w/w powder concentrations reached 100% mortality. The liquid ethanolic and hexanic extracts caused 100% mortality of S. zeamais, whereas only the ethanolic extract reached this value for T. casmneum. Therefore, the powder and the evaluated extracts of P. boldus were toxic for S. zeamais and T. castaneum and are promising against these and other stored-grain pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mollinedia racemosa, a species collected in Yopal-Casanare-Colombia, has been characterized from the point of view of its phytochemical profile, quantification of some of its secondary metabolites, antioxidant potential, composition and chemical profile of essential oil, antimicrobial activity and acute toxicity. The objective was giving scientific support to the empirical knowledge from Colombian indigenous and peasant communities and to contribute to better understanding of this type of plant in Colombia. The ethanolic extract of the plant has a high content of phenolic constituents, while volatiles compounds obtained from its leaves have high content of sesquiterpenes. The bioactivity revealed by the plant could be associated to phytophenols, alkaloids and essential oil constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The biogeography of the tropical plant family Monimiaceae has long been thought to reflect the break-up of West and East Gondwana, followed by limited transoceanic dispersal. Location Southern Hemisphere, with fossils in East and West Gondwana. Methods We use phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from 67 of the c. 200 species, representing 26 of the 28 genera of Monimiaceae, and a Bayesian relaxed clock model with fossil prior constraints to estimate species relationships and divergence times. Likelihood optimization is used to infer switches between biogeographical regions on the highest likelihood tree. Results Peumus from Chile, Monimia from the Mascarenes and Palmeria from eastern Australia/New Guinea form a clade that is sister to all other Monimiaceae. The next-deepest split is between the Sri Lankan Hortonia and the remaining genera. The African Monimiaceae, Xymalos monospora, then forms the sister clade to a polytomy of five clades: (I) Mollinedia and allies from South America; (II) Tambourissa and allies from Madagascar and the Mascarenes; (III) Hedycarya, Kibariopsis and Leviera from New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia; (IV) Wilkiea, Kibara, Kairoa; and (V) Steganthera and allies, all from tropical Australasia. Main conclusions Tree topology, fossils, inferred divergence times and ances-tral area reconstruction fit with the break-up of East Gondwana having left a still discernible signature consisting of sister clades in Chile and Australia. There is no support for previous hypotheses that the break-up of West Gondwana (Africa/South America) explains disjunctions in the Monimiaceae. The South American Mollinedia clade is only 28–16 Myr old, and appears to have arrived via trans-Pacific dispersal from Australasia. The clade apparently spread in southern South America prior to the Andean orogeny, fitting with its first-diverging lineage ( Hennecartia) having a southern-temperate range. The crown ages of the other major clades (II–V) range from 20 to 29 Ma, implying over-water dispersal between Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and across the Indian Ocean to Madagascar and the Mascarenes. The endemic genus Monimia on the Mascarenes provides an interesting example of an island lineage being much older than the islands on which it presently occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In stored grains, the main agents diminishing production are insects, which can produce losses between 20% and 80% before harvest or under storage. The insecticidal properties of the essential oil of fresh leaves of Peumus boldus Molina against maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) adults were determined under laboratory conditions. The highest mortality (100%) was achieved at 4% concentration by contact with a treated glass surface. The same concentration in impregnated corn (Zea mays L.) grain, resulted in 98.7% mortality. Mortality by fumigant action at 6 h was 100% with 35 µL oil in 0.15 L (air volume). Concentrations 1, 2 and 4% of essential oil produced 0% F1 adult emergence. At 10 d of residual effect, the 4% concentration reached 63.7% mortality. All treatments were repellent to adults of S. zeamais and corn grain germination was not affected by any treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A very simple and direct method was developed for the qualitative analysis of polyphenols in boldo (Peumus boldus Mol., Monimiaceae) leaves infusions by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS n ). The phenolic constituents identified in infusions of the crude drug Boldo Folium were mainly proanthocyanidins and flavonol glycosides. In the infusions, 41 compounds were detected in male and 43 compounds in female leaf samples, respectively. Nine quercetin glycosides, eight kaempferol derivatives, nine isorhamnetin glycosides, three phenolic acids, one caffeoylquinic acid glycoside and twenty one proanthocyanidins were identified by HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS for the first time in the crude drug. Isorhamnetin glucosyl-di-rhamnoside was the most abundant flavonol glycoside in the male boldo sample, whereas isorhamnetin di-glucosyl-di-rhamnoside was the main phenolic compound in female boldo leaves infusion. The results suggest that the medicinal properties reported for this popular infusion should be attributed not only to the presence of catechin and boldine but also to several phenolic compounds with known antioxidant activity. The HPLC fingerprint obtained can be useful in the authentication of the crude drug Boldo Folium as well as for qualitative analysis and differentiation of plant populations in the tree distribution range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The New Caledonian endemic weevil genus Caledonapion is revised, with one new species, C. assimile, described. Diagnoses, a key and distribution maps are provided for both species of the genus. An association of Caledonapion with the plant genus Hedycarya (Monimiaceae) is suggested from field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral phyllotaxis of Laurales (Magnoliidae) is poorly and sometimes conflictingly documented, especially in the pluricarpellate families of the core Laurales (Gomortegaceae, Atherospermataceae, Siparunaceae, Monimiaceae). In this study four types of floral phyllotaxis were recovered: Fibonacci spiral, simple-whorled (decussate), complex- whorled, and irregular. Whorled and spiral phyllotaxis co-occur in all families except Gomortegaceae and even vary within a species in some Mollinedioideae (Monimiaceae). Complex-whorled floral phyllotaxis with two or more organs in a position where only one is expected and changes in merism are especially prominent in Atherospermataceae and Monimiaceae. The most elaborate complex-whorled phyllotaxis pattern (leading to 8-merous whorls) is present in flowers with a flat floral base. Presence of a hyperstigma is correlated with double positions in the perianth. Flowers with low organ number commonly have simple-whorled phyllotaxis; flowers with high organ number have complex-whorled or irregular patterns. Spiral phyllotaxis occurs in flowers with a broad range of organ numbers. Irregularities in organ sequence were found at the periphery of the gynoecium in some Atherospermataceae and Monimiaceae, involving staminodes, carpellodes, and carpels. In Laurales, floral phyllotaxis diversity appears to have evolved from spiral phyllotaxis, independently in Atherospermataceae, Siparunaceae, and Monimiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new anatomically preserved, permineralised fossil flower/fruit taxon, Lovellea wintonensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from upper Albian sediments of the Winton Formation, western Queensland. The flower/fruit has a cup-shaped receptacle with perianth and androecium borne on the rim of the cup and multiple carpels with inferior ovaries embedded in the receptacle wall, above which the styles are free. The long, tapering styles and spirally thickened, unicellular hairs that arise from the inner epidermis of the receptacle are directed towards the mouth of the cup ringed by stamens. The androecium comprises two whorls or series of stalked stamens with bisporangiate, valvate, introrse anthers; pollen is disulcate with a retitectate exine. Each carpel has a dorsal slit and one laterally attached seed with a bitegmic seed coat; the parenchymatous carpel wall is differentiated into exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The seed coat consists of a 2-layered testa, the inner layer composed of transfer cells with inclusions of tetragonal-shaped crystals, and a cuticular tegmen. The organisation and morphology of floral parts of the fossils is consistent with a relationship with the Laurales. Although familial relationships are uncertain, the character mosaic of the fossil flowers/fruits is more similar to Gomortega (Gomortegaceae) and, to a lesser extent, Tambourissa (Monimiaceae s.str.) than to other members of the order. The late Albian occurrence of Lovellea wintonensis predates oldest reported fossils of the Gomortegaceae. Cladistic analysis based on morphology indicates Lovellea as the sister group of all remaining Laurales excluding Calycanthaceae and Idiospermum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The leaf oils of the 19 Australian species of Endressia, Steganthera and Wilkiea within tile family Monimiaceae have been examined by GC and GC/MS. All produced oils in poor yields that were dominated by sesquiterpenes. Endressia wardellii gave a leaf oil in which α-humulene (14-17%) and bicyclogermaerene (17-24%) were the main components. The leaf oil of Steganthera australiana was almost entirely sesquiterpenoid with no one single compound predominating. Steganthera cooperorum, from two disjunct population centers produced different oils indicating significant chemical divergence. In plants from Topaz and Wooroonooran National Park the major components identified were aromadendrene (6-10%), viridiflorene (7-8%), globulol (7-9%) and [α-eudesmol (8-11%); dodecanal (2-4%) was also present. However, material from North Mary Logging Area and Daintree National Park produced an oil dominated by elemol (30-42%) and hedycaryol (approx. 8%). These compounds were accompanied by α-, β- and γ-eudesmol (10-14%, 10-14%, 5-9%, respectively). Steganthera hirsuta produced a sesquiterpenoid oil in which the principal components were bicyclogermacrene (37-56%), β-caryophyllene (2-17%) and germacrene D (2-22%). The principal component of Steganthera laxiflora subsp, laxiflora was viridiflorene (13-20%). Steganthera macooraia gave a leaf oil in which the principle sesquiterpenes identified were guaiol (2-23%), bulnesol (0.7-10%) and elemol (10-22%). Steganthera laxiflora subsp, lewisensis gave an oil in which viridiflorene (11.8%) was the principal, with 2-dodecenal (6.3%) also present. The leaf oil of Wilkiea angustifolia was dominated by sesquiterpenes, with β-eudesmol (35%) being the principal component, while in Wilkiea austroqueenslandica the principal components were (E)-β-ocimene (5-9%), germacrene D (7-18%) and bicyclogermacrene (23-26%). Wilkiea cordata gave a variable oil, with either α-eudesmol (22-25%) or spathulenol (11.3%), and several unidentified sesquiterpenes as major components. Wilkiea huegeliana produced an oil in which the main components were α-pinene (10-12%) and viridiflorene (4-9%). Wilkiea longipes gave an oil in which monoterpenes accounted for up to 20% of the oil. In this species, the major monoterpene was (Z)-β-ocimene (11-15%). The remainder of the oil was composed of sesquiterpenes with no one compound predominating. Wilkiea macrophylla was unusual amongst these species in that its oil contained significant amounts of aliphatic aldehydes, in this case dodecanal (2-35%) and (2)-dodecenal (0.1-2%), with β-caryophyllene (14-24%) as the major sesquiterpene. In Wilkiea pubescens the leaf oil was dominated by sesquiterpenes, with no one compound dominating the oil. The aliphatic aldehyde, dodecanal (4-5%) was also present. The leaf oil of Wilkiea rigidifolia contained Z-β-ocimene (3.4-11.5%), bicyclogermacrene (3.2-17.4%) and germacrene B (0.3-14.5%) as major components. Wilkiea smithii produced a complicated oil in which β-caryophyllene (10.4%), bicyclogermacrene (9.6%), caryophyllene oxide (8.9%) and spathulenol (16.7%) were the principal components. Wilkiea sp. (McDowall Range J.G.Tracey 14552) yielded a complicated oil that was entirely sesquiterpenoid in nature. The principal components were selina-6-en-4-ol (30.7%) and germacrene D-4-ol (18.6%). Wilkiea sp. (Palmerston B.P.Hyland 80) gave an entirely sesquiterpenoid oil with spathulenol (22%) as the principal component, while Wilkiea sp. (Russell Gorge S.J.Dansie 1909) produced a complicated sesquiterpenic oil with elemol (19.2%) as principal component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]