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Molecular phylogenetic studies focused on the early-branching papilionoid legumes have revealed many new clades and supported several generic realignments, yet the monophyly of some of the constituent genera has remained unassessed. This is the case for the Amazonian genus Clathrotropis of the tribe Ormosieae. The genus, as traditionally circumscribed, comprises seven species of trees, including some of the most ecologically hyper dominant taxa across the Amazonian terra firme and seasonally flooded forests. Here we employed a Bayesian analysis of densely sampled nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8S and plastid matK and trnL intron DNA sequences to evaluate the monophyly of Clathrotropis. All individual and concatenated analyses concurred in showing the non-monophyletic nature of Clathrotropis , whose species fall into three distantly related lineages: one, comprised of C. brachypetala , C. brunnea , C. glaucophylla and the ecologically dominant C. macrocarpa , is circumscribed here as the new genus Cabari ; the two others, comprising C. paradoxa and the widespread C. nitida , are more closely related to Spirotropis of the tribe Ormosieae. Such phylogeny-based dismemberment of Clathrotropis is further supported by vegetative, floral, fruit, and seed characters. Although the genes analysed in this study have provided phylogenetically informative data supporting the need for a new circumscription of Clathrotropis , we suggest that future phylogenomic studies should seek to better resolve the relationships of the newly described genus Cabari across the phylogenetically recalcitrant early-branching nodes of the Genistoid clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabari Gregório & D.B.O.S.Cardoso (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) is a recently described neotropical genus of trees, with species predominantly distributed in the Amazon basin. After robust evidence from a recent phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data, the genus was segregated from Clathrotropis (Benth.) Harms. Cabari is a genus of large trees with imparipinnately compound leaves and opposite leaflets, inflorescences terminal or less often axillary, woody pods with elastically dehiscent valves, and large seeds. In this taxonomic revision, the genus comprises three species: C. brachypetala, C. brunnea, and C. macrocarpa. We provide morphological descriptions and taxonomic comments for all species, as well as an identification key, three new synonyms, color plates, line drawings, and maps of geographic distribution. Cabari Gregório & D.B.O.S.Cardoso (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) é um gênero de árvores neotropicais recentemente descrito, com espécies predominantemente distribuídas na bacia amazônica. Após evidências robustas de uma análise filogenética recente de dados de sequências de DNA nuclear e plastidial, o gênero foi segregado de Clathrotropis (Benth.) Harms. Cabari é um gênero de árvores grandes com folhas compostas imparipinadas e folíolos opostos, inflorescências terminais ou menos frequentemente axilares, legumes lenhosos com válvulas elasticamente deiscentes e sementes grandes. Nesta revisão taxonômica, o gênero compreende três espécies: C. brachypetala, C. brunnea e C. macrocarpa. Nós fornecemos descrições morfológicas e comentários taxonômicos para todas as espécies, bem como uma chave de identificação, três novos sinônimos, pranchas com imagens, ilustrações e mapas de distribuição geográfica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the genus Argyrolobium (Genisteae, Fabaceae) in southern Africa recognized a group of species defined by a suffrutescent habit, monomorphic flowers and leaves, and the plants not turning black when dried as 'section A. transvaalense.' A formal rank was never published for this group. Here a taxonomic study of this group is conducted, including comprehensive descriptions and a key to the species, nomenclature, typifications, diagnostic characters, and geographical distribution. Based on an assessment of morphological characters, two groups can be recognised: 1) the A. robustum group that comprises four species with a herbaceous habit with up to 55-flowered inflorescences, flowers drying black or turning black when damaged, keel petals lacking pockets, and staminal sheaths fully open above, and 2) the A. transvaalense group comprising five species with a suffruticose habit with up to 24-flowered inflorescences, flowers becoming discoloured (darker coloured or brown) when dried, keel petals with pockets except in A. megarhizum, and staminal sheaths variously fused into a closed tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early-branching clades of Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae are characterized by their remarkable lability in floral architecture. In contrast, more derived papilionoid lineages are marked by evolutionary conservatism towards strongly bilateral, papilionate flowers. Here, we show an unexpected example of conservatism of a unique floral architecture during the early diversification history of the papilionoids. We built the most comprehensively sampled molecular phylogenetic tree with a focus on the early-diverging papilionoid Dipterygeae clade to evaluate conservatism of the winged papilionate architecture and associated traits related to flower specialization (e.g. zygomorphy, petal differentiation, stable stamen number and stamen sheath). Dipterygeae comprise c. 22 species of mostly giant trees from across tropical forests in Central America and the Amazon, but they are also ecologically dominant in the savannas of the Brazilian Central Plateau. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8S and plastid matK and trnL intron sequences strongly supported inter-relationships and the monophyly of each genus (Dipteryx , Monopteryx , Pterodon and Taralea). Bayesian relaxed-clock dating and a Bayesian model of ancestral character estimation revealed c. 30 Myr of conservatism of all winged papilionate-related flower traits in a clade comprising the most recent common ancestor of Dipteryx , Pterodon and Taralea , but lability in fruit morphology during the diversification of the entire Dipterygeae clade. Despite Monopteryx and remaining Dipterygeae being florally discrepant, they are collectively defined by a floral synapomorphy that is unique among all papilionoid Fabaceae: the highly differentiated calyx, where the two upper lobes are enlarged and wing-like, whereas the other three lower lobes are reduced. We suggest that the different dispersal strategies and the ancient winged papilionate floral conservatism in Dipterygeae, which has maintained effective ecological interactions with specialized pollinators and ensured the protection of young flower buds and developing fruits, may explain successful evolutionary and ecological persistence of the clade across the main Neotropical biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a morphometric approach, in this paper a new species, Anthyllis dalmatica, is described and illustrated from Croatia (Southeastern Europe). It belongs to the A. vulneraria species complex (Fabaceae), a poorly investigated and critical taxonomic group for Eurasian vascular flora. The new species is a restricted endemic to the montane belt of Mt. Mosor in central Dalmatia, where it grows on limestone rocky slopes. Anthyllis dalmatica is morphologically closely related to the Italian endemic A. apennina, occurring in the central Apennine, from which it differs by a less-wide calyx, a lower ratio between standard limb length and width, a wider standard, and by the color of corolla and calyx at flowering time, which are dark yellow. Based on current knowledge, we propose that A. dalmatica should be included in the category critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria. To promote its recognition and conservation, a new key to the taxa belonging to the A. vulneraria species complex from Croatia is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monopteryx is a florally divergent genus of Dipterygeae, an early-branching papilionoid legume clade largely marked by winged papilionate floral architecture, expanded upper calyx lobes often assuming a wing-shaped orientation, and petals differentiated into standard, wings, and a keel enclosing the basally connate stamens. In contrast to the remaining Dipterygeae genera, Monopteryx has differentiated petals but the marginally coherent keel with interlaced trichomes exposes the free stamens and the expanded upper calyx lobes are nearly entirely fused with a standard-like dorsal orientation. Monopteryx species are restricted to the Amazonian rainforests, where they have diversified since the last ∼15 Ma, but the divergence of the genus is estimated to be as old as ∼39 Ma. They grow as large buttressed trees usually with a uniquely "flying" architecture, which are arched from the trunk to the ground and separated from one another, unlike that found in any other species of leguminaceous trees. Its fruits are elastically dehiscent pods and in some species they bear marginally crimped wings along the sutures. Our taxonomic revision of this ecologically and evolutionarily important, ancient genus includes an analysis of about 135 specimens from across 14 herbaria, including both type and historical collections, as well as recently collected samples from our extensive fieldwork across remote areas of the Amazon. Grounded on a densely-sampled dated molecular phylogeny of nuclear and plastid data, here we recognize three phylogenetically and morphologically distinct taxa: M. angustifolia, M. inpae, and M. uaucu. After a careful revision of their nomenclatural history, we also found that M. inpae was not validly published. We subsequently have provided typification of all names associated with species of the genus. This revision also includes morphological descriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps for all species. We also discuss the phylogenetic relationships between the species and the evolution of selected taxonomically key morphological characters in the context of the entire Diptergyeae clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Indigofera L. is the third largest genus in Fabaceae and includes economically important species that are used for indigo dye-producing, medicinal, ornamental, and soil and water conservation. The genus is taxonomically difficult due to the high level of overlap in morphological characters of interspecies, fewer reliability states for classification, and extensive adaptive evolution. Previous characteristic-based taxonomy and nuclear ITS-based phylogenies have contributed to our understanding of Indigofera taxonomy and evolution. However, the lack of chloroplast genomic resources limits our comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary processes of Indigofera. Methods: Here, we newly assembled 18 chloroplast genomes of Indigofera. We performed a series of analyses of genome structure, nucleotide diversity, phylogenetic analysis, species pairwise Ka/Ks ratios, and positive selection analysis by combining with allied species in Papilionoideae. Results and discussion: The chloroplast genomes of Indigofera exhibited highly conserved structures and ranged in size from 157,918 to 160,040 bp, containing 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Thirteen highly variable regions were identified, of which trnK-rbcL, ndhF-trnL, and ycf1 were considered as candidate DNA barcodes for species identification of Indigofera. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on complete chloroplast genome and protein-coding genes (PCGs) generated a well-resolved phylogeny of Indigofera and allied species. Indigofera monophyly was strongly supported, and four monophyletic lineages (i.e., the Pantropical, East Asian, Tethyan, and Palaeotropical clades) were resolved within the genus. The species pairwise Ka/Ks ratios showed values lower than 1, and 13 genes with significant posterior probabilities for codon sites were identified in the positive selection analysis using the branch-site model, eight of which were associated with photosynthesis. Positive selection of accD suggested that Indigofera species have experienced adaptive evolution to selection pressures imposed by their herbivores and pathogens. Our study provided insight into the structural variation of chloroplast genomes, phylogenetic relationships, and adaptive evolution in Indigofera. These results will facilitate future studies on species identification, interspecific and intraspecific delimitation, adaptive evolution, and the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Indigofera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Papilionoideae is one taxonomically complex subfamily with high economic and medicinal potential. The pollen micro-morphology and taxonomic relevance of this subfamily are still poorly known in the island. Therefore, this study aims to provide new palynological information to correctly identify and define species boundaries within the subfamily. The species were collected from different geographical regions of Hainan Island. Both light and scanning electron microscopic techniques were used to observe pollen traits. Additionally, principal component analysis was performed to elucidate the variation among the taxa. A significant variation was found in exine sculpturing i.e. most of the taxa have reticulate type pollen while Desmodium triflorum has a psilate exine pattern. Variations were found on the surface of the reticula that can help to delimit the species from one another. Pollen type was observed as tricolporate and rarely tricolpate. Similarly, the colpus surface membrane morphology may also vary significantly from species to species i.e. scabrate, verrucate, gemmate, rugulate patterns. Besides, the mergo having various sculpturing found in Canavalia rosea, Desmodium triflorum, D. microphyllum Glycine max, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Erythrina crista-galli and Zornia gibbosa should be considered as a potential taxonomic trait for the subfamily. The maximum P/E ratio was found in Zornia gibbosa (2.24). Similarly, the maximum pollen size was found in Alysicarpus vaginalis (34.64 × 33.99 µm). Our study explored the pollen morphological traits and can be helpful to correctly identify the species and define species boundaries within Papilionoideae at various taxonomic levels. This study strengthens and supports the taxonomic position of the subfamily and will provide bases for further phylogenetic and molecular studies of Papilionoideae. Various taxa of the subfamily Papilionoideae were collected from different geographical regions of Hainan Island, South China. Both light and scanning electron microscopic techniques were used to analyze the ultra-sculpturing of the pollen. Most of the taxa have reticulate exine patterns but variations were found in supra-tectal elements and colpus surface membrane morphology. These variations in pollen traits have significant taxonomic potential and will strengthen the taxonomy of Papilionoideae. This study can help to correctly identify and define species boundaries at various taxonomic levels of the Papilionoideae and will solve the taxonomic problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Wisteria is a legume genus composed of lianas with a disjunct distribution, occurring in temperate zones of eastern Asia and the eastern United States, being also introduced in numerous countries as an ornamental. The anatomy of the wood has been previously studied for W. sinensis and only some characteristics of the phloem have been reported for this species. Here we describe the overall wood and bark anatomy of four Wisteria species and identify diagnostic, informative anatomical features to sort them for identification purposes among the species of the genus. Samples were collected from natural, naturalized, and introduced populations and processed using traditional anatomical techniques, while a few samples were analyzed from photos available online. Wisteria species show conserved wood anatomy, even if species occur as far apart as Asia and North America. The presence of a cambial variant, vessel dimorphism, G-fibers, non-lignified axial, and ray parenchyma is common and is here interpreted as part of the lianescent syndrome. The subepidermal origin of the periderm is taxonomically informative within the subfamily. The few variable features that vary among species are the arrangement of narrow vessels: radial to dendritic pattern in the specie W. frutescens and arranged in clusters in the species distributed in Eastern Asia. Also, the ray cell composition: procumbent, square, and upright cells mixed through the body in the specie W. sinensis and procumbent to square cells in the body and upright in the margins in the species W. brachybotrys and W. frutescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Centrosema (Fabaceae) includes 35-44 species in the New World, 10 in Mexico, and 9 in the Yucatan Peninsula. Most species have trifoliolate leaves and bicolored flowers. Unifoliolate leaves are an infrequent character that is found in a few species, e.g., C. sagittatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Brandegee, but monochromatic flowers, e.g, lacking nectar guides, is even a more unusual character state. Several populations of a Centrosema from the Yucatan Peninsula share both character states, a combination that sets them apart from other members of the genus. Question: Is the Centrosema with unifoliolate leaves, alate petioles, and monochromatic flowers of the Yucatan Peninsula, a species distinct from the phenetically similar C. sagittatum? Studies species: Centrosema (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae). Study site and dates: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2021-2023. Methods: Botanical specimens were collected and determined taxonomically through the use of relevant literature, keys, and the consulting of botanical collections. The conservation status of the new species was assessed using the IUCN methodology. Results: The specimens collected do represent an undescribed species that differs from Centrosema sagittatum by its smaller, cream-yellow, monochromatic flowers. The species is assessed as Endangered (EN). Conclusions: A new species, Centrosema flavescens from the Yucatan Peninsula is proposed. Eleven species of Centrosema are now recognized in Mexico, nine in the Yucatan Peninsula. C. sagittatum does not occur in the Yucatan peninsula.

Sucupira‐branca is a popular name for the papilionoid legume tree genus Pterodon (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), which is amply distributed across South American savannas and seasonally dry tropical forests. Pterodon has been strongly supported as monophyletic in all molecular phylogenetic analyses and stands out within the Dipterygeae clade by the pinnately compound leaves with terete rachis, symmetrical leaflets with emarginate apex, and indehiscent, one‐seeded cryptosamara fruit. Despite a growing interest in Pterodon species, mainly due to their potential as drug and timber sources, their nomenclature was never fully assessed. Here, we present a nomenclatural review of the economically and ecologically important Pterodon, where we assess all 15 names and designations ever associated with the genus and provide all known orthographic variants and type localities for the accepted names. Besides that, we propose one new species the designation of which has never been validly published, typify five names, propose one new synonym, and provide a list of all the accepted names in the genus. Also, we show that the nomenclatural history of P. emarginatus, one of the ecologically most dominant species in fire‐prone savanna vegetation, is closely related to how Friedrich Sellow (1789–1831) collected and numbered his gatherings. By elucidating the typification of this particularly important species, we shed light on how to more accurately annotate Sellow's specimens in nomenclatural revisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several floral traits in Papilionoideae (Fabaceae) have been correlated to certain pollination mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed 20 qualitative and 21 quantitative floral traits of 17 species of Papilionoideae with keel flowers from various tribes and genera native to Salta, Argentina, which are representative of the four general pollination mechanisms described for the subfamily. We performed field and laboratory studies, including description of morphology, micro-morphology, position, size, and synorganization of all floral organs. Correlation between floral traits and a particular pollination mechanism was evaluated through a principal component analysis (PCA). According to our results, species with the same pollination mechanism share similar qualitative and quantitative traits, the latter being the most relevant, according to our statistical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this study, pollen grains of Harleyodendron unifoliolatum, Holocalyx balansae, and Uribea tamarindoides, three monospecific genera with Neotropical distribution belonging to the clade Exostyleae, one of the basal lineages of the family Leguminosae, subfamily Papilionoideae, were analyzed. The palynological material was acetolyzed and analyzed under light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under LM, small and medium-sized pollen grains were observed, which showed a prolate-spheroidal to prolate shape, 3-colporate, microreticulate and reticulate exine, sexine and nexine of equal thickness in Harleyodendron and Holocalyx, while the sexine was thicker than nexine in Uribea. Analysis under SEM showed finely granulate, psilate, and granulate apertural membrane, while the exine ornamentation varied from perforate-microechinate in Harleyodendron, to perforate in Holocalyx, while in Uribea showed an irregular relief and granular projections on the perforate tectum. The pollen morphology of these species is similar to each other, varying in sexine/nexine ratio, apertural membrane, and exine ornamentation. Harleyodendron has a finely granulate apertural membrane, sexine and nexine of equal thickness, and a perforate-microreticulate exine ornamentation, Holocalyx shows a psilated apertural membrane, sexine and nexine of equal thickness, and exine ornamentation perforate, and Uribea has a granulate apertural membrane, sexine thicker than nexine, and exine ornamentation with granular projections.

The diversity of vascular patterns in flowers of Fabaceae subfamily Faboideae is outstanding yet remains relatively overlooked. Studies of floral vasculature are fairly scarce, and the phylogenetic framework they have been interpreted in is outdated. Here we propose a reassessment of previous results, underlining the relevance of vascular characters for systematic studies. A thorough literature survey was conducted, we bring some remarkable and seminal work from the late 1960s into light, and we include recent results leading to the description of an until now unrecognized floral vascular pattern in Faboideae. Our review shows that the high diversity of floral vasculature patterns among Faboideae is mostly due to the shape and number of traces, the vertical and horizontal fusions among bundles, and the mode of division of stamen traces. The distribution of the different vascular patterns in the phylogeny of the subfamily does not seem random, particularly at the tribal level. In addition, floral nectaries located between the stamens and the carpel exhibit contrasting vascular supplies in Faboideae. Morphological constraints might have an impact on the division mode of the traces of Faboideae flowers with numerous stamens. Our review provides groundwork for future studies aiming to clarify the nature of floral nectaries' structure and further investigate the evolution of floral vascular patterns in Faboideae using a representative taxonomic sampling and an updated phylogenetic framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. The diversity of vascular patterns in flowers of Fabaceae subfamily Faboideae is remarkable yet remains somewhat overlooked. Here we propose an empirical examination of anatomical features of flowers of a selected group of Faboideae in which taxonomic delineation is currently being investigated in order to reassess the relevance of floral vascular characters for systematic studies. We focus on the New Caledonian endemic clade Arthroclianthus-Nephrodesmus , exhibiting contrasting flower morphologies. Methodology. Preanthetic floral buds of 6 of 17 species of the genera Arthroclianthus and Nephrodesmus were selected from herbarium specimens and a living tree. They were cut in serial transverse sections and studied with light microscopy. Pivotal results. We identify three vascular organizations in the Arthroclianthus-Nephrodesmus clade: the N. francii , A. sanguineus , and A. microbotrys patterns. The N. francii and A. sanguineus patterns both belong to the unihiate series. In the A. sanguineus and A. microbotrys patterns, the receptacle is vascularized by a similar number of traces, higher than in the N. francii pattern. We describe a very rare Faboideae vascular organization in A. microbotrys , the unihiate-dihiate series. Conclusions. The diversity of floral vascular anatomies shown by the Arthroclianthus-Nephrodesmus clade is the greatest among the 80 studied genera of Faboideae. Our results do not support the conservation of the current delineation of the two genera and are consistent with ongoing molecular investigations. The size of the flower organs could constrain vascular organization of the flowers, explaining the differences in the number of traces in the receptacle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a taxonomic synopsis of Aldina (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), a poorly known Neotropical genus of predominantly Amazonian trees with unusual, non-papilionate flowers. Aldina is characterized by the combination of odd-foliolate leaves and flowers with radial symmetry, free and undifferentiated petals, an entire calyx, and free, numerous stamens. Difficulty accessing species in remote areas has led to poor representation in herbaria, and species descriptions based on scant material have led to a doubtful and confused taxonomy. Eighteen species are recognized here: A. aurea, A. auyantepuiensis, A. barnebyana, A. berryi, A. discolor, A. diplogyne, A. elliptica, A. heterophylla, A. insignis, A. kunhardtiana, A. latifolia, A. macrophylla, A. microphylla, A. occidentalis, A. paulberryi, A. petiolulata, A. polyphylla, and A. reticulata. The names A. amazonica, A. latifolia var. pubescens, A. insignis var. retusa, A. stergiosii, A. aquae-negrae, A. rio-negrae, and A. speciosa are newly synonymized. We lectotypify A. discolor, A. heterophylla, A. macrophylla, A. occidentalis, and A. polyphylla, and make a new combination, Aldina auyantepuiensis. All Aldina species are found in the Amazon basin. An identification key for all species, a color plate, diagnostic illustrations, and a map of geographic distribution of the genus are also presented. Este trabalho consiste no tratamento sinóptico de Aldina Endl. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), um gênero Neotropical de árvores de flores não papilionadas com distribuição predominante na bacia amazônica. Aldina é caracterizada pela combinação de folhas imparipinadas e flores com simetria radial, pétalas livres e indiferenciadas, cálice inteiro, e estames livres e numerosos. A dificuldade de acesso a espécies em áreas remotas, como a bacia amazônica, tem levado a uma pobre representação em herbários de gênero de importância ecológica como Aldina. Além disso, descrições taxonômicas baseadas em material escasso tem levado a uma taxonomia duvidosa e confusa desses grupos. Neste trabalho são reconhecidas dezoito espécies: A. aurea, A. auyantepuiensis, A. barnebyana, A. berryi, A. discolor, A. diplogyne, A. elliptica, A. heterophylla, A. insignis, A. kunhardtiana, A. latifolia, A. macrophylla, A. microphylla, A. occidentalis, A. paulberryi, A. petiolulata, A. polyphylla e A. reticulata. Os nomes A. amazonica, A. latifolia var. pubescens, A. insignis var. retusa, A. stergiosii, A. aquae-negrae, A. rio-negrae, e A. speciosa são sinonimizados aqui. Apresentamos também a lectotipificação de A. discolor, A. heterophylla, A. occidentalis, A. polyphylla e uma nova combinação em Aldina auyantepuiensis. Nesta sinopse apresentamos uma chave de identificação para todas as espécies, pranchas com imagens, ilustrações e um mapa com distribuição geográfica para o gênero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorpha californica var. napensis Jeps. 1925, the Napa false indigo, is a threatened shrub endemic to northern California. Here the complete chloroplast genome of topotype material of var. napensis was assembled and characterized to contribute to the bioinformatics, systematics, and conservation of this variety. The chloroplast genome (GenBank accession OK274088) is 158,294 base pairs (bp) in length, encodes 130 genes including 85 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and shows a high-level of gene synteny to other Papilionoideae. Phylogenetic analysis fully resolved var. napensis in a clade with A. fruticosa L. and A. roemeriana Scheele, sister to the Dalbergieae. The newly sequenced chloroplast genome shows that the genetic differences between var. napensis and Amorpha californica Nutt. var. californica are greater than the variation observed between var. napensis and many other Amorpha spp. sequences deposited in GenBank. These data suggest that var. napensis should be elevated to full species rank.

Comprising 501 genera and around 14,000 species, Papilionoideae is not only the largest subfamily of Fabaceae (Leguminosae; legumes), but also one of the most extraordinarily diverse clades among angiosperms. Papilionoids are a major source of food and forage, are ecologically successful in all major biomes, and display dramatic variation in both floral architecture and plastid genome (plastome) structure. Plastid DNA-based phylogenetic analyses have greatly improved our understanding of relationships among the major groups of Papilionoideae, yet the backbone of the subfamily phylogeny remains unresolved. In this study, we sequenced and assembled 39 new plastomes that are covering key genera representing the morphological diversity in the subfamily. From 244 total taxa, we produced eight datasets for maximum likelihood (ML) analyses based on entire plastomes and/or concatenated sequences of 77 protein-coding sequences (CDS) and two datasets for multispecies coalescent (MSC) analyses based on individual gene trees. We additionally produced a combined nucleotide dataset comprising CDS plus matK gene sequences only, in which most papilionoid genera were sampled. A ML tree based on the entire plastome maximally supported all of the deep and most recent divergences of papilionoids (223 out of 236 nodes). The Swartzieae, ADA (Angylocalyceae, Dipterygeae, and Amburaneae), Cladrastis, Andira, and Exostyleae clades formed a grade to the remainder of the Papilionoideae, concordant with nine ML and two MSC trees. Phylogenetic relationships among the remaining five papilionoid lineages (Vataireoid, Dermatophyllum , Genistoid s.l., Dalbergioid s.l., and Baphieae + Non-Protein Amino Acid Accumulating or NPAAA clade) remained uncertain, because of insufficient support and/or conflicting relationships among trees. Our study fully resolved most of the deep nodes of Papilionoideae, however, some relationships require further exploration. More genome-scale data and rigorous analyses are needed to disentangle phylogenetic relationships among the five remaining lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Medicago (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) contains about 90 species including the important forage crop alfalfa Medicago sativa and the genomic model Medicago truncatula. Despite intensive research on the genus because of its agricultural importance, there is a relative lack of information about chromosome number and genome size in some Medicago species, especially those from Medicago section Buceras that were formerly placed in the sister genus Trigonella, and are paraphyletic to the remainder of the genus Medicago. Past studies revealed that previous species delimitations did not conform well with complex patterns of morphological or genetic variation. Some published chromosome numbers, e.g. 2n = 28 and 2n = 44, differ from those of the rest of the genus, which are mostly 2n = 16 or polyploids thereof, although some cases of aneuploid reduction or dysploidy (e.g. 2n = 14) do exist. Here we estimated phylogenetic relationships of 42 accessions corresponding to 14 currently recognized Medicago species that are paraphyletic to the remainder of Medicago with a focus on Medicago monantha; for a number of those accessions we obtained estimates of genome size (39) and chromosome number (14). We can confirm the delimitation of two species within M. section Buceras and our data suggest that there are at least two entities with distinct geographic distributions within the currently recognized species M. monantha, which differ in chromosome number and genome size. Our data also suggest that polyploidy and post-polyploid descending dysploidy played a significant role in genome evolution within M. section Buceras. Our data provide a strong foundation for whole-genome sequencing projects and further in-depth research of these paraphyletic lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The controversy regarding the status of the Macroptilium gracile species complex has been elucidated by the authors of this paper; nevertheless, some nomenclatural issues regarding the naming of the newly established variety have been found. In the present contribution, we discuss some nomenclatural aspects concerning the valid publication of the name Macroptilium gracile var. subcoriaceum (Benth.) Berlingeri, M.B.Crespo & Calles. After considering different nomenclatural evidence, the latter varietal name is to be considered superfluous and therefore, we establish a new combination (i.e., Macroptilium gracile var. longepedunculatum). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Understanding the evolutionary history of flowering plants has been enriched by the integration of molecular phylogenies and evidence from the fossil record. Fossil fruits and leaves from the late Paleocene and Eocene of Wyoming and Eocene of Kentucky and Tennessee are described as extinct genera in the tropical American Bowdichia clade of the legume subfamily Papilionoideae. Recent phylogenetic study and taxonomic revision of the Bowdichia clade have facilitated understanding of relationships of the fossil taxa and their evolutionary implications and paleoenvironmental significance. Methods: The fossils were studied using standard methods of specimen preparation and light microscopy and compared to fruits and leaves from extant legume taxa using herbarium collections. Phylogenetic relationships of the fossil taxa were assessed using morphology and DNA sequence data. Results: Two new fossil genera are described and their phylogenetic relationships are established. Paleobowdichia lamarensis is placed as sister to the extant genus Bowdichia and Tobya claibornensis is placed with the extant genera Guianodendron and Staminodianthus. Conclusions: These fossils demonstrate that the tropical American Bowdichia clade was present in North America during a period when tropical or subtropical conditions prevailed in the northern Rocky Mountains during the late Paleocene and the Mississippi Embayment during the middle Eocene. These fossils also document that the Bowdichia clade had diversified by the late Paleocene when the fossil record of the family is relatively sparse. This result suggests that future work on early fossil legumes should focus on tropical and subtropical climatic zones, wherever they may occur latitudinally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the Asian monsoonal climate sparked a latitudinal shift in vegetation zones from the Oligocene to the Miocene. However, little is known about the history of the megathermal floristic response to the geologic events in key regions like subtropical China. Here, a species of Fabaceae, Ormosia cyclocarpa sp. nov., is recognised based on well-preserved fruits from the Miocene of Zhejiang in middle-subtropical China. This species features dehiscent, compressed suborbicular single-seeded pods with an intramarginal vein. Extensive comparisons with extant/fossil fabaceous taxa confidently support the present taxonomic consideration. Considering the extant distribution, diversity centre and regional climate history, the known fossil occurrences in southern China imply that Ormosia extended northwards during the Miocene from probable tropics of origin into subtropical China, where a once broad latitudinal arid zone prevailed throughout much of the Palaeogene. Such a changing phytogeographic pattern across tropical-subtropical China probably resulted from a drastic East Asian climate change around the Oligo-Miocene boundary, and closely coincided with the early-middle Miocene warming. The spreading of Ormosia and other tropical genera (e.g. Dipterocarpus, Shorea, Bauhinia, Dacrycarpus) sharing similar floristic history in subtropical China indicates a palaeotropical and Miocene origin for some clades of the extant East Asian flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprising 501 genera and around 14,000 species, Papilionoideae is not only the largest subfamily of Fabaceae (Leguminosae; legumes), but also one of the most extraordinarily diverse clades among angiosperms. Papilionoids are a major source of food and forage, are ecologically successful in all major biomes, and display dramatic variation in both floral architecture and plastid genome (plastome) structure. Plastid DNA-based phylogenetic analyses have greatly improved our understanding of relationships among the major groups of Papilionoideae, yet the backbone of the subfamily phylogeny remains unresolved. In this study, we sequenced and assembled 39 new plastomes that are covering key genera representing the morphological diversity in the subfamily. From 244 total taxa, we produced eight datasets for maximum likelihood (ML) analyses based on entire plastomes and/or concatenated sequences of 77 protein-coding sequences (CDS) and two datasets for multispecies coalescent (MSC) analyses based on individual gene trees. We additionally produced a combined nucleotide dataset comprising CDS plus matK gene sequences only, in which most papilionoid genera were sampled. A ML tree based on the entire plastome maximally supported all of the deep and most recent divergences of papilionoids (223 out of 236 nodes). The Swartzieae, ADA (Angylocalyceae, Dipterygeae, and Amburaneae), Cladrastis, Andira, and Exostyleae clades formed a grade to the remainder of the Papilionoideae, concordant with nine ML and two MSC trees. Phylogenetic relationships among the remaining five papilionoid lineages (Vataireoid, Dermatophyllum, Genistoid s.l., Dalbergioid s.l., and Baphieae + Non-Protein Amino Acid Accumulating or NPAAA clade) remained uncertain, because of insufficient support and/or conflicting relationships among trees. Our study fully resolved most of the deep nodes of Papilionoideae, however, some relationships require further exploration. More genome-scale data and rigorous analyses are needed to disentangle phylogenetic relationships among the five remaining lineages.

The current research work was aimed to determine the morphological variation in the seeds of subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae using scanning electron microscope to investigate the different seed features including; Seed length, width, weight, hilum shape, position, fracture line pattern, pleurogram shape, texture crudeness, ornamentation wall, and surface ornamentation. A total of 12 species were collected. The study reveals that the seed types alters from psilate to rugose, pleurogram shape from lunar to U shape, hilum shape from elliptical to depressed, hilum position from terminal to subterminal, fracture line pattern from reticulate irregular ridges to psilate with regular ridges, texture crudeness from fine to coarse, surface ornamentation from reticulate to psilate, and ornamentation wall also varies from thin to thick. In all the studied species, it was found that seed surface was brown in color except in Senna alata, in which seed surface was black. Regarding the seed size, it was found that the smallest seed was observed for Sesbania sesban, while the largest seed was observed for Pongamia pinnata. The present research article indicates the taxonomic significance of seed morphology in the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Mimosaceae, and Papilionoideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Anthyllis endemic to central Apennine growing in dry pastures on limestone in the montane belt, within Abruzzo and Lazio administrative regions (central Italy), is here described and illustrated and the IUCN assessment is proposed. This new species belongs to the morphologically very variable Anthyllis vulneraria species complex and it is close to A. pulchella (south-eastern Europe and Caucasus), but it can be clearly distinguished by its smaller flowers, mainly light yellow-coloured, bracts longer than flowers, calyx pink-coloured (usually only at apex) and size of cauline leaves and leaflets. Furthermore, the name A. pulchella is here lectotypified, by a second-step typification, on a specimen preserved at PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesbania Adanson is a genus belonging to the family Leguminosae and is the only genus found in tribe Robinieae of the subfamily Papilionoideae. The genus Sesbania is widely distributed in tropical Southeast Asian countries and Africa. Members of this genus are known for their extremely fast growing rates as well as a very high affinity for association with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia in the soil. Various species of Sesbania genus are reported to be rich in phytoconstituents such as tannins, triterpenoids, steroids, saponin glycosides, alkaloids, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and proteins, possessing different pharmacological activities. The species of Sesbania are highly appreciated for their medicinal potential in advancing. Since long, they have been used to treat almost 20 different types of human diseases and also as veterinary medicine. Diverse pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective and anti-ulcer activities have been renowned for different species of the genus. Besides, the genus is also known to provide a variety of commercial products such as forage, firewood, gum, ornaments, green manure, pulp and paper. Through a massive literature survey of traditional and Ayurvedic books along with scientific resources, all the essential information regarding modern studies and the traditional aspects the genus was gathered. Hence, this review is an attempt to provide comprehensive information on Sesbania genus that includes its characteristic pharmacognostical features, traditional and ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción y objetivos: Las especies de Papilionoideae presentan características florales o estrategias relacionadas con los mecanismos de polinización y que favorecen la polinización cruzada como la presencia de barreras físicas, la separación espacial o temporal en la maduración de los ciclos fértiles, entre otras. El objetivo de este trabajo fue brindar una descripción detallada de la morfología del androceo y gineceo de 17 especies de Papilionoideae nativas del Valle de Lerma (Salta-Argentina). M&M: Se estudiaron a campo y en laboratorio características cuantitativas y cualitativas del androceo y el gineceo en flores de 17 especies de Papilionoideae, pertenecientes a nueve géneros y cinco tribus y se analizaron desde un punto de vista funcional aquellas características que estarían relacionadas con el sistema reproductivo y los mecanismos de polinización. Resultados: Los resultados indican que la mayoría de las especies son homógamas, presentan androceo monadelfo o pseudomonadelfo con fenestras basales, anteras monomórficas, formas variables del estilo y del estigma, tricomas estilares y periestigmáticos y membrana estigmática. Se registraron características descritas por primera vez para algunas de estas especies tales como la ruptura espontánea de la membrana estigmática durante la antesis y la reducción de la distancia anteras-estigma luego de la maduración de los ciclos sexuales. Conclusiones: Todas las especies estudiadas presentan características florales asociadas a la reducción de la autopolinización. Se obtuvo información detallada sobre la morfología y otras características del androceo y gineceo que podría ser utilizada para describir mejor sus mecanismos de polinización y para comprender aspectos de su biología reproductiva.

Amorpha californica var. napensis Jeps. 1925, the Napa false indigo, is a threatened shrub endemic to northern California. Here the complete chloroplast genome of topotype material of var. napensis was assembled and characterized to contribute to the bioinformatics, systematics, and conservation of this variety. The chloroplast genome (GenBank accession OK274088) is 158,294 base pairs (bp) in length, encodes 130 genes including 85 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and shows a high-level of gene synteny to other Papilionoideae. Phylogenetic analysis fully resolved var. napensis in a clade with A. fruticosa L. and A. roemeriana Scheele, sister to the Dalbergieae. The newly sequenced chloroplast genome shows that the genetic differences between var. napensis and Amorpha californica Nutt. var. californica are greater than the variation observed between var. napensis and many other Amorpha spp. sequences deposited in GenBank. These data suggest that var. napensis should be elevated to full species rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The species of Papilionoideae have floral traits or strategies related to the pollination mechanisms and promote cross pollination such as mechanic barriers, spatial or temporal separation of the maturation of the sexual organs, among others. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed morphological description of the androecium and gynoecium of 17 Papilionoideae species native to Lerma Valley (Salta-Argentina). M&M: We studied on field and laboratory quantitative and qualitative floral traits and analized from a functional point of view those traits that could be related to the reproductive system and to the pollination mechanisms. Results: Most of the species are homogamous and have monadelphous or pseudomonadelphous with basal fenestration androecium, monomorphic anthers, variable forms of the style and stigma, stylar trichomes, peristigmatic trichomes and stigmatic membrane. We registered for the first time some traits in some of the species, such as the spontaneous rupture of the stigmatic membrane during the anthesis and the reduction of anthers-stigma distance after the maturation of both sexual organs. Conclusions: All the studied species have floral traits associated with a reduction in selfpollination. Detailed information on morphology and other traits of the androecium and gynoecium has been obtained, and could be used to describe better their pollination mechanisms and to understand some aspects of their reproductive biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The papilionoid legume trees generally known as tonka, baru and cumaru comprise the taxonomically complex genus Dipteryx. In addition to being ecologically important across the neotropical biomes of rain forests and savannas, Dipteryx species are valuable sources of timber as well as an array of coumarin products. This genus currently comprises 14 accepted species with a convoluted nomenclatural history. Dipteryx is morphologically recognized by the flattened leaf rachis, asymmetrical leaflets, truly papilionate flowers, and drupaceous fruits. The generic name Dipteryx is conserved against Coumarouna and Taralea since Taralea is a heterotypic synonym and is accepted here as a distinct entity. We analyzed 65 names and designations that have been associated with Dipteryx and provide all orthographic variants, type localities, one new combination, 10 new lectotypes, one neotype, and one new synonym. Finally, we present an updated checklist of accepted and excluded names in Dipteryx. By highlighting the nomenclatural problems in Dipteryx, we hope the genus can serve as a model of how the typification process of older names linked primarily to Amazonian species should be treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lespedeza (tribe: Desmodieae) consists of about 40 species that have high medicinal and economic value. However, in this genus, using morphological characters, the species identification is quite complicated, which can be solved by the analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes. As primary organelle genomes, the complete genome sequences of chloroplasts (cp) provide unique molecular information to study the divergence of species, RNA editing, and phylogeny. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we sequenced the complete cp genomes of two representative Lespedeza species: Lespedeza davurica and Lespedeza cuneata. The cp genomes of both the species were found to be 149,010 bp in length, exhibiting the typical angiosperm chloroplast structure containing four regions. The Lespedeza cp genomes showed similar conserved gene contents, order, and orientations with a total GC content of 35.0%. A total of 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, were identified from each genome. Unique molecular features of the two Lespedeza cp genome sequences were obtained by performing the analysis of repeats, sequence divergence, codon usage, and predicting the RNA editing sites in addition to phylogenetic analysis with other key genera in tribe Desmodieae. Using the two datasets, the phylogenetic relationship of Lespedeza species among Deasmodieae was discovered, suggesting that whole cp genomes provided useful information for phylogenetic studies of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unifoliolate leaves are relatively rare in the species-rich dalbergioid clade of papilionoid legumes (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae). For the pantropical, diverse genus Aeschynomene (ca. 180 species), the only known record of unifoliolate species described so far is the savanna-inhabiting A. simplicifolia from Chapada dos Veadeiros in Goiás, Brazil. The current work provides a description, illustrations, and a distribution map of another unifoliolate species, Aeschynomene chicocesariana, which was newly discovered in the rupestrian grasslands of Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, Brazil. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data (nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8S and the plastid genes matK and trnL intron) have unequivocally placed A. chicocesariana with the rest of Aeschynomene species that are traditionally placed within Aeschynomene sect. Ochopodium. This result agrees with the shared morphology of A. chicocesariana and members of that section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RESUMO Compostos químicos com atividades biológicas isolados de espécies vegetais e usados pela população por meio de extratos e óleo essencial são promissoras fontes de prospecção de novos fármacos. O gênero Myroxylon L. f. apresenta elevado potencial farmacológico, sendo usado na medicina popular para o tratamento de diversas enfermidades, tais como feridas, catarros, úlceras, dores de cabeça e de ouvido. Este artigo de revisão apresenta as principais características fitoquímicas e farmacológicas das espécies do gênero Myroxylon (M. peruiferum L.f., M. balsamum (L.) Harms e M. pereirae (Royle) Klotzsch), cujos estudos de atividades biológicas são promissores.

Background: The Papilionoideae subfamily contains a large amount of underutilized legume crops, which are important for food security and human sustainability. However, the lack of genomic resources has hindered the breeding and utilization of these crops., Results: Here, we present chromosome-level reference genomes for 5 underutilized diploid Papilionoideae crops: sword bean (Canavalia gladiata), scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), smooth rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida), and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), with assembled genome sizes of 0.62 Gb, 0.59 Gb, 0.71 Gb, 1.22 Gb, and 1.72 Gb, respectively. We found that the long period of higher long terminal repeat retrotransposon activity is the major reason that the genome size of smooth rattlebox and butterfly pea is enlarged. Additionally, there have been no recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) events in these 5 species except for the shared papilionoid-specific WGD event (∼55 million years ago). Then, we identified 5,328 and 10,434 species-specific genes between scarlet runner bean and common bean, respectively, which may be responsible for their phenotypic and functional differences and species-specific functions. Furthermore, we identified the key genes involved in root-nodule symbiosis (RNS) in all 5 species and found that the NIN gene was duplicated in the early Papilionoideae ancestor, followed by the loss of 1 gene copy in smooth rattlebox and butterfly pea lineages. Last, we identified the resistance (R) genes for plant defenses in these 5 species and characterized their evolutionary history., Conclusions: In summary, this study provides chromosome-scale reference genomes for 3 grain and vegetable beans (sword bean, scarlet runner bean, winged bean), along with genomes for a green manure crop (smooth rattlebox) and a food dyeing crop (butterfly pea). These genomes are crucial for studying phylogenetic history, unraveling nitrogen-fixing RNS evolution, and advancing plant defense research., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press GigaScience.)

Indigofera monieriana M.Pignal & L.P.Queiroz, sp. nov. and Indigofera dumbeana M.Pignal & L.P.Queiroz, sp. nov., two new species from New Caledonia, are described and illustrated. Both new species have been collected for a long time, but most herbarium specimens were named as the Australian species Indigofera australis, even though they clearly stand apart from this species and the other New Caledonian species of the genus. Indigofera monieriana can be diagnosed by the tall virgate shrubby habit, leaves with an articulate rachis and 7-11 widely obovate to orbiculate leaflets with greyish undersurface and almost invisible venation. Indigofera dumbeana can be recognized by the arborescent habit, leaves with 15-19 elliptical leaflets, small, c. 6 mm long flowers, and ellipsoid seeds. Preliminary IUCN assessments are provided for both species. A key is provided for all species of Indigofera recorded from New Caledonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The genus Lespedeza (tribe: Desmodieae) consists of about 40 species that have high medicinal and economic value. However, in this genus, using morphological characters, the species identification is quite complicated, which can be solved by the analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes. As primary organelle genomes, the complete genome sequences of chloroplasts (cp) provide unique molecular information to study the divergence of species, RNA editing, and phylogeny. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we sequenced the complete cp genomes of two representative Lespedeza species: Lespedeza davurica and Lespedeza cuneata. The cp genomes of both the species were found to be 149,010 bp in length, exhibiting the typical angiosperm chloroplast structure containing four regions. The Lespedeza cp genomes showed similar conserved gene contents, order, and orientations with a total GC content of 35.0%. A total of 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, were identified from each genome. Unique molecular features of the two Lespedeza cp genome sequences were obtained by performing the analysis of repeats, sequence divergence, codon usage, and predicting the RNA editing sites in addition to phylogenetic analysis with other key genera in tribe Desmodieae. Using the two datasets, the phylogenetic relationship of Lespedeza species among Deasmodieae was discovered, suggesting that whole cp genomes provided useful information for phylogenetic studies of these species.

The C function gene AGAMOUS (AG) encodes for a MADS-box transcription factor required for floral organ identity and floral meristem (FM) determinacy in angiosperms. Unlike Arabidopsis, most legume plants possess two AG homologs arose by an ancient genome duplication event. Recently, two euAGAMOUS genes, MtAGa and MtAGb, were characterized and shown to fulfill the C function activity in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Here, we reported the isolation and characterization of a new mtaga allele by screening the Medicago Tnt1 insertion mutant collection. We found that MtAGa was not only required for controlling the stamen and carpel identity but also affected pod and seed development. Genetic analysis indicated that MtAGa and MtAGb redundantly control Medicago floral organ identity, but have minimal distinct functions in regulating stamen and carpel development in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the stamens and carpels are mostly converted to numerous vexillum-like petals in the double mutant of mtaga mtagb, which is distinguished from Arabidopsis ag. Further qRT-PCR analysis in different mtag mutants revealed that MtAGa and MtAGb can repress the expression of putative A and B function genes as well as MtWUS, but promote putative D function genes expression in M. truncatula. In addition, we found that the abnormal dorsal petal phenotype observed in the mtaga mtagb double mutant is associated with the upregulation of CYCLOIDEA (CYC)-like TCP genes. Taken together, our data suggest that the redundant MtAGa and MtAGb genes of M. truncatula employ a conserved mechanism of action similar to Arabidopsis in determining floral organ identity and FM determinacy but may have evolved distinct function in regulating floral symmetry by coordinating with specific floral dorsoventral identity factors.

Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and sombreiro (Clitoria fairchildiana) have been recommended for agroforestry systems and reforestation of degraded areas due to their fast growth and symbiosis with rhizobia. However, little is known about native populations that nodulate these species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from nodules of gliricidia and sombreiro in alley cropping systems located in the pre-Amazon region of Maranhão State and to confirm their nodulation ability. Nodules were field collected from 20 plants of each species. The isolated strains were characterized morphologically, their 16S rRNA gene was partially sequenced, and their symbiotic ability was authenticated in siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum). Despite being in the same climate and soil conditions, gliricidia and sombreiro are nodulated by different rhizobia genera, with Rhizobium predominant in gliricidia and Bradyrhizobium in sombreiro. Endophytic strains also colonized nodules in the field. Approximately 60% of Rhizobium strains did not nodulate siratro, whereas all Bradyrhizobium strains did. Native strains isolated from gliricidia nodules had low efficiency, and only four strains isolated from sombreiro nodules were efficient in siratro. These results highlight the importance of symbiotic relationships in the regulation of biological nitrogen fixation.

This study investigated the complete plastid genome of Phyllodium pulchellum, which represents the first report of the complete plastome for the genus Phyllodium in the tribe Desmodieae of the subfamily Papilionoideae. De novo assembly and annotation showed that the plastid genome is a typical quadripartite structure consisting of two inverted repeats (IR = 24,286 bp), one small single copy (SSC = 18,334 bp), and one large single copy (LSC = 82,715 bp). We found 111 unique genes, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the newly sequenced plastid genome of Ph. pulchellum and 11 plastomes obtained from GenBank recovered a strongly supported phylogenetic backbone of the tribe Desmodieae and a sister-relationship between Phyllodium and Ohwia.

Ammopiptanthus mongolicus is a rare and Endangered plant of Ammopiptanthus (Papilionoideae) in China. It grows mainly in the arid and semi-arid regions. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome was assembled by Illumina paired-end reads data. The circular cp genome is 153,997 bp in size, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 83,957 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,008 bp and a pair of inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 26,016 bp. Besides, 5 genes possess a single intron, while another three genes ycf3, rps12, and clp have a couple of introns. The GC content of the entire A. mongolicus cp genome, LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 36.9, 34.6, 30.5, and 42.8%, respectively. Based on the concatenated coding sequences of cp PCGs, the phylogenetic analysis showed that A. mongolicus and A. nanus are closely related to each other within the family Leguminosae.

Anatomical characters often provide strong taxonomic evidence and many times help define species whose morphological limits are in question. This study aimed to survey characters of the leaf anatomy of 16 species of Crotalaria L. occurring mostly in the cerrado (savanna) of central Brazil and in areas of restinga (coastal woodland, or sandy forest) along the coast of the country, in order to improve the current taxonomic circumscription of sections and species. Leaf samples were collected in the field and obtained from herbarium specimens. Standard techniques in plant anatomy were employed, including analyses under light and scanning electron microscopy. Many of the characters analyzed are relatively uniform, but some are diagnostic for species. At the section level, only trichomes with a base composed of radially distributed cells proved useful in the diagnosis of C. sect. Calycinae. The other characters analyzed showed interspecific variation, but no diagnostic value for recognition of the sections. At the species level, unlike the results found for sections, various characters have diagnostic value. Among the characters with diagnostic value at the species level, those related to texture, the venation pattern (such as the formation of areolas and insertion of the ribs secondary to midrib), and, in particular, the epidermis, showed potential for aiding the circumscription of some species.

The new species Rhynchosia franciscana (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) is described and illustrated from the seasonally dry vegetation on sand dunes of the middle São Francisco River in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The new species is included in Rhynchosia section Copisma, in which it can be differentiated from other species by its relatively larger flowers and wing petals that are shorter than the keel. The discovery of this narrowly endemic new plant species adds to the spectacularly rich biodiversity that has been revealed in the Caatinga seasonally dry woodlands in the middle São Francisco River valley over the last 30 yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecology, geography, morphology, and a combined phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence variation support the recognition of the new species Luetzelburgia jacana (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, vataireoid clade). This species is found in the inter-Andean Rio Cauca Valley in Colombia. Phylogenetic analyses of nine plastid and nuclear DNA sequences from 44 accessions representing all known Luetzelburgia species show that L. jacana is sister to the rest of the genus and has a mean estimated stem age of ca. 4 Ma, much older than other Luetzelburgia species. Luetzelburgia jacana is distinguished by a combination of mostly 7-9-foliolate, glabrous leaves with leaflets obtuse to shortly acute at the apex, flowers up to 9.6 mm long, and samaras bearing two small lateral wings on the seed chamber. Luetzelburgia jacana, along with two other earliestbranching species in the genus, L. guaissara and L. trialata, are geographical outliers in the genus, with L. jacana having the northernmost distribution and L. guaissara and L. trialata having the southernmost distributions. These three earliest-branching species are also ecological outliers within Luetzelburgia by occurring in wetter and less seasonal settings than other species. The discovery of L. jacana resolves these three earliest-branching species in Luetzelburgia as ecologically transitional between most species of the vataireoid clade that inhabit wet forests and most species of Luetzelburgia that inhabit highly seasonal dry forests and woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coursetia caribaea is geographically and morphologically the most variable species in the genus Coursetia and in the tribe Robinieae (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae). Because of potentially undetected species, we assessed the phylogenetic relationships among the eight taxonomic varieties of C. caribaea. Sampling included nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences from 489 Robinieae accessions representing all varieties of C. caribaea and 38 of the 40 species of Coursetia, in addition to chloroplast trnD-trnT sequences from 186 accessions. Separate and combined phylogenetic analyses resolved a clade of conspecific accessions of the Bolivian C. caribaea var. astragalina as sister to the central Andean Coursetia grandiflora clade. Also distantly related to Coursetia caribaea var. caribaea accessions were those of the coastal Oaxacan C. caribaea var. pacifica, which formed the sister clade to accessions of the central Andean C. caribaea var. ochroleuca. The estimated mean ages of the stem clades for these three lineages, 11, 7.7, and 7.7 Ma, respectively, contrasted to the estimated mean ages of the corresponding crown clades of 0, 0, and 1.5 Ma. The contrasting stem and crown ages suggest that these taxa, appropriately ranked as species, Coursetia astragalina, Coursetia diversifolia, and Coursetia ochroleuca, each have persisted over evolutionary time frames as distinct geographically localized populations in seasonally dry tropical forests and woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]