Carlos A. Lehnebach

Phylogenetic relationships of the monotypic Peruvian genus Laccopetalum (Ranunculaceae)

Laccopetalum giganteum (Ranunculaceae) is a rare endemic buttercup from the montane regions of the Peruvian Andes. The systematic position of this monotypic genus within Ranunculaceae was investigated using cpDNA matK sequence data. Our findings indicate that L. giganteum forms a highly supported clade together with Krapfia. Several morphological characters are shared by these genera; large subglobose and fleshy flowers, presence of androgynophore with a separated staminal and carpellate region and many tiny achenes. The Laccopetalum-Krapfia clade is sister to the core Ranunculus group with a high bootstrap support. The number of sepals and similar characteristics of achene morphology support an affinity of Laccopetalum with Ranunculus s.s tr.

Pollination studies of four New Zealand terrestrial orchids and the implication for their conservation

Abstract The New Zealand orchid flora comprises 25 genera and over 100 species. Most of the species are terrestrial and are found throughout the country. Terrestrial orchids are the most threatened group within the family. We studied the pollination ecology of four terrestrial orchids: Gastrodia cunninghamii, Thelymitra longifolia, Pterostylis alobula, and P. patens. Reproduction of these orchids relies on contrasting reproductive strategies. Thelymitra longifolia is predominantly self‐pollinated, whereas both Pterostylis species are cross‐pollinated and have an absolute dependence on pollinators. Hand‐pollination treatments showed T. longifolia, P. alobula, and P. patens to be self‐compatible. Results for G. cunninghamii were unclear and need further study. Insect flower visitation is uncommon in these species and was observed only in G. cunninghamii and P. alobula. Aphids were usually found inside the flowers of G. cunninghamii, but the role they may have as pollinators is undetermined. In P. alobula, male fungus gnats of Zygomyia (Mycetophilidae: Diptera) were considered pollinators. Hypotheses on the attraction system(s) used by these greenhood orchids are discussed. These two species are more likely to be affected by disruption of the plant‐pollinator mutualism because of the specialist nature of the plant‐pollinator interaction.

Molecular phylogenetics and molecular dating of the New Zealand Gleicheniaceae

The Gleicheniaceae are an ancient family of ferns, with three of the six extant genera occurring in New Zealand:Dicranopteris, Gleichenia, andSticherus. The biogeographic origins of this family in New Zeland are unknown, and the taxonomy ofGleichenia in particular is still unclear. To address aspects of these two issues, DNA sequences from thetrnL-trnF locus and therbcL gene were produced for all of the common Gleicheniaceae species in New Zealand, as well as forGleichenia alpina from Tasmania andSticherus cryptocarpus from Chile. SeveraltrnL-trnF haplotypes were found amongst New ZealandG. dicarpa. One of these haplotypes was also observed in TasmanianG. alpina, while the other New ZealandG. dicarpa trnL-trnF haplotypes were more similar to those ofG. microphylla. These results suggest the taxonomy of New ZealandGleichenia may be more complex than presently recognized. Molecular dating of therbcL sequences with the program r8s rejected vicariant explanations for the disjunct distributions between New Zealand and elsewhere for each ofDicranopteris, Gleichenia, andSticherus. However, the direction of the inferred long-distance dispersal was not resolved.

PENSANDO LA ANTRACOLOGÍA PARA EL CENTRO-SUR DE CHILE: SITIOS ARQUEOLÓGICOS Y BOSQUE EN EL LAGO CALAFQUÉN

La antracologia (del griego anthrax, akos: carbon ardiente) estudia los carbones vegetales encontrados en contextos arqueologicos o en sedimentaciones naturales (roza, incendios naturales, etc.). Desde hace una decada, la antracologia1 ha sido incorporada timidamente a los estudios interdisciplinarios que la arqueologia chilena genera. De hecho, la nomenclatura utilizada para describir este tipo de disciplinas medioambientales varia de pais en pais o si se la esta definiendo desde las ciencias sociales o las ciencias naturales. Es asi como se la puede incluir, dependiendo de sus enfasis y alianzas, con otras disciplinas anexas a este quehacer, dentro de los estudios bioarqueologicos, la arqueometria, la paleobotanica o la arqueobotanica. En este trabajo se discuten las formas de operar interdisciplinariamente en sitios arqueologicos del Calafquen, para reconstruir el medio de culturas adaptadas a ecosistemas de bosques templados durante los periodos Arcaico y Formativo

A NEW NORTHERN LIMIT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RANUNCULUS SPEGAZZINII LOURTEIG (RANUNCULACEAE) IN CHILE

Se informa la colecta de Ranunculus spegazzinii Lourteig en la IX Region de Chile (38°S). Este nuevo registro extiende el limite norte de distribucion de esta especie en Chile en c. 1400 km. Ademas se presenta un mapa con los puntos de colecta de R. spegazzinii e imagenes del nectario y aquenio obtenidas en el microscopio electronico de barrido