Carmen Navarro

The Genus Sorbus (Maloideae, Rosaceae) in Europe and in North Africa: Morphological Analysis and Systematics

A multivariate morphometric study of the genus Sorbus, from 127 herbarium specimens in Europe and North Africa and nine populations in Spain, shows that twelve species may be easily recognized in the area: S. torminalis, S. latifolia, S. semiincisa, S. aria, S. intermedia, S. minima, S. sudetica, S. chamaemespilus, S. aucuparia, S. hybrida, S. meinichii and S. domestica. Twenty-seven described taxa were very difficult to dis- criminate using the standard morphological and statistical methods. Some useful characters are: petiole length, leaf-nerve angle, leaf-tooth length, bud and seed shape, fruit structure, presence of tanniferous-cell groups, large sclereids and starch grains in the fruit. The fruit of S. torminalis has a multi-layered cuticle, not previously reported in Sorbus. We detected tetraploidy in S. torminalis and two other sexuals: S. aria and S. chamaemespilus. The geography and the population structure of taxa in S and C Europe does not permit their reproductive isolation; hence a large number of intermediate forms occur. Considering the difficulty in assess- ing the reproductive isolation of microspecies and in differentiating them morphologically, the use of a taxo- nomic species concept is proposed in Sorbus. Finally, a key to the species is provided.

Taxonomic revision of Geranium sect. Gracilia (Geraniaceae)

Geranium sect.Gracilia (Geraniaceae) comprises nine species in the Andes of Venezuela and Colombia.Geranium lindenianum andG. gracilipes are synonymized withG. holosericeum. The identity ofG. multiceps is clarified. Its differences from the two Colombian species,G. santanderiense andG. lainzii, are discussed.Geranium lignosum, G. sebosum, G. stoloniferum, G. subnudicaule, andG., velutinum are now considered to be members of sect.Gracilia. The identity ofG. pilgerianum could not be clarified because the type was destroyed and other collections have not been found. Micromorphological leaf and seed characters are discussed. Six lectotypes and one neotype are designated.ResumenSe revisaGeranium sect.Gracilia (Geraniaceae), un grupo formado por nueve especies distribuidas por los Andes de Venezuela y Colombia. Se sinonimizanG. lindenianum y G. gracilipes aG. holosericeum. Se aclara la identidad deG. multiceps y se establecen sus diferencias conG. santanderiense y conG. lainzii, ambas esencialmente colombianas. Se aceptan en esta secciónG. lignosum, G. stoloniferum yG. sebosum, propuestos tras la descripción de la sect.Gracilia, yG. subnudicaule yG. velutinum, ya tratados por otros autores en como pertenecientes a este grupo. Por el contrario, la identidad deG. pilgerianum no ha podido ser aclarada tras la destrucción del tipo y ante la falta de otros materiales de la especie. Se estudian diversos caractere micromorfológicos, especialmente algunos referibles a la anatomía foliar y la de la semilla. Se designan seis lectótipos y un neótipo.

Phylogenetic and phytogeographical relationships in Maloideae (Rosaceae) based on morphological and anatomical characters

Phylogenetic relationships among 24 genera of Rosaceae subfam. Maloideae and Spiraeoideae are explored by means of a cladistic analysis; 16 morphological and anatomical characters were included in the analysis. Published suprageneric classifications and characters used in these classifications are briefly reviewed. Additionally, some new features are here reported, such as seed shape, presence or absence of endosperm, and number of cell layers in the seed coat and in the endosperm. Parsimony analyses indicate that Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis form a well-supported clade that is the sister to the remainder of the subfamily. This result is in agreement with published ITS sequence data. Other clades are not supported, with the exception of the group Amelanchier–Peraphyllum–Malacomeles. Results of several studies point toward North America as centre of origin for Maloideae, considering the distribution of closely related Spiraeoideae such as Vauquelinia and Lindleia. A non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis of Takhtajan’s biogeographic regions was carried out using presence/ absence of genera as characters. Eastern Asia is a centre of diversity from which the number of shared taxa decreases in several directions. This can be associated with the retreat of many taxa belonging to the Early Tertiary tropical-subtropical flora towards the refuges of China, Indochina and Malaysia, after wet-temperate forests were progressively transformed during the Neogene, which seems to be the case of Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis. Finally, Osteomeles and Chamaemeles were postulated as long-distance dispersion events while Hesperomeles could have originated in North America and migrated into north-western South America.

Taxonomic Revision of Geranium Subsect. Mediterranea (Geraniaceae)

Abstract Geranium subsect. Mediterranea (Geraniaceae) consists of ten species. The highest diversity of the group is located in the Caucasus and neighbouring areas of Turkey and Iran, with five endemic species. Other species reach western Europe and northwestern Africa. In contrast to the current literature, we consider G. montanum and G. ibericum subsp. jubatum to be synonyms of G. ibericum. A univariate morphometric study revealed some valuable quantitative characters useful for the identification of these species. Micromorphological features of pollen, stigmas, seeds, and mericarps were investigated by SEM. A new key is provided, as well as new and detailed descriptions. Geranium kurdicum is here illustrated for the first time. Eleven lectotypes are designated, and distribution maps are presented. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of chloroplastic trnL-trnF and ribosomal nuclear ITS regions suggest that sect. Mediterranea is monophyletic. Two clades are recovered, one including the annual species and other with the perennials, in which G. tuberosum (subsect. Tuberosa) emerges within a paraphyletic subsect. Mediterranea.

Taxonomic Revision of Geranium sect. Dissecta (Geraniaceae)

Abstract Geranium section Dissecta (Geraniaceae) consists of four species centered in Eurasia, between the Mediterranean region and the Himalaya Mountains. In contrast to the current literature, we consider G. chelikii, and G. davisianum to be synonyms of G. sintenisii, and G. pallens to be a synonym of G. asphodeloides. We also accept G. dissectum and G. crenophilum, the latter sometimes considered as subspecies of G. asphodeloides. A multivariate morphometric study showed that some quantitative characters such as deeply divided leaves, shorter and narrower petals, and shorter filaments clearly distinguished the annual G. dissectum. The characters contributing most to separation of the three remaining perennial species were petal width and the length of glandular hairs of stem and pedicels. In G. asphodeloides and G. dissectum the rootstock and stem base has a very starch-rich parenchyma in the cortex, while in G. sintenisii and G. crenophilum the starch-rich parenchyma is mainly developed in the pith. A new key is provided, as well as new and detailed descriptions. Geranium crenophilum and G. sintenisii are here illustrated for the first time. Nine lectotypes and a neotype are designated, and distribution maps are presented. Analyses of the plastid trnL-trnF spacer, nuclear ITS sequences, and morphological data reveal that sect. Dissecta is strongly supported as monophyletic. In these analyses G. dissectum appeared as sister group to the rest of the species.

Geranium holosericeum (Geraniaceae) revisited

Variability of Geranium holosericeum is clarified and G. lindenianum and G. schultzei are differentiated from G. holosericeum. A new key, complete descriptions, distribution maps, and illustrations are provided for the three species. A neotype is proposed for G. schultzei.ResumenSe estudia la variabilidad de Geranium holosericeum y se diferencia de G. lindenianum y G. schultzei. Se presenta una nueva clave de identificación, descripciones completas, un mapa de distribución y dibujos para las tres especies. Se propone un neotipo para G. schultzei.