Enrique Rico

Species Boundaries and Phylogeographic Patterns in Cryptic Taxa Inferred from AFLP Markers: Veronica subgen. Pentasepalae (Scrophulariaceae) in the Western Mediterranean

Abstract We show the power of detailed AFLP study to address questions of species delimitation and genetic diversity in morphologically-cryptic plants. We have combined this technique with karyological studies to explore species boundaries in the Western Mediterranean representatives of Veronica subgen. Pentasepalae. Several members of this subgenus are represented in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa by morphologically similar populations, which lead to different taxonomic hypotheses. We have analyzed genetic variation with two different objectives: first, to provide a basis on which one taxonomic hypothesis is favored against its alternatives, and second, to obtain a satisfactory interpretation of phylogeographic patterns. The usefulness of several parameters and analyses is considered in order to help rank taxa and to reveal details of their speciation modes. Some of these parameters are presented with a geographical background to facilitate phylogeographic interpretations. The data support one of the previously proposed taxonomic hypotheses, which results in the recognition of eight taxa. An east-to-west migration route within the Iberian Peninsula is hypothesized, coinciding with the general pattern proposed for Veronica subgen. Pentasepalae. Further data on genetic variability and chromosome counts for 41 populations are provided.

Seed morphology and its systematic significance in some Veronica species (Scrophulariaceae) mainly from the Western Mediterranean

Abstract. Macro- and micromorphological analysis of the seed of 50 taxa mainly from the tribe Veroniceae reveals differences in shape and testa sculpturing and allows the recognition of eight types. The combination of available cytogenetic and phytochemical data with those obtained from seed study, demonstrates that the classical sectional treatment is artificial. Suggestions for a new infrageneric classification of the genus and the taxonomic assignment of some taxa are given.

Palynological study of Veronica sect. Veronica and sect. Veronicastrum (Scrophulariaceae) and its taxonomic significance.

Pollen grains from 30 taxa, mainly from the Western Mediterranean area belonging to the perennial sections of the genus Veronica (Scrophulariaceae), were studied by LM and SEM. A close relationship was found between pollen size and ploidy level. Palynological characters cannot be regarded as essential taxonomic tools within the groups studied, although they have systematic value in some specific cases. The monophyly of Veronica subsect. Multiflorae is supported by a common and exclusive sculpture of exine. Delimitation of the genus is discussed and hypothetical evolutionary trends concerning pollen characters are addressed.

Palynological study of Potentilla subg. Potentilla (Rosaceae) in the Western Mediterranean

A palynological study by LM and SEM was made of 26 taxa of Potentilla L. subg. Potentilla. It is more precise on material from 110 populations, mainly from the western Mediterranean. On the basis of morphometry, the subg. Potentilla can be said to have a stenopalynous nature, due to the absence of significant differences between the taxa studied and to the high degree of overlapping shown by their range of variation. With respect to ornamentation, which is striate, only P. rupestris pollen can be separately identified by a much more marked striation than the other species studied. An attempt was made to observe the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships between the species of the natural groups of Potentilla on the basis of their pollen characters.

Systematic significance and evolutionary dynamics of the achene twin hairs in Filago (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) and related genera: further evidence of morphological homoplasy

The variation and evolutionary dynamics of the twin hairs covering the achenes of the external female florets in Filago and related genera are studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a Bayesian reconstruction of ancestral character states. A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis based on sequences of ITS and ETS (nuclear ribosomal DNA) and plastid rpl32-trnL intergenic spacer regions was used as a framework to test the phylogenetic, evolutionary and taxonomic significance of this character in the study group. The phylogenetic position of three island-endemic species (F. petro-ianii, F. tyrrhenica and F. wagenitziana) is explored. Three types of twin hairs are described, which alone or combined define five different types of indumentum. The results suggest that glabrous achenes are the ancestral condition for “Filago group s.str.”, while the presence of long-clavate twin hairs on the achene represents the ancestral character state for the genus Filago. Several cases of parallelisms are detected. With regard to taxonomy, twin hairs provide additional support for the recognition of Bombycilaena and Logfia at the generic level and allow the taxonomic re-evaluation of F. lutescens subsp. atlantica and F. crocidion. Finally, the utility of a Bayesian Binary MCMC approach (using the software RASP) for evolutionary reconstruction of morphological characters is demonstrated.

Phylogeny of the Inula group (Asteraceae: Inuleae): Evidence from nuclear and plastid genomes and a recircumscription of Pentanema

The Inula complex (Asteraceae: Inulinae) is a monophyletic group which comprises eight genera distributed in Eurasia and Africa: Amblyocarpum, Carpesium, Chrysophthalmum, Inula, Pentanema, Rhanteri ...

Unravelling the phylogeny of the root-hemiparasitic genus Odontites (tribe Rhinantheae, Orobanchaceae): Evidence for five main lineages

Despite the recent publication of several phylogenies focused on Rhinantheae, which has been expanded to include three Asian endemic genera, few studies so far have dealt with particular genera within the tribe. Here, we focus on Odontites and related genera because of the high morphological variability of the group and its unclear generic boundaries. Phylogenetic analyses were performed for nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (trnK region and rps16 intron) datasets, using Bayesian and Parsimony analyses. Our results cast doubt on the inclusion of Pterygiella and related genera within the Rhinantheae and support the paraphyly of Phtheirospermum, making it necessary to propose three new combinations to avoid it. Odontites is recircumscribed to include Bartsiella, Bornmuellerantha, and Macrosyringion, but not Odontitella. Within Odontites, five distinct lineages are identified. These are distinguishable either by morphological synapomorphies or by a combination of several character states. Most of the Odontites species are regarded as monophyletic. In the O. vernus and O. luteus complexes, some taxonomic changes are made to avoid paraphyly, which results in three new combinations.

Typification of 10 specific names in Veronica L. (Scrophulariaceae, Veroniceae)

Martinez-Ortega, M. M. & Rico, E.: Typification of 10 specific names in Veronica L. (Scrophulariaceae, Veroniceae). Taxon 50: 543-549. 2001. ISSN 0040-0262. Types for the names V. aragonensis Stroh, V. micrantha Hoffmanns. & Link, V. nummularia Gouan, V. orbiculata A. Kern., V. orsinitana Ten., V. ponae Gouan, V. rosea Desf., V. saturejoides Vis., V. tenuifolia Asso and V. teucrioides Boiss. & Heldr. are here designated.

A nomenclatural treatment for Veronica subsect. Pentasepalae (Plantaginaceae sensu APG III) and typification of several names

The large genus Veronica has a complex evolutionary history. Within it, Veronica subsect. Pentasepalae represents an ideal system to study important evolutionary processes, such as hybridization and polyploidization. Delimitation of species boundaries within the subsection is a difficult task and the highly complicated taxonomy of the group has led to an accumulation of approximately 230 names for 22 accepted taxa. Many names have been used in different taxonomic senses even in recent Floras, scientific works, catalogues, Red Lists and internet resources. The lack of an updated taxonomic and nomenclatural framework represents a significant problem to develop further studies in several fields such as ecology, conservation, plant and evolutionary biology. A complete nomenclatural treatment for the whole subsection is provided here, that relies on results derived from the first phylogenetic analysis of V. subsect. Pentasepalae based on DNA sequence data, morphology and ploidylevel information. Nomenclatural types for 22 validly published names are designated. In total 21 lectotypes, 2 epitypes and 1 neotype are chosen. A new combination, Veronica linearis, is proposed.

Contribution to the karyological knowledge of Odontites s.l. (Orobanchaceae) on the Iberian Peninsula and in Morocco

Seventy-five populations corresponding to 12 taxa (species or subspecies) that include Odontites (9 taxa), Odontitella (1 taxon) and Macrosyringion (1 taxon) from the Iberian Peninsula, and Bartsiella (1 taxon) from Morocco have been studied. For the first time, a chromosome number is reported for the genus Bartsiella, monospecific and endemic to Morocco, B. rameauana (2n = 24), and Odontites kaliformis (2n = 22), O. viscosus subsp. asturicus (2n = 24) and O. viscosus subsp. granatensis (n = 11), endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. A new chromosome number is vreported for Macrosyringion longiflorum (2n = 22), Odontitella virgata (n = 12), O. viscosus subsp. australis (2n = 20, 22, 24) and O. recordonii (2n = 26). All the studied taxa were diploid (2x). In the case of O. vernus s.l., a tetraploid level (4x) was also found. This species in its wider sense includes O. vernus s.str. and O. vulgaris, which is often considered an independent species. Out of the forty-six populations of O. vernus s.l. studied, thirty were found to be tetraploid (2n = 4x = 40, O. vernus for many authors) and sixteen to be diploid (2n = 2x = 20, O. vulgaris for many authors).