Héctor A. Keller

Medicinal Plant Diversity and Inter-Cultural Interactions between Indigenous Guarani, Criollos and Polish Migrants in the Subtropics of Argentina

Numerous studies highlight the importance of phytotherapy for indigenous and non-indigenous people in different parts of the world. In this work we analyze the richness (number of species), diversity (plant identity and the number of illnesses for which it is used) and similarity of plant species and illnesses treated with them, in order to contribute new data and insight into the importance of plant medicines to the local medical systems of people living in Misiones province, in the subtropics of Argentina. Three sympatric groups were compared: Guarani Indians, Criollos (mestizos) and Polish migrants. Quantitative scrutiny was focused on both primary and secondary sources. The similarity and diversity of medicinal plants and uses between groups was calculated by applying the Sørensen quantitative coefficient and the Shannon-Wiener index, respectively. In order to identify the characteristic plant species used by each group, the Cultural Importance and Prevalence Value (CIPV) was calculated based on the species Indicator Value (IndVal), which combines a species relative abundance with its relative frequency of occurrence in the various groups, and modified according to the type of the analyzed data. The important finding is a great variation in the number of species used by the study groups. Altogether, 509 botanical species were registered: Guarani (397), Criollos (243) and Polish migrants (137). For all groups, the use of native medicinal plants prevailed. The Guarani appear to be the local experts in use of medicinal plants. There is the significant difference in the number of treated illnesses by each taxon among three groups. Criollos and Polish migrants exhibit the greatest similarity in illnesses treated with medicinal plants. These groups share a corpus of knowledge related to illness nosology, and have a symptomatic approach to illness treatment. The Guarani have an etiological approach to illness diagnosis and healing, which may be viewed as a barrier to the exchange of knowledge about home medicine with other ethnic groups of Misiones.

Dos nuevos registros de Habenaria (Orchidaceae) para la flora argentina

Two new records of Habenaria (Orchidaceae) for the Argentinian flora. Habenaria johannensis and H. josephensis, species known up to now with the distribution limit in southern Brazil, are cited for the first time for northeastern Argentina. A brief description of the species, geographical distribution, ecological observations, field photographs, a map with the distribution of the two new records in Argentina, as well as a key to differentiate the species present in northeastern of Argentina are provided.

Sinopsis y novedades taxonómicas de la familia Marantaceae en la Argentina, incluyendo una nueva cita para el Paraguay

A synopsis and taxonomic novelties of the family Marantaceae in Argentina, including a new record from Paraguay. This synopsis of the Argentine species of Marantaceae includes six genera and seven species: Ctenanthe muelleri, Goeppertia eichleri, Maranta sobolifera, Saranthe eichleri, Stromanthe boliviana, Thalia geniculata, and T. multiflora. Species Ctenanthe muelleri is cited for the first time for Argentina and Paraguay, and Saranthe eichleri as a new record for Argentina. Ctenanthe casupoides var. subtropicalis is here synonymyzed within Saranthe eichleri. Lectotypes are designated for Calathea eichleri, C. macrostachya, Saranthe eichleri, and Thalia geniculata. Treatment of each species includes synonyms, iconography, vernacular names, observations, ethnobotany, geographical distribution, and habitat, and examined material. A key to the species, some illustrations and field photographs are also provided.

The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Abstract Background and Aims Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions. Methods The database was compiled from published and unpublished reports. Plants were categorized into broad pollination systems and then subdivided to include bimodal systems. These were mapped against the five major divisions of the family, and against the smaller clades. Finally, pollination systems were mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction that included those species for which sequence data are available, and transition rates between pollination systems were calculated. Key Results Most Apocynaceae are insect pollinated with few records of bird pollination. Almost three-quarters of species are pollinated by a single higher taxon (e.g. flies or moths); 7 % have bimodal pollination systems, whilst the remaining approx. 20 % are insect generalists. The less phenotypically specialized flowers of the Rauvolfioids are pollinated by a more restricted set of pollinators than are more complex flowers within the Apocynoids + Periplocoideae + Secamonoideae + Asclepiadoideae (APSA) clade. Certain combinations of bimodal pollination systems are more common than others. Some pollination systems are missing from particular regions, whilst others are over-represented. Conclusions Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades.

New records of Cyathea atrovirens (Langsd. & Fisch.) Domin (Cyatheaceae) from Argentina

Cyathea atrovirens (Cyatheaceae) is the southernmost tree-fern of Argentina and its presence in the Corrientes province was in doubt after the height of the Yacyreta dam was raised. However, new records confirm the presence of the species in the province and increase the range distribution southward. Comments on the distribution and ecology of the species are now reported.