Llorenç Sáez

Reconstructing the history of Campanulaceae with a Bayesian approach to molecular dating and dispersal–vicariance analyses

We reconstruct here the spatial and temporal evolution of the Campanula alliance in order to better understand its evolutionary history. To increase phylogenetic resolution among major groups (Wahlenbergieae-Campanuleae), new sequences from the rbcL region were added to the trnL-F dataset obtained in a previous study. These phylogenies were used to infer ancestral areas and divergence times in Campanula and related genera using a Bayesian approach to molecular dating and dispersal-vicariance analyses that takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty. The new phylogenetic analysis confirms Platycodoneae as the sister group of Wahlenbergieae-Campanuleae, the two last ones inter-graded into a well-supported clade. Biogeographic and dating analyses suggest that Western Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean have played a major role as centers of migration and diversification within the Campanula alliance, probably in relation to the intense orogenic activity that took place in this region during the Late Neogene, and that could have promoted isolation and allopatric speciation within lineages. Diversification rates within several Campanula lineages would have increased at the end of the Miocene, coinciding with the Messinian Stage. Strong selective pressures from climate changes and the expansion of mountainous regions during this period are suggested to explain the adaptation to drought, cold or disturbed environments observed in many Campanula species. Several independent long-distance dispersal events to North America are inferred within the Rapunculus clade, which seem to be related to high ploidy levels.

Phylogenetic relationships in the Mediterranean Helichrysum (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) based on nuclear rDNA ITS sequence data

The internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 of the nuclear rDNA were sequenced for 41 Helichrysum species (Gnaphalieae), focusing on the Mediterranean group of species, together with eight representatives of other genera of the Gnaphalieae, in order to check the hypothesised monophyly of the Mediterranean Helichrysum group and the correspondence of the sequence data with its traditional sectional classification. The cladistic analysis of sequence data supports monophyly of the Mediterranean Helichrysum excluding H. frigidum and H. montelinasanum. The traditional classification of the Mediterranean species into two sections, Helichrysum and Virginea, is not supported, whereas a group constituted by species from the west Mediterranean area is shown as a moderately supported monophyletic clade in the strict consensus tree. Other results also show and confirm the complexity, still not satisfactorily resolved, of the Helichrysum generic delimitation: Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum appears merged in Helichrysum whereas Helichrysum dasyanthum appears more related to Anaxeton laeve than to any Helichrysum species.

Phylogeny, biogeography and character evolution in mediterranean, asiatic and macaronesian Helichrysum (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) inferred from nuclear phylogenetic analyses

The genus Helichrysum has 500–600 species in Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean basin, Macaronesia, western and central Asia, and India. The aims of this study are to confirm the exclusion of Castroviejoa from Helichrysum, to elucidate the origin of the Macaronesian endemics, to confirm the monophyly of the Mediterranean‐Asiatic group, and, within this group, to contrast molecular data with sectional classification and to provide insight into trends in character evolution and biogeography. To address these issues, ITS and ETS sequences were used in phylogenetic analyses. Results show that Castroviejoa is excluded from Helichrysum. The phylogeny obtained suggests a southern African origin for Helichrysum and several subsequent migrations throughout the African continent. The species from the Canary Islands do not form a monophyletic clade, suggesting that at least two independent colonization events occurred. Helichrysum makranicum, from Oman and southern Iran, is the closest relative of a clade consisting of two endemics of the Canary Islands, providing new evidence of the phytogeographical links between Macaronesia and eastern Africa–southern Arabia. Helichrysum gossypinum, the third endemic of the Canary Islands, is the sister species of a monophyletic Mediterranean and Asiatic group, with the four endemics of Madeira sister to all of them. Within the Mediterranean‐Asiatic clade, sect. Stoechadina is monophyletic, but sect. Helichrysum and sect. Virginea are not. Once in the Mediterranean region, the genus is hypothesized to have diversified and expanded to the east up to western and central Asia and to have suffered a reduction in woodiness.

Genetic diversity of mountain plants: Two migration episodes of Mediterranean Erodium (Geraniaceae)

This paper examines the phylogeny of Erodium subsect. Petraea, a group of six morphologically and genetically very similar species from the mountains of the western Mediterranean. Combined trnL-F-ITS analysis was unable to determine the phylogenetic relationships of these species owing to sequence similarity. AFLP fragment analysis showed different populations to cluster in six closely related phylogroups that partially coincided with morphological species. In the Iberian Peninsula, high temperatures during interstadial periods probably impeded the survival of these species at low altitudes, and their populations may have been forced to migrate northward within Iberia or remain isolated on high mountains. AFLP variation suggests that this might have led to their differentiation into groups and speciation during interglacials, but it probably also provided the basis for recurrent recolonisations and the mixing of neighbouring populations at the last glacial maxima. The genetic diversity of the two Erodium lineages suggests two migration episodes took place from southern Iberia towards the north, with one lineage migrating via western Iberia and the other via eastern Iberia. The patterns of genetic diversity observed in populations of 56 European species (27 genera) leads to the hypothesis that disparate proportions of unique polymorphic fragments are the result of the evolutionary histories of their mountain populations irrespective of the currently recognised species.

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.

Relating postglacial relict plants and Holocene vegetation dynamics in the Balearic Islands through field surveys, pollen analysis and GIS modeling

Abstract An inventory of the current Balearic plants occurring in mesophyllous environments, with climatic conditions similar to those in the first half of the Holocene, was compiled. The presence of these floristic elements, extending mainly into the postglacial time, has been related to pollen records of different localities in the Balearic Islands. GIS techniques have been applied in order to map the past and the present-day vegetation suitability of some of these mesophyllous species using pollen surface samples, forest inventory data and Digital Climatic Models. We integrated the information provided by field survey, pollen records and suitability mapping in order to discuss the vegetation dynamics of different habitats. We focused on the nature and the possible causes of the vegetation landscape change that occurred approximately 5000 – 6000 uncal. years BP, when Fagus, Corylus and Buxus formations were replaced by xeric-type formations with Olea dominance.

Typification of names in Gnaphalium L. and Helichrysum Mill. (Asteraceae), and some taxonomic notes

As a part of a research study on the systematics of the genus Helichrysum in the Mediterranean and Irano-turanian area, 53 new typifications of names in Gnaphalium and Helichrysum belonging to taxa in Helichrysum sect. Stoechadina, H. sect. Helichrysum and H. sect. Virginea are presented, along with some additional comments on the nomenclature of the names involved and on the taxonomy of the taxa to which they apply. Twenty-three previously published typifications of names of taxa belonging to these sections are also listed and, in some cases, commented upon. The accepted taxa of Helichrysum for which we propose typification of accepted names or synonyms, or upon which we make comments, are, alphabetically: H. angustifolium (Lam.) DC., H. arenarium (L.) Moench, H. arenarium subsp. aucheri (Boiss.) P. H. Davis & Kupicha, H. armenium DC., H. crassifolium (L.) D. Don, H. doerfleri Rech. f., H. errerae Tineo, H. graveolens (M. Bieb.) Sweet, H. italicum (Roth) G. Don, H. italicum subsp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nyman, H. orientate (L.) Gaertn., H. pallasii (Spreng.) Ledeb., H. pamphylicum P. H. Davis & Kupicha, H. picardii Boiss., H. plicatum DC., H. pygmaeum Post, H. rupestre DC., H. sanguineum (L.) Kostel., H. sibthorpii Rouy, H. stoechas (L.) Moench, H. taenari Rothm. and H. virgineum DC.

Conservation assessment of Aquilegia paui (Ranunculaceae): a case study of an extremely narrow endemic.

The extremely rare Aquilegia paui (Ranunculaceae) was described in 1920 but was not found again until 1999, when it was discovered in the Parc Natural dels Ports in Tarragona Province, Spain. This species had been confused with the widespread A. vulgaris and consequently its taxonomic and conservation status had been misinterpreted. Based on the limited range of A. paui and the level of disturbance of its habitat we recommend that it is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We summarize the conservation actions available for such extremely narrow endemic plant species and make appropriate recommendations for the conservation of A. paui .

The bryophytes of the Balearic Islands: an annotated checklist

Abstract As a result of the revision of herbarium specimens and literature records, an annotated checklist of bryophytes of the Balearic Islands is presented. The distribution by islands is provided for each of the 328 bryophytes taxa (one hornwort, 67 liverworts and 260 mosses) currently accepted in the archipelago. Thirty-six taxa are to be excluded or doubtful. The highest number of species is found in Mallorca (298 taxa), followed by Menorca (159 taxa), Eivissa (92 taxa), Formentera (52 taxa), Cabrera (33 taxa) and Dragonera (32 taxa). The species richness of Mallorca is due to the presence of mountains which in the Serra de Tramuntana, rise to 1445 m. That of Menorca is due to acidic substrate, which are rare in the other islands.

Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. (Marchantiales, Aytoniaceae), a species new to the European bryophyte flora

Abstract The liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. is reported for the first time in Europe from Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The species is described and illustrated and its distribution and ecology are discussed. Plagiochasma appendiculatum differsfromP. rupestre (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Steph., the only species of the genus known at present in Europe, by characters such as the bright green or green-yellowish thallus and the orbicular and obtusescale appendages which are markedly constricted and folded at the base.