Luiza Sumiko Kinoshita

Climate, soil and tree flora relationships in forests in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brasil

ABSTRACT - (Climate, soil and tree flora relationships in forests in the state of Sao Paulo, southteastern Brasil). With the aim of verifying possible influences of abiotic features on the spatial distribution of forest tree species and families, thirteen surveys in the state of Sao Paulo were selected, representing different conditions (localization at the extreme coordenates and altitudes, succesional stages, surveying methods). By applying Jaccards Index to the binary matrices of 806 synonymized specific binomina and 79 families (Cronquists system) phenograms were constructed using the method of the unweighted pair grouping by mathematical average (UPGMA). The species formed two floristic blocks: hygrophyllous (yearly rainfall greater than 2000 mm without dry season) and mesophyllous (yearly rainfall about 1400 mm with variable dry season). The latter was divided in two other groups: the high-altitudinal (median altitudes higher than 750 m, frost average frequency greater than 3 days/year) and low-altitudinal. Both mesophyllous floristic blocks were subdivided according to soil conditions (texture, eutrophism, acid or allic dystrophism, iron content). At the family level the relations were weak, but also showed the soil nutritional status as a possible constraint to the spatial partition of families.

IS MANDEVILLA (APOCYNACEAE, MESECHITEAE) MONOPHYLETIC? EVIDENCE FROM FIVE PLASTID DNA LOCI AND MORPHOLOGY1

Abstract In order to test the monophyly of Mandevilla Lindl., the largest genus in tribe Mesechiteae (Apocynaceae, Apocynoideae), and its affinities to other genera in the tribe, maximum parsimony analysis was conducted on a data set comprising DNA sequences from five plastid loci (rpl16, rps16, and trnK introns; trnSGCU-trnGUUC intergenic spacer; and matK gene), as well as morphological data for 65 taxa of Mesechiteae (48, Mandevilla) and nine taxa from other tribes of the subfamily. Mandevilla, as circumscribed by Pichon, was found to be monophyletic, whereas Woodsons circumscription proved to be polyphyletic. Thus defined, Mandevilla forms a strongly supported clade that can be divided into six clades of species groups. Most of the infrageneric taxa of Mandevilla proposed by Woodson and Pichon are polyphyletic. Many of the diagnostic characters previously used to define taxonomic groups are shown to have arisen multiple times, rendering them unsuitable for classificatory purposes. The similar growth form and tubular flowers of Macrosiphonia Müll. Arg. and Telosiphonia (Woodson) Henr., two geographically disjunct segregates, represent the most extreme case of parallel evolution within Mandevilla, with their striking similarities most likely correlated to colonization of open, dry habitats and pollination by hawkmoths.

Tribal and intergeneric relationships of Mesechiteae (Apocynoideae, Apocynaceae): evidence from three noncoding plastid DNA regions and morphology

The Neotropical tribe Mesechiteae (Apocynaceae) is currently considered to include nine genera: Allomarkgrafia, Galactophora, Macrosiphonia, Mandevilla, Mesechites, Quiotania, Secondatia, Telosiphonia, and Tintinnabularia. Tribal and intergeneric relationships, however, are in dispute. To test the monophyly of the tribe and evaluate intratribal relationships, a maximum parsimony analysis was conducted based on DNA sequences from the plastid rpl16 intron, rps16 intron, and trnS-G intergenic spacer region as well as morphological data for 23 taxa of Mesechiteae and 11 taxa from other tribes of Apocynoideae. Mesechiteae, as currently circumscribed, was found to be polyphyletic. Only removal of Secondatia and Galactophora and inclusion of Forsteronia rendered the tribe monophyletic. Thus defined, Mesechiteae forms a strongly supported clade including seven genera in three subclades: the Mesechites subclade (comprising Tintinnabularia, Allomarkgrafia, and Mesechites), the Forsteronia subclade (containing only Forsteronia) and the Mandevilla subclade (comprising Macrosiphonia, Mandevilla, and Telosiphonia). Allomarkgrafia is nested in Mesechites. Macrosiphonia and Telosiphonia form two distinct monophyletic clades. Both, however, are nested in Mandevilla. Results suggest upholding the following genera in Mesechiteae: Allomarkgrafia, Forsteronia, Mandevilla, Mesechites, and Tintinnabularia. The status of Quiotania could not be evaluated.

Checklist das Spermatophyta do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The Phanerogamic Flora of Sao Paulo State project has been dedicated to create an inventory of the flora for 20 years. More than 200 collaborators are involved, mostly from the State of Sao Paulo, with the contributions of researchers from other states and from abroad. Since 2001, seven books with monographs of 151 families were published, dealing with 3,237 species within 722 genera. This project was the starting-point of the gathering of information about the diversity of spermatophytes of the State of Sao Paulo. The current checklist, at this point, presents an updated and virtually complete list of species, all certified by specialists. It also contains references to scientific collections for most of the taxa (vouchers) or to bibliography referring to the natural or subspontaneous occurrence of the species in the State. The list now contains 7,305 species distributed in 1,776 genera and in 197 spermatophyte families (according to Cronquist 1981) or 195 (according to APG III). 23% of the 31,728 species of spermatophytes listed in the Flora of Brazil occur in Sao Paulo State. The most representative families are Orchidaceae (797 species), Asteraceae (676 species), Fabaceae (513 species), Poaceae (500 species), Myrtaceae (304), Rubiaceae (265 species) and Melastomataceae (253 species), which, altogether, accumulate 3,308 species and constitute 45% of total species of spermatophytes in the state. The wealth of the Brazilian plant diversity, partially expressed in Sao Paulo, shows how important is the continuity of floristic studies in a country that is very likely to hold the largest plant diversity in the planet.

Laticíferos articulados anastomosados: novos registros para Apocynaceae

Laticifer presence is universal in Apocynaceae, in the classic literature the type described for this family is the non-articulated. Later researches have proved the occurrence of articulated laticifers only in four species, giving rise to controversies on their origin. The results obtained in our studies differ from those reported for most species of this family. In both Aspidosperma australe Mull. Arg. (Rauvolfioideae) and Blepharodon bicuspidatum Fourn. (Asclepiadoideae), the laticifers are of the articulated anastomosing type because they are formed by adding cells with rapidly dissolving transverse walls. Laticifers originate from ground meristem and/or procambium and form a branched system, they are in secretory phase since the early stages of formation in different organs, releasing latex only when the plant is damaged. The laticifer walls are exclusively pectic-cellulosic and their chemical characteristics probably change during their development. Vegetative organ laticifers occur in all stem and leaf tissues, except epidermis and medullary parenchyma of A. australe. In the flower, laticifers are found in all floral organs, except in the medullary parenchyma of the pedicel of A. australe and in the ovules of both species. The presence of the same type of laticifer in these two genera, which represent the most divergent subfamilies within the Apocynaceae corroborates the current circumscription of this family. The latex has protective function, allowing the species of this family to succeed in different environments.

Composição florística e síndromes de polinização e de dispersão da mata do Sítio São Francisco, Campinas, SP, Brasil

A floristic survey of the seasonal semi-deciduous forest located in the Sitio Sao Francisco was undertaken, together with studies of pollination and dispersion syndromes of the species. A total of 46 families, 116 genera and 148 species (50 trees, 35 lianas, 26 shrubs and 37 herbs) was found. The richest families in number of arboreal species were Euphorbiaceae (8), Fabaceae (7), Meliaceae (6) and Rutaceae (5). The lianas were distributed mainly in the following families: Bignoniaceae (13), Sapindaceae (5) and Malpighiaceae (3), while in the herbaceous plants, the richest families were Poaceae (8) and Asteraceae (5), and among the shrubs were Piperaceae (7) and Rubiaceae (5). The most frequent pollination and dispersion syndromes were respectively, melittophily (73%) and zoochory (63%), both predominating in the sub-arboreal stratum. More than one type of pollination syndrome was observed in some species. Comparing data from this study with seven surveys carried out in the municipality of Campinas, Sitio Sao Francisco forest showed an intermediate position between the hygrophilous formations and the seasonal semi-deciduous forests as well as the occurrence of some exclusive arboreal and lianas species.

New Combinations in Mandevilla Lindley (Apocynaceae)

ABSTRACT Historically, taxonomic delimitation of Mandevilla Lindley, a large Neotropical genus of Apocynaceae, has been controversial. Two competing classifications were proposed by Woodson (1933) and Pichon (1948), the former now being widely accepted by taxonomists in the family. Recent phylogenetic studies, however, support the monophyly of Mandevilla sensu Pichon rather than sensu Woodson, the latter being paraphyletic with respect to Quiotania Zarucchi, Macrosiphonia Müller Argoviensis, and Telosiphonia (Woodson) Henrickson. Based on the principle of monophyly, we here re-establish Pichons classification and include Quiotania, Macrosiphonia, and Telosiphonia as synonyms of Mandevilla. Three new combinations are made here: Mandevilla hesperia (I. M. Johnston) A. O. Simões, L. S. Kinoshita-Gouvêa & M. E. Endress, M. nacalpulensis (Felger & Henrickson) A. O. Simões, L. S. Kinoshita-Gouvêa & M. E. Endress, and M. undulata (C. Ezcurra) A. O. Simões, L. S. Kinoshita-Gouvêa & M. E. Endress; Q. colombiana Zarucchi is newly synonymized with M. ligustriflora Woodson; and a lectotype is designated for M. martii (Müller Argoviensis) Pichon.

Eight New Species of Mandevilla Lindley (Apocynaceae, Apocynoideae) from Brazil

ABSTRACT Eight new species of Mandevilla Lindley are described and illustrated. The new species, six of them rare and endemic, occur in eastern Brazil. Three of the new species (M. fistulosa, M. grazielae, and M. harleyi) are shrubs growing on the upper slopes of granitic inselbergs in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. Two species, M. semirii and M. rubra, are woody lianas growing on rock outcrops of quartzite in campo rupestre vegetation of Minas Gerais. Mandevilla hatschbachii, a distinctive shrub known only from three collections, occurs in the campo rupestre formations in eastern Brazil in Bahia. Mandevilla guanabarica, a suffrutescent liana generally misidentified as M. funiformis (Vellozo) K. Schumman, is found at the borders of the Atlantic rainforest in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Mandevilla dardanoi is a small shrub endemic to Maciço da Borborema, in northeastern Brazil.

Indole alkaloids from Rauvolfia bahiensis A.DC. (Apocynaceae).

Four indole alkaloids, 12-methoxy-N(a)-methyl-vellosimine, demethoxypurpeline, 12-methoxyaffinisine, and 12-methoxy-vellosimine, in addition to picrinine, vinorine, raucaffrinoline, normacusine B, norseredamine, seredamine, 10-methoxynormacusine B, norpurpeline and purpeline, were isolated from the bark or leaf extracts of Rauvolfia bahiensis.

As Apocynaceae s. str. da região de Bauru, São Paulo, Brasil

The present study describes a survey of the Apocynaceae in different types of vegetation, in the region of Bauru, in the Center-West of Sao Paulo State. Of the 25 species encountered, distributed into 15 genera, representation ranges as follows: Forsteronia G. Mey, five species; Aspidosperma Mart., four species; Mandevilla Lindl., three species; Prestonia R. Br., two species; and Condylocarpon Desf., Hancornia Gomez, Himatanthus Willd. ex Roem. et Schult., Macrosiphonia Mull. Arg., Mesechites Mull. Arg., Odontadenia Benth, Peltastes Woodson, Rhodocalyx Mull Arg., Secondatia A. DC., Tabernaemontana L. and Temnadenia Miers, one species each. In addition to both distribution data, and flowering and fruiting times, identifications keys, descriptions and illustrations of the species are presented.