M. Dolores Lledó

When in doubt, put it in Flacourtiaceae: a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on plastid rbcL DNA sequences

Summary. Circumscription of Flacourtiaceae was investigated with a phylogenetic analysis of plastid rbcL DNA sequences, and the family was found to be composed of two clades that are more closely related to other families in Malpighiales than to each other. In one of these, that containing the type genus Flacourtia, Salicaceae are embedded, whereas the other clade includes the members of the peculiar and poorly known South African Achariaceae. The latter family name is conserved against all listed synonyms. Thus we propose the recognition of two families: i) Salicaceae sensu lato, including tribes Banareae, Bembicieae, Scolopieae, Samydeae (syn. Casearieae), Homalieae, Flacourtieae, Prockieae and Saliceae, as well as Abatieae (by some authors of Passifloraceae) and Scyphostegieae (Scyphostegia of the monogeneric Scyphostegiaceae); and ii) Achariaceae sensu lato, including tribes Pangieae, Lindackerieae, Erythrospermeae and Acharieae (Acharia, Ceratiosicyos and Guthriea of Achariaceae). Several genera considered by many previous authors to be members of Flacourtiaceae are excluded from Malpighiales: Berberidopsis and Aphloia fall near the base of the higher eudicots. Several tribes require different names from those used in previous systems, and we include an appendix indicating a tentative revised tribal taxonomy for both Salicaceae and Achariaceae sensu lato.

Molecular phylogenetics of Limonium and related genera (Plumbaginaceae): biogeographical and systematic implications

Phylogenetic relationships within Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) are evaluated using sequence data from three plastid regions (rbcL, the trnL intron, and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer). Sixty-six species representing the major genera of Staticoideae, including representatives of all sections and genera formerly included in Limonium, have been analyzed using four species of Plumbaginoideae as an outgroup. Analyses of each separate and combined data set yield similar results. Afrolimon is embedded in Limonium and related to L. vulgare, the type of Limonium. Limonium is split into two major clades corresponding to subgenera, but otherwise the current infrageneric classification proved to be artificial. Some groups restricted to particular areas can be recognized, and their synapomorphies are discussed. The presence of an isolated taxon in the Canary Islands is used as a calibration point for age estimates of the major events in the genus, including migrations to the Southern Hemisphere, the Canary Islands, and Asia. The rapid radiation of Limonium in the Mediterranean basin appears to coincide with the desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea in the Messinian (late Miocene).

FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS OF RHABDODENDRON (RHABDODENDRACEAE) : PLASTID RBCL SEQUENCES INDICATE A CARYOPHYLLID PLACEMENT

Rhabdodendron is the sole genus in Rhabdodendraceae and affinities have been suggested with Chrysobalanaceae, Rutaceae and Phytolaccaceae. Analysis of rbcL sequence data indicates a placement within Caryophyllidae sensu Chase, Soltis, Olmstead et al. 1993, but without a particularly close relationship to any of the other families. On this basis we support the familial rank Rhabdodendraceae and place it in Caryophyllidae, without reference to a particular order. The molecular results are discussed in the light of the morphological, anatomical and biochemical characters of Rhabdodendron.

From the waters of Babylon? Populus euphratica in Spain is clonal and probably introduced

Populus euphratica from the only known population in Spain was studied using genetic fingerprinting (AFLPs) to evaluate the level of genetic variation in the population. Three primer combinations were used, giving 132 interpretable bands. Using this technique we were unable to detect any genetic variation between individuals tested, and the population appears to be clonal in origin. The results are discussed in relation to the likely history of the population and its conservation.

Myriolepis, a new genus segregated from Limonium (Plumbaginaceae)

Taxonomic features of Limonium subg. Myriolepis are reviewed and compared with those of other taxa in Plumbaginaceae. The new genus Myriolepis is proposed on the basis of morphological, karyological and phytochemical characters to include two western M editerranean species of Limonium sect. Myriolepis: L. ferulaceum and L. diffusum . Remaining taxa belonging to L. subg. M yriolepis (those in L. sects. Siphonantha and Polyarthrion ) are recognised as sections in L. subg. Limonium. Affinities to other taxa of Limonium, sometimes suggested as related to M yriolepis, are also discussed.

Myriolimon, a new name for the recently published Myriolepis (Plumbaginaceae)

The genus Myriolepis (Plumbaginaceae) was recently proposed (Lledo & al., 2003) for two species formerly included in Limonium subgenus Myriolepis (Boiss.) Pignatti: M. ferulacea (L.) Lledo, Erben & M. B. Crespo and M. diffusa (Pourr.) Lledo, Erben & M. B. Crespo. These two taxa were originally placed by Boissier (1848) in their own section of the former genus Statice (nom. rej. vs. Armeria; Greuter & al., 2000: 268), S. sect. Myriolepis Boiss., and subsequently combined under Limonium sect. Myriolepis (Boiss.) Sauvage & Vindt. This section was thought to be related to other sections of Boissier’s “Corolla gamopetala” group, and accordingly, Pignatti created L. subgenus Myriolepis (Boiss.) Pignatti to include three gamopetalous sections (L. sects. Myriolepis, Siphonantha (Boiss.) Sauvage & Vindt and Polyarthrion (Boiss.) Sauvage & Vindt). Morphological, karyological and phytochemical characters have proved this subgenus to be heterogeneous (Lledo & al., 2003) and L. sect. Myriolepis (sensu stricto) not to be related to the rest of Limonium. The name Myriolepis, meaning “with numerous