Michael Nee

Solanaceae--a model for linking genomics with biodiversity.

Recent progress in understanding the phylogeny of the economically important plant family Solanaceae makes this an ideal time to develop models for linking the new data on plant genomics with the huge diversity of naturally occurring species in the family. Phylogenetics provides the framework with which to investigate these linkages but, critically, good species-level descriptive resources for the Solanaceae community are currently missing. Phylogeny in the family as a whole is briefly reviewed, and the new NSF Planetary Biodiversity Inventories project ‘PBI: Solanum—a worldwide treatment’ is described. The aims of this project are to provide species-level information across the global scope of the genus Solanum and to make this available over the Internet. The project is in its infancy, but will make available nomenclatural information, descriptions, keys and illustrative material for all of the approximately 1500 species of Solanum. With this project, the opportunity of linking valid, up-to-date taxonomic information about wild species of Solanum with the genomic information being generated about the economically important species of the genus (potato, tomato and eggplant) can be realized. The phylogenetic framework in which the PBI project is set is also of enormous potential benefit to other workers on Solanum. The community of biologists working with Solanaceae has a unique opportunity to effectively link genomics and taxonomy for better understanding of this important family, taking plant biology to a new level for the next century.

Solanaceae III : taxonomy, chemistry, evolution

Proceedings of Third International Conference on Solanaceae with 35 papers on alkaloid chemistry, drug therapy, biotechnology and breeding research.

New species of Solanum and Capsicum (Solanaceae) from Bolivia, with clarification of nomenclature in some Bolivian Solanum

Nine new species ofSolanum and two ofCapsicum are described from Bolivia. Notes are provided on some other species, including the complex typification ofSolanum aridum.Capsicum caballeroi, C. ceratocalyx, Solanum chalmersii, S. clandestinum, S. comarapanum, S. complectens, S. monanthemon, S. moxosense, S. pedemontanum, S. saturatum, andS. whalenii are described and illustrated, and a new name,S. scuticum, is proposed for the species previously known asS. tabacifolium.

Jaltomata I: circumscription, description, and new combinations for five South American species (Solaneae, Solanaceae)

The genusJaltomata (includingHebecladus) is described. FiveHebecladus species are transferred toJaltomata.Jaltomata viridiflora is widespread, from western Venezuela through Ecuador;J. bicolor andJ. propinqua occur in central Peru;J. umbellata of the Loma Formation of the Department Lima, Peru is rare;J. ventricosa is known only from the vicinity of La Libertad, Otuzco, Peru. All are montane except forJ. umbellata. Included are short descriptions and illustrations.ResumenEl géneroJaltomata (incluyendoHebecladus) se describe en este trabajo. Cinco especies deHebecladus son transferidas aJaltomata.Jaltomata viridiflora está difundida extensamente en los Andes desde el oeste de Venezuela hasta el Ecuador;J. bicolor y.J. propinqua, se encuentran en la region central del Perú;J. umbellata de la Formación Loma de Departamento Lima, Perú, es rara;J. ventricosa es conocida solamente en la vecindad de La Libertad, Otuzco, Perú. Las especies tratadas son de montaña, exceptuandoJ. umbellata. Se incluyen descripciones cortas e ilustraciones.

A new species of Sechium sect. Frantzia (Cucurbitaceae, Sicyeae, Sicyinae) from Mexico

Sechium mexicanum is described as a new species ofSechium sect.Frantzia. It differs from the remaining species of the section by several features of the inflorescences and staminate flowers, the obovoid and completely unarmed fruits, and pollen grains with 9–10 narrow, poorly defined colpi. It is endemic to Mexico and the first member of sect.Frantzia to be recorded outside of Central America. It grows at 900–2300 m in mesophilous forests and in oak and pineoak forests in the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, and Veracruz.

The enigmatic genus Wernhamia S. Moore is a synonym of Simira (Rubiaceae, Rondeletieae)

Because of its incomplete original description, the monotypic genusWernhamia has long been considered a dubious taxon. Recent Bolivian collections by the junior author and other collections from Peru have revealed the identity ofWernhamia boliviensis; it is synonymous withSimira macrocrater, andWernhamia is therefore congeneric withSimira. A complete description, illustration, and distribution map of this species are provided.

Randia retroflexa (Rubiaceae), a new species from Southern Mexico

A new species of Rubiaceae,Randia retroflexa, is described and illustrated from Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas in southern Mexico. An armed canopy vine of lowland and lower montane tropical evergreen forest, it is distinguished by its paired reflexed spines and hirsute pubescence. Its distribution, habitat, and specimen citations are given and affinities are discussed.

A new species of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum (Solanaceae) from northeastern Brazil

Solanum jabrense is apparently rare, and is only known from few collections in the Pico do Jabre of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. It is illustrated and its affinities with the informalErythrotrichum group are discussed.

A new species of Acanthosyris (Santalaceae) from Bolivia and a key to the woody South American Santalaceae

Acanthosyris asipapote, a new species from the vicinity of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is described and illustrated. It is most similar to A. paulo-alvinii Barroso, known only from the state of Bahia, Brazil, but differs by leaf characters, pilose filaments, and smaller seeds. A key to the five woody genera and nine species of Santalaceae in South America is provided. Cervantesia, Jodina, and Myoschilos are probably monotypic; Santalum (in South America) has a single species, and Acanthosyris has five species.

A Revision of Solanum Section Aculeigerum (the Solanum wendlandii Group, Solanaceae)

Abstract Solanum section Aculeigerum (the Solanum wendlandii group, Solanaceae) comprises eight species ranging from Mexico and Central America to Ecuador and Peru with one species in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. One species, Solanum wendlandii, is commonly cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, and one new species from southern Mexico, Solanum triunfense, is described here. Members of Solanum section Aculeigerum are differentiated from other sections of Solanum by a combination of plurifoliate sympodial units, branched inflorescences, presence of prickles coupled with absence of stellate trichomes, and a vine-like habit. Unlike most other prickly species of Solanum, which are placed into Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum, they lack stellate hairs, and phylogenetic studies suggest that the section is one of several potential sister groups for the spiny solanums. A key, descriptions, habitat and distribution data, preliminary conservation assessments, specimens examined and illustrations are provided for all species in Solanum section Aculeigerum. Lectotypes are designated for the following five names: S. aculeolatum M. Martens & Galeotti, S. mazatenangense Coult. & Donn. Sm., S. molinarum J. L. Gentry, S. pachyandrum Bitter, and S. sagranum A. Rich., and neotypes are designated for S. glaucescens Zucc. and S. wendlandii Hook. f.