Asplenium L. (Aspleniaceae) is a large fern genus whose systematics is based mainly in leaf and reproductive characters. In Aspleniaceae, the root anatomy allows delimit the two genera, Asplenium and Hymenasplenium Hayata. Various root subtypes are recognized in Asplenium, according to the layers and number of asplenium sclereids that constitute the inner cortex. In order to assess the potential use

The genus Spondias has a wide variety of sexual systems, with complete monoecious to polygamodioecious species. Spondias macrocarpa (Anacardiaceae) is an endemic species from Brazil, previously described as hermaphroditic, and considered vulnerable due to massive deforestation. However, to our knowledge, no further details on the breeding system or morphological studies are available. Herewith we examine

This article enumerates the anatomy of the leaves, petioles and stems of Ocotea nutans (Lauraceae) illustrated with optical and scanning electron micrographs. The anatomical markers include the presence of sclerenchyma in the midrib and the absence of trichomes in the leaves. The presence of brachysclereids and prismatic crystals in the petioles and stems is new to the genus Ocotea and reported here

Sunlight exposures have resulted in periderm coverages on more than 40 species of tall, long-lived columnar cactus species in the Americas. Periderm coverages start on equatorial surfaces and eventually cover all surfaces. Periderm coverages lead to tissue morbidity and eventual cactus death. After more than 80% of periderm coverage on saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) cacti, the probability of cactus death

Phorophytes are assumed to act as facilitators for epiphytes, but empirical evidence indicates that they also act as amensalists. While few epiphytes can colonize most phorophytes, some epiphytes (such as orchids) appear in few phorophytes and/or have low population sizes, suggesting that are strongly phorophyte-limited. We assume that phorophyte type must determine the structure of the interaction

Variegated leaf plants are a group of plants with stable patterns of differently colored leaf areas. The variously colored patches on the surface of the leaves have important biological functions in plant reproduction and adaptation to the environment. Apart from that, these plants have attracted interest as valuable ornamental plants. In this study, 1710 species with variegated leaves belonging to

Few plants can survive and grow equally well in salty and salt-free substrates (i.e., habitat-indifferent halophytes). Such plants provide a good opportunity to understand physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance. In this study, we investigated the environmental salinity impacts on several physiological and biochemical features of Suaeda vermiculata, a habitat-indifferent

Epiphytes living in the canopy face the problem of being exposed to varying levels of air humidity, temperature and insolation, according to both local climate and growing site conditions. This study addresses interrelationships between a) vertical distribution of Tillandsia species on phorophytes of Ilha-Grande Island in tropical Brazil; b) micrometeorological conditions at the different epiphyte

Mimosa, one of the most species-rich genera in the Leguminosae, exhibits a high diversity of trichomes. These structures are considered crucial to the taxonomy of the genus and are commonly used to delimit infrageneric groups. Barneby (1991) provided an important reference in the understanding of trichomes in Mimosa, but some terminology still needs to be clarified and standardized. The present study

We studied a previously unreported form of mirror-image flowers in Rhabdothamnopsis sinensis (Gesneriaceae) endemic to China. The style in R. sinensis remains straight throughout the blooming period, while the basal part of the floral tube bends either to the left or right side, causing the style to lean towards the right or left side of the floral tube. R. sinensis has two epipetalous fertile stamens

The eophylls (first photosynthetic leaves) of palm trees play crucial roles in seedling establishment, although information concerning their development and ecophysiology remain scarce. This work sought to evaluate eophyll development and the effects of shading on young plants of the neotropical oil palm Attalea vitrivir. Eophyll ontogenesis was characterized, and the effects of shading levels (0,

Members of the bromeliads exhibit a great morphological diversity of reproductive organs. In this study, we comparatively analyzed the ovule and ovary anatomy of 23 species, including all Bromeliaceae subfamilies; additionally, the ancestral character optimization for six traits of the ovule was performed. In species with superior ovaries, the carpel displays a homogeneous mesophyll and species with

The interaction between hemiparasites and their host plants is an important structuring mechanism for plant communities. The mistletoe Struthanthus flexicaulis (Loranthaceae) is widely distributed in the campo rupestre ecosystem and likely has an important role in structuring the communities of which its hosts are part. The main goals of this study were to investigate the effects of parasitism by S

Revisiting biogeographical patterns is the first step towards fully assessing the natural history and conservation of particular lineages, an important effort in species-rich groups from heterogeneous or undercollected areas, such as South American Malvaceae. Here, we compile, synthetize and discuss a manually revisited distribution database built for species of three subfamilies of Malvaceae—Byttnerioideae

Studies of fruit or seed heteromorphism (the presence of two or more fruit or seed morphs within an individual) provide valuable information about the influence of environmental variation on the evolution of reproductive strategies. Such heteromorphisms are more likely to be favoured by selection in annual species, because short-lived plants are in a disadvantaged position to gather information about

Plant species are mostly delimited solely by morphological characteristics, but this method has drawbacks and may result in identification errors. Pollination and ecological speciation studies may serve as additional tools for species delimitation. Sinningia lutea and S. allagophylla are species hitherto considered synonyms, and recent accounts suggest that the taxa present overlapping morphological

Herbaceous perennials in a forest ecosystem play a role in seasonal nutrient cycling. Asarum canadense L. (wild ginger) and Hydrophyllum virginianum L. (Virginia waterleaf) are perennial herbaceous plants with different seasonal growth patterns native to mesic hardwood forests. Both flower early, but A. canadense leaves persist after flowering while H. virginianum senesces and produces a second flush

Palaearctic steppes are among the largest continuous terrestrial natural habitats of the world with high biodiversity at multiple scales. Steppe grasslands and adjacent forest steppes are characteristic landscape elements from Central and Eastern Europe to Northern China across the whole temperate zone of Eurasia with some floristically similar regions in North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran. The origin

In riparian forests, light and water are two important factors for plant acclimation to different environments. We evaluated the effect of different light and irrigation regimes on the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (фPSII), the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and the electron transfer rate (ETR) of Magnolia pugana seedlings that come from wild and cultivated plants

Citronella gongonha is an abundant tree species in flood-prone areas of southern South America. In swamp forests, young and adult individuals of the species are mainly distributed on hummocks. In this study, we address some aspects of the ecology and physiology of C. gongonha that contribute to the knowledge of its distribution in swamp forests. We evaluated seed germination and growth parameters,

Dormancy is a protective survival strategy developed by plants to face chronic, seasonal and severe abiotic stress. In this study, changes in photosynthetic indices were measured during different periods of summer dormancy in the rare and endangered plant Myricaria laxiflora to reveal the adaptation to summer flooding. Results showed that the photosynthetic activity of M. laxiflora remnant populations

High irradiance utilization efficiency is one important character for some invasive plants. Chromolaena odorata is one noxious invasive species originating from Latin America, which had spread widely in most tropical and subtropical areas. To explore why C. odorata perform better than native plants in the understory of planted forests, we compared the irradiance utilization efficiency between invasive

Distylous species possess two floral morphs: S-morph with short styles and long stamens, and L-morph with long styles and short stamens. The reciprocal positioning of anthers and stigmas is hypothesized to promote legitimate (between-morph) pollination. Deviations from reciprocity can negatively affect legitimate pollen deposition. The functioning of reciprocal herkogamy occurs if pollinators collect

Soil nutrient heterogeneity and parasitic plants have been well-documented to affect plant growth. However, their interactive effects on plant communities have not been tested yet. We assembled plant communities consisting of eight grassland species of three functional groups in one homogeneous soil and four heterogeneous soils consisting of high and low nutrient patches. The heterogeneous soils were

Varronia polycephala is a medicinal plant used as a substitute of V. curassavica (the popular “erva baleeira”) in some traditional communities. This paper aims to describe and illustrate the leaf anatomy of V. polycephala. The results show that V. polycephala presents a distinct type of non-glandular trichome in abundance on the abaxial leaf surface, as well as a single type of glandular trichome on

The incidence of UV-B radiance on the surface of the earth has been intensifying in the tropics of the southern hemisphere. However, little is known about its effect on tropical trees, especially on sun-tolerant versus shade-tolerant plants. For this study we used two ecotypes of the tropical tree Paubrasilia echinata. These ecotypes diverge among themselves in relation to leaf morphology and ecological

For investigating the capacity for accumulation of heavy metals and their avoidance, a number of parameters were compared in plants of the sand violet (Viola rupestris) growing on a heavy metal heap and on a non-contaminated reference site, both rich in limestone. The plants collected from both sites showed large differences in the numbers and sizes of reproductive structures and the content of heavy

Mowing is a suitable practice to restore the grassland coenological composition after invasion of tall-grasses. However, how it affects the tall-grass intraspecific variation is still unknown. We investigated if mowing decreases the competitive ability of the tall-grass Brachypodium rupestre, and if this reduction is due to its poor ability to adapt to the new conditions by reducing resource investment

The relationship between photosynthesis performance under drought stress and osmotic and elastic adjustments has yielded contrasting results so far, despite the potential role of water relations in turgor maintenance and stomatal functioning. Photosynthesis and pressure-volume derived parameters were investigated in Arbutus unedo old and young leaves after two months of limited water availability.

Perennial plants have a greater reliance on internal cycling of nitrogen and are less influenced by external fluctuations of soil fertility than annuals. Despite their importance, the major mechanisms in which annuals and perennials differ in the way they couple nitrogen conservation strategies to imbalances in carbon economy are not fully understood. We characterized the functional mechanism by which

Although ferns are an important group for understanding leaf evolution, their developmental processes are still few understood. To better understand the organization of meristems and ontogeny of leaves in ferns, we studied their development in Elaphoglossum vagans (Mett.) Hieron., Lastreopsis amplissima (C. Presl) Tindale, Lomariopsis marginata (Schrad.) Kuhn, Mickelia scandens (Aubl.) R.C. Moran et

The species from the tribe Stipeae Dumort. dominate Eurasian grasslands including Anatolian steppes. In Turkey, the genera of the Stipeae show distinct patterns of regional distribution, leading to a combination of dispersal and adaptive radiation. However, the importance of climatic gradients to regional distribution of these genera of the Stipeae has not yet been examined, and the aim of our study

Endopolyploidy, a condition where the nuclear ploidy level of various cells and tissues of an organism increases, is present in diverse plant species. Endopolyploidy contributes to cell enlargement, increases gene expression, and accelerates growth, hence it is associated with cell differentiation, development, and physiology of plants. However, the occurrence of this phenomenon in plants and the diversity

The Ceratozamia miqueliana species complex consists of six closely related species that exhibit similar gross morphology, but a wide range of leaflet shape from widely obovate in C. euryphyllidia and C. hondurensis to oblanceolate in C. zoquorum. However, despite the clear leaflet size variation, the taxon delimitation within the complex has been suggested to be uncertain when considering other traits

Erioderma pedicellatum, an enigmatic boreal cyanolichen epiphyte is sympatric with the widespread pantropical cyanolichen Coccocarpia palmicola in cool and damp forests in Atlantic parts of Canada. After sampling co-occurring specimens of these lichens in Newfoundland, we quantified important hydration traits. We hypothesized that 1: these lichens restricted to wet forests have higher internal water

Using essential oils (EOs) to suppress unwanted species at the seedling stage is a promising way to decrease the use of synthetic herbicides and thus protect native plant diversity. We verified the effects of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) EOs at different concentrations on the growth and mortality of seedlings of the invasive alien species Acacia saligna derived from seeds collected at four wild populations

Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) C. V. Morton exhibits dimorphism between sterile and fertile fronds when fully matured. To assess the frond fertility patterns in this species, the frond size and the shape and degree of fertile fronds were measured in individuals growing in disturbed wetlands in Hokkaido, northern Japan, between late summer and early autumn in 2017 and 2018. This species often establishes

Urban natural green spaces are becoming increasingly impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, promoting alien plant invasions. Using a rapidly developing city in South Africa as a case study, we related distribution, composition, and ordering of alien plant species to environmental and anthropogenic factors to identify drivers of invasiveness. Vegetation surveys were used to identify and quantify (in

Vascular cambial variants have evolved many times in the evolutionary history of seed plants, and different types have been described which are more frequent in lianas than in trees. Many species showing cambial variants have also flattened stems, although this stem conformation can be achieved through diverse anatomical ontogenies including a single cambium. Considering the variation in the origin

The palm Syagrus coronata plays an important ecological role in the caatinga ecosystems and is a source of income and livelihood for rural communities in semiarid northeastern Brazil. Despite its ecological and socioeconomic importance, little is known about the environmental factors determining its geographic distribution. The main goals of this study were to investigate the influence of climatic

Leaves are the main photosynthetic organs of plants. There is almost an infinite variety of leaf shapes and venations. The purpose of the current study was to determine if leaf areas, leaf veins and xylem conductivities are well scaled among primary, secondary and tertiary tiers in leaves with percurrent leaf venation for 32 species. Data from both fully-expanded leaves and leaves that underwent expansion

Variations in leaf traits at anatomical, morphological and physiological level were assessed in Acer campestre L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. plants in a forest understory-gap-edge light gradient inside a broadleaf deciduous forest. The relative changes of the considered parameters monitored in the two species were compared in terms of intraspecific plasticity. Overall, both species were able to acclimatize

In 2019 Brazil recorded the highest wildland fire occurrence South America has seen for the last 15 years. Added to the Amazon, the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) faces changes in fire regimes. Climatic changes and the recent weakening of environmental law enforcement are factors, but historic and large-scale trends and drivers of fire regimes must be analyzed. We discuss ecological and policy drivers

Rubiaceae is one of the richest botanical families in the Atlantic Forest, which is considered one of its main dispersion centers and where it is has high endemism. The present study aims to compare leaf anatomy and micromorphology, and to establish diagnostic characters to delimit hierarchical groupings for 17 species of different Rubiaceae taxa. For evaluation of leaf anatomy, plant material was

G-fibers have been widely studied in tension wood, but few studies are available on aerial and underground organs of shrub and subshrub, specially comparing those organs of the same plant. The goal of this study is to compare the general pattern of G-fibers distribution, and the structure and histochemistry of G-fibers walls between aerial and underground organs in 19 Eriosema taxa occurring in the

Berberis mikuna is a spontaneous shrub grown in the Tucuman-Bolivian subtropical jungle area and its fruits were highly prized as food by diaguitas and calchaquies who were local populations. Fruits are rich in phenolic compounds which would be responsible for the beneficial properties for health. Pollen preservation in gene banks should be implemented as standard procedures since pollen is a useful

The Amazon forest’s main protection against fire is its capacity to create a moist understory microclimate. Roads, deforestation, droughts, and climate change have made this natural firebreak less effective. The southern Amazon, in particular, has become more flammable and vulnerable to wildfires during recent droughts. The drought of 1997/98 first showed that fires could escape from agricultural fields

Fire can be extremely harmful to sensitive ecosystems such as rainforests while maintaining the structure and composition of savanna environments. That is because historically, rainforest species have not been subjected to recurring fires requiring physiological and structural survival adaptations. In savannas, in turn, fire is a natural component that has shaped the species evolution for thousands

Fire has been a natural force modulating the vegetation of the Brazilian Cerrado since long before the first humans arrived in this region about 12 thousand years BP. Cerrado plants are, therefore, adapted to fire and some of them depend on fire to maintain their reproduction and survival. However, after the use of fire as a tool to destroy vast extents of forests in the last centuries, Brazilians

In the recent past, wildfires have received much attention both by science and by the media, especially in relation to deforestation, degradation and climate change and when affecting fire-sensitive ecosystems. On the other hand, fire is a natural process in many ecosystems, in particular those to be considered fire-dependent; here, maintaining natural fire regimes is important to maintain biodiversity

Much distortion about the real role of fire in different ecosystems exists, mostly because fire events attract media attention, usually focusing on the negative aspects of fire. In the perception of the general public, fire events are usually linked to disasters that affect humans in several ways, from losses of lives to negative effects on human well-being. However, while some ecosystems are fire-sensitive

Water availability during seed germination and seedling development is critical to plant development and establishment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of four water potentials (ΨW) (−0.03, −0.48, −1.19 and −2.04 MPa) on seed germination, seedling root growth and root membrane stability of Agave lechuguilla Torr. and A. salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck. to explain the paradoxical situation

The genus Schivereckia (Brassicaceae) – presently included in the genus Draba – comprises two species, S. podolica and S. doerfleri. Schivereckia podolica is an eastern European species with disjunct distribution in Russia, Ukraine, and Podolian-Galician outposts. Schivereckia doerfleri is reported from alpine fields of the Balkan Peninsula and from mountain chains of northern Anatolia, Turkey. Schivereckia

Hawkmoth-pollinated plant species with white, long-tubed flowers have attracted the attention of scientists for a long time. However, most studies on these flowers have investigated their pollination biology, with only a few focusing on their anatomy. In this study, we conducted a detailed structural analysis of the long-tubed white flowers of Tanaecium jaroba Sw., a species from the “trumpet-creeper”

Recent research has shown that the intraspecific variability of plant competitor–stress tolerator–ruderal (CSR) functional strategy can represent an adaptive response to climate. This research analysed the CSR strategy of Campanula elatinoides Moretti and the shape of its leaf blades at an intraspecific level. Results were related to the environmental characteristics of the various sampling areas in