The species Oldenlandia bahiana (Rubiaceae), endemic to Brazil, is described using an integrative approach combining morphology, ecology, and micromorphology. Distinct from O. filicaulis, it highlights hidden diversity and the remarkable endemism of rupestrian grasslands.
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Posts by Plant Ecology and Evolution
New work on Tradescantia subg. Campelia brings order to one of the most complex groups in the genus: a four-section classification and a revised T. sect. Rhoeo. This integrative study provides a foundation for clearer identification and future research.
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In Arisaema serratum from Japan, sex isn’t just about size. Light availability can override size-dependent sex expression, while genomic analyses reveal hybridization with sympatric species, highlighting the role of ecological flexibility in adaptation and range expansion.
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Three new species of Cladoceras and Rutidea (Rubiaceae - Pavetteae) discovered in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea during work on the Flore du Gabon. Detailed taxonomy, field observations, and IUCN assessments highlight their distinct traits.
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Insights into domestication of Amaranthus cruentus: by comparing cultivated plants with wild ancestors, key traits distinguish wild and domesticated forms. Variation across regions suggests Mexican populations show a higher level of domestication than those from Guatemala.
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Gustavia santanderiensis from Colombia’s Magdalena Valley is redescribed from herbarium and field data: its taxonomy clarified, striking flower colour variation revealed, distribution restricted, and ecological niche modelled, showing the species is an endangered endemic.
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In common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) the ability to compensate for leaf damage varies across geography. Populations from colder climates grow larger but recover less from damage, suggesting that climate-driven differences in phenology shape how plants tolerate herbivory.
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This study presents an integrative, worldwide infrageneric classification of Lejeunea, one of the most species-rich liverwort genera with ~375 species. Two subgenera and 15 sections are recovered by combining morphology with molecular phylogenetics.
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New genomic insights into the invasion of Ulex europaeus in the Northern Andes: high genetic diversity, restricted gene flow, and evidence for multiple introduction events shaping its spread across high-mountain ecosystems in Colombia.
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A botanical surprise in Belgium: a completely new Medicago species emerges after a flood. Medicago peregrina sp. nov. appears to be a stowaway from historical wool trade, showing how centuries-old human activities can still shape today’s flora.
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This study presents a comprehensive palynological study of Zornia (Fabaceae) and found that the genus is stenopalynous, with thickness of nexine as a synapomorphy. The stenopalynous nature is confirmed by the numerous homoplasies.
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New research on Zamia loddigesii reveals how vegetative and reproductive phenology varies across its wide range in Mexico. Reproduction is highly synchronized within populations but shifts geographically, driven by temperature.
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How does a plant species swarm coexist on an isolated mountain in northern Madagascar? Studying the Malagasy olive Noronhia on Montagne d’Ambre shows that environmental filtering and niche partitioning together shape community assembly across elevations.
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The authors studied the pollination biology of Aristolochia sessilifolia and found that effective pollination depends on a match between floral dimensions and fly body size. Trap flowers, tiny flies, and a high fruit set reveal just how specific these interactions are.
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A new plant species has been described from Cameroon: Phragmanthera bidaultii (Loranthaceae), discovered along the Sanaga River. Found in threatened riverine forests, it has unique floral traits and a very restricted range, and is assessed as Endangered.
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A new orchid species was hiding in plain sight. Habenaria adamantina, discovered in the Espinhaço range of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described using morphological and DNA evidence, alongside a major update of the Habenaria checklist for Grão Mogol.
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This study present taxonomic updates in Adenocalymma (Bignoniaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including a revised circumscription of A. acutissimum and the description of a new species, A. darwinii.
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This new study reveals that two Neotropical Malaxis orchids rely on cross-pollination by specialist fungus gnats. Both produce nectar and are self-incompatible, yet show high pollination efficiency, with M. excavata achieving notably higher fruiting success.
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Myrcianthes spans a large ecological and geographic range, with late diversification, southern origins, and two major clades across the Americas. New insights into its biogeography and wood anatomy highlight a complex evolutionary history across lowlands and highlands.
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New analyses of the neotropical palm Chamaedorea elatior (Arecaceae) show that its solitary and cespitose forms differ clearly in leaf morphology, consistently separating into two groups across multiple statistical tests. This suggests they may represent distinct species.
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This phylogenetic study of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae) reveals that its current classification does not reflect true evolutionary relationships. It originated in East African and Malagasy rainforests about 43 mya and adapted repeatedly to Africa’s shifting dry biomes.
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New field data clarify the diversity of Pulsatilla in Kosovo, confirming five taxa and reporting the first records of P. halleri subsp. rhodopaea and P. vernalis. Misidentifications are corrected and threatened taxa are identified in the Balkans.
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Species distribution models predict Lippia turbinata and Salimenaea integrifolia (Verbenaceae) could expand their ranges by 2070 while Lippia alba may lose habitat. Contrasting responses show the need for species-specific conservation strategies to protect plant resources.
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A new orchid, Telipogon villonacoensis, is described from the Andes. Once thought restricted to southern Ecuador, it is now known from Colombia to Peru, which is an unusually wide range for the genus. This discovery sheds light on the hidden diversity of miniature orchids.
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A new species of carnivorous plant, Pinguicula panfetiae, has been described from eastern Cuba. Endemic to the slopes of the River Toa in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, it differs from related species by its smaller white flowers and leaf shape.
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This taxonomic study of the genus Tragia (Euphorbiaceae) in Gabon recognizes 6 species in the country, including 2 newly described species, T. flagellata and T. sericea. The work also reports two species as new records for Gabon and provides updated identification tools.
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A new set of 48 nuclear microsatellite markers (14 polymorphic) was developed for Cola acuminata, an important African food tree. Results indicate high genetic diversity, and the markers also proved transferable to C. nitida.
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Hedgerows play a crucial ecological role in maintaining connectivity in the fragmented Atlantic Forest. This study showed hedgerows matched forest fragments in seed rain and litter, with even greater fruit richness, highlighting their role in biodiversity conservation.
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The allohexaploid genus Campeiostachys (StYH) originated from natural hybridization between tetraploid Roegneria (StY) and diploid Hordeum (H), with Roegneria as the maternal donor. The study also shows that C. purpuraristata belongs in the C. dahurica complex.
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Wild Vigna marina shows remarkable salt tolerance, surviving up to 20,000 ppm NaCl, outperforming commercial Vigna radiata varieties. Populations differ widely, making their conservation crucial for breeding salt-tolerant crops in a changing climate.
➡️ doi.org/10.5091/plec...