Phylogenetics of Leptocereus (Cactaceae) on Hispaniola: clarifying species limits in the L. weingartianus complex and a new species from the Sierra de Bahoruco

The Antillean genus Leptocereus represents an in-situ radiation among the Greater and Lesser Antilles of 19 currently recognized species. Extensive fieldwork carried out in the Dominican Republic over recent years has revealed that the species limits of Leptocereus of Hispaniola are more complex than previously thought. There are four currently recognized species that occur on the island, L. demissus, L. paniculatus, L. undulosus and L. weingartianus. We evaluate species limits in this group based on DNA sequence data and phylogenetic analysis, morphological characters and a survey of herbarium specimens from across Hispaniola. Based on our analyses, it is clear that at least five species occur on the island of Hispaniola, with the new species from Sierra de Bahoruco, L. velozianus, described here. We provide an identification key, distribution maps and photographic plates for all species on Hispaniola based on our own fieldwork and the study of herbarium specimens. The description of yet another species of Leptocereus on Hispaniola reiterates the importance of the poorly studied, but yet biodiverse, seasonally dry tropical forest in the Antilles

Farmacopea vegetal caribeña

En la presente edición, producto del trabajo colectivo del programa, han sido sometidos a la metodología de validación científica TRAMIL, 399 usos significativos de partes de 130 especies reportadas en 11.004 encuestas etnofarmacológicas, llevadas a cabo en 64 comunidades incluyendo la mayor parte de los países de la cuenca del Caribe. De los usos sometidos a validación, 393 han sido clasificados en la categoría REC y 6 en TOX. Además, se han realizado 529 ensayos de laboratorio: fitoquímicos (49), de actividad biológica (213) y evaluación de toxicidad (267). Más del 90% de estos ensayos se han realizado en laboratorios universitarios de los países participantes de la cuenca del Caribe. Los contenidos que se encuentran en esta Farmacopea están dirigidos fundamentalmente a personas involucradas en atención primaria de salud. La información que suministramos no debe ser utilizada, bajo ninguna circunstancia, como base para realizar diagnósticos médicos, procedimientos clínicos o quirúrgicos, ni análisis de laboratorio. Esta edición se imprime con el auspicio del Centro de Investigaciones científicas de Yucatan-México, la Universidad de Cartagena-Colombia y COLCIENCIAS-Colombia: Proyecto de Investigación No. 512-2012.Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación [CO] Colciencias1107-569-33684Aislamiento y purificación de compuestos con potencial actividad antileishmanial a partir de Cordia dentada Poir. y Heliotropium indicum L.n

Data from: Sweet drinks are made of this: conservation genetics of an endemic palm species from the Dominican Republic

No description availabl

Assessing seed desiccation responses of native trees in the Caribbean

Native trees from the Caribbean were tested for seed desiccation responses, by adapting the “100-seed test” protocol. Ninety-seven seed lots of 91 species were collected in the Dominican Republic and tested for germination immediately after collecting, and after drying and moist storage. Seed desiccation sensitivity was assessed as a continuous variable (Viability Loss Index; VLI), based on seed germination values before and after drying. The results were compared with predictions of seed desiccation responses based on seed lot traits (initial moisture content and thousand-seed weight) and with those of published predictive models based on plant and seed traits. VLI could be calculated for seed lots of 40 species. 80% of these seed lots showed consistent results among experiments and predictive models. Issues on the set up of the experiments were discussed, as well as the species for which experimental results and predictions led to contrasting results. Overall, the “100-seed test” confirmed to be an effective tool for assessing seed desiccation responses of a diverse under-investigated woody flora, guiding the seed conservation of trees and their use in reforestation programmes. In addition, by providing new data, it might improve the performance of available predictive models

Pseudo-ekmanii-data-set

Excel file formated for Genale

Molecular Systematics of Threatened Seed Plant Species Endemic in the Caribbean Islands

A review of available Caribbean Island red-lists species (CR and EN categories based on the IUCN guidelines from 2001, and E category established according to the IUCN guidelines from 1980) is presented. A database of over 1,300 endemic species that are either Critically Endangered or Endangered sensu IUCN was created. There are molecular systematic studies available for 112 of them. Six of these species (in six genera) are the only members of early divergent lineages that are sister to groups composed of a large number of clades. Seven of the species (in seven genera) belong to clades that have a small number of taxa but are sister to species/genus-rich clades. Ten of the species (in six genera) are sister to taxa restricted to South America or nested in clades endemic to this region. Fifty-seven of the species (in 35 genera) are sister to Caribbean Island endemic species. Erigeron belliastroides, an Endangered (EN) Cuban endemic, is sister to the Galapagos genus Darwiniothamnus. The phylogenetic placement of four of the threatened species resulted in changes in their taxonomic placement; they belong to polyphyletic or paraphyletic genera. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden