Miscellaneous notes on the genus Forsstroemia in Russia (Neckeraceae, Bryophyta)

Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports the position on the species known as Neckera konoi in the genus Forsstroemia, therefore it is transferred to this genus with a new combination, F. konoi (Broth.) Enroth, Fedosov & Ignatov. Molecular data also confirm the position of F. stricta Laz. described from the Russian Far East in F. producta, a pantropical species. Forstroemia neckeroides is reported from Russia, Primorsky Territory, for the first time.Peer reviewe

On the phylogenetic position of the genus Claopodium: a revival of a 19th century idea

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS and plastid rps4–trnS found species of the genus Claopodium in the clade formed by species of Brachytheciaceae and Meteoriaceae, including Trachypodaceae. Claopodium is resolved as sister to Brachytheciaceae, thus we suggest its placement in this family, despite it will be the only taxon of the family with pluripapillose laminal cells. The taxonomic value of the papillose leaf cells in pleurocarpous mosses is discussed.</p

Alleniella aegaea Blockeel & Hugonnot (Neckeraceae), a new moss species from the Aegean islands of Greece

A new moss species, Alleniella aegaea (Neckeraceae) is described and illustrated from the Greek islands of Crete, Samos and Evvia based on morphological and molecular evidence. According to phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS and plastid trnS-F sequences it is sister to A. complanata, which it also morphologically resembles, but it differs from that species e.g. in its distinctly flattened habit, lack of caducous branchlets, more rounded leaf apices, and shorter median laminal cells. Alleniella aegaea is dioicous and the sporophytes remain unknow

Coulomb dissociation of N 20,21

Neutron-rich light nuclei and their reactions play an important role in the creation of chemical elements. Here, data from a Coulomb dissociation experiment on N20,21 are reported. Relativistic N20,21 ions impinged on a lead target and the Coulomb dissociation cross section was determined in a kinematically complete experiment. Using the detailed balance theorem, the N19(n,γ)N20 and N20(n,γ)N21 excitation functions and thermonuclear reaction rates have been determined. The N19(n,γ)N20 rate is up to a factor of 5 higher at

On moss genera Hylocomiadelphus Ochyra & Stebel and Rhytidiadelphus (Limpr.) Warnst.

The moss family Hylocomiaceae is studied for the generic level taxonomy within a molecular phylogenetic approach. We confirm segregating of the species formerly known as Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus to Hylocomiadelphus Ochyra & Stebel from the genus Rhytidiadelphus. Hylocomiadelphus forms a clade with Loeskeobryum and Meteoriella, sharing with both genera cordate to auriculate leaf bases and non-squarrose leaves, and with the former undulate leaves and reticulate exostome teeth ornamentation. However, Loeskeobryum differs from Hylocomiadelphus in having paraphyllia, while Meteoriella has a straight capsule and reduced peristome, likely caused by its epiphytic ecology. In the group of species closely related to R. squarrosus, in addition to R. subpinnatus, the third species with North Pacific distribution is described as R. pacificum. Macrothamnium is found deeply nested in Rhytidiadelphus, although no nomenclatural implications are suggested at the moment due to insufficient sampling. Hylocomium splendens var. splendens and var. obtusifolium were found intermingled in the phylogenetic tree, indicating no correlation between morphology and variation in ITS region, thus supporting a view that these taxa are merely environmentally induced morphs

Staminate flower of Prunus s. l. (Rosaceae) from Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine)

The late Eocene ambers provide plethora of animal and plant fossils including well-preserved angiosperm flowers from the Baltic amber. The Rovno amber from NW Ukraine resembles in many aspects the Baltic amber; however, only fossilized animals and some bryophytes have yet been studied from the Rovno amber. We provide the first detailed description of an angiosperm flower from Rovno amber. The flower is staminate with conspicuous hypanthium, double pentamerous perianth and whorled androecium of 24 stamens much longer than the petals. Sepals are sparsely pubescent and petals are densely hirsute outside. The fossil shares important features with extant members of Prunus subgen. Padus s. l. (incl. Laurocerasus, Pygeum and Maddenia), especially with its evergreen paleotropical species. It is described here as a new species Prunus hirsutipetala D.D.Sokoloff, Remizowa et Nuraliev. Our study provides the first convincing record of fossil flowers of Rosaceae from Eocene of Europe and the earliest fossil flower of Prunus outside North America. Our record of a plant resembling extant tropical species supports palaeoentomological evidences for warm winters in northwestern Ukraine during the late Eocene, as well as suggesting a more significant role of tropical insects in Rovno amber than inferred from Baltic amber

Disentangling knots of rapid evolution: origin and diversification of the moss order Hypnales

The Hypnales are the largest order of mosses comprising approximately 4200 species. Phylogenetic reconstruction within the group has proven to be difficult due to rapid radiation at an early stage of evolution and, consequently, relationships among clades have remained poorly resolved. We compiled data from four sequence regions, namely, nuclear ITS1–5.8S–ITS2, plastid trnL–F and rps4, and mitochondrial nad5, for 122 hypnalean species and 34 species from closely related groups. Tree topologies from both Bayesian and parsimony analyses resolve the order as monophyletic. Although inferences were made from fastevolving genes, and despite strong phylogenetic signal in the nuclear ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 data, monophyly, as well as backbone nodes within the Hypnales, remains rather poorly supported except under Bayesian inferences. Ancestral distribution based on Bayesian dispersal-vicariance analysis supports a Gondwanan origin of the Hypnales and subsequent geographical radiation in the area of the former Laurasian supercontinent. Reconstruction of historical biogeography is congruent with mainly tropical and Gondwanan distributions in the sister groups Hypnodendrales, Ptychomniales, and Hookeriales, and with the dating for the oldest pleurocarp and hypnalean fossils. We contrast groupings in the phylogenetic tree with recent classifications and other phylogenetic inferences based on molecular data, and summarise current knowledge on the evolutionary history of, and relationships among, the Hypnales