The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Background and Aims Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions. Methods The database was compiled from published and unpublished reports. Plants were categorized into broad pollination systems and then subdivided to include bimodal systems. These were mapped against the five major divisions of the family, and against the smaller clades. Finally, pollination systems were mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction that included those species for which sequence data are available, and transition rates between pollination systems were calculated. Key Results Most Apocynaceae are insect pollinated with few records of bird pollination. Almost three-quarters of species are pollinated by a single higher taxon (e.g. flies or moths); 7 % have bimodal pollination systems, whilst the remaining approx. 20 % are insect generalists. The less phenotypically specialized flowers of the Rauvolfioids are pollinated by a more restricted set of pollinators than are more complex flowers within the Apocynoids + Periplocoideae + Secamonoideae + Asclepiadoideae (APSA) clade. Certain combinations of bimodal pollination systems are more common than others. Some pollination systems are missing from particular regions, whilst others are over-represented. Conclusions Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades

Miconia vincentiana (Melastomataceae: Miconieae), a curious endemic to St. Vincent, Lesser Antilles

The new combination Miconia vincentiana and a detailed description are provided for the species previously known as Clidemia vincentiana, a member of Miconia sect. Sagraea endemic to the island of St. Vincent in the Lesser Antilles. In addition, the curious supernumerary leaflets often borne on the distal portion of the petiole are described. Such structures have not been recorded from any other species of Miconieae

A vascular flora of the Eckerd College Palm Hammock Nature Area: A dredge and fill site in Pinellas County, Florida

A study of the vascular plants of the Palm Hammock Nature Area, a designated natural area on the west side of the Eckerd College campus in Pinellas County, Florida, was carried out between January 2012 and January 2013. The site is situated entirely on dredged fill soil, rendering it an intriguing site on which to study natural succession. This floristic inventory provides baseline data on the species composition at the site for use in future studies of the Palm Hammock and other forested dredge and fill sites. A total of 157 vascular species were collected from the 4.6 ha site, including 155 angiosperms. Of these, 99 species are native to North America, and 58 species are not native. Of the nonnative species, 20 are considered invasive. The most frequently represented families included Asteraceae (18), Fabaceae (18), Poaceae (14), and Cyperaceae (11). The Palm Hammock Nature Area, which comprises small patches of cabbage palm/oak hammock, cabbage palm stands, and grasslands similar to coastal savannas, shares characteristic species and composition with both maritime and mesic hammocks

MICONIA CORDIERI, A NEW SPECIES OF MICONIA SECT. SAGRAEA (MELASTOMATACEAE) FROM THE MACAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, HAITI

Volume: 6Start Page: 37End Page: 4

Taxonomic studies in the miconieae (Melastomataceae). XIV. Species of Miconia section Sagraea that occur in the greater antilles and additionally in the lesser antilles and/or continental regions

The systematics of three species of Miconia sect. Sagraea from the Greater Antilles, which also occur in the Lesser Antilles and/or continental regions, is investigated. These taxa, representing lineages of likely independent dispersal into the Greater Antilles, are here taxonomically revised, including for each a description, nomenclatural information (including a new name, Miconia sciaphila, and two new combinations, M. berteroi and M. septuplinervia), specimen citations, and an eco-geographical characterization. These species are compared with members of two species-rich clades of sect. Sagraea of independent diversification in the Greater Antilles: the Clidemia oligantha/C. leucan-dra complex (comprising seven species) and the Brevicyma clade (29 species). A key to the three species, distinguishing among them and separating them from the two species-rich Greater Antillean clades is provided

Recognition of Miconia sect. Sagraeoides (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) and associated nomenclatural changes

Recent phylogenetic studies incorporating DNA sequence data have corroborated the suspected non-monophyly of many currently recognized genera of tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae), which includes about 1800 species restricted to the Neotropics. The genus Mecranium, comprising 24 species endemic to the Greater Antilles and their satellite islands, appears to be a monophyletic exception within the tribe. However, the continued recognition of Mecranium as a genus, at best, would render Miconia paraphyletic. The most practical solution to the problem of non-monophyletic circumscription of genera in the Miconieae is the recognition of a broadly defined Miconia, with the taxonomic recognition of its subclades as subgenera and sections. Here the Mecranium clade is recognized as a section within a broadly circumscribed Miconia, all recognized species are listed, and 26 new names and nomenclatural combinations are published. In addition, the section is described, and the phylogenetic relationships of its species are discussed briefly based on molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses

TETRAZYGIA PARALONGICOLLIS (MICONIEAE: MELASTOMATACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE SIERRA DE BAORUCO AND SIERRA MARTIN GARCIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Volume: 2Start Page: 35End Page: 4

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Miconia crenata and related species (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in the Greater Antilles

The nomenclature and phylogenetic placement of five species of Miconieae in the Greater Antilles with conspicuous multicellular, simple, elongate, eglandular or gland-headed hairs, pseudolateral inflorescences, and flowers with elongated calyx teeth, 5-8, white, rounded petals, white, ovate anthers, and purple-or blue-black fruits are considered. These species have traditionally been considered within the poly-phyletic genus Clidemia, but are here transferred to Miconia sensu lato. Four new combinations are presented, i.e., Miconia dependens (D. Don) Judd & Majure, M. erythropogon (DC.) Judd & Ionta, M. octona (Bonpl.) Judd & Majure, and M. strigillosa (Sw.) Judd & Ionta. Finally, we note that the widespread and economically important species previously known as Clidemia hirta (L.) DC., when considered within Miconia, bears the name Miconia crenata (Vahl) Michelang

Nomenclatural novelties in Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)

The Miconieae (Melastomaceae) are a strictly Neotropical group comprising over 1900 species. The tribe is characterized by inflorescences that are terminal or axillary, but not cauliflorous (except a few species of Charianthus, Clidemia, and Mecranium), flowers subtended by only one pair of bracteoles (or none at all), with anthers that lack a pedoconnective, leaves without long acicular raphides, and berry fruits. Generic delimitations within the Miconieae have been notoriously complex, and phylogenetic analyses have shown that Miconia is paraphyletic with many other genera embedded within it. These nested genera include Anaectocalyx, Calycogonium, Catocoryne, Charianthus, Clidemia, Conostegia, Killipia, Leandra, Maieta, Mecranium, Necramium, Ossaea, Pachyanthus, Pleiochiton, Sagraea, Tetrazygia, and Tococa. In the absence of a workable solution that allows the subdivision of the tribe into smaller, morphologically recognizable and monophyletic genera, it has been previously proposed that only one genus be recognized in the tribe. Here we present the necessary taxonomic and nomenclatural changes necessary to recognize Miconia as the sole genus within Miconieae