Floral vasculature and its variation for carpellary supply in Anthurium (Araceae, Alismatales)

Introduction and Aims Anthurium is the largest genus of Araceae, with 950 species distributed in the neotropics. Despite the great diversity of the genus, the knowledge of its floral vasculature is based on observations in only two species, viz. A. denudatum and A. lhotzkyanum, with remarkable variation in vascular carpellary supply: carpels are either vascularized by ventral bundles alone or by reduced dorsal bundles in addition to the ventral ones. Our main objective is to test this peculiar variation through a detailed anatomical study of the floral vasculature in taxa belonging to some sections of Anthurium designated as monophyletic groups in recent phylogenies. Methods We compare the floral vasculature of 20 neotropical species belonging to distinct sections of Anthurium, using both light and confocal laser scanning microscopies. Results The number and position of vascular bundles are constant within the tepals and stamens, regardless of the species and sections studied. However, the gynoecium vasculature exhibits variation between species belonging to the same or different sections. Our results reveal two patterns of vasculature: carpels vascularized by synlateral bundles alone (Pattern A) and carpels vascularized by both dorsal and synlateral bundles (Pattern B). Pattern A is shared by the majority of species studied here and corroborates the previous data in the literature. Pattern B occurs in three species: A. affine (Anthurium sect. Pachyneurium series Pachyneurium), A. obtusum and A. scandens (Anthurium sect. Tetraspermium), described here for the first time for the genus. Conclusions The variation in the supply to the carpels in Anthurium is corroborated here. However, our results in addition to those from the available literature suggest the existence of three patterns (A, B and C) of carpellary vasculature. Based on the recent phylogeny of Anthurium it is possible to notice that the three patterns of carpellary vasculature occur in representatives of Clade B and deserve to be investigated in a larger number of species. Pattern A could be a plesiomorphy for the genus and the occurrence of dorsal bundles could be a derived character. Our data contributes to the taxonomy and to the understanding of the floral evolution of the largest neotropical genus of Araceae

O gênero Philodendron (Araceae) no estado do Paraná

Resumo O trabalho apresenta a flora do gênero Philodendron (Araceae) no estado do Paraná. Foram registradas 13 espécies, incluindo duas espécies recentemente descritas e três novos registros para o estado: P. appendiculatum, P. bipinnatifidum, P. camposportoanum, P. corcovadense, P. crassinervium, P. eximium, P. loefgrenii, P. meridionale, P. missionum, P. obliquifolium, P. propinquum, P. rheophyticum e P. roseopetiolatum. Essas espécies foram encontradas nas três principais formações da Floresta Atlântica do Paraná: na Floresta Estacional Semidecidual cinco espécies, na Floresta Ombrófila Mista sete espécies e na Floresta Ombrófila Densa, com maior representatividade, foram registradas 11 espécies. Além disso, a Floresta Ombrófila Densa apresentou maior endemismo, com quatro espécies exclusivas a essa formação vegetacional. Três espécies foram consideradas criticamente em perigo no estado do Paraná, por apresentarem registro em apenas uma ou duas localidades do estado: P. camposportoanum, P. eximium e P. roseopetiolatum. Esse trabalho apresenta uma chave de identificação, pranchas de fotografias, ilustração dos caracteres diagnósticos e comentários taxonômicos de cada espécie de Philodendron encontrada no Paraná

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora