A new classification of C4-Atriplex species in Russia, with the first alien record of Atriplex flabellum (Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae) from North Siberia

For a long time, the systematics ofAtriplex was based solely on morphological characters and leaf anatomy. The latest worldwide phylogenetic study of Atriplex significantly improved our knowledge about the relationships within the genus, but a new classification has not been put forward thus far. Here we re-evaluate the taxonomy of C4-species of Atriplex that are native to Russia. Seven species are classified into two sections, A. sect. Obione (incl. A. sect. Sclerocalymma, syn. nov.) (A. altaica, A. centralasiatica, A. rosea, A. sibirica, and A. sphaeromorpha), and A. sect. Obionopsis (incl. A. sect. Psammophila, syn. nov.) (A. fominii and A. tatarica). Although the majority of Eurasian C4-species have similar morphology, leafy inflorescence is a typical character for A. sect. Obione. The members ofA. sect. Obionopsis are characterised mostly by aphyllous inflorescences, but some species (A. laciniata, A. pratovii, and A. tornabenei) have leafy inflorescences. Geographically, almost all members ofA. sect. Obione are confined to Central Asia, although A. rosea is a typical Mediterranean element and A. argentea occurs in North America. The representatives ofA. sect. Obionopsis are distributed mostly in the Mediterranean and the Irano-Turanian floristic region. The alien status of A. rosea, A. sibirica and A. tatarica is discussed. Atriplex flabellum, a desert species from the Irano-Turanian region, is reported for the first time from Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, North Siberia) as a casual alien. This species occupies a phylogenetic position distant from both aforementioned sections. An identification key to all C4-species of the genus growing in Russia is given, and a sectional checklist with updated nomenclature and revised synonymy is provided.Peer reviewe

Evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of Microtea (Microteaceae), a basal lineage in the core Caryophyllales

Non peer reviewe

A new endemic species of Sesuvium (Aizoaceae: Sesuvioideae) from the Caribbean Basin, with further notes on the genus composition in the West Indies

A distinctive new species, Sesuvium curassavicum Sukhor. (Aizoaceae: Sesuvioideae), restricted to the Caribbean Basin (Kingdom of the Netherlands: Curacao and Bonaire Islands, North Colombia: La Guajira Department, and North Venezuela: Falcon State), is described and illustrated. It differs from all other perennial species growing in the West Indies by its papillate stems and wrinkled seeds. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis of nrDNA (ITS) and three plastid regions (rps16 gene intron, atpB-rbcL and trnL-trnF intergenic spacers), S. curassavicum is included in the 'American' clade, but its relationships are not fully resolved. The samples of the plants known as S. microphyllum fall within the 'Sesuvium portulacastrum' clade, and for that reason this species is considered here as a synonym of S. portulacastrum being an ecological form of the latter species. Sesuvium revolutifolium, S. ortegae and S. revolutum, described from cultivated plants are established as earlier synonyms of S. verrucosum, for which S. revolutifolium has priority and is proposed here as the correct name. These three species names seem to share the same provenance which cannot be Cuba, as stated in the protologue for S. revolutifolium, but rather Mexico. The name Sesuvium sessile is discussed and merged with S. portulacastrum. A new diagnostic key to the Sesuvium species in the West Indies is provided. In total, we accept for the West Indies the following species: S. curassavicum, S. humifusum, S. maritimum, S. portulacastrum and S. rubriflorum. The origins of collections of the neotype of Radiana petiolata and the holotypes of Sesuvium microphyllum and S. spathulatum are clarified.Peer reviewe

Akhania, a new genus for Salsola daghestanica, Caroxylon canescens and C. carpathum (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae)

Genus Salsola s.l. was recently split into several genera of different phylogenetic placements within Salsoloideae, but both taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of some parts of the former broadly defined Salsola still need to be clarified. A remarkable example is Salsola canescens nom. illegit. ≡ Salsola boissieri, a taxon with tricky taxonomic history that was only recently transferred to the genus Caroxylon (tribe Caroxyleae). Salsola daghestanica, a narrow endemic of Central Dagestan (Russian Federation), was not even included in previous molecular studies of Salsoloideae and therefore still lacks an appropriate estimation of its relationships. Molecular phylogeny constructed here using nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data clearly placed Salsola daghestanica and Caroxylon carpathum as sister taxa and the clade S. daghestanica, Caroxylon canescens (Salsola boissieri), C. carpathum (Salsola carpatha) as a sister of the monophyletic Caroxylon. All three species are distinct from Caroxylon from a morphological standpoint. In conclusion, a new genus, Akhania, was established for these taxa. The detailed distribution of Akhania daghestanica is presented for the first time

Taxonomic revision and distribution of herbaceous Paramollugo (Molluginaceae) in the Eastern Hemisphere

The genus Paramollugo with the type species Paramollugo nudicaulis (≡Mollugo nudicaulis) has recently been described after molecular investigations. Here we report two new endemic Malagasy species: Paramollugo simulans and P. elliotii, and transfer a forgotten New Caledonian endemic Mollugo digyna to Paramollugo (P. digyna). Consequently, the number of Paramollugo species in the Eastern Hemisphere is increased from three to six. Almost all genus representatives (except P. nudicaulis, which has a wide distribution in Southern Asia, Arabia and tropical Africa) are endemic to Madagascar, Somalia, or New Caledonia. Since the type of seed coat ornamentation is crucial for species delimitation, a diagnostic key with new taxonomically significant carpological characters and other new traits is provided for all the herbaceous Paramollugo. The distribution patterns of P. nudicaulis s.str., P. simulans and P. elliotii are presented

Notes on Atriplex, Oxybasis and Dysphania (Chenopodiaceae) in West-Central Tropical Africa

Background and aims – The indigenous representatives of Chenopodiaceae in tropical Africa are still insufficiently studied. Some genera, especially Atriplex L., Oxybasis Kar. & Kir. and Dysphania R.Br. (subfam. Chenopodioideae), are difficult to diagnose and are often confused with other native or alien taxa.Methods – The morphological characters of Atriplex, Oxybasis and Dysphania were reviewed using specimens from the herbaria B, BM, BR, BRLU, E, G, K, LE, MHA, MW, P, and W.Key results – A new species Atriplex congolensis Sukhor. is described from the highlands of D.R.Congo and illustrated. It was previously cited as A. hastata L. (now A. prostrata Boucher ex DC.) and is the only species of Atriplex sect. Teutliopsis Dumort. emend. Sukhor. in tropical Africa. A morphological comparison of all Atriplex representatives encountered in Africa ( A. chenopodioides Batt., A. congolensis Sukhor., A. davisii Aellen, A. nilotica Sukhor., A. patula L., A. prostrata Boucher ex DC., and A. verreauxii Moq.) is provided. All records of the rare native Dysphania congolana (Hauman) Mosyakin & Clemants in mountainous tropical Africa are mapped using previously known and re-identified locations. Oxybasis chenopodioides is newly reported for D.R.Congo. The lectotype of Chenopodium glaucum L. subsp. congolanum Hauman ( Dysphania congolana ) is designated. It is pointed out that D. congolana cannot be considered a close relative to any American taxon despite morphological similarities

Figure 34 from: Sukhorukov AP, Liu P-L, Kushunina M (2019) Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet. PhytoKeys 116: 1-141. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.116.27301

Figure 34 Distribution map of Corispermumfalcatum (circles), C.nanum (stars), C.pamiricum (squares) and C.dutreuiliivar.montanum (triangles)

Notes on Atriplex, Oxybasis and Dysphania (Chenopodiaceae) in West-Central Tropical Africa

Background and aims – The indigenous representatives of Chenopodiaceae in tropical Africa are still insufficiently studied. Some genera, especially Atriplex L., Oxybasis Kar. & Kir. and Dysphania R.Br. (subfam. Chenopodioideae), are difficult to diagnose and are often confused with other native or alien taxa.Methods – The morphological characters of Atriplex, Oxybasis and Dysphania were reviewed using specimens from the herbaria B, BM, BR, BRLU, E, G, K, LE, MHA, MW, P, and W.Key results – A new species Atriplex congolensis Sukhor. is described from the highlands of D.R.Congo and illustrated. It was previously cited as A. hastata L. (now A. prostrata Boucher ex DC.) and is the only species of Atriplex sect. Teutliopsis Dumort. emend. Sukhor. in tropical Africa. A morphological comparison of all Atriplex representatives encountered in Africa ( A. chenopodioides Batt., A. congolensis Sukhor., A. davisii Aellen, A. nilotica Sukhor., A. patula L., A. prostrata Boucher ex DC., and A. verreauxii Moq.) is provided. All records of the rare native Dysphania congolana (Hauman) Mosyakin & Clemants in mountainous tropical Africa are mapped using previously known and re-identified locations. Oxybasis chenopodioides is newly reported for D.R.Congo. The lectotype of Chenopodium glaucum L. subsp. congolanum Hauman ( Dysphania congolana ) is designated. It is pointed out that D. congolana cannot be considered a close relative to any American taxon despite morphological similarities

Новый вид Kalidium (Amaranthaceae s. l.) из северной части Центральной Азии

Kalidium juniperinum Sukhor. et Lomon. is described as a species new to science. It is similar to K. foliatum in having a short leaf blade but differs by the presence of numerous slender, prostrate, or ascending stems forming mats vs. the stout main upright stem; acuminate bracts slightly exceeding the flower cyme vs. obtuse bracts equal to the flower cyme; the exserted pericarp looking like a bulge on the one-seeded diaspore vs. not or slightly elevated top of the diaspore; shorter anthers; the geographic range in the highlands and mountainous steppe zone vs. Eurasian lowland (semi-)desert regions. K. juniperinum is recorded in Russia (West Siberia and Sayan Mountains), Eastern and Northern Kazakhstan, the Mongolian Altai, and NW China. The names K. foliatum alpha [var.] glomeratum Fenzl and Kalidium foliatum beta [var.] brevifolium Fenzl are lectotypified and synonymized with K. juniperinum

Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet

The composition of many Chenopodiaceae genera in different parts of Himalaya and Tibet has been insufficiently known or contradictory. A revision of the family in Himalaya including Bhutan, Nepal, parts of India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand) and Tibet (Xizang, China) is presented for the first time. Altogether, 57 species from 20 genera are reported, including three species new to science (Agriophyllum tibeticum, Salsola austrotibetica and Salsola hartmannii). Atriplex centralasiatica, Corispermum dutreuilii and Salsola monoptera are identified as new records for India and Chenopodium pamiricum is recorded in China for the first time. Dysphania ambrosioides and Sympegma regelii are recorded for Xizang. The generic and species keys, species distributions (including maps) and taxonomic notes are provided. We indicate for the first time that the presence of short yellow hairs is the remarkable morphological characteristic of the genus Grubovia. Evident heterocarpy and heterospermy is found in Dysphania for the first time (Dysphania tibetica). Agriophyllum pungens, Atriplex crassifolia, Atriplex laciniata, Atriplex sagittata, Axyris amaranthoides, Axyris hybrida, Bassia indica, Corispermum korovinii, Dysphania schraderiana (=Chenopodium foetidum auct.), Halocharis violacea and Suaeda microsperma are excluded from the species list. Neobotrydium corniculatum is synonymised with Dysphania kitiae, Neobotrydium longii with Dysphania himalaica and Neobotrydium ornithopodum seems to be conspecific with Dysphania nepalensis. Corispermum ladakhianum is a new synonym of Corispermum tibeticum. Amaranthus diandrus is added to the synonyms of Acroglochin persicarioides, and Bassia fiedleri, previously considered as conspecific with Grubovia dasyphylla, is added to the synonymy of Bassia scoparia. Lectotypes of Anabasis glomerata (≡Halogeton glomeratus), Halogeton tibeticus (=Halogeton glomeratus), Amaranthus diandrus (=Acroglochin persicarioides), Chenopodium tibeticum (≡Dysphania tibetica), Corispermum dutreuilii, Corispermum falcatum, Corispermum lhasaense, Corispermum pamiricum var. pilocarpum (=Corispermum gelidum, syn. nov.), Corispermum tibeticum, Kochia indica(≡Bassia indica), Kochia odontoptera (≡Bassia odontoptera) and Salsola monoptera are selected. Out of 53 native elements, 42 are restricted in their distribution to Himalaya and Tibet at altitudes 2000–4500 m above sea level. The greatest taxonomic diversity of the Chenopodiaceae is represented in Jammu and Kashmir (India) and Xizang (China) with a continuous decrease in the number of species southwards