Carine, Mark

Christenhusz, Maarten

Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto

PHYTOTAXAISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)Copyright © 2010    •    Magnolia PressPhytotaxa 4: 1–4             (2010) www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ EditorialAbout this volume: the monograph of Hypericum by Norman RobsonMARK A. CARINE & MAARTEN J. M. CHRISTENHUSZ Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.email: m.christenhusz@nhm.ac.ukWith about 470 species Hypericum Linnaeus (1753) is one of the 100 large angiosperm genera that collectively comprise an estimated 22% of angiosperm diversity (Scotland, 2000). The size of such genera means that complete monographic treatments to account for species diversity are time-consuming, costly and labour-intensive. Consequently, the species-level taxonomy of most such groups is poorly known (Frodin 2004, Scotland & Sanderson 2004). This presents a substantial barrier both to the goal of completing the global inventory and to understanding the evolution of the diversity they contain.Hypericum is now a notable exception to this problem as the paper published in this volume of Phytotaxa represents the final taxonomic part of a worldwide monograph of the genus produced by Dr Norman Robson from the Natural History Museum in London. During the last 50 years, Robson has published over 80 papers on Hypericum. The first part of the monograph was published in 1977 and the seven subsequent parts have been published as ten papers, the first having appeared in the Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany, a journal that was later renamed the Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany, and later Systematics and Biodiversity. To remain in style with the previously published parts, the general style of Phytotaxa is somewhat diverted in the current volume.Each part of the monograph dealt with one or more of the taxonomic sections that Robson (1977) established (Table 1) and for which evolutionary hypotheses were developed (Fig. 1). One further part of the monograph is envisaged, which will provide a summary, and deals with addenda and corrigenda of the former volumes. FIGURE 1. Relationships of sections of Hypericum (modified from Robson, 2003). Parts 1 and 2 of the monograph deal with infrageneric classification and characters respectively. Parts 3–8 are taxonomic and the sections dealt with in each are indicated. Table 1 provides further details of each of the sections recognised.Accepted by Z.-Q. Zhang: 16 Feb. 2010; published: 14 May 2010 1TABLE 1. The sectional classification of Hypericum proposed by Robson (1977) with modifications by Robson (2001). Section numbers correspond with those in Figure 1.Section numberName Distribution Reference1. Campylosporus Africa, Madagascar, SW Asia Robson, 19852. Psorophytum Balearic Islands Robson, 19853. Ascyreia S & E Asia, N. Turkey Robson, 19854. Takasagoya Taiwan, Phillipines Robson, 19855. Androsaemum Mediterranean, W. Europe, Atlantic Is. Robson, 19856. Inodora NE Turkey, SW Georgia Robson, 19856a Umbraculoides Mexico (Oaxaca) Robson, 19857 Roscyna NE Asia, E. North America Robson, 20018 Bupleuroides NE Turkey, SW Georgia Robson, 20019 Hypericum Northern temperate regions Robson, 2002 (subsect 1, series 1); 2006 (subsect 1, series 2 & subsect 2)9a Concinna N. California Robson, 20019b Graveolentia North & Central America Robson, 20069c Sampsonia S. Japan, Taiwan, C & S China, Vietnam, Myanmar, AssamRobson, 20019d Elodeoida E & S China, Vietnam, Myanmar to Kashmir Robson, 20019e Monanthema SW China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar to Pakistan, S. India, Sri LankaRobson, 200110 Olympia S. Balkans, W. Turkey This volume11 Campylopus NE Aegean This volume12 Origanifolia Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia This volume13 Drosocarpium Mediterranean, Balkans, SW Asia This volume14 Oligostema Europe, NW Africa, Atlantic Is. This volume15 Thasia NE Aegean This volume16 Crossophyllum N & W Turkey, Caucasus This volume17 Hirtella W. Mediterranean to Altai This volume18 Taeniocarpium Europe to Altai and Iran This volume19 Coridium W. Mediterranean to Caucasus This volume20 Myriandra E North America, Caribbean, Bermuda Robson, 199621 Webbia Atlantic Is. Robson, 199622 Arthrophyllum S. Turkey, Levant Robson, 199623 Triadenioides Socotra, Levant, S. Turkey Robson, 199624 Heterophylla NW Turkey Robson, 199625 Adenotrias S. Morocco to Levant Robson, 199626 Humifusoideum New Guinea, SE Asian Is., trop and S. Africa, MadagascarRobson, 199627 Adenosepalum Atlantic Is., Africa, Mediterranean Europe Robson, 199628 Elodes W. Europe, Azores Robson, 199629 Brathys North & South America Robson, 1987, 199030 Trigynobrathys North & South America, Africa, E. Asia, AustralasiaRobson, 1990CARINE & CHRISTENHUSZ2   •  Phytotaxa 4  © 2010 Magnolia Press Phytotaxa 4  © 2010 Magnolia Press  •   3EDITORIAL: MONOGRAPH OF HYPERICUM BY NORMAN ROBSONFIGURE 2. St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum, in Sønderborg, Denmark, photographed by M. Christenhusz, 2007.Undoubtedly, the most well-known species of Hypericum is St John’s wort (H. perforatum L., Fig. 2), aneconomically important medicinal crop plant with demonstrated antiviral, antidepressive and anticancerproperties (Matzk et al. 2001). Hypericum perforatum is widespread and morphologically variable.Cytological data suggests that it is an allotetraploid (Robson 1958, Robson 1975) and Robson (2002)hypothesised that it is the result of an ancient hybridisation event between two diploid taxa (H. maculatumsubsp. immaculatum and H. attenuatum). This is now being tested using molecular data. Hypericum perforatum is a facultative apomict (Noack 1939, Matzk et al. 2001); one of a number ofapomictic species in the genus (Matzk et al. 2003). They exhibit a range of asexual seed productionmechanisms and are placed within different sections of the genus suggesting multiple independent origins ofapomixis in the genus. It is therefore perhaps no surprise that the genus has now become a focus for researchon the genetics of apomixis (Barcaccia et al. 2007).As with many large, widely distributed angiosperm genera, Hypericum also poses many interestingbiogeographic questions. Classical biogeographic patterns have been hypothesised—for example the Trans-African Rand flora pattern with a close relationship hypothesised between Canarian and Socotran taxa(Robson 1996). There are also remarkable radiations, for example in the Paramó of South America, a habitatonly 3.5 million years old, there are approximately 80 endemic species, accounting for nearly 20% of thespecies diversity in the genus.The completion of the taxonomic part of the Hypericum monograph provides not only a taxonomicbaseline and valuable tool for the identification of taxa but also a rich resource for research into many otheraspects of the biology and evolution of the genus.An overview of the studies—in which this volume constitutes part 5—is given below.1. Robson, N.K.B. (1977) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae) 1. Infrageneric classification.Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 5: 293–355.2. Robson, N.K.B. (1981) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 2. Characters of the genus. Bulletinof the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 8: 55–226.3. Robson, N.K.B. (1985) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 3. Sections 1. Campylosporus to 6a. Umbraculoides. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 12: 163–325.4(1). Robson, N.K.B. (2001) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 4(1). Sections 7. Roscyna to 9. Hypericum sensu lato (part 1). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 31: 37–88.4(2). Robson, N.K.B. (2002) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 4(2). Section 9. Hypericumsensu lato (part 2): subsection 1. Hypericum series 1. Hypericum. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 32: 61–123.4(3). Robson, N.K.B. (2006) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Clusiaceae). 4(3). Section 9. Hypericum sensu lato (part 3): subsection 1. Hypericum series 2. Senanensia, subsection 2. Erecta and section 9b. Graveolentia. Systematics and Biodiversity 4: 19–98.5(1). Robson, N.K.B. (2010) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae) 5(1). Sections 10. Olympia to 15/16. Crossophyllum. Phytotaxa 4: 5–126.5(2). Robson, N.K.B. (2010) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae) 5(2). Sections 17. Hirtella to 19. Coridium. Phytotaxa 4: 127–258.6. Robson, N.K.B. (1996) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae) 6. Sections 20. Myriandra to 28. Elodes. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 26: 75–217.7. Robson, N.K.B. (1987) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae) 7. Section 29. Brathys (part 1). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 16: 1–106.8. Robson, N.K.B. (1990) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae) 8. Sections 29. Brathys (part 2) and 30. Trigynobrathys. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 20: 1–151.9. Robson N.K.B. (in preparation) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae) 9. Summary, Addenda and Corrigenda.ReferencesBarcaccia, G., Bäumlein, H. & Sharbel, T.F. (2007) Apomixis in St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum): an overview and glimpse towards the future, pp. 259–280, in: Hörandl, E., Grossniklaus, U., Van Dijk, P. & Sharbel, T.F. (eds.): Apomixis: Evolution, Mechanisms and Perspectives. International Association for Plant Taxonomy, Koeltz Scientific Books. Frodin, D.G. (2004) History and concepts of big plant genera. Taxon 53: 753–776. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum 2: 783. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm.Matzk, F., Meister, A., Brutovska, R. & Schubert, I. (2001) Reconstruction of reproductive diversity in Hypericum perforatum L. opens novel strategies to manage apomixis. The Plant Journal 26: 275–282. Matzk, F., Hammer, K. & Schubert, I. (2003) Coevolution of apomixis and genome size within the genus Hypericum.Sexual Plant Reproduction 16: 51–58. Noack, K. (1939) Ueber Hypericum-Kreuzungen VI. Fortpflanzung und Bastarde von Hypericum perforatum L. Zeitschrift für induktive Abstammungs- und Vererbungslehre 76: 569–601. Robson, N.K.B. (1958) Hypericum maculatum in Britain and Europe. Proceedings of the Botanical Society of the British Isles 2: 237–238.Robson, N.K.B. (1975) Hypericum L., pp. 164–167, in: Stace, C.A. (ed). Hybridization and the flora of the British Isles. Academic Press, London.Robson, N.K.B. (1977) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae) 1. Infrageneric classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 5: 293–355.Robson, N.K.B. (2001) Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 4(1). Sections 7. Roscyna to 9. Hypericum sensu lato (part 1). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 31: 37–88.Robson, N.K.B. (2002). Studies in the genus Hypericum L. (Guttiferae). 4(2). Section 9. Hypericum sensu lato (part 2): subsection 1. Hypericum series 1. Hypericum. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Botany 32: 61–123.Robson, N.K.B. (2003) Hypericum botany, pp. 1–22, in: Ernst, E. (ed) Hypericum: the genus Hypericum. Taylor and Francis, London.Scotland, R.W. (2000) Taxic homology and three-taxon statement analysis. Systematic Biology 49: 480–500. Scotland, R.W. & Sanderson, M.J. (2004) The significance of few versus many in the tree of life. Science 5658: 643–643.CARINE & CHRISTENHUSZ4   •  Phytotaxa 4  © 2010 Magnolia Press

About this volume: the monograph of Hypericum by Norman Robson.

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