The Flowering Plants Handbook
Abstract and Figures
This plant book aims to help identify flowering plants to genus and family level anywhere in the world. In 2014 there are very few available works which are both comprehensive and up-to-date for all the flowering plants families and genera of the world. The Flowering Plants Handbook is an easy to use identification guide to the worlds flowering plants designed for both specialists and non-specialists and from beginner to expert. The book contains descriptions of all currently recognised flowering plant families, morphological
notes for 6656 genera (all current genera for 398/413 families) and over 3000 images and illustrations. Flowering plants can be identified using the book to family and much of the world's generic diversity in four 'easy' steps. Some plants will be identified correctly quickly, whilst others may require some retracing of steps and take a little more time. The advantage of this book is that it helps the user learn about the classification system and plant diversity during the identification process. This work was compiled and developed using the living, library and herbarium collections at the University of Aberdeen, Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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... Consequently, wide discrepancies exist between the numbers of genera ascribed to the Phyllanthaceae by different authors. They vary from 54 to 60 by sinking some genera into others and by fragmenting some relatively large genera into separate splinter ones (Byng, 2014). For instance, a new monotypic genus Notoleptopus was established on Leptopus decaisnei (Benth.) ...
... Seeds of the Phyllanthaceae are usually 'ecarunculate'; absence of the caruncle is among the significant features discriminating between them and members of the Euphorbiaceae s.s. (Byng, 2014). ...
... The genus Bulbine Wolf includes approximately 75 species, the majority occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (Byng 2014). Seven species are currently recognised for Australia (CHAH 2019). ...
... The floral formula of the family Rosaceae is K (3-)5(-10) , C (0-)3-5(-10) , A (1-)10-many ,Ĝ 1-many [45], but the Sanguisorba species has K 4 C o A 2-manyĜ1-many [46], where K means a calyx of 4 petals, C refers to the corolla and is not present in these species, A indicates the number of stamens and can be 2 or more (particularly in the S. minor, where this number is between 10 and 30), andĜ indicates the number of carpels, which can be more than 1. The flowers are grouped in capituliform, terminal inflorescences, with a globose-oval shape and a long peduncle. ...
Since ancient times, many plants have been cultivated for their nutritional and medicinal properties. The genus Sanguisorba has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years.These species are distributed in temperate, arctic, or alpine areas in the Northern Hemisphere.Elongated, imparipinnate leaves and densely clustered flower heads are characteristics of the genus Sanguisorba. While Sanguisorba officinalis L. is mainly known for its significant medicinal applications,Sanguisorba minor Scop. is beginning to attract greater interest for its chemical composition and biological effects. Our research collected extensive information on Sanguisorba minor, including its history, taxonomy, habitat, and distribution, as well as its bioactive components and biological activities. In addition to electron microscopy of plant parts (root, stems, and leaves), which is described for the first time in the literature in the case of S. minor, the study also provides information on potential pests or beneficial insects that may be present. Our goal was to provide important information that will serve as a solid foundation for upcoming research on Sanguisorba minor Scop
... Genus Commiphora Jacq., which belongs to the Burseraceae family, contains about 185 species that are found in tropical and subtropical areas [1,2]. Species in the genus markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers have proven to be highly helpful tools for quickly assessing genetic differences across accessions, especially when genome sequence information is absent [26]. ...
Commiphora gileadensis L. is a medicinal plant, known as balsam, with pharmaceutical potential for its phytochemical activities and chemical constituents. Genetic diversity is a genetic tool used in medicinal plant evolution and conservation. Three accessions from C. gileadensis were collected from three localities in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Jizan and Riyadh). Genetic characterization was carried out using physio-biochemical parameters, molecular markers (inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT)), DNA barcoding (18 S rRNA and ITS rDNA regions), relative gene expressions (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (PAL1), defensin (PR-12)) and pathogenesis-related protein (AFPRT). The results of this study showed that C. gileadensis accession C3, collected from Riyadh, had the highest content from the physio-biochemical parameters perspective, with values of 92.54 mg/g and 77.13 mg/g for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), respectively. Furthermore, the highest content of antioxidant enzyme activity was present in accession C3 with values of 16.87, 60.87, 35.76 and 27.98 U mg −1 for superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) (mol/min/mg FW) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (U mg −1 protein), respectively. The highest total number of bands and number of unique bands were 138 and 59, respectively, for the SCoT marker. The SCoT marker was the most efficient for the genetic diversity of C. gileadensis by producing the highest polymorphism (75.63%). DNA barcoding using 18 S and ITS showed the nearby Commiphora genus and clustered C. gileadensis accessions from Jeddah and Jizan in one clade and the C. gileadensis accession from Ryiadh in a separate cluster. Moreover, relative gene expression of the PAL1, defensin (PR-12) and AFPRT (PR1) genes was upregulated in the C. gileadensis accession from Ryiadh. In conclusion, ecological and environmental conditions in each locality affect the genomic expression and genetic diversity, which can help the evolution of important medicinal plants and improve breeding and conservation systems.
... The genus Muscari Mill. (Miller, 1754) belongs to Scilloideae subfamily and Scilleae tribe (Engler, 1887) has a pan-Mediterranean origin with numerous variety of species, it is well distributed from Mediterranean Europe and North Africa to Caucasus, North-Western, South-West and Central Asia (Rechinger, 1990;Kubitzki, 1998;Jafari & Maassoumi, 2011;Byng, 2014;Yıldırım, 2015Yıldırım, , 2016Yıldırımli & Kılıç, 2019;Eker & Yıldırım, 2021). Muscari has about 77 to 80 taxa around the world (WCSP, 2020), only four of which are reported widely in Tunisia (Dobignard & Chatelain, 2010). ...
Muscari baeticum, originating from western Europe, is here recorded as new
from the central eastern part of Tunisia. So far, it was known only from Algeria and Morocco within the southern part of the Mediterranean basin. Description of the species as well as first data about its ecology in Tunisia together with geographical distribution and diagnostic features of closely related species are given. Photographic illustrations of the new reported taxon and an updated key to the Muscari species in North Africa are also provided.
... Commiphora Jacq (Burseraceae( is a genus of 150-185 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, occupying an ecological range between 1 and 2100 m above sea level [1,2]. The species are small trees or shrubs with short, thorny branches. ...
Commiphora species are of high medicinal importance. They are distributed in Saudi Arabia, mainly in rocky habitats and regions under mountains, including the east of Tihama, forming a distinct element of Saudi flora. The present study focuses on the botanical characterization of five species of Commiphora, i.e., C. erythraea, C. gileadensis, C. kataf, C. myrrha, and C. quadricincta. The morphological characters for each species were recorded comparatively, and their taxonomic relationships were examined using gross morphology by generating a UPGMA dendrogram, which separated the Commiphora species into two distinct groups. A dichotomous key was generated to facilitate the identification process of the plant, even by naked eye, by obvious characteristics. Because of the similarities in anatomical structure of the stem and petiole of most studied species, only the quantitative variations are illustrated comparatively. Seed macro- and micro-morphological characteristics were recorded comparatively to be used in the identification of a species in the case of leaf absence. The phytochemical study included measurements of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The phytochemical results were correlated with the ethno-botanic survey. The traditional uses for all species were recorded using the questionnaire and open interviews method for data collecting. The results revealed that the most common Commiphora species that are traditionally used are C. myrrha and C. gileadensis. The study recommends more research on Commiphora species using more advanced techniques and tries to increase public awareness on the importance of these plants.
The Vanilloideae (vanilloids) is one of five subfamilies of Orchidaceae and is composed of fourteen genera and approximately 245 species. In this study, the six new chloroplast genomes (plastomes) of vanilloids (two Lecanorchis, two Pogonia, and two Vanilla species) were decoded, and then the evolutionary patterns of plastomes were compared to all available vanilloid plastomes. Pogonia japonica has the longest plastome, with 158,200 bp in genome size. In contrast, Lecanorchis japonica has the shortest plastome with 70,498 bp in genome size. The vanilloid plastomes have regular quadripartite structures, but the small single copy (SSC) region was drastically reduced. Two different tribes of Vanilloideae (Pogonieae and Vanilleae) showed different levels of SSC reductions. In addition, various gene losses were observed among the vanilloid plastomes. The photosynthetic vanilloids (Pogonia and Vanilla) showed signs of stage 1 degradation and had lost most of their ndh genes. The other three species (one Cyrotsia and two Lecanorchis), however, had stage 3 or stage 4 degradation and had lost almost all the genes in their plastomes, except for some housekeeping genes. The Vanilloideae were located between the Apostasioideae and Cypripedioideae in the maximum likelihood tree. A total of ten rearrangements were found among ten Vanilloideae plastomes when compared to the basal Apostasioideae plastomes. The four sub-regions of the single copy (SC) region shifted into an inverted repeat (IR) region, and the other four sub-regions of the IR region shifted into the SC regions. Both the synonymous (dS) and nonsynonymous (dN) substitution rates of IR in-cooperated SC sub-regions were decelerated, while the substitution rates of SC in-cooperated IR sub-regions were accelerated. A total of 20 protein-coding genes remained in mycoheterotrophic vanilloids. Almost all these protein genes show accelerated base substitution rates compared to the photosynthetic vanilloids. Two of the twenty genes in the mycoheterotrophic species faced strong “relaxed selection” pressure (p-value < 0.05).
If human population growth is not controlled, natural areas must be sacrificed. An alternative is to create more habitat, terraforming Mars. However, this requires establishment of essential, ecosystem services on a planet currently unamenable to Terran species. Shorter term, assembling Terran-type ecosystems within contained environments is conceivable if mutually supportive species complements are determined. Accepting this, an assemblage of organisms that might form an early, forest environment is proposed, with rationale for its selection. A case is made for developing a contained facsimile, old growth forest on Mars, providing an oasis, proffering vital ecosystem functions (a forest bubble). It would serve as an extraterrestrial nature reserve (ETNR), psychological refuge and utilitarian botanic garden, supporting species of value to colonists for secondary metabolites (vitamins, flavours, perfumes, medicines, colours and mood enhancers). The design presented includes organisms that might tolerate local environmental variance and be assembled into a novel, bioregenerative forest ecosystem. This would differ from Earthly forests due to potential impact of local abiotic parameters on ecosystem functions, but it is argued that biotic support for space travel and colonization requires such developments. Consideration of the necessary species complement of an ETNR supports a view that it is not humanity alone that is reaching out to space, it is life, with all its diverse capabilities for colonization and establishment. Humans cannot, and will not, explore space alone because they did not evolve in isolation, being shaped over aeons by other species. Space will be travelled by a mutually supportive system of Terran organisms amongst which humans fit, exchanging metabolites and products of photosynthesis as they have always done.
Herbal and plant extracts show diverse activities and have been used for centuries as
natural medicines for many health problems and diseases. Through the isolation and
analysis of the compounds in the extracts, it is possible to understand why the extracts
exhibit those activities, as well as the chemical metabolism of compounds that occur in
plants and herbs. Recently, there have been increasing attempts to develop herbal and
plant extracts into functional foods and drugs, but the legal requirements are becoming
stricter. We need sophisticatedly defined extracts through the isolation and analysis of
compounds comprising them in order to meet the legal requirements and to pursue
quality control strategies in the production of functional foods and drugs. This Special
Issue Book compiled the 15 recent research and review articles that highlight the
isolation, profiling, and analysis of compounds in herbal and plant extracts, as well as
quality control and standardized processing strategies for extracts with characteristic
compounds.
The genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae) is well known for its reduced corolla tube in an otherwise long-tubed family. Similar character reversals to states thought to be plesiomorphic to taxa outside Veronica are found in inflorescence morphology, embryology, and karyology. We have used nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F sequence data in separate and combined data sets to explore character evolution in Veronica and related genera. We here use Veronica in a wide sense including the Hebe complex, Synthyris, Besseya, and Pseudolysimachion. Based on comparison with results from the molecular analyses, we infer the rosette habit to be ancestral in the tribe Veroniceae with two losses and at least two regains. The terminal inflorescence was probably lacking in the ancestor of Veroniceae but re-emerged at least twice with a concentration in annual and alpine species. Tubular flowers evolved in parallel several times, and this parallelism is also indicated by floral development. The ancestor of Veroniceae was likely to have five calyx lobes and four corolla lobes, but both characters are labile. The capsule of the ancestor of Veronica was probably wide and compressed with several specializations occurring within species groups. The pollen types identified by earlier authors match with little conflict results from the molecular analyses, as do embryological characters such as morphology of micropylar endosperm haustoria. Finally, chromosome number was likely to be x = 9 in the ancestor of Veroniceae with other base numbers evolving several times in parallel. Similarities of the inferred ancestral character states with those from the outgroups Plantago and Digitalis are discussed.
The delimitation of the genus Mezilaurus (Lauraceae) has always been controversial and depended on the weight given to some characters over others. This study is the first molecular phylogeny of Mezilaurus. It aims to test the monophyly of the genus and its relationships within the Mezilaurus group or other closely related genera. The Mezilaurus group had emerged as monophyletic in previous phylogenetic studies, and includes Anaueria, Chlorocardium, Mezilaurus, Sextonia, and Williamodendron. The phylogenetic analysis of Mezilaurus and related genera was based on trnH-psbA and ITS of ten species of Mezilaurus and thirteen outgroup species. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference were performed for each marker separately and for combined datasets. The combined analyses confirmed the monophyly of the Mezilaurus group, but did not support sister relationships of Anaueria and Chlorocardium. The Mezilauroids, containing Mezilaurus, Sextonia, and Williamodendron, formed a well-supported clade. However, the genus Mezilaurus, as currently defined, is not monophyletic and the Mezilaurus mahuba group (Mezilaurus mahuba, M. triunca) emerged as sister to Sextonia. Therefore, we suggest to remove the Mezilaurus mahuba group from Mezilaurus and re-establish it as Clinostemon. Mezilaurus and Clinostemon share rythmic branching with distally clustered leaves, bisexual flowers, three fertile stamens, representing the third androecial whorl, 2-locular anthers and a minute discoid cupule. Clinostemon, however, has stamens with downward recurved anthers and one pair of glands at the base of the filaments, while in Mezilaurus the anthers are erect and glands are absent.
Morphological data provide evidence for the separation of Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Arn. in a new genus, different from either Erodium and Monsonia (Geraniaceae). Also cpDNA sequence data (rrnL-F) support this view. Thus, we propose the recognition of a new monotypic genus, California Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, to better reflect phylogenetic relationships in Geraniaceae. We provide diagnosis, illustrations, comparative analysis of distinctive characters, and a key to genera of Geraniaceae. The new combination proposed is: California macrophylla (Hook. & Am.) Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, comb. Nov . [basion.: Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am.]; and two lectotypes are designed.
Los datos morfol6gicos permiten distinguir, a nivel de genero, Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am. de las especies incluidas en Erodium y Monsonia (Geraniaceae). También los datos obtenidos de la secuencia de ADN cloroplástico ( trn L-F) apoyan estas diferencias. Por lo tanto, proponemos un nuevo genero monotípico, California Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, para que queden mejor reflejadas las relaciones filogenéticas en la clasificación de las Geraniaceae. Incluimos una diagnosis, ilustraciones, análisis comparativos de los caracteres diferenciales y una clave de géneros de Geraniaceae. Se propone una nueva combinaci6n: California macrophylla (Hook. & Am.) Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Sáez & Aedo, comb, nov . [basión.: Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am.]; y se designan dos lectótipos
The genera Brachycarpaea, Cycloptychis, Schlechteria, Silicularia, and Thlaspeocarpa are united with Heliophila (Brassicaceae). Except for Brachycarpaea, the genera are treated as new synonyms of Heliophila. The characters previously used to distinguish these genera are critically evaluated. The retention of Brachycarpaea and Silicularia in Heliophila would not necessitate any nomenclatural novelties, but the transfer of species of the remaining three genera to Heliophila requires a new combination and four new names. The new combination H. namaquensis and the new names H. monosperma, H. maraisiana, H. hurkana, and H. suborbicularis are proposed.
Anderberg, A. A., Ståhl, B. & Källersjö, M.: Maesaceae, a new primuloid family in the order Ericales s.l. – Taxon 49: 183–187. 2000. – ISSN 0040‐0262.
Evidence from morphology and molecular sequence data from three chloroplast genes, rbc L, ndh F, and atp B, have shown that the genus Maesa constitutes an evolutionary lineage separate from the other three primuloid families, Theophrastaceae, Myrsinaceae, and Primulaceae. The new family Maesaceae is here formally recognised, its taxonomic status being changed from a subfamily of Myrsinaceae. The new family comprises a single genus, Maesa Forssk., with some 100 species of trees or shrubs; it is diagnosed by characters such as flower pedicels with two bracteoles, a semi‐inferior ovary, and indehiscent fruits with many seeds. A key to the major groups of primuloid taxa is presented
The genus Cyclamen L. (Primulaceae) has been subject to a cladistic parsimony analysis based on morphological and cytological data, using Soldanella L. and Dodecatheon L. as outgroups. The analysis yielded two equally parsimonious cladograms from which a hypothesis of phylogenetic interrelationships has been formulated. Subgenus Psilanthum Schwartz was found to be the sister-group of the two subgenera Cyclamen and Gyrophoebe Schwarz, whereas the former subgenus Eucosme Schwarz was found to be a derived group within subgenus Cyclamen. Based on the cladistic analysis, character evolution in Cyclamen is discussed, a subgeneric reclassification of the genus is proposed, and Cyclamen graecum Link is hypothesized to be a taxon of hybrid origin.
The Empetraceae have been subject to cladistic analysis to evaluate their phylogenetic interrelationships, and to investigate character evolution in the genus Empetrum. The results indicate that all genera are monophyletic as presently circumscribed, and that red-fruited diploid Empetrum, today found in the Southern Hemisphere, are the sister-group of the black-fruited crowberries. Black-fruited, as well as purple-fruited, tetraploid crowberries are hypothesized to have evolved from diploid black-fruited ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere. The present investigation casts new light on the evolution and biogeography of the family and shows the fallacy of assuming that small disjunct populations must be derived from larger, more widespread ones.
Based on extensive molecular, cytological, and morphological studies, most of the North American species of Arabis (Brassicaceae) are recognized herein as members of the genus Boechera. Morphological differences between the two genera are discussed, and species formerly placed in Arabis and not included here in Boechera are assigned to other genera. Thirty-two new combinations in Boechera are proposed: B. bodiensis (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. breweri (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz, B. canadensis (L.) Al-Shehbaz, B. constancei (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. cusickii (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz, B. dispar (M. E. Jones) Al-Shehbaz, B. falcifructa (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. fruticosa (A. Nelson) Al-Shehbaz, B. glaucovalvula (M. E. Jones) Al-Shehbaz, B. hastatula (Greene) Al-Shehbaz, B. hirshbergiae (S. Boyd) Al-Shehbaz, B. hoffmanii (Munz) Al-Shehbaz, B. inyoensis (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. johnstonii (Munz) Al-Shehbaz, B. koehleri (T. J. Howell) Al-Shehbaz, B. laevigata (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Al-Shehbaz, B. missouriensis (Greene) Al-Shehbaz, B. ophira (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. parishii (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz, B. patens (Sullivant) Al-Shehbaz, B. perstellata (E. Braun) Al-Shehbaz, B. pinzlae (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. platysperma (A. Gray) Al-Shehbaz, B. pygmaea (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. rectissima (Greene) Al-Shehbaz, B. repanda (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz, B. rigidissima (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. rollei (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz, B. shortii (Fernald) Al-Shehbaz, B. stricta (Graham) Al-Shehbaz, B. subpinnatifida (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz, and B. tiehmii (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz. Three recently described species, Arabis calderi G. A. Mulligan, A. murrayi G. A. Mulligan, and B. glareosa Dorn, are reduced to synonymy of B. divaricarpa (A. Nelson) A Löve & D. Löve, B. lyallii, and B. gunnisoniana (Rollins) W. A. Weber, respectively.