Search

Gamochaeta (Compositae) is a genus of 50–80 herbaceous species with a center of diversity in South America and with several common, generally weedy species in the eastern United States. Historically, some authors recognized as few as one species in the eastern United States while others have recognized as many as eight. These increased numbers are a product of both naturalization of nonnative species and recognition of new taxa. A study was undertaken with DNA markers to assess whether the putative species of this region exhibit genetic differences and to determine if DNA markers may be useful tools for identification. One nuclear and one plastid region of DNA were sequenced, and unique nuclear markers were found for all eight recognized species and unique plastid markers were found for five of the eight species. These results support the species hypotheses for entities in this region. Unlike other genera of the Compositae (e.g., Solidago) that possess little genetic differentiation in commonly used barcoding regions of DNA, the species of Gamochaeta in the eastern United States can be identified using a single nuclear marker, and several may be identified with a single plastid marker. Given that species of Gamochaeta are naturalizing in many places on Earth, these data will provide an important resource for identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pseudognaphalium Kirp., segregated from Gnaphalium L., is one of the largest genera of the tribe Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae) with about 60 species, most of them found in South, Central, and North America, but some species also occurring in Africa, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand. We present a taxonomic revision of Pseudognaphalium for North America accepting 36 species, mainly distributed in the Nearctic Region and the Mexican Transition Zone, and about one third of the species occurring in the Neotropical Region. The following taxa are newly synonymized: G. oaxacanum Greenm. with P. semiamplexicaule (DC.) Anderb., G. schraderi DC. with P. attenuatum (DC.) Anderb. var. sylvicola (McVaugh) Hinojosa & Villaseñor, P. altamiranum (Greenm.) Anderb. with P. roseum (Kunth) Anderb., and P. beneolens (Davidson) Anderb. with P. thermale (E. E. Nelson) G. L. Nesom. Lectotypes are newly designated for G. oblanceolatum Greenm., G. panniforme S. F. Blake, G. ramosissimum Nutt., G. roseum Kunth var. angustifolium Benth., G. roseum var. hololeucum Benth., and G. roseum var. sordescens Benth. Morphological descriptions are provided as well as taxonomic data on nomenclatural types, including synonymies, illustrations, distribution maps, distribution and habitat, additional material examined, distinguishing characters and taxonomic affinities for each taxon, biogeographical and ecological comments, and a key for their identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA sequencing of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastidtrnK intron confirms that wild intergeneric hybrids betweenArgyrotegium mackayiandLeucogenes leontopodiumoccur in the Tararua Range of the North Island of New Zealand. Both parent species belong to the tribe Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae), already known in New Zealand for numerous intergeneric hybrid combinations. However, anArgyrotegium × Leucogeneshybrid is an especially wide cross within this group. In keeping with the presumed breeding biology of the two parent species, plastid DNA sequences indicateA. mackayias the maternal parent of the sequenced sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas is the property of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The genus Gnaphalium, a herb distributed worldwide, comprises approximately 200 species of the Compositae (Asteraceae) family that belongs to the tribe Gnaphalieae. Some species are traditionally used as wild vegetables and in folk medicine. This review focuses on the phytochemical investigations and biological studies of plants from the genus Gnaphalium over the past few decades. More than 125 chemical constituents have been isolated from the genus Gnaphalium, including flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, phytosterols, anthraquinones, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, and other compounds. The extracts of this genus, as well as compounds isolated from it, have been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal, anti-complement, antitussive and expectorant, insect antifeedant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antihypouricemic properties. The present review compiles the information available on this genus because of its relevance to food and ethnopharmacology and the potential therapeutic uses of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typification of the 13 validly published, pre-1958 names of Helichrysum taxa based on Sicilian material is reassessed. Five of the types designated by Galbany-Casals & al. in their recent studies are confirmed (in some cases with additional precision), two neotypes proposed by them are superseded by lectotypes, and six lectotypes are newly designated. The correct name of the species known as H. rupestre, an illegitimate name, is H. panormitanum (or, if taken in a wide sense, H. pendulum). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamochaeta munnozii Cabrera was proposed as a new name for South American Gnaphalium serpyllifoIium Remy (1849), non Bergius (1767). Weddell (1855), however, had proposed Gamochaeta serpyllifolia and included Gnaphalium serpyllifolium Remy in synonymy. Thus, Gamochaeta serpyllifolia is the correct name for this taxon. A lectotype is chosen for Gnaphalium serpyllifolium Remy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]