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Invasive species, including more than three dozen Asteraceae, such as Solidago canadensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Senecio inaequidens etc, pose serious threat to ecosystem health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is a key factor for distribution of invasive species of some Asteraceae tribes, including Astereae, Anthemideae, Senecioneae, Gnaphalieae, Cardueae, and Cichorieae. The formation of invasion-friendly plant communities has occurred through increasing nutrient and water availability, hormonal regulation, production of bioactive compounds, and mycorrhiza-induced resistance of host plants. Native species are displaced through the influence on soil microbiota, mycorrhizal and nutrient status of neighboring plants, and several other parameters. Allelopathic influences and symbiotic interactions with bacteria and other fungi can inhibit these processes. Understanding the mycorrhizal status of invasive weeds, in our opinion, is a necessary condition for their successful control.

Chromosome numbers are reported here for the first time from 117 individuals of Solidago rugosa and S. fistulosa. Including 178 previously published reports for the two species plus S. latissimifolia, chromosome numbers have been determined from 295 individuals from 269 locations. Only diploids (2n = 18) were found throughout the range of S. fistulosa on the coastal plain in the eastern U.S.A. (44 counts). Diploids (2n = 18) were found in the northern portion of the range of S. latissimifolia, and tetraploids (2n = 36) and hexaploids (2n = 54) were found in the central and southern portions of the range (nine counts in total). Diploids (2n = 18) were found throughout the range of S. rugosa in much of eastern North America in four of the five varieties (northern var. rugosa, var. sphagnophila, southern var. aspera and var. celtidifolia). Tetraploids (2n = 36) were found in all four of these varieties and exclusively in var. cronquistiana in the southern high Appalachian Mountains. Hexaploids (2n = 54) were found in var. sphagnophila at scattered locations. One possible hexaploid in var. rugosa was found in the Allegheny Mountains. The diversity in ploidy levels was independent of the size of the range and the diversity of growing conditions among the three species of S. subsect. Venosae.

Lagenophora schmidiae de Lange & Jian Wang ter sp. nov. (Asteraceae) is described, illustrated and differentiated from L. montana Hook.f. The new species was first recorded from Aotearoa / New Zealand in 1974, when it was identified as L. montana. This relatively recent recognition reflects in part the fact that the new species is extremely uncommon, and has often been confused with the superficially similar L. barkeri Kirk, with which it often grows. A conservation status for L. schmidiae of ‘Threatened / Nationally Critical’ using the New Zealand Threat Classification System is proposed, as the new species is known only from small populations, many of which are threatened by alien weed invasion.

The geographic range of Podocoma Blanchetiana includes the sandy grasslands (Campos de Areia region), in Alegrete, Manoel Viana and São Francisco de Assis municipalities, southwest Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Furthermore, Stenachaenium megapotamicum var. pedunculata and St. megapotamicum f. minor, are added to the synonymy of P. hieracifolia. Lectotypes are designated to St. megapotamicum f. minor and Podocoma Blanchetiana var. intermedia.

Asteraceae is the second largest plant family in the world. The family member has reached 227 species in Java. However, there is no current record of wild Asteraceae around local village within Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park. This study is to provide current Asteraceae species data and the threat for the conservation area. Explorative method has been conducted in 6 sites. The result shows that there are 20 species found with the tribes composition are 8 Heliantheae , 6 Eupatorieae , 3 Senecioneae , 1 Astereae , 1 Cichorieae , and 1 new record Vernonieae in Java. Key identification for species are provided and the new record has been described. Most species categorized as introduced with several other categorized as invasive alien species. In conclusion, numbers of Asteraceae family has been recorded with some potential ivansive threat in Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park. Regular population control and treatment are recommended in order to protect native species in the conservation area.

The genus Lagenophora Cass. is taxonomically revised for New Caledonia with two species recognised. Lagenophora sinuosa Lannuzel, Gâteblé & Jian Wang ter, sp. nov. is endemic to New Caledonia and the other, L. sublyrata (Cass.) A.R.Bean & Jian Wang ter occurs there and in many other countries from the region. Both are fully described and illustrated. An identification key is provided, as are notes on the distribution (including maps), habitat, phenology and conservation status. The generic placement of the new species is also discussed.

The genus Blumea (Asteroideae, Asteraceae) comprises about 100 species, including herbs, shrubs, and small trees. Previous studies have been unable to resolve taxonomic issues and the phylogeny of the genus Blumea due to the low polymorphism of molecular markers. Therefore, suitable polymorphic regions need to be identified. Here, we de novo assembled plastomes of the three Blumea species B. oxyodonta, B. tenella, and B. balsamifera and compared them with 26 other species of Asteroideae after correction of annotations. These species have quadripartite plastomes with similar gene content, genome organization, and inverted repeat contraction and expansion comprising 113 genes, including 80 protein‐coding, 29 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. The comparative analysis of codon usage, amino acid frequency, microsatellite repeats, oligonucleotide repeats, and transition and transversion substitutions has revealed high resemblance among the newly assembled species of Blumea. We identified 10 highly polymorphic regions with nucleotide diversity above 0.02, including rps16‐trnQ, ycf1, ndhF‐rpl32, petN‐psbM, and rpl32‐trnL, and they may be suitable for the development of robust, authentic, and cost‐effective markers for barcoding and inference of the phylogeny of the genus Blumea. Among these highly polymorphic regions, five regions also co‐occurred with oligonucleotide repeats and support use of repeats as a proxy for the identification of polymorphic loci. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between Blumea and Pluchea within the tribe Inuleae. At tribe level, our phylogeny supports a sister relationship between Astereae and Anthemideae rooted as Gnaphalieae, Calenduleae, and Senecioneae. These results are contradictory to recent studies which reported a sister relationship between “Senecioneae and Anthemideae” and “Astereae and Gnaphalieae” or a sister relationship between Astereae and Gnaphalieae rooted as Calenduleae, Anthemideae, and then Senecioneae using nuclear genome sequences. The conflicting phylogenetic signals observed at the tribal level between plastidt and nuclear genome data require further investigation.

Background: Dichrocephala is an Old-World genus of the tribe Astereae within the family Asteraceae. One species, D . integrifolia , has been recently reported as introduced in the New World from a pair of collections from Guatemala. During field work in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, the species was found and collected. This is the first record of both the genus and species in Mexico and the second record for these taxa in the Americas. Question: Can D . integrifolia occur in more areas in the New World besides those known from Guatemala and Chiapas? Studied species: Dichrocephala integrifolia Study site and dates: Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Methods: An ecological niche model was made and it was projected into the New World. Results: The ecological niche model predicts the records of D. integrifolia in the New World in addition to other ecologically suitable areas, mostly in pine-oak forests in Mexico and Central America and zones with humid mountain and pine forest in the Caribbean. Moreover, a morphological description and illustrations of the species are provided to help with its identification. Conclusions: It is desirable to avoid the further spreading of D . integrifolia in the New World. Although this species is not considered as invasive, it seems to have a high dispersal potential and the ecological niche modelling indicates larger regions in the Americas that might be affected.

Hysterionica s.l. (including Neja) comprises ca. 15 species distributed mainly in the grasslands of southern Brazil, Uruguay, central and northern Argentina and Southern Paraguay. Based on field surveys, study of nomenclatural types and other specimens, and review of literature, a new species is proposed here, Hysterionica chamomilloides, endemic of mountainous regions of northern Uruguay, and southwestern Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. This work provides a detailed morphological description of the new species, information on its geographic distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status, and discusses the main differences between H. chamomilloides and the morphologically most similar species. Illustrations, images and a key to the South American species of Hysterionica are also supplied.

Our critical examination of the type material and protologue of Blumea sonbhadrensis Narain et al. revealed that this species actually corresponds to Erigeron sublyratus (Astereae), instead of Blumea mollis (Inuleae) as originally supposed. The species is therefore resolved here as a synonym of Erigeron sublyratus.

Baccharis rectialata (Compositae: Astereae), a new species of B. sect. Caulopterae from the grasslands in northeastern Uruguay is described. The new species is morphologically similar to B. crispa and can be differentiated by its straight wing margins, shorter involucres and pappus in staminate capitula. We provide a detailed morphological description, and information on the distribution, habitat, phenology, and conservation status. Additionally, we discuss the main differences between B. rectialata and other closely related and morphologically similar species, and provide a key for identification of subshrubs belonging to B. sect. Caulopterae occurring in Uruguay, as well as illustrations, images, and a distribution map of the new species.

—Baccharis funkiae, a new species endemic to Uruguay, is described and illustrated here. We also provide field work pictures, etymology, distribution and habitat, and preliminary conservation status information. Comments on how to differentiate it from the morphologically similar B. subopposita, highlighting differences setting the new species apart are discussed. Additionally, a key to the identification of the Uruguayan species belonging to Baccharis subgen. Baccharis sect. Cylindricae is presented.

Asteraceae account for 10% of all flowering plant species, and 35%–40% of these are in five closely related tribes that total over 10 000 species. These tribes include Anthemideae, Astereae, Calenduleae, Gnaphalieae, and Senecioneae, which form one of two enormous clades within Subfamily Asteroideae. We took a phylogenomics approach to resolve evolutionary relationships among these five tribes. We sampled the nuclear and plastid genomes via HybSeq target enrichment and genome skimming, and recovered 74 plastid genes and nearly 1000 nuclear loci, known as Conserved Orthologous Sequences. We tested for conflicting support in both data sets and used network analyses to assess patterns of reticulation to explain the early evolutionary history of this lineage, which has experienced whole‐genome duplications and rapid radiations. We found concordance and conflicting support in both data sets and documented four ancient hybridization events. Due to the timing of the early radiation of this five‐tribe lineage, shortly before the Eocene–Oligocene extinction event (34 MYA), early lineages were likely lost, obscuring some details of their early evolutionary history.

Four new names (Baccharis gaucha for B. axillaris var. dentata; B. neoaustralis for B. papillosa subsp. australis; B. neotruncata for B. truncata, and B. tetroica for B. tricuneata var. procumbens) and 12 new combinations at species rank (B. chaparensis, B. chrysophylla, B. fimbriata, B. integrifolia, B. kessleri, B. longipedicellata, B. minor, B. mornicola, B. pycnocephala, B. vargasii, B. viscosissima, and B. yungensis) are provided totalling 16 nomenclatural novelties for Baccharis subgen. Baccharis. Moreover, a neotype is designated for B. mornicola. Comments on the distribution of these species and their closest congeneric species are provided, as well as morphological characters to differentiate them.

—The number and identity of species within Euthamia (Asteraceae, Astereae) have varied considerably among taxonomic treatments. Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt. is often treated broadly, including plants from the northern and eastern United States and Canada, including the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Broad-leaved, largely glabrous plants from New Jersey to the Florida Panhandle have been inconsistently treated as E. graminifolia, E. graminifolia var. hirtipes (Fernald) C.E.S. Taylor & R.J. Taylor, E. hirtipes (Fernald) Sieren, or a hybrid between E graminifolia and E. caroliniana (L.) Greene ex Porter & Britton. Similarly, plants from the Florida Panhandle to eastern Louisiana have been incorporated into E. graminifolia or E. graminifolia var. hirtipes with only Greene in 1902 recognizing these plants as a distinct species, E. scabra Greene. To determine the identity and proper rank of these entities, morphological and phylogenetic analyses were performed to evaluate relationships within Euthamia. Plants from the Atlantic Coast most morphologically resemble Gulf Coast plants which similarly resemble E. gymnospermoides Greene. The Gulf Coast plants and E. gymnospermoides share similar DNA sequences while the Atlantic Coast plants represent a unique clade. Neither Gulf Coast nor Atlantic Coast plants contain highly polymorphic sequences, indicating that they are not hybrids. Occasional plants found within southernmost Alabama and the Florida Panhandle have polymorphic sequences and intermediate morphology however, suggesting that putative hybrids exist between Gulf and Atlantic Coast plants. This study concludes that both entities deserve specific rank as E. scabra Greene for scabrous plants along the central Gulf Coast and E. hirtipes (Fernald) Sieren for largely glabrous plants mostly along the Atlantic Coast. Ecological niche modeling indicates that precipitation, especially during summer months, and soils, namely coarse fragments and sand content, drive the distribution of these organisms, largely restricted to either side of the Apalachicola River serving as a distributional barrier.

This study reports, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and a morphological assessment, the second species of Pacifigeron, an endemic genus of Rapa Island in French Polynesia. Detailed morphological and ecological descriptions, illustrations, IUCN Red List assessment, and a distributional map are provided. Our results support the exclusion of Pacifigeron from the Celmisia group and also allow the re-circumscription of the Celmisia group. The new species Pacifigeron indivisus can be differentiated from P. rapensis, among other characters, by its larger leaves, larger number of capitula per capitulescence, corollas lacking long uniseriate multicellular trichomes, style of the disc florets undivided, and absence of twin trichomes on the cypsela epidermis. Molecular data indicates that Pacifigeron is related to South American Andean genera rather than to the Celmisia group as was previously proposed. The Celmisia group is here re-circumscribed to include ca. 159 species distributed in Australasia within the following genera: Celmisia, Damnamenia, Olearia pro parte, Pachystegia, and Pleurophyllum. Given the taxonomic complexity and polyphyletic nature of Olearia, its taxonomy is briefly reviewed based on history, morphology, and phylogenetic evidence, which in turn allows delineation of its species composition within the Celmisia group. None of the Olearia species in the Celmisia group can be retained in Olearia since the type species, O. tomentosa, does not belong to the Celmisia group.

The new combination Solenogyne christensenii (Petrie) de Lange, Jian Wang ter & Barkla comb. nov. is validated for a New Zealand species originally published as Abrotanella christensenii Petrie. The species is described, illustrated and differentiated from similar and related taxa. The species is seriously threatened, being known with certainty only from the South Island of New Zealand where there is one extant population in Otago, though the species was also known historically from the type locality, Hanmer Plain, North Canterbury.

A new Asteraceae species, Aster huangpingensis W. P. Li & Z. Li from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular analyses. Detailed morphological comparisons indicated that A. huangpingensis is similar to A. dolichophyllus. However, it can be distinguished from A. dolichophyllus by its lower leaves (2.5) 3.3–5.8 (7.5) × 0.3–0.9 cm, narrowly oblanceolate or spatulate, bracts glandular, punctate, few or absent, involucres campanulate, 3.5–5.5 mm in diam., ray florets 11–22 and disk florets 16–28, middle phyllary margins with strigillose and eglandular hairs, stigmatic appendage equilaterally triangle-shaped, and different flowering period. Molecular analyses based on nuclear ITS and ETS sequence data supported A. huangpingensis as a distinct species, and its systematic position is determined in A. subgen. Aster sect. Aster. Cytological observations showed that the new species is diploid with its karyotype being 2n =2x =18 = 16 m + 2 sm. Its only population is located on riverbanks of a stream that will become a tourist hotspot and is in urgent need for conservation actions.

During taxonomic studies of the southern African genus Pteronia, four new species, P. armatifolia, P. decurrens, P. flava and P. glandulosa were uncovered from the Northern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. We formally describe these four new species here and provide detailed descriptions, diagnostic characters, geographical distributions, as well as ecological information for each of the species.

This study presents a taxonomic revision of the Pteronia adenocarpa group. Six species are recognised within this group, namely P. adenocarpa, P. armatifolia, P. elongata, P. hutchinsoniana, P. stoehelinoides and P. viscosa. The group is distinct in its characteristic basally hairy cypselae, as opposed to the glabrous-glossy, glandular and/or variously hairy cypselae with the hairs evenly distributed throughout the surface found in the remaining species of the genus. We here present a detailed taxonomic treatment with descriptions, nomenclature, diagnostic characters, geographical distribution and maps, ecological information as well as the key to the species.

Apodocephala is a small genus of nine species of shrubs and trees endemic to Madagascar and currently classified in the tribe Astereae (Asteraceae). However, its present tribal position has been questioned, as it lacks some of the salient morphological features of that tribe. This study includes for the first time DNA sequences from Apodocephala (two species including the type of the generic name) to test its phylogenetic position. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from nuclear ribosomal (ETS and ITS) and plastid (ndhF and trnL–trnF) DNA regions, using Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony methods, strongly reject the placement of Apodocephala in the Astereae. Our results, instead, support its position as sister to the Malagasy monospecific genus Lowryanthus within the tribe Athroismeae. Morphological comparison of these sister genera reveal similarities in cypsela morphology, and the inclusion of Apodocephala in the subtribe Lowryanthinae is proposed here. The tribe Athroismeae is now represented by ten genera (Anisochaeta, Anisopappus, Apodocephala, Artemisiopsis, Athroisma, Blepharispermum, Centipeda, Leucoblepharis, Lowryanthus and Symphyllocarpus), six of which occur in Madagascar. The Malagasy Athroismeae occur in all Malagasy terrestrial ecosystems (rainforests, deciduous dry forests, thicket spiny forests and savannas) and are likely the result of multiple independent colonization events mostly from mainland Africa. Citation: Bengtson A., Anderberg A. A. & Razafimandimbison S. G. 2021: The Malagasy enigmatic genus Apodocephala (Asteraceae), a new member of the tribe Athroismeae. – Willdenowia 51: 221–230. Version of record first published online on 10 August 2021 ahead of inclusion in August 2021 issue.

Linochilus Bentham (1845) has priority as the correct name for the recently reinstated genus Piofontia Cuatrecasas (1943) segregated from Diplostephium Kunth (1820). A brief taxonomic historical account is provided in order to explain the taxonomic problem. A list of 61 names within Linochilus is given, including 59 new combinations. The 60 combinations recently created for Piofontia are listed as synonyms.

—Doellingeria and Eucephalus form the earliest-diverging clade of the North American Astereae lineage. Phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear and plastid sequence data show that the Doellingeria-Eucephalus clade consists of two main subclades that differ from current circumscriptions of the two genera. Doellingeria is the sister group to E. elegans, and the Doellingeria + E. elegans subclade in turn is sister to the subclade containing all remaining species of Eucephalus. In the plastid phylogeny, the two subclades are deeply divergent, a pattern that is consistent with an ancient hybridization event involving ancestral species of the Doellingeria-Eucephalus clade and an ancestral taxon of a related North American or South American group. Divergence of the two Doellingeria-Eucephalus subclades may have occurred in association with northward migration from South American ancestors. We combine these two genera under the older of the two names, Doellingeria, and propose 12 new combinations (10 species and two varieties) for all species of Eucephalus.

The tephritid Cecidochares connexa has been used to good effect as a biological control agent on the Asian/West African biotype of the invasive alien shrub Chromolaena odorata, but does not develop well on the different, southern African C. odorata biotype. A stem-galling tephritid fly, Polymorphomyia basilica, from the northern Caribbean islands, was considered as a potential biological control agent for C. odorata in South Africa. Life history traits and host range on 32 asteraceous plants were investigated in single-choice tests and using single pairs of adults in no-choice tests, under laboratory conditions. Positive biological characteristics of P. basilica include a high rate of increase, the production of several generations per year, long-lived and mobile adults, the ability of females to produce viable offspring without repeated mating, and the ability of adults to eclose from galls on dry stems. Use of a single pair of adults for no-choice tests proved to be efficient. Oviposition and larval development through to adulthood occurred on three other South American and on two South African species; for the latter, one was in the tribe Eupatorieae, closely related to C. odorata, and the other in the Astereae, less closely related to the weed, but both at a lower and slower rate. Females tended to retain their eggs under no-choice conditions in the presence of an unsuitable host, and to compensate by ovipositing at a higher rate when presented later with a C. odorata plant. The poor offspring survival on non-target plants tested in this study demonstrates the suitability of P. basilica for release in South Africa.

Aster polius C.K. Schneider (Asteraceae, Astereae) was known only from the holotype locality after having been collected in 1908. Its systematic position and relationships among Aster and related genera remained unknown. In this work, we report the rediscovery of Aster polius at the type locality in western Sichuan, China, in 2016. After a detailed comparison with herbarium specimens and a phylogenetic reconstruction of densely sampled relatives based on nuclear markers (nrITS & nrETS), the position of Aster polius was determined to be in Aster ser. Albescentes. This species differs from other species of A. ser. Albescents in some key characters, i.e., leaves adaxially verruculose, leaves narrowly ovate to elliptic, 0.6–1.5 × 0.2–0.7 cm, capitula in corymbiform synflorescences. An amended description with a distribution map and a drawing of the species are presented.

We present the hitherto most comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for Baccharis. Our results confirm that subtribe Baccharidinae is a monogeneric group and support a broad circumscription of Baccharis as monophyletic with the inclusion of all genera that have been previously segregated from it (Baccharidastrum, Baccharidiopsis, Heterothalamulopsis, Heterothalamus, Lanugothamnus). We provide comprehensive lists of accepted and synonymized infrageneric taxa. Seven main lineages are recognized, which we treat as subgenera. Subgenera Baccharis and Molina roughly match previous circumscriptions, while subgenera Pteronioides and Stephananthus are merged with Molina. In total, we propose that Baccharis comprises 440 species classified into 7 subgenera and 47 sections, while 22 sections are considered synonyms. The phylogeny provided constitutes the basis for further exploration of the evolutionary processes that have allowed the group to attain its wide geographic distribution, morphological variation, variable sexual reproductive strategies, and complex chemical contents.

Haplopappus paucidentatus Phil. (Compositae: Astereae: Machaerantherinae) is described and illustrated in colour and with a black and white text figure. Cultivation and propagation are discussed, most stocks better maintained using cuttings or layering. It is not apparently available commercially, but could be searched for under the ‘catch all’ name of H. glutinosus. Haplopappus Cass. is now recognized as a South American genus, considerably smaller than originally conceived by Hall in his major revision. It consists of 56 species in three subgenera, the largest, subgenus Haplopappus, contains 2 sections, section Haplopappus containing H. paucidentatus and H. glutinosus Cass. within which it has been included in several treatments.

Corethrogyne filaginifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. (Compositae: Astereae: Machaerantherinae) is illustrated and described. The full synonymy of this monospecific North American genus is provided together with the location of known type material and relevant comments made where applicable. The Conservation Status of the species is considered LC (Least Concern), as previous listings in California are shown to refer to Corethrogyne filaginifolia (Hook. & Arn.) var. incana (Lindl.) D.R. Morgan & R.L. Hartman, which is now considered a synonym of the rather variable Dieteria canescens (Pursh) Nutt. The taxonomic placement of Diplopappus incanus Lindl. is discussed, and a synonymy has been provided for Dieteria canescens subsp. canescens var. incana (Lindl.) D.R. Morgan & R.L. Hartman, of which it is the basionym. The location of the probable holotype of Diplopappus leucophyllus Lindl. ex DC. is discussed, together with the relevance of material mounted on a Kew sheet.

The genus Solidago is one of the most complex taxa in the Asteraceae, with a large number of species mostly from North America. Solidago chilensis Meyen is a South American species with a wide distribution, known mainly for its medicinal properties. Due to the scarce information on the reproductive structures, we studied the morphoanatomy of the inflorescence and flowers with conventional histological techniques of light and scanning electron microscopy. The floral axes show abundant fascicular and interfascicular fibres. The leaves exhibit an isobilateral mesophyll, and in the phyllaries and the bracts of the peduncle, the mesophyll contains numerous fibres. There are schizogenous secretory spaces associated with the vascular bundles of leaves, stems, receptacle, bracts, phyllaries, ovaries and corolla of the disc florets. The latter present an annular nectary at the base of the style. The indumentum of the florets is represented by biseriate glandular trichomes in the corollas and ovaries, and twin hairs on the ovaries; in the rest of the organs, the trichomes are biseriate glandular and eglandular conical, whip-like, and biseriate only on the phyllaries and bracts. The predominant crystals in the floral parts are druses, and raphides and styloids in the rest of the inflorescence. The general morphological features agree with those reported for Astereae, while several other anatomical features are described for the first time for the species and may have taxonomic value for the genus and the tribe. Likewise, these characteristics also contribute to the quality control of the species as a crude drug.

This study was the first report complete chloroplast genome of Aster batangensis (Astereae: Asteraceae), the perennial herb endemic to China. The plastid genome of Aster batangensis include 132 unique genes, with 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Among these genes, 21 duplicate genes, including10 protein-coding genes, 7 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes were detected. The complete genome size of Aster batangensis has a typical quadripartite circular structure with 152,605 bp in total length, consisting a large single copy (LSC) of 84,351 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 18,212 bp, separated by a pair of invested repeats (IR) of 25,021 bp. The average GC content of whole plastome sequence is 37.3%, and the LSC, SSC and IR regions is 35.3%, 31.3%, and 43.0%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis by the maximum likelihood method showed that A. batangensis was closely related to the other members of Astereae (e.g. Aztecaster matudae, Conyza bonariensis, Lagenophora cuchumatanica, Baccharis tricuneata, Baccharis genistelloides).

Chromosome numbers are reported for 209 individuals of Solidago altissima from Canada and the United States.

SummaryA synopsis of Plagiocheilus (Compositae: Astereae) is provided, giving full synonymy, type citations and the location of known types, together with relevant notes and commentary, and the currently accepted distribution of each taxon; the distribution of taxa is also tabulated. Six species are recognised, one containing three subspecies. A key to species is presented. One author citation is corrected following an incorrect assumption by de Candolle when describing Plagiocheilus tanacetoides. The synonymy of Polygyne inconspicua, under Eclipta prostrata, is précised once again. An index to names associated with Plagiocheilus is given, and the nomen nudum of Plagiocheilus herzogii commented upon.

A recent phylogenomic study has shown that Diplostephium in its broad sense is biphyletic. While one of the clades comprises 60 species distributed mainly in the Northern Andes, the clade that contains the generic type, Diplostephium ericoides, contains 48 species, and primarily inhabits the Central Andes. Here, I propose to reinstate the generic name Piofontia and transfer to it the species of Diplostephium in the Northern Andean clade. Piofontia consists, then, of 60 species of woody subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees inhabiting high Andean forests and paramos of Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. A morphological description is provided for the genus Piofontia along with a species list with 60 new combinations. Dysaster cajamarcensis is shown to be a synonym of Diplostephium serratifolium. Finally, a brief discussion about themorphological evolution of South American Astereae is provided.

Meiotic studies in 18 species belonging to 7 genera of the tribe Astereae from various localities of Western Himalaya have been analyzed. The chromosome number has been reported for the first time in Aster albescens (n = 9) and A. indamellus (n = 9). Further, intraspecific variability has been reported for the first time in A. thomsonii (n = 27), Bellis perennis (n = 5) and Myriactis nepalensis (n = 18). In India, the chromosome numbers are reported for first time in Aster himalaicus (n = 9), Brachyactis roylei (n = 9), Erigeron bellidioides (n = 9) and E. borealis (n = 9). B-chromosomes have been reported for the first time in Erigeron acer (n = 9 + 1 − 2B). Besides, most of the populations show laggards, chromosome stickiness and cytomixis from early prophase to telophase-II, leading to the formation of aneuploid cells or meiocytes with doubled chromosome number. Such meiotic abnormalities produce unreduced pollen grains and adversely affect pollen viability.

Seventeen compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Sheareria nana S. Moore. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the reported spectral data. They consisted of two sterols (1 and 12), five triterpenoids (2–6), two lignanoids (7 and 16), two diterpenoids (8 and 9), two phenylpropanoids (10 and 11), three flavonoids (13, 15 and 17) and one quinone (14). The taxonomic influence of these compounds in the position of this species within the Compositae family was discussed. As the result, the neo-clerodane diterpenes (soulidiol and soulidiol 18-O-β-D-glucoside), sterol (α-spinasterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside) and triterpenoids (urs-12-ene and olean-12-ene) might depict the taxonomic position for S. nana in Compositae and demonstrate the relationships between S. nana and some species of Astereae and Inuleae.

The number of species recognized in Baccharis Linnaeus (1753: 860), a Neotropical genus characterized by the tufted indumentum of leaves and stems and by the unisexual florets generally in separate specimens (Müller 2006), ranges from 354 (Müller 2013) to ca. 500 species (Malagarriga 1976). The infrageneric classification (Heiden 2014, Heiden & Pirani 2016) currently recognizes seven subgenera: Baccharis subgen. Baccharis, Baccharis subgen. Coridifoliae (Giuliano in Giuliano & Freire 2011: 339) Heiden in Heiden & Pirani (2016: 286), Baccharis subgen. Heterothalamulopsis (Deble et al. 2004: 1) Heiden in Heiden & Pirani (2016: 287), Baccharis subgen. Heterothalamus (Lessing 1830: 145) Heiden in Heiden & Pirani (2016: 288), Baccharis subgen. Molina (Persoon 1807: 424) Heering (1904: 40), Baccharis subgen. Oblongifoliae (Candolle 1836: 416) Heiden in Heiden & Pirani (2016: 289), and Baccharis subgen. Tarchonanthoides Heering (1904: 26).

During the revision of South American species of Gutierrezia (Asteraceae, Astereae) taxonomic novelties were established: (1) two new varieties were described, Gutierrezia mandonii var. anomala from northwestern Argentina, and Gutierrezia isernii var. nivea from central and western Argentina; and (2) the species Gutierrezia pulviniformis was included as a new synonym of Gutierrezia spathulata.

As a first step towards a comprehensive revision of Pteronia (Asteraceae, Astereae), we present here a taxonomic treatment of the Pteronia camphorata group, in which we recognise three species. The group includes the type species P. camphorata (an important medicinal plant) and is easily distinguished from the rest of the genus by the glabrous rather than glandular or variously pilose cypselas. The lectotype of P. camphorata has involucral bracts with entire margins and long acuminate apices, both diagnostic characters for P. stricta. As such P. stricta is here reduced into synonymy with P. camphorata and the next available name, P. aspera Thunb, reinstated to accommodate the species heretofore treated as P. camphorata. Three varieties within Pteronia camphorata had been previously recognised (var. armata, var. laevigata and var. longifolia). The characters distinguishing var. armata were found to be continuous with the variation observed within var. longifolia. The third infraspecific taxon, var. laevigata, was however found to be distinct and is therefore recognised here as a new species, P. cederbergensis Bello, Magee & Boatwr. It is readily distinguished by the glabrous branches, opposite to sub-opposite somewhat succulent leaves, the 2-seriate pappus and larger, obclavate cypselas. Transverse sections of the leaves and cypselas were also examined and provide additional differences between the three recognised species.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 133 individuals of 41 taxa and cultivars and four hybrids in the goldenrod genus Solidago from Canada, the United States and botanical gardens in Europe. With the exception of first reports, all of the reports confirm previously published reports. First reports are for the following: Solidago juliae, 2n=36, Texas; S. radula, 2n=36, Arkansas, Texas; S. mexicana, 2n=36, Louisiana, Texas; S. velutina ssp. californica, 2n=36, California.

This study presents a detailed examination of the echinate and microechinate sculpturing in relation to the size of pollen grains in 31 selected species of Asteraceae belonging to the subfamilies Barnadesioideae, Mutisioideae, Carduoideae and Asteroideae. The aims were to recognize sculpturing patterns, under LM and SEM, within large and small pollen of both basal and derived species and to explore the features that could have taxonomic value to apply in palynological disciplines. The detailed examination of the exine surface showed both the relevance and limits of sculptural patterns for taxonomy. Under LM, the microechinate sculpture gave little taxonomic information, whereas in the echinate sculpture, three exine types and two subtypes were recognized. Type I included microechinate exine, which is commonly present in large pollen grains of the basal lineages. Types II (subtypes IIa and IIb) and III included echinate and smaller pollen grains. In these types, spines were always regularly arranged and, were characterized by the length, shape, tip, perforations and distribution. Type IIa included more or less conical spines usually with a distended base, less than 4 µm in length, present in species of different tribes like Astereae, Eupatorieae, Helenieae, Gnaphalieae, Senecioideae and Heliantheae to a lesser extent. Type IIb includes slender spines with narrower bases, longer than 4 µm, present in species of Coreopsideae, Heliantheae, Tageteae and Eupatorieae to a lesser extent. Type III included spines with swollen base, blunt tip and perforations over their entire surface. This type was present in only one of the basal species—Carduus thoermeri—and in one species of the derived tribe Helenieae, Gaillardia megapotamica. Probably, this is due to evolutionary convergence. Fil: Tellería, María Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentina

Ethnopharmacological relevance Heterotheca inuloides Cass. (Asteraceae) has been traditionally used to treat a wide range of diseases in Mexico in the treatment of rheumatism, topical skin inflammation, muscular pain colic, and other painful conditions associated with inflammatory processes, additionally has been used to treat dental diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders. This species has also been used for the treatment of cancer and diabetes. This review provides up-to-date information on the botanical characterization, traditional uses, chemical constituents, as well as the biolological activities of H. inuloides . Material and methods A literature search was conducted by analyzing the published scientific material. Information related to H. inuloides was collected from various primary information sources, including books, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, monographs, theses and government survey reports. The electronic search of bibliographic information was gathered from accepted scientific databases such as Scienfinder, ISI Web of Science, Scielo, LILACS, Redalyc, Pubmed, SCOPUS and Google Scholar. Results To date, more than 140 compounds have been identified from H. inuloides , including cadinane sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenes, benzoic acid derivatives, and other types of compounds. Many biological properties associated with H. inuloides. Many studies have shown that the extracts and some compounds isolated from this plant exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities such as antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and chelating activities, as well as insecticidal and phytotoxic activity. To date, reports on the toxicity of H. inuloides are limited. Conclusions A comprehensive analysis of the literature obtained through the above-mentioned sources confirmed that ethnomedical uses of H. inuloides have been recorded in Mexico to treat rheumatism, pain, and conditions associated with inflammatory processes. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated the activity of certain compounds associated with the traditional use of the plant such as the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of the species. The available literature showed that cadinene sesquiterpenes are the major bioactive components of H. inuloides with potential pharmacological activities. Further investigations are needed to fully understand the mode of action of the major active constituents.

Sixteen reported compounds (1–16), including two sterols, nine triterpenes and five phenylpropanoids, were obtained from Nannoglottis yuennanensis (Compositae) by chromatographic methods. Their structures were confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Among them, five compounds were firstly reported from the genus Nannoglottis, while others were obtained from this species for the first time. In addition, this study indicated that genus Nannoglottis could be divided into Astereae Cass. As a result, N. yuennanensis may have close chemotaxonomic relationships with many other plants among Compositae family.

Aster saxicola W. P. Li & Z. Li, a new species of Asteraceae from southeastern Guizhou province, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological, molecular and cytological data. Morphological comparisons showed that A. saxicola is similar to A. oliganthus, but can be distinguished from the latter by its purple abaxial surface of the lower and middle cauline leaves, cordate‐ovate basal leaves with strigose hairs, outer three‐seriate phyllaries with purple or purplish apex, 9–14 ray florets and 10–18 disk florets. Phylogenetic analyses based on nrDNA ITS, ETS and plastid trnL–F DNA sequence data support that A. saxicola is a distinct species and belongs to Aster subgen. Aster sect. Ageratoides. Cytological observation shows that the new species is diploid with a karyotype formula 2n = 2x = 18 = 16m + 2sm. The new species should be considered endangered (EN) based on the IUCN red list criteria because of its restricted geographic range.

In this work, two new flavonoids, oblongifolioside A (1) and oblongifolioside B (2), along with eight known compounds (3&ndash, 10), are isolated from the leaves of Baccharis oblongifolia (Asteraceae). The new structures are established through spectroscopic data and the known compounds are identified by comparison with data reported in the literature. The compounds (1&ndash, 10) are evaluated in relation to their antiradical properties. Compounds 1 and 2 are found to exhibit high antiradical activity compared to their respective non-acylated flavonoids.

Aster dianchuanensis J.W.Xiao & W.P.Li (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Yunnan and Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated with photographs. Morphological data and a phylogenetic analysis based on a combined ITS, ETS and trnL-F dataset, suggest that A. dianchuanensis is a distinct species closely related to A. tongolensis. The new species differs from the latter by its few-branched stems (vs simple in A. tongolensis), basal rosette and lower cauline leaves marcescent at anthesis (vs present at anthesis), larger middle cauline leaves (3 – 5.8 × 0.7 cm – 1.2 vs 1 – 4 × 0.2 – 0.9 cm), capitula 2 – 5 in lax corymbiform inflorescence (vs solitary capitula), 3 – 4 (5 –)-seriate phyllaries (vs 2- or 3-seriate), unequal (rarely equal) disc floret lobes (vs equal, or rarely unequal).

Narrowly lanceolate leaves occur frequently in the genus Aster. It was often employed as a distinguishing character in the taxonomy of this genus. The origin of this particular leaf shape, however, has never been investigated using comparative methods. In this study, we reconstructed a comprehensive phylogeny that includes most species of Aster with narrowly lanceolate leaf. We then gathered data on riparian habitats and the presence or absence of narrowly lanceolate leaves, and investigated the evolutionary association between them in a phylogenetic context. Our analysis indicated that the species with narrowly lanceolate leaves are nested in unrelated lineages of the genus Aster, implying that they originated independently several times. Using Pagel’s comparative method of discrete data, we demonstrated a significant correlation between riparian habitats and narrowly lanceolate leaves. We further inferred the sequence of transition of the two characters. This analysis indicated that the sequence of evolution of riparian habitat and narrowly lanceolate leaf form was usually uncertain, but some positive results showed that the occurrence of riparian habitats may not precede the evolution of narrowly lanceolate leaf form. This study provided new insights into the adaptive evolution in a mega-diverse family. In addition, Aster tonglingensis, an unexpected new species with narrowly lanceolate leaves, was discovered and established based on the evidence from morphology, micromorphology and molecular phylogeny.

Se describen los efectos de la UV-B sobre la síntesis de pigmentos fotosintéticos (clorofila total, clorofila a, clorofila b, carotenoides), protectores (compuestos absorbentes de UV-B) y azúcares solubles (glucosa, fructosa y sacarosa) en cinco variedades de quinoa de diferentes orígenes geográficos. En general, se demuestra que las variedades reaccionan desplegando diferentes estrategias para protegerse de la radiación UV-B. Estas estrategias pueden ser de tipo morfológico, fisiológico y/o bioquímico. Una respuesta común, observada en las cinco variedades fue el incremento en el contenido de compuestos absorbentes de UV-B, lo que puede interpretarse como un “escudo químico” de protección para el aparato fotosintético frente al exceso de energía proveniente de la radiación quese aplica a las plantas.