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Black mildews belong to a wide range of leaf inhabiting fungal genera, which causes severe damage to the living leaves, affect photosynthetic efficiency, cause physiological imbalances, and reduces the plants’ aesthetic value. During a survey of foliicolous fungi in Vagamon hills of Kerala state’s Western Ghats region, an endemic medicinal plant Xanthophyllum arnottianum was found infected with an undescribed species of black mildew causing fungal genus Echidnodella. Their mycelia are non-appressoriate and devoid of hypostroma. Thyriothecia are oval, ellipsoidal, X or Y shaped, elongated producing eight uniseptate brown coloured ascospores in each bitunicate asci. Echidnodella was distinguished from the allied genus Echidnodes in the absence of paraphyses and from the genera Lembosia and Morenoella in the lack of appressoria (haustoria). This new species, Echidnodella vagamonensis is described and illustrated in detail to provide the consolidated account of the species known on this host genus.

A new species of the fungus Prillieuxina causing black mildew disease on Aporosa cardiosperma (Euphorbiaceae) is described and illustrated from Konni forest division of Kerala state, India. This is the first report of the genus Prillieuxina growing as a biotroph on host family Euphorbiaceae.

A new species of black mildew fungi was discovered infecting leaves of Ixora brachiata (Rubiaceae). The new species is described as Amazonia brachiata and it is the first record of an Amazonia species on I. brachiata. It is documented in detail with description, line drawings and photo plate, and is morphologically compared to similar species previously reported on the host family. A key to Amazonia species found on Rubiaceae is included to aid in their identification.

Mistletoes are hemiparasitic plants growing on aerial parts of other host trees. Many of the mistletoes are reported to be medicinally important. The hemiparasitic nature of these plants makes their chemical composition dependent on the host on which it grows. They are shown to exhibit morphological dissimilarities also when growing on different hosts. Helicanthus elastica (Desr.) Danser (mango mistletoe) is one such less explored medicinal mistletoe found on almost every mango tree in India. Traditionally, the leaves of this plant are used for checking abortion and for removing stones in the kidney and urinary bladder while significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are also attributed to this species of mistletoe. The current study was undertaken to evaluate molecular differences in the genomic DNA of the plant while growing on five different host trees using four random markers employing random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) followed by similarity matrix by Jaccard’s coefficient and distance matrix by hierarchal clustering analysis. Similarity and distance matrix data employing just 4 random markers, separately and the pooled data as well, revealed significant difference in the genomic DNA of H. elastica growing on five different hosts. Pooled data of similarity from all the 4 primers cumulatively showed similarity between 0.256 and 0.311. Distance matrix ranged from of 0.256 to 0.281 on pooling the data from all the four primers. The result employing a minimum number of primers could conclude that genomic DNA of H. elastica differs depending upon the host on which it grows, hence the host must be considered while studying or utilizing this mistletoe for medicinal purposes.

Continued botanical studies in some of the plant diversity centres of Saudi Arabia have led to the discovery of two genera new to the flora of Saudi Arabia. Descriptions and distributions of these two taxa, namely, Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) and Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso (Convolvulaceae) along with distribution map are presented. With the present additions, the total recorded vascular genera for the flora of Saudi Arabia now stands at 855 and the number of species at 2,290, showing an increase of approximately 2 % species during the past one decade.

Fourteen species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are recorded as new to Saudi Arabia. These are: Aphis coreopsidis (Thomas, 1878); Aphis illinoisensis Shimer, 1866; Baizongia pistaceae (Linnaeus, 1767); Capitophorus elaeagni (del Guercio, 1894); Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini, 1860); Eucarazzia elegans (Ferrari, 1872); Geoica lucifuga (Zehntner, 1897); Hayhurstia atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761); Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Linnaeus, 1758); Macrosiphoniella sanborni (Gillette, 1908); Smynthurodes betae Westwood, 1849; Uroleucon cichorii (Koch, 1855), and Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillette, 1908). Among these, three species, i.e. A. coreopsidis, A. illinoisensis, and W. nervata are alien species.

Amorphophallus Blume ex Decne. sect. Amorphophallus in India is revised. It is the smallest of the three sections in India with five species, viz. A. hirsutus Teysm. & Binn. , A. kachinensis Engl. & Gehrm., A. longistylus Kurz , A. napalensis (Wall.) Bogner & Mayo and A. paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius is the widely distributed species in India with two varieties, viz. A. paeoniifolius var. paeoniifolius , and var. campanulatus (Decne.) Sivad. Amorphophallus longistylus is the only species of the section endemic to India. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v21i2.21349 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 21 (2): 105-120, 2014 (December)

Recent field works in the central and southern regions of Saudi Arabia including agricultural centers have managed to collect four vascular plants new to terrestrial and wetland flora of the country. These new additions include one new genus Malvastrum A. Gray (M. coromandelianum) subsp. capitato-spicatum (O. Kuntze) S.R. Hill, Potamogeton perfoliatus L. (Potamogetonaceae), Euphorbia tirucalli L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. (Aizoaceae). Detailed morphological description, distribution and habitat of each of these species are provided along with illustrations and photographs. The report of new additions to the flora of Saudi Arabia indicated that the country needs thorough botanical explorations.

During the exploration of foliicolous fungi in the Pathanamthitta district of Western Ghats region of Kerala state, Hymenodictyon obovatum Wallich. (Rubiaceae) was found infected with black mildew fungus. Critical microscopic examination of the fungus revealed that it is hitherto undescribed species of the genus Meliola Fr. and hence the report.

The new genus Nanooravia Kiran Raj & Sivad. (Poaceae–Andropogoneae–Dimeriinae) from the southwestern Ghats in India is described and illustrated, and the new combination N. santapaui (M. R. Almeida) Kiran Raj & Sivad. is made. The genus is characterized by its usually unequal and intertwined racemes, triquetrous rachis, extremely oblique and glabrous pedicel tip, distantly arranged spikelets, long trigonous callus with oblique tip and densely covered with golden–yellow or yellowish–brown hairs along one angle, keel-less glumes with a dorsally echinate apex and apically auricled margins, and an upper lemma with a stout awn having a long column. The new genus is distinct from Dimeria R. Br. in which the species was originally described, but is similar to the monotypic Indian genus Pogonachne Bor currently placed in the subtribe Ischaeminae. It occurs in Peninsular India, a region considered as the centre of diversity of the subtribe with more than 50% of the known Dimeria species, including numerous endemics.

Using the recently built Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database, containing data on the distribution of naturalized alien plants in 483 mainland and 361 island regions of the world, we describe patterns in diversity and geographic distribution of naturalized and invasive plant species, taxonomic, phylogenetic and life-history structure of the global naturalized flora as well 204 Preslia 89: 203–274, 2017 as levels of naturalization and their determinants. The mainland regions with the highest numbers of naturalized aliens are some Australian states (with New South Wales being the richest on this continent) and several North American regions (of which California with 1753 naturalized plant species represents the world’s richest region in terms of naturalized alien vascular plants). England, Japan, New Zealand and the Hawaiian archipelago harbour most naturalized plants among islands or island groups. These regions also form the main hotspots of the regional levels of naturalization, measured as the percentage of naturalized aliens in the total flora of the region. Such hotspots of relative naturalized species richness appear on both the western and eastern coasts of North America, in north-western Europe, South Africa, south-eastern Australia, New Zealand, and India. High levels of island invasions by naturalized plants are concentrated in the Pacific, but also occur on individual islands across all oceans. The numbers of naturalized species are closely correlated with those of native species, with a stronger correlation and steeper increase for islands than mainland regions, indicating a greater vulnerability of islands to invasion by species that become successfully naturalized. South Africa, India, California, Cuba, Florida, Queensland and Japan have the highest numbers of invasive species. Regions in temperate and tropical zonobiomes harbour in total 9036 and 6774 naturalized species, respectively, followed by 3280 species naturalized in the Mediterranean zonobiome, 3057 in the subtropical zonobiome and 321 in the Arctic. The NewWorld is richer in naturalized alien plants, with 9905 species compared to 7923 recorded in the Old World. While isolation is the key factor driving the level of naturalization on islands, zonobiomes differing in climatic regimes, and socioeconomy represented by per capita GDP, are central for mainland regions. The 11 most widely distributed species each occur in regions covering about one third of the globe or more in terms of the number of regions where they are naturalized and at least 35% of the Earth’s land surface in terms of those regions’ areas, with the most widely distributed species Sonchus oleraceus occuring in 48% of the regions that cover 42% of the world area. Other widely distributed species are Ricinus communis, Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleracea, Eleusine indica, Chenopodium album, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Stellaria media, Bidens pilosa, Datura stramonium and Echinochloa crus-galli. Using the occurrence as invasive rather than only naturalized yields a different ranking, with Lantana camara (120 regions out of 349 for which data on invasive status are known), Calotropis procera (118), Eichhornia crassipes (113), Sonchus oleraceus (108) and Leucaena leucocephala (103) on top. As to the life-history spectra, islands harbour more naturalized woody species (34.4%) thanmainland regions (29.5%), and fewer annual herbs (18.7% compared to 22.3%). Ranking families by their absolute numbers of naturalized species reveals that Compositae (1343 species), Poaceae (1267) and Leguminosae (1189) contribute most to the global naturalized alien flora. Some families are disproportionally represented by naturalized aliens on islands (Arecaceae, Araceae, Acanthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Convolvulaceae, Rubiaceae, Malvaceae), and much fewer so on mainland (e.g. Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Boraginaceae). Relating the numbers of naturalized species in a family to its total global richness shows that some of the large species-rich families are over-represented among naturalized aliens (e.g. Poaceae, Leguminosae, Rosaceae, Amaranthaceae, Pinaceae), some under-represented (e.g. Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae), whereas the one richest in naturalized species, Compositae, reaches a value expected from its global species richness. Significant phylogenetic signal indicates that families with an increased potential of their species to naturalize are not distributed randomly on the evolutionary tree. Solanum (112 species), Euphorbia (108) and Carex (106) are the genera richest in terms of naturalized species; over-represented on islands are Cotoneaster, Juncus, Eucalyptus, Salix, Hypericum, Geranium and Persicaria, while those relatively richer in naturalized species on the mainland are Atriplex, Opuntia, Oenothera, Artemisia, Vicia, Galium and Rosa. The data presented in this paper also point to where information is lacking and set priorities for future data collection. The GloNAF database has potential for designing concerted action to fill such data gaps, and provide a basis for allocating resources most efficiently towards better understanding and management of plant invasions worldwide. published

Wild plants can contain bioactive compounds with potential activity against disease-causing microorganisms. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are many plant species that may have antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activities, among other properties. We extracted bioactive compounds with methanol as well as with water from leaves of Breonadia salicina, which is an endangered plant found in the wild in Saudi Arabia. These extracts were tested against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Both extracts showed antibacterial activity against all of the microorganisms, and thus, B. salicina leaf extract has potential as an antimicrobial agent for the preservation of foods, instead of synthetic chemical compounds. We found that the methanolic leaf extract was more effective than the aqueous crude extract against B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus.

The diagnostic characters of Amorphophallus Blume ex Decne. sect. Conophallus (Schott) Engl. is amended based on detailed studies of characteristics of the constituent species. In India the section is represented by six species, viz. A. bognerianus Sivad. et Jaleel , A. bulbifer (Sims) Blume , A. carnosus Engl. , A. commutatus (Schott) Engl. , A. nicolsonianus Sivad. and A. oncophyllus Prain ex Hook. f. The species A. commutatus forms a complex with three varieties, viz. var. commutatus , var. anmodensis Sivad. et Jaleel, and var. wayanadensis Sivad. et Jaleel. Keys to the species and varieties have been provided to facilitate easy identification. Amorphophallus carnosus has been rediscovered after more than 100 years of its first discovery and collection. Amorphophallus bulbifer has comparatively wider distribution in India with extended distribution in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The species A. bognerianus, A. carnosus, A. commutatus, A. nicolsonianus and A. oncophyllus are exclusive endemics of India . DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v19i2.13127 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 19 (2): 135-153, 2012 (December)

An account of five foliicolous fungal taxa are dealt herein. Of these, Asterina glycosmidigena, A. gymnemae, Irenopsis pavoniae, Phyllachora gymnemae infected the leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla, Gymnema sysvestre and Pavonia sp., respectively, are described as new species while, Meliola pseudarthriae var. indica is described as a new variety on Pseudarthria viscida. The detailed description of these taxa is supplemented with line drawings and photo plate.

This paper gives an account of the fungi collected from Shillong. Of these, Asteridiella phukanea, Asterina schimae, Meliola meghalayensis, M. shillongensis, Questieriella zanthoxyli, Sarcinella castanopsidis and S. lyoniae are the new species. While, Asterina indica, A. hakgalensis and Meliola rubiella are reported for the first time from the state of Meghalaya. The study indicates that North-Eastern region of India is a treasure of foliicolous fungi and its systematic study may bring out several undescribed new species.

The overall aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the historic use of woad in Sweden in the 18th and 19th centuries. A key question is, whether it is possible to distinguish between indigo from woad and exotic indigo using Raman spectroscopy? Reference samples prepared according to historic recipes using woad, exotic indigo, logwood and brazilwood - were used to dye different textile fibres - cotton, wool and linen. In addition, various reference compounds - indigotin, indirubin, kaempferol, luteolin, 3-hydroxyflavone and tryptanthrin - as well as the ‘flower’ of the woad dye bath were analysed to identify specific fingerprint regions for each compound. Blue threads from four historic textiles - a skirt and three rag balls - from the region of Halsingland were then analysed in comparison to the references. A specific peak at 993 cm-1 was identified in the spectra taken from the flower of the woad vat, which we suggest possibly arises from 3-hydroxyflavone. DSA-ToF-MS analysis suggests flavoneglycosides as possible candidates. However, cellulosic substrates show a broad vibration at 999 cm-1 overlapping the flavone signature, thus rendering it non-diagnostic, but it might be possible to use this peak in Raman analyses supported by mass spectrometry to distinguish between indigo from woad and exotic indigo if the substrate is wool or if it is a pigment. Raman analyses of the historic samples identify the colourants as indigo and possibly woad and logwod mixed with brazilwood.

This paper gives an account of four new members belonging to the genera Asterina and Cirsosia , namely, Asterina aristolochiae, Asterina phyllanthi-beddomei , Cirsosia hopeae and Asterina thunbergiicola Hansford var. indica are described and illustrated. Key words: black mildews; Asterina; Cirsosia; Kerala; India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v3i1.3229 TAPROBANICA , April, 2011. Vol. 03, No. 01: pp. 15-17

The sex pheromone of the scarab beetle, Phyllopertha diversa, is emitted by females and specifically detected by olfactory receptor neurons in the male and female antennae. Single sensillum recordings showed that, in contrast to the less sensitive pheromone sensilla in females, olfactory receptor neurons in the male antennae had a low threshold (1 ng), which rivals those of moths. The male and female antennae also possessed olfactory receptor neurons specific for the detection of floral and green leaf volatile compounds. Detectors for the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate had a threshold (10 pg) far below the sensitivity of the pheromone-detecting machinery. In addition, these neurons showed a remarkable selectivity even when challenged with related compounds at 10 000-fold higher concentrations. Surprisingly, a diazo analog, (Z)-3-hexenyl diazoacetate, elicited slightly higher nervous activity than the natural ligand in the neurons specific and selective for (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. The inability of the green leaf volatile-detecting machinery to discriminate the photoaffinity-labeled compound from the natural product indicates that the synthetic ligand interacts with odorant-binding protein, odorant receptor and odorant-degrading enzyme as does the cognate ligand.

Mimusops laurifolia (Forssk.) Friis is the largest tree species in the Arabian Peninsula and a characteristic species of the threatened 100 individuals that currently remained only at eleven localities. We determined the rbcL (ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit) gene sequence, current phylogenetic status and RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) fingerprinting pattern of this regionally endangered plant species. Overall rbcL gene sequence similarity among the 18 plant species under the family Sapotaceae was very high (99.8%). The plastid rbcL gene sequence of M. laurifolia was identical to that of M. zeyheri indicating that M. laurifolia and M. zeyheri are very closely related plant species. M. laurifolia also showed close phylogenetic relation with Argania spinosa (99.6%). The RAPD profiles of M. laurifolia generated amplified products ranging from 517 to 1664 bp. A total of 11 bands were observed for M. laurifolia for 3 RAPD-primers. Morphological taxonomy of M. laurifolia and it’s differential characters with similar plant species M. zeyheri are also briefly discussed in this study.

During field studies in sand dune areas and some habitats close to wetland ecosystems of the Tihama region of Jazan Province in south-western Saudi Arabia, specimens of 3 interesting species belonging to the genera Odyssea (Poaceae), Sesbania (Papilionaceae), and Sesamum (Pedaliaceae) were collected; they were identified as Odyssea mucronata (Forssk.) Stapf, Sesbania sericea (Willd.) Link., and Sesamum alatum Thonn. A review of the literature revealed that these tropical African taxa were never before recorded for the flora of Saudi Arabia. O. mucronata is represented by a relatively large isolated population. The other 2, S. sericea and S. alatum-components of a semi wetland ecosystem and sandy areas, respectively-are represented in the Arabian Peninsula by 2 relict populations. Morphology, habitat descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic commentary of all 3 taxa are presented.

Miliusa gokhalaei (Annonaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished by unequal rounded leaf bases, sessile or shortly pedicellate flowers, thick fleshy petals, glabrous carpel, and included connective of anther. It is closely related to M. indica and M. eriocarpa , with which it shares sub-sessile or shortly petiolate, hairy-nerved leaves, axillary solitary flowers, and flask-shaped carpel with 1–2 ovules. Notes on interrelationships, population structure, conservation status and an identification key to the taxa of Miliusa in peninsular India are also provided.

The genus Amorphophallus Blume ex Decne. (Araceae), with more than 200 species, is one of the most taxonomically difficult genera of the family, and in fact is one of the moderately understood of all Asian aroid genera. The 11 sections recognised by Engler have been currently reduced to 10, and out of the 10 sections three, viz. Candarum Engl., Conophallus (Schott) Engl. and Rhaphiophallus (Schott) Engl. are represented in India. Rhaphiophallus as recognized now including sect. Synantherias comprises eight species: Amorphophallus bonaccordensis Sivad. & N. Mohanan, A. hohenackeri (Schott) Engl. & Gehrm., A. konkanensis Hett., S. R.Yadav & K. S. Patil, A. longiconnectivus Bogner, A. margaritifer (Roxb.) Kunth, A. mysorensis E. Barnes & C. E. C. Fisch., A. smithsonianus Sivad., and A. sylvaticus (Roxb.) Kunth. Herein A. bhandarensis S. R.Yadav, Kahalkar & Bhuskute is recognized at the new rank of variety, as A. mysorensis var . bhandarensis (S. R. Yadav, Kahalkar & Bhuskute ) Sivad. & Jaleel. The name Amorphophallus sylvaticus (Roxb.) Kunth is lectotypified here. All except A. sylvaticus (also occurring in Sri Lanka) are endemic to India. Keywords: Araceae; Amorphophallus; Rhaphiophallus; India; Endemics. DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v18i1.7835 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18 (1): 1-26, 2011 (June)