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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.

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.

Aster L. is a highly diversified genus in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent areas. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes are reported for 26 populations representing 16 species and three varieties of Aster from this region. Chromosome numbers have been newly documented for 10 species. The basic number of x = 9 is confirmed for all species. Of the 16 species counted, seven species are polypoids, of which six are found with different levels of polyploidy. The remaining nine species are diploid, with 2n = 18. A new polyploid cytotype (hexaploid) is found in A. asteroides and A. souliei. B chromosomes are observed in A. oreophilus and A. boweri. Satellite chromosomes are found in A. semiprostratus and A. boweri. Our results indicate that Aster is an active group in chromosome evolution as characterized by a number of species with different levels of polyploids. The karyotypes are symmetrical with a high proportion of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes, belonging to type 1A or 2A according...

Resumo No Brasil são referidas para Asteraceae 2.065 espécies distribuídas em 278 gêneros, sendo a terceira maior família das angiospermas no país. O Raso da Catarina é uma das ecorregiões do domínio Caatinga, caracterizada pelo clima quente e seco e uma caatinga arbustiva densa. O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar o levantamento florístico de Asteraceae da Ecorregião Raso da Catarina, discutir o ambiente de ocorrência e apresentar uma chave de identificação para as espécies. Foram realizadas 17 expedições mensais a campo no período de abril/2012 a agosto/2013 e análise das coleções dos herbários: ALCB, BAH, CEPEC, HRB, HUEFS e HUNEB. A família foi representada por 52 espécies, 41 gêneros e 14 tribos. Em ordem de riqueza, representam a diversidade local de Asteraceae as tribos: Vernonieae (11 spp.), Heliantheae (10 spp.), Eupatorieae (9 spp.), Tageteae (5 spp.), Astereae (4 spp.), Senecioneae (3 spp.), Gnaphalieae e Millerieae (2 spp.) cada, Cichorieae, Coriopsideae, Gochnatieae, Inuleae, Nassauvieae e Neurolaene (1 spp.) cada. Os gêneros mais representativos foram Lepidaploa, Pectis e Trichogonia, com três espécies cada. Sete espécies são endêmicas de Caatinga. O hábito herbáceo é predominante e as espécies encontradas ocorrem principalmente na caatinga aberta. Abstract The Asteraceae represent the third largest family of flowering plants in Brazil comprising 2.070 species distributed in 280 genera. Raso da Catarina is an ecoregion in the Caatinga domain characterized by warm and dry climate and a schruby xeric vegetation. The current study aims (1) to survey the Asteraceae flora in Raso da Catarina; (2) to discuss environmental occurrence and (3) to provide an identification key. Samples were collected during 17 monthly expeditions from April/2012 to August/2013 and analyzed in the following herbaria collections: ALCB, BAH, CEPEC, HRB, HUEFS and HUNEB. The family was represented in the region by 52 species, 42 genera and 14 tribes. In order of richness, the local diversity of Asteraceae is presented by the tribes: Vernonieae (11 spp.), Heliantheae (10 spp.), Eupatorieae (9 spp.), Tageteae (5 spp.), Astereae (4 spp.), Senecioneae (3 spp.), Gnaphalieae, and Millerieae (2 spp.), Cichorieae, Coriopsideae, Gochnatieae, Inuleae, Nassauvieae e Neurolaene (1 spp.) each. The most representative genera were Lepidaploa, Pectis and Trichogonia, with three species each. Seven species are endemic to Caatinga. The herbaceous habit is predominant among the species, which occurs mainly in less schruby open caatinga.

The endemic South African genus Mairia Nees (Asteraceae, Astereae) was revised. Six species are recognised. The species differ in their leaf shape, margins and indumentum, number of main veins, arrangement and shape of their involucral bracts, and the presence or absence of staminodes in ray florets. The taxonomic treatment includes a key to the species, complete description of each species, illustrations and distribution maps.

Solidago altissima var. pluricephala is recorded for the first time as naturalised in Africa, with two populations detected in South Africa. One 0.5 ha population has been found near Harding and another of 403 shoots near Hilton, both in KwaZulu-Natal. A projected species distribution model for South Africa indicates that the grassland biome is the most at risk from invasion by this species. These plants are most likely garden escapees although we are uncertain how widely they are cultivated in South Africa.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 154 individuals of Solidago gigantea from Canada, England, France, and the United States.

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.

This report reviews and incorporates new elemental and isotope chemostratigraphic data for correlation of Neoproterozoic carbonate-dominated successions in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). These thick mixed carbonate/siliciclastic successions were largely deposited in epicontinental basins or accumulated on passive margins on the edges of cratons (e.g. São Francisco, Amazonia, Rio Apa Block, Pampia and Río de la Plata paleocontinents) during extensional events related to the rifting of the Rodinia Supercontinent. From the stratigraphic point of view, these successions occur as three mega-sequences: glaciogenic, marine carbonate platform (above glaciomarine diamictites or rift successions), and dominantly continental to transitional siliciclastics. In the orogenic belts surrounding cratons, carbonate-dominated successions with important volcanoclastic/siliciclastic contribution have been, in most cases, strongly deformed. The precise ages of these successions remain a matter of debate, but recently new paleontological and geochronological data have considerably constrained depositional intervals. Here, we report high-resolution C, O, Sr, and S isotope trends measured in well-preserved sample sets and mainly use Sr and C isotopes in concert with lithostratigraphic/biostratigraphic observations to provide detailed correlations of these successions. The establishing of a high-level and definite chemostratigraphic correlation between Neoproterozoic basins in South America is the main goal of this work. Los estudios fenológicos florales y de inflorescencias son una importante fuente de conocimiento para interpretar los mecanismos reproductivos y las hipótesis filogenéticas en plantas. Se analiza la morfología y funcionalidad de los estadios florales presentes en los capítulos homógamos pistilados y en los capítulos heterógamos funcionalmente estaminados de la especie dioica Baccharis aliena. El seguimiento fenológico de ambos tipos de capítulos fue realizado en plantas cultivadas de B. aliena. Se determinaron los estadios fenológicos florales de los capítulos homógamos y heterógamos a partir de análisis morfométricos de las flores desde la pre-antesis hasta los primeros síntomas de senescencia. Las flores de los capítulos homógamos y heterógamos presentan antesis visual previa a la antesis funcional y esta característica se traslada al capítulo. La antesis ocurre de forma centrípeta en las sucesivas series de flores, y tiene una duración de 21 días en el capítulo homógamo y 20 días en el capítulo heterógamo. Los capítulos homógamos y heterógamos coinciden exactamente en tiempo y duración del período de floración, característica que asegura la interacción floral entre las plantas y la actividad de los polinizadores. El conocimiento de los sistemas reproductivos en las Astereae subtribu Baccharidinae contribuye a la interpretación de las estrategias evolutivas de este grupo altamente exitoso.

This study was the first report about complete chloroplast genome of Aster hypoleucus (Asteraceae, Astereae), an endemic species in Xizang (China). The circular whole cp genome of A. hypoleucus was...

This study was the first report about the complete chloroplast genome of Aster hersileoides (Asteraceae, Astereae). The circular whole cp genome of A. hersileoides was 152,345 bp in length, contain...

A multivariate morphometric study of Solidago L. in South America was undertaken to assess the numbers and ranks of taxa that could be usefully recognized. The results of stepwise discriminant, classificatory, and canonical analyses on a matrix of 50 traits of 160 specimens indicated the distinctiveness of the S. chilensis group of taxa from three morphologically similar North American species of the large Solidago subsect. Triplinerviae (Torr. & A. Gray) G. L. Nesom: S. juliae G. L. Nesom, S. leavenworthii Torr. & A. Gray, and S. tortifolia Elliott. Within the South American complex two species with predominantly allopatric distributions were statistically supported: S. chilensis Meyen and S. microglossa DC. were distinguished a priori on stem hair length. The cytogeography of the two species was investigated and all samples were diploid, 2n = 18; S. chilensis (20 individuals from Argentina and one from Chile) and S. microglossa (six individuals from Argentina). Also, two other species of Solida...

Aim Regions with a mediterranean climate are among the most species-rich regions in the world. They are also among the regions with the greatest number of non-native invasive species. However, not all introduced species become invasive. Previously, we found that non-native Asteraceae closely related to native species are more likely to establish and spread in California, USA. We conducted reciprocal studies in another mediterranean-climate region with high species richness, the Italian Peninsula. Mediterranean Basin invaders in the Astereae mostly originated in temperate North America, whereas the invasive Cardueae of California are primarily from the Mediterranean Basin. Location The Mediterranean Basin (Italy). Methods Utilizing the first fossil-calibrated molecular phylogenies of the tribe Astereae, we explored the evolutionary patterns among native and non-native taxa within this group. To elucidate the mechanisms driving the observed patterns, we modelled the ecological niches of Astereae species on a global scale and examined correlations between ecological similarity and evolutionary relatedness among taxa. Results Not only were invasive taxa highly clustered among natives, they were also more closely related to natives than were non-invasive introduced taxa. We found that invasive species had higher degrees of niche overlap with native species than did non-invasive introduced species. Moreover, pairwise niche distance among species was significantly correlated with evolutionary time, indicating that the ecological niche is phylogenetically conserved. Main conclusions The results of our study are consistent with those from our work in California, suggesting that introduced Asteraceae taxa that are closely related to native species are likely to become invasive on both sides of the Atlantic. Furthermore, existing ecological attributes seem to drive these evolutionary patterns. We suggest that potential invaders closely related to natives should be considered as high priorities for management.

Jafari F., Kazempour Osaloo S. & Mozffarian V.: Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Astereae (Asteraceae) in SW Asia based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA psbA-trnH sequences. — Willdenowia 45: 77–92. 2015. — Version of record first published online on 17 March 2015 ahead of inclusion in April 2015 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2015 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45108 In the present study, nucleotide sequences of the nrDNA ITS and the plastid DNA psbA-trnH region were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the tribe Astereae in SW Asia using parsimony, Bayesian and likelihood methods. The ITS analysis showed that the SW Asian representatives of the tribe divide into two groups. One group arises just above the African lineage, while the second is part of the large Australasian polytomy at the crown of the tribe. SW Asian Aster, Crinitina, Galatella, Lachnophyllum and Psychrogeton appear to be non-monophyletic, whereas Chamaegeron, Eurasian Erigeron and Myriactis are monophyletic. Dichrocep...

Chromosome numbers are reported for the first time for 245 individuals of 93 taxa and cultivars and two hybrids from 13 genera from eastern Canada and the eastern United States. Nearly all of the reports are for asters in Symphyotrichum plus Doellingeria, Eurybia, Oclemena, and Sericocarpus, and for goldenrods in Solidago and Euthamia. Corrections or changes in identifications for eight previous reports are also listed. The following are first documented reports for the taxa: Chrysopsis highlandsensis, 2n = 5II from Florida; Solidago simulans, 2n = 36 from North Carolina; Solidago villosicarpa, 2n = 18 from North Carolina; Symphyotrichum fontinale, 2n = 50 from Florida; Symphyotrichum grandiflorum, 2n = 30 from North Carolina; Symphyotrichum parviceps, 2n = 48 from Missouri; and Symphyotrichum rhiannon, 2n = 48 from North Carolina. A number of the counts are first reports for a particular taxon in a state: e.g., Brintonia discoidea, 2n = 18 from Alabama; Doellingeria umbellata var...

Gutierrezia leucantha Cabrera, a species previously included in the synonymy of Gutierrezia gillesii Griseb., is reinstated as a distinct species. A morphological description is presented with information on distribution and habitat. A key to distinguish this species from its congeners with white ray florets is provided.

Lagenophora (Astereae, Asteraceae) has 14 species in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, southern South America, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha. Phylogenetic relationships in Lagenophora were inferred using nuclear and plastid DNA regions. Reconstruction of spatio-temporal evolution was estimated using parsimony, Bayesian inference and likelihood methods, a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock and ancestral area and habitat reconstructions. Our results support a narrow taxonomic concept of Lagenophora including only a core group of species with one clade diversifying in New Zealand and another in South America. The split between the New Zealand and South American Lagenophora dates from 11.2 Mya [6.1–17.4 95% highest posterior density (HPD)]. The inferred ancestral habitats were openings in beech forest and subalpine tussockland. The biogeographical analyses infer a complex ancestral area for Lagenophora involving New Zealand and southern South America. Thus, the estimated divergence times and biogeographical reconstructions provide circumstantial evidence that Antarctica may have served as a corridor for migration until the expansion of the continental ice during the late Cenozoic. The extant distribution of Lagenophora reflects a complex history that could also have involved direct long-distance dispersal across southern oceans. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177, 78–95.

Five species and one hybrid of Baccharis with alate stems are recognized in the northern Andes between Colombia and central Peru, of which three species are endemic. A new species, B. woytkowskii, is described from northern Peru. Two species are restricted to northern Peru, and all northern Andean species occur there. Three species also occur in Ecuador and a single species in Colombia. Baccharis subbimera is neotypified and the species endemic to the northern Andes are described and illustrated. Morphological delimitation of species is discussed, and a determination key is provided.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 349 individuals of 116 taxa and 2 hybrids in 13 genera from Canada and the United States. The majority of the reports are for asters listed in this paper under the generic names Symphyotrichum (93 reports) and Eurybia (51 reports) plus species of Doellingeria, Oclemena, and Sericocarpus and for goldenrods in Solidago (171 reports). Corrected identifications for four previous reports are also listed. The following are first reports for these taxa: Solidago jejunifolia, 2n = 9II from Wisconsin; Solidago fallax var. molina, 2n = 18 from Quebec; and Symphyotrichum falcatum subsp. falcatum, 2n = 10 from Northwest Territories. Multiple counts are first reports for a particular taxon in a province or state: e.g., Solidago salicina, 2n = 18 from North Carolina; Symphyotrichum grandiflorum, 2n = 60 from Virginia; and Symphyotrichum welshii, 2n = 16 from Wyoming. The following are all first reports for the province of Prince Edward Island: Solidago nemoralis subsp. nemoralis, 2n = 18; Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum, 2n = 64, Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum, 2n = 16.

Aster brevicaulis W. P. Li (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Sichuan, China, is illustrated and described. Morphological data and a phylogenetic analysis based on a combined nuclear DNA ITS and ETS dataset suggest that A. brevicaulis is a separate species closely related to A. tongolensis. The new species differs from the latter by having stems only 2–15 (22) cm long, without stolons, phyllaries 5-seriate, and pappus 4–5 mm long. Cytological observation shows that the new species is diploid with 2n = 2x = 18 =16m + 2sm.

The family Asteraceae has a particular inflorescence, the capitulum, consisting of ray florets and disc florets. The ray florets function as petals that attract pollinators. Marked variation in the ray floret morphology is known in a natural population of Aster hispidus var. tubulosus (Asteraceae). We analyzed the variation and found two distinct types in the ray florets, the long tubular ray floret and the ligulate ray floret. In this species, therefore, the variation in floral morphology among capitula, each of which is the basic pollination unit, is caused by the variation in the composition of the two ray floret types among capitula. We evaluated the sources of the observed variation in the floral morphology among capitula within a population using a hierarchical analysis that separated within-individual (i.e. among capitula within each individual) and between-individual components of the variation. We found that the main source of the variation lay at the between-individual level, not at the between-capitulum level nested within individuals. This finding will provide the basic knowledge that enables future study exploring whether the between-individual variation in floral morphology caused by the compositional variation of the ray floret types leads to differential pollination success of individual plants in species of Asteraceae.

Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. H. Walker (Astereae: Asteraceae) has been recorded in Pakistan for the first time. The species is closely associated with C. bonariensis and C. canadensis. It differs from C. bonariensis in its smaller capitula with a small series of marginal and disc florets that lack a purplish-pink apex, but resembles it in disciform capitula. C. sumatrensis differs from C. canadensis in having five-lobed disc florets and lacking well-developed ray florets. The species is widely distributed in the Potohar region, particularly in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Resumo Hysterionica Willd. e um genero de Asteraceae pertencente a tribo Astereae, subtribo Conyzinae e esta estreitamente relacionado ao genero Neja D. Don. O genero posssui 11 especies restritas ao sul do Brasil, Uruguai e centro e norte da Argentina. O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo taxonomico de Hysterionica para o Brasil, sendo que foram registradas cinco especies: H. matzenbacheri A.A.Schneid., H. nebularis Deble, A.S.Oliveira & Marchiori, H. nidorelloides (DC.) Baker, H. pinnatiloba Matzenb. & Sobral e H. pinnatisecta Matzenb. & Sobral. Um novo sinonimo foi adicionado a H. nidorelloides (DC.) Baker: Hysterionica montevidensis Baker. Sao apresentadas chave de identificacao, descricoes, comentarios taxonomicos, ilustracoes, dados sobre floracao e frutificacao, distribuicao geografica e habitats de cada taxon e analise do nivel de ameaca das especies segundo criterios da IUCN. Hysterionica (Asteraceae: Astereae) in Brazil Abstract Hysterionica Willd. is a genus of Asteraceae and belongs to the tribe Asterae, subtribe Conyzinae and it is closely related to genus Neja D. Don. The genus has 11 species restricted to southern Brazil, Uruguay and north and center of Argentina. This work presents a taxonomic study about Hysterionica from Brazil, where five species have been recorded: H. matzenbacheri A.A.Schneid., H. nebularis Deble, A.S. Oliveira & Marchiori, H. nidorelloides (DC.) Baker, H. pinnatiloba Matzenb. & Sobral e H. pinnatisecta Matzenb. & Sobral. One new synonym was added to H. nidorelloides (DC.) Baker: Hysterionica montevidensis Baker. Identification key, descriptions, taxonomic comments, illustrations, data about flowering and fruiting phenology, geographic distribution and habitat of each taxon are presented and analysis of the threat level of the species according IUCN criteria.

Cyathocline, a small genus, has been treated as a member of subtribe Grangeinae of tribe Astereae (Asteraceae), but has been neglected in molecular phylogenetic analyses of Astereae. Plastid trnL-F and nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences were used to carry out phylogenetic analyses of Cyathocline (represented by C. purpurea) through maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. In addition, its karyotype, morphology and micromorphology were also investigated. The results show that in our three phylogenetic trees, C. purpurea is deeply nested within the Blumea clade and/or the Inulinae clade, and is closest to Blumea balsamifera (Inuleae, Inulinae). C. purpurea is similar to Blumea in chromosome size bimodality and to Inulinae in one single large oxalate crystal within each cell of the cypsela epidermis, which, together with molecular evidences, suggests strongly that Cyathocline should be transferred from Astereae to Inuleae subtribe Inulinae. Although C. purpurea has many anomalous features, its most characters still are within a wide range of morphological variations of Blumea. DNA data and the karyotypic character support to merge C. purpurea into Blumea. As a result, the new combination Blumea purpurea (O. Kuntze) W.P. Li was made.

Harmostes reflexulus (Say) is a bivoltine inflorescence specialist that tracks a succession of host composites (Asteraceae), typically remaining on a host until seed set. During fieldwork from 1998 to 2011, the rhopalid′s host plants were recorded (124 collections) in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming. Twenty-six species of the subfamily Asteroideae on which nymphs, mating pairs, or both were found are considered host plants; 25 are new host records. Adults were taken on 12 additional species of asteroid Asteraceae. Host composites were white- and yellow-rayed herbs and subshrubs (Ericameria nauseosa is a shrub) that are mainly perennial. The Astereae (11 spp.) and Helenieae (7 spp.) were best represented among asteroid tribes that the rhopalid used as hosts; other host tribes were Anthemideae (1 species), Bahieae (2 spp.), Heliantheae (1 species), Madieae (1 species), Senecioniae (2 spp.), and Tageteae (1 species). In the Astereae, hosts mainly were in...

The family Asteraceae is the most numerous group within the Angiosperms. Plants from this family are studied for their chemical co mposition and biological act ivity. In these studies, the allelopathic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects are highlighted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of the aqueous (AF1) and the oily (OF2) fract ions obtained fro m the ethanol extract of Baccharis coridifolia D. C. on the antimicrobial act ivity of antib iotics used in clinical treat ment. The drugs chloramphenicol (30 µg), norflo xacin (10 µg), sulfametho xazole / trimethoprim (75/23 µg), vancomycin (30 µg ) and amo xicillin (10 µg) were saturated with the fractions AF1 and OF2, and used pure for further comparison. The strains Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were used. The results showed that both fractions interfered on the activity of the antibiotics tested. Synergistic, antagonistic or indifferent behavior was observed in the interactions, with various degrees of susceptibility to the antib iotics tested. These results show that the use of products derived fro m plants can, in some cases, interfere with the effectiveness of antibiotics during clin ical therapy.

Kemulariella tahirelcii Fırat, a new species from Şırnak, Turkey, is described and illustrated. It is a perennial, obligate chasmophyte that occurs in the cracks of limenstone blocky cliffs. This species is similar to K. colchica, from which it clearly differs mainly in a lesser number of flowers in the capitula, and in shorter ray and disc florets. The new species is a local endemic of the Cudi Mountain, south-eastern Turkey, being ‘Vulnerable’ (VU) [criteria B2b (i,ii,iii)] due to its narrow distribution.

A new taxon of Conyza has been found on Mt Kilimanjaro: C. montigena S. Moore subsp. kilimanjarica. Its close relatives are from the Ruwenzori and Virunga Mountains on the border of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. As these relatives are varieties of C. montigena, the geographical separation has led us to describe the new taxon as a subspecies of C. montigena, subsp. kilimanjarica Beentje & Hemp.