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The taxonomic history, nomenclature and application of one of the oldest species names in Pilosella are reviewed. Hieraciumfloribundum originally included a hybrid swarm with the participation of Pilosella lactucella, P. caespitosa, P. praealta and partly P. officinarum, and was interpreted either as a binary (P. lactucella × P. caespitosa) or triple (P. lactucella × P. caespitosa × P. praealta) hybrid. The original material of H. floribundum from Silesia, Poland includes plants of the triple hybrid which are designated as its lectotype in conformity with the usage of the species name that has been predominant during its history. The lectotype belongs to a morphotype in which the diagnostic characters of P. lactucella are dominant, and which is not typical of northern and eastern Europe. A further lectotype from the same hybrid complex is designated for H. floribundum var. subcymosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plants play an important role in human life. Plants are used to treat diseases, as a source of food, for shelter, to make tools used in daily life, as ornaments, clothes, etc. It is used in many areas. Plants have been included in every aspect of life until today. A life without plants is not possible for human beings. The Altai Mountains and the lands of Turkestan, where human existence dates back to ancient times, are known as ancient lands where the Turks' existence came to the stage of history. Turks engaged in agriculture as well as hunting in these lands. In this respect, the plants subject to the study have been known and used by the species since ancient times. In this study, there are different opinions about the origin of food, etc., which have been known by the Turks since ancient times. The names of the plants used in the fields such as hawthorn, barley, wheat, plum, onion and garlic are discussed. The use of these plant names in historical and contemporary Turkish dialects, their forms in old Turkish texts, Mongolian, Persian etc. It was examined by evaluating how they are used in different languages, how these names are handled in terms of etymology, and finally their origin. The difference of this study from similar studies is that old and new sources in many different languages were accessed, which gave the opportunity to look at the study from a much broader framework and made the evaluations more comprehensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphogenesis of higher plants requires communication among distant organs throughout vascular tissues (xylem and phloem). Numerous investigations have demonstrated that phloem also act as a distribution route for signalling molecules being observed that different macromolecules translocated by the sap, including nucleic acids and proteins, change under stress situations. The participation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this communication has been suggested, although little is known about their role. In fact, in the last decade, the presence of EVs in plants has originated a great controversy, where major concerns arose from their origin, isolation methods, and even the appropriate nomenclature for plant nanovesicles. Phloem sap exudates from melon plants, either aphid‐free or infested with Aphis gossypii, were collected by stem incision. After sap concentration (Amicon), phloem EVs (PhlEVs) were isolated by size exclusion chromatography. PhlEVs were characterised using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. Here we confirm the presence of EVs in phloem sap in vivo and the detection of changes in the particles/protein ratio and composition of PhlEVs in response to insect feeding, revealing the presence of typical defence proteins in their cargo as well as components of the proteasome complex. PhlEVs from infested plants showed lower particles/protein ratio and almost two times more proteolytic activity than PhlEVs from aphid‐free plants. In both cases, such activity was inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Our results suggest that plants may use this mechanism to prepare themselves to receive infectious agents and open up the possibility of an evolutionary conserved mechanism of defence against pathogens/stresses in eukaryotic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nototriche is represented in Peru by 62 species and is the fourth megadiverse genus in the high Andes. In the context of the taxonomic treatment of this genus for the Peruvian flora, 25 names were identified that need to be typified to stabilize their nomenclature. For the nomenclatural treatment, the protologs are analyzed and the type material is studied physically or through online images. Lectotypifying is carried out in accordance with the indications of the current International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants. Lectotypes are designated for 21 names related to Nototriche species that inhabit the Peruvian flora. Likewise, two neotypes are designated and clarifications are provided on the holotypes of two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs), which belong to the class of zero‐dimensional carbon‐based nanomaterials, have garnered significant interest owing to their wide array of applications spanning from the electronics industry to the healthcare sector. This work employs a facile, inexpensive approach to synthesize green luminescent carbon dots (J‐10) from a potential medicinal plant named Justicia Wynaadensis by the one‐step hydrothermal method. A nanocomposite (JT‐10) of the CDs is prepared by adding TiO2 nanoparticles derived from green synthesis of Lavandula leaves. The J‐10 and JT‐10 are further characterized by X‐ray Diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Raman analysis X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared techniques (FTIR), UV–vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL), and Fluorescence or PL lifetime analysis. The average size of synthesized CDs is 1.85 nm and exhibits an excitation‐dependent fluorescence nature at 320 nm. PL lifetime analysis of J‐10 and JT‐10 is calculated to be 5.80 and 2.84 ns respectively. Offering these unique optical properties and biocompatibility, the synthesised material is suitable for investigating their binding affinity and interaction mechanisms with DNA. The use of JT‐10 in DNA binding studies contributes to the development of sustainable and efficient nanomaterials for applications in biosensors, drug delivery, and gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different views on recognising taxa associated with the Campomanesia xanthocarpa group (Myrtaceae) demonstrate the difficulties in clearly delimiting species. Studies using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) molecular markers were carried out on 201 individuals from 13 populations of C. xanthocarpa Mart. ex O.Berg, C. adamantium (Cambess.) O.Berg, C. costata M.Ibrahim & Landrum and C. littoralis D.Legrand in an attempt to improve understanding of species boundaries between these species. SplitsTree , analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), Neighbour-Joining (NJ) dendrogram and STRUCTURE showed inconsistencies between morphological and genetic data in these taxa. Therefore C. adamantium and C. xanthocarpa are treated as distinct taxa in this study, as are C. costata , C. littoralis and C. rhombea O.Berg that were previously considered part of C. xanthocarpa. Structured populations in C. adamantium were not congruent with taxonomic data or poorly supported in the data analysed. These were maintained as a single polymorphic species and new integrative approaches are necessary to improve understanding of taxon boundaries. We present a taxonomic treatment based on these decisions. This study contributes to the systematic treatment of Campomanesia and encourages specific delimitation studies to resolve remaining taxonomic issues within the genus. Species of Campomanesia are economically important, being used for food and in forestry. Some of these are morphologically similar, raising doubts regarding identification. Seeking to solve this, we performed population genetic analyses with a complex of species: Campomanesia adamantium , C. costata , C. littoralis and C. xanthocarpa. Results indicated the re-establishment of Campomanesia rhombea and complexity of C. adamantium that should be explored based on additional tools. This study improves our understanding of the taxonomy of the genus. (Image credit: M. Ibrahim Uehbe de Oliveira.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Zulus engage in complementary and alternative medicine through a traditional healing system known as izangoma. • The first review of the antidiabetic medicinal plants commonly used by the Zulus of Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa. • The list includes local and botanical names, the parts commonly used, isolated bioactive principles and their reported mechanisms of action. • 38 plants covering 20 families were identified with Asteraceae accounting for 34.2% and the leaves was the most used plant part (50 %). • 29 have been scientifically validated while nine lack scientific verification. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Its conventional management involves diet modification, exercise, and majorly the use of synthetic drugs, which may be ineffective, have adverse effects, and of relatively expensive costs. To mitigate the downsides of the available treatments, alternative therapies from medicinal plants are commonly sought by different ethnic groups including the Zulus. This paper appraised the antidiabetic plants used by the Zulus, their local and botanical names, the parts commonly used, isolated bioactive principles and their reported mechanisms of action. 38 plants covering 20 families were identified with Asteraceae accounting for 31.57 % and the leaves was the most used plant part (50 %). Out of the 38 plants identified, 28 have been scientifically validated using in vitro/in vivo models but identifying the plant with the most potent hypoglycemic activity remains challenging due to variations in biological activities. Important antidiabetic agents such as quercetin, squalene, kaempferol, isomukaadial acetate, phytol, sitosterol, apigenin, catechin and their derivates have been isolated and characterized from the verified plants though, more scientific exploration is required to develop these principles into valuable antidiabetic medications with establish mechanism of action. Scientists therefore needs to beam their searchlight and dedicate resources to the rich botanicals of the Zulu land with the view to providing indigenous solutions that can be incorporated into modern medicine for diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper delves into the intricacies of botanical nomenclature, specifically focusing on the interpretation and application of Art. 20.2 of the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN). It critically analyzes the case of Delicata Krammer, against the backdrop of Art. 20.2. The investigation shows that Delicata does not coincide with any established Latin technical term used in morphology and hence fulfills the ICN requirements, confirming its validity. This finding highlights the need for clearer guidelines in distinguishing descriptive Latin terms from technical terms used in morphology. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse in botanical taxonomy by advocating for revised practices and interpretations of nomenclatural rules, ensuring stability and precision in the naming of taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant transcription factors (TFs) are integral proteins associated with gene transcription. That ability arises after TFs bind to specific DNA sequences, such as promoters, responding positively or negatively to a multitude of endogenous and exogenous factors or stressors. For this reason, in plants, the vast majority of TFs are associated with growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. As is commonly known, the genes coding for TFs are written in uppercase italics, whereas the resulting proteins are written in lowercase, such as OsWRKY28 and OsWRKY28, respectively for a member of the WRKY TF family in rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, despite the existence of some conventions for the nomenclature of TFs, some deviation from these norms has been observed in the literature. Several cases are highlighted, primarily related to NAC TFs. These cases emphasize the need for stricter quality control of literature pertaining to the nomenclature of plant TFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Although the specific epithet of Cordia gharaf (Forssk.) Ehrenb. ex Asch. (1879) is having priority over the name Cordia sinensis Lam. (1792), the latter name has been used as an accepted one in the recent literature and plant name websites. The nomenclatural history of the species especially in the Indian context is discussed in detail and also pondered on the implications of uncritical following of the websites by the authors/editors leading to nomenclatural errors. The accepted name and their synonyms are provided along with their Indian vernacular names and the distribution of this species in Indian states/union territories are updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae) contains some species with socioeconomic and cultural relevance in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. There is little published information on the traditional knowledge of this genus, and the recent movements of younger people to more populated cities and towns risks this knowledge being forgotten. To preserve this knowledge, we wanted to answer the questions: what are the species or varieties of the plant with the generic name chaya that the contemporary Maya population uses in the Yucatan Peninsula, and in which agroecosystems are these species or varieties found? Nine local communities were selected for interviews in which the general population and healers shared their knowledge about the uses and management of Cnidoscolus spp. Through these interviews, we identified eight species or cultivars used by these communities: six cultivars of C. aconitifolius ( chay , makat chay , chay sin espinas, ch'inch'in chay , tsaj , and tsaj / hoja de papaya), C. multilobus ( tsaj ), and C. souzae ( tsaj ). Within homegardens chay , makat chay and chay sin espinas are utilized for their feeding, medicinal and fodder value; while ch'inch'in chay and tsaj are utilized for their feeding, medicinal, and living-fence potential. In paddocks, ch'inch'in chay and tsaj are utilized as livestock feed. Tsaj is used for handcrafts, and tsaj / hoja de papaya possesses spiritual-religious attributes. The feeding, medicinal, fodder, living-fence, spiritual-religious, and handcraft potential of species and cultivars of Cnidoscolus reflect their biocultural importance for Maya inhabiting the peninsula of Yucatan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Introduction. The State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, XIV-th edition (SP XIV), includes 107 monographs devoted to medicinal plant materials. The purpose of the study was to identify incorrect Latin names of medicinal plants in the monographs of the XIV edition, study the officially accepted Latin names and taxonomic position of medicinal plants in accordance with the contemporary system of flowering plants, and justify the need to make changes in subsequent editions of the pharmacopoeia.Text. 44 cases of incorrect Latin names were found. This is explained by the fact that when developing new pharmacopoeia monographs, either Latin names historically established in Russian pharmacognosy were used, or names that were legal at the time of the last edition of the Pharmacopoeia. The bulk of nomenclatural changes are associated with the adoption of the new APG system of flowering plants, based on molecular genetic data. The paper contains lists of plants for which the State Pharmacopoeia XIV contains an incorrect name of the genus, species, family or author, indicating the correct name, as well as comments on the rules of modern botanical nomenclature.Conclusion. In connection with the prospects for processing monographs on medicinal plant raw materials for the State Pharmacopoeia XV-th edition, as well as the EAEU Pharmacopoeia, the harmonization of the nomenclature of pharmacopoeial plants with modern international requirements becomes especially relevant.

In recent years, the supercritical CO2 extraction method has gained attention due to its use of environmentally friendly, non-toxic solvents, ability to operate at lower temperatures that do not cause the degradation of bioactive compounds, and capacity for rapid extraction. This method is particularly notable for isolating bioactive compounds from plants. The extracts obtained have shown superior properties due to their activity against diseases such as cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The aim of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the supercritical CO2 extraction method, as well as to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the study includes specific data on various plant materials, detailing the following parameters: plant name and region, bioactive compounds or compound classes, extraction temperature (°C), pressure (bar), time (minutes), co-solvent used, and flow rate. Additionally, this study covers extensive research on the isolation of bioactive compounds and the efficacy of the obtained extracts against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to evaluate the pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential of individual compounds and extracts of B. monnieri based on the analysis of data from scientific periodicals regarding chemical composition and biological action. Theoretically significant were the studies of the materials of the scientific- metric database PubMed and Google Scholar over the last five years regarding the chemical composition and biological action of extracts based on B. monnieri and their individual components. The search query was carried out by the Latin name of the plant, with the exception of publications related to botanical research. In separate PubChem searches, names of individual phytocompounds were used to establish structure and distribution in plants. The SuperPred web server was used to predict therapeutic potential. The authors analyzed the chemical composition of the extracts, presented the structural and pharmacological characteristics of bacosides and their aglycones: bacosin and juubogenin, cucurbitacin E, loliolide, betulinic and asiatic acids and the flavonoid oroxindin. The mechanism of action of bacoside on β-amyloid is characterized and illustrated. Using machine learning, the prospects for using the main compounds of bacopa to create drugs were calculated taking into account the ATC classification, their biological effects and alternative plant sources were given. Experimental animal studies of whole aqueous or ethanolic extracts of B. monnieri have been found to support a cognitive enhancement effect. The extract was not toxic to humans. Numerous clinical trials show the effectiveness of the use of extracts in the treatment of anhedonia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia and hyperactivity. An analysis of clinical studies in Ukraine shows that drugs based on B. monnieri can be used in the complex treatment of cognitive impairment associated with dyscirculatory encephalopathy in adults and perinatal CNS damage in children. Considering the amphiphilicity of bacosides and the non-toxicity of extracts, they can be involved in the development of various dosage forms with a wide range of therapeutic applications. Further study of the pharmacological action of B. monnieri and the development of drug technology for solid and liquid dosage forms based on it are promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Old Uyghur language emerged as a result of translating religious texts. Additionally, there are also written works and fragments that are categorized as non-religious. The collection of texts and fragments includes letters, legal documents, celebration records, calendars, and medical texts. Medical texts are based on ancient medical traditions from different cultures, such as folk medicine, Assyrian, Indian, and Chinese. These texts include the names of plants, animals, minerals, drugs, diseases, treatments, and medical interventions. The earliest research on Old Uyghur medical texts involved the editing of texts. Subsequent to this, there were studies focused on lexicon, encompassing plant names, drug compositions, and related subjects. Furthermore, studies in the field of medical history were conducted to examine the development of these texts in Central Asian Turkish medicine. It is worth noting that Old Uyghur medical texts have largely been published and analyzed for lexical and medical history up to this day. This article presents four previously unpublished fragments on Old Uyghur medicine. The fragments, known as Mainz 353 (T II D 177-1), U 116 (T II K x 12), U 238 (T II D 177; Glas: T II D 177 g), and U 239 (T II D 177; Glas: T II D 177 X), are now part of the Berlin Turfan Collection. This paper presents the transcription, transliteration, Turkish translation, explanations, and dictionary of the aforementioned fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering 1965 to February 2024 Plants are prolific peptide chemists and are known to make thousands of different peptidic molecules. These peptides vary dramatically in their size, chemistry, and bioactivity. Despite their differences, all plant peptides to date are biosynthesized as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Decades of research in plant RiPP biosynthesis have extended the definition and scope of RiPPs from microbial sources, establishing paradigms and discovering new families of biosynthetic enzymes. The discovery and elucidation of plant peptide pathways is challenging due to repurposing and evolution of housekeeping genes as both precursor peptides and biosynthetic enzymes and due to the low rates of gene clustering in plants. In this review, we highlight the chemistry, biosynthesis, and function of the known RiPP classes from plants and recommend a nomenclature for the recent addition of BURP-domain-derived RiPPs termed burpitides. Burpitides are an emerging family of cyclic plant RiPPs characterized by macrocyclic crosslinks between tyrosine or tryptophan side chains and other amino acid side chains or their peptide backbone that are formed by copper-dependent BURP-domain-containing proteins termed burpitide cyclases. Finally, we review the discovery of plant RiPPs through bioactivity-guided, structure-guided, and gene-guided approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nomenclatural status and typification of the names Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Salicornia fruticosa, S. fruticosa var. deflexa, S. fruticosa var. glaucescens, S. fruticosa var. intermedia, S. fruticosa var. humilis, S. fruticosa var. pachystachya, S. fruticulosa, S. glauca, S. lignosa, S. macrostachya var. virescens, S. macrostachya var. glaucescens, S. perennis, S. radicans, S. radicans var. caespitosa, S. sarmentosa, S. sempervirens, and S. virginica, as well as an unnamed β-variety of S. fruticosa proposed by A. Bertoloni, are investigated. Concerning A. macrostachyum, we document that the type indicated in literature (G00177362) is not a holotype, and that lectotypification is necessary. A specimen from G (G00687638) is here designated as a lectotype. On the level of variety, Arthrocnemum fruticosum var. macrostachyum is an earlier legitimate name for Salicornia fruticosa var. pachystachya. Furthermore, Piirainen et al. are incorrect when citing Forsskål's "Salicornia" from Alexandria as "S. virginica Forssk."; it is not a new name and should be cited as S. virginica auct. non L., as published in Forsskål's Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica. Like with numerous other parallel cases in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, Forsskål's designation of "Salicornia virginica" for an Arabian plant is to be considered a misapplication of the earlier Linnaean name for an American plant. Arthrocnemum glaucum (a nomen illegitimum of Ungern-Sternberg), was listed as type species of Arthrocnemum by the Names in Current Use project; the basionym, Salicornia glauca Delile, is here lectotypified and identified as Arthrocaulon meridionale, published by Ramirez et al. Updated synonymies of Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, A. meridionale, Salicornia fruticosa, and S. perennis are proposed. Salicornia sempervirens is an invalid name according to Art. 36.1a of ICN. No original material was found for S. radicans var. caespitosa. This paper also refer to lecto- or neotypifications on specimens deposited at BM, G, LINN-HS, LY, MPU, NAP, and PAL, and their current taxonomic positions are suggested in a taxonomic part of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe our work to integrate the FoodOn ontology with our knowledge base of food composition data, WikiFCD. WikiFCD is knowledge base of structured data related to food composition and food items. With a goal to reuse FoodOn identifiers for food items, we imported a subset of the FoodOn ontology into the WikiFCD knowledge base. We aligned the import via a shared use of NCBI taxon identifiers for the taxon names of the plants from which the food items are derived. Reusing FoodOn benefits WikiFCD by allowing us to leverage the food item groupings that FoodOn contains. This integration also has potential future benefits for the FoodOn community due to the fact that WikiFCD provides food composition data at the food item level, and that WikiFCD is mapped to Wikidata and contains a SPARQL endpoint that supports federated queries. Federated queries across WikiFCD and Wikidata allow us to ask questions about food items that benefit from the cross-domain information of Wikidata, greatly increasing the breadth of possible data combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol-related disorders rank seventh among risk factors for morbidity and mortality globally, posing a significant public health burden. In Africa, including Uganda, there is limited availability and utilization of pharmacotherapies to treat alcohol-related disorders. This study documented medicinal plant species, plant parts used, and the methods of preparation and administration utilized by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in treating alcohol-related disorders in southwestern Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional ethnopharmacological survey was conducted among TMPs within Bushenyi District, southwestern Uganda. Data was collected with key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. The TMPs identified medicinal plants by local names. Plant specimens were collected and deposited at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University for identification and voucher numbers allocated. The plant scientific names and species were identified based on the International Plant Names Index. Plant species, family, life form, number of mentions, method of collection, preparation and administration were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel. The survey data were utilized to compute Frequency of Citation, Relative Frequency of Citation, and Informant Consensus Factor. Results: We enrolled 50 traditional medicine practitioners aged between 34 and 98 years, with a mean age of 67. Approximately two-thirds were female (66%, 33/50), and mean experience in traditional healing was 31 years. The total number of plants identified were 25 belonging to 20 families. The most prevalent plant life form was herbs (36%) while grasses (4%), were the least. Leaves (48%) were the most utilized plant parts with the least utilized being the barks. The most prevalent method, adopted by approximately one-third of the TMPs, involved drying the plant material in the sun. The Informant Consensus Factor was 0.67. Conclusion: The study shows that the traditional medicine practitioners in Bushenyi district use a wide diversity of plants species to treat alcohol related disorders. The relatively high Informant Consensus Factor suggests a significant level of agreement among TMPs regarding the use of the identified plants. We recommend further investigations into phytochemistry, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of the identified plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic attribution of the wood samples collected in 1830 by Pyotr Kostromitinov, the Manager of Fort Ross, a Russian settlement on the Pacific coast of northern California, has been carried out. As some wood samples belong to the taxa that had not been described at the time of their collection, their labels provide interesting evidence for the first steps of botanical exploration of an exotic flora by the Russian colonists who were not professional naturalists. Particularly, Garrya has been recognized by them as Viburnum, Lyonothamnus as Arbutus, and Torreya as Taxus. In contrast, different species of Ceanothus have been referred not only to this genus, but also to Rhamnus and Laurus. The meanings of some Russian vernacular plant names mentioned in the published historical documents have been clarified. For instance, lavr (laurel) was used not only for California laurel Umbellularia californica, but also for some Ceanothus species (probably C. velutinus). The reference of the vernacular name chaga to Sequoia sempervirens has been confirmed. Unlike most early wood collections, Pyotr Kostromitinov’s samples are made of thin stems and branches with no conspicuous surfaces showing their wood appearance. Such pieces are hardly suitable for demonstration of aesthetic or technical properties of timber. Pyotr Kostromitinov’s samples likely represent one of the earliest cases of collecting wood as objects of particular interest for botany and, more generally, for natural history. It was an important novelty for the 1830s, as the botanical exploration of woods did not have any sufficient conceptual background in those times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussing homology relationships among secretory structures remains a relatively underexplored area in botanical research. These structures are widely dispersed within Malpighiales, one of the largest orders of eudicots. Within Malpighiales, both extranuptial and nuptial nectaries are present, and they do not seem homoplastic or share evolutionary connections. Particularly in Malpighiaceae, extensive research has focused on the ecological interactions mediated by glands. Botanists largely agree that elaiophores in sepals of Neotropical Malpighiaceae have evolved from extrafloral nectaries on leaves. However, the evolutionary origin of elaiophores has yet to be thoroughly examined, particularly in comparison to outgroups. This study provides empirical evidence on the ontogeny of elaiophores and investigates their evolutionary origins and homology relationships across different lineages of Malpighiales using comparative anatomy. Our findings suggest that elaiophores are likely homologous to extranuptial nectaries found in sepals of other Malpighiales lineages, originating from nectaries on leaves. This discussion is a starting point for future studies exploring the evolution of nectaries found in flowers, whether extranuptial or nuptial, and their potential origins from nectaries in vegetative organs such as leaves. Understanding these relationships could shed light on the selective pressures influencing floral morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposal by Wan & al. intended to maintain maximal nomenclatural stability by proposing to conserve Selaginella (Selaginellaceae) with a conserved type, regardless of how and when Selaginella is to be split into several or more genera, as has already been done in some recent studies. Valdespino & al. do not seem to have understood the nomenclatural benefit of the Wan & al. proposal and mix up this proposal with the classification by Zhou & Zhang. In addition, their rebuttal paper appears to contain a number of issues. We respectably urge the Nomenclature Committee and the botanical community to reject their rebuttal and make a decision that will benefit long‐term nomenclatural stability in Selaginellaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response is provided to the Rapporteurs' comments on Proposal 193 to amend the Shenzhen Code. If adopted, Prop. 193 would amend Div. III, Prov. 5 of the Code so as to require a simple majority to approve—as opposed to the current 60% majority to reject (and thus 40% + 1 vote to approve)—General Committee recommendations on conservation, protection, or rejection of names, suppression of works, and binding decisions. We regard the requirement of a simple majority in the affirmative to approve recommendations of the General Committee to be the fairest and most easily understood procedure available. It is also one that is consistent with the compromise worked out and published in 2016 by the Special Committee on By‐laws that reported to the Nomenclature Section at Shenzhen and would restore the procedure used at all nomenclature sections prior to the Nomenclature Section at Vienna in 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa plant with the scientific name Moringa oleifera L. has important medicinal chemical compounds including flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anticancer properties. In this research, the properties of metal nanoparticles such as Iron, Copper, Zinc and Silver biosynthesized from the aqueous extract of M. oleifera plant have been studied, and then the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the aqueous extract obtained from the aerial parts of this plant and the nanoparticles have been studied. The resulting metal was treated. The size and structure of metal nanoparticles obtained from Moringa plant aqueous extract were confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The amount of antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH method and the antibacterial properties of Moringa plant aqueous extract and metal nanoparticles obtained from it were measured with the help of disk diffusion and MIC method on two types of bacteria E. coli and S. aureus. The highest amount of antioxidant activity (89.23%) was related to copper nanoparticles at a concentration of 500 μg/ml. As well as E. coli bacteria were more sensitive than S. aureus to the same concentrations of the used treatments and had bigger inhibition zone. Additionally, the diameter of the inhibition zone (in millimeters) was also dependent on the concentration and grew with increasing concentration. The use of copper nanoparticles (especially in higher concentrations) has more antibacterial properties. In terms of survival rate and growth of cultured bacteria using the MIC method, the IC50 of E. coli bacteria compared to S. aureus bacteria in equal concentrations to the applied treatments was low, and the results demonstrated the high sensitivity of E. coli bacteria strain to S. aureus bacteria. According to the obtained results, a significant difference was observed between the aqueous extract obtained from the M. oleifera plant and the metal nanoparticles biosynthesized from it in terms of antioxidant and anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galphimia spp. is a plant employed in traditional medicine in Mexico because of its anxiolytic and sedative effects. Viruses have been associated with different alterations in plants, although asymptomatic agents (i.e., cryptic viruses) are also known. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) allows for the detection of pathogenic and non-pathogenic viral agents in plants, including potential novel viruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of viral agents in two populations of Galphimia spp. by HTS. Sequencing was conducted on an Illumina NextSeq 550 platform, and a putative novel virus was identified. Two contigs showed homology to partitiviruses, and these encoded the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and coat protein. These proteins showed the highest identities with orthologs in the recently discovered Vitis cryptic virus. A phylogenetic analysis of both RNAs showed that the new virus clusters into the monophyletic genus Deltapartitivirus along with other plant-infecting viruses. The result of the HTS analysis was validated by conventional RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. A novel virus was discovered in a symptomless Galphimia spp. plant and tentatively named the Galphimia cryptic virus (GCV). This is the first virus discovered in medicinal plants in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In plants, epigenetic stress memory has so far been found to be largely transient. Here, we wanted to assess the heritability of heat stress-induced epigenetic and transcriptomic changes following woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) reproduction. Strawberry is an ideal model to study epigenetic inheritance because it presents two modes of reproduction: sexual (self-pollinated plants) and asexual (clonally propagated plants named daughter plants). Taking advantage of this model, we investigated whether heat stress-induced DNA methylation changes can be transmitted via asexual reproduction. Results: Our genome-wide study provides evidence for stress memory acquisition and maintenance in F. vesca. We found that specific DNA methylation marks or epimutations are stably transmitted over at least three asexual generations. Some of the epimutations were associated with transcriptional changes after heat stress. Conclusion: Our findings show that the strawberry methylome and transcriptome respond with a high level of flexibility to heat stress. Notably, independent plants acquired the same epimutations and those were inherited by their asexual progenies. Overall, the asexual progenies can retain some information in the genome of past stresses encountered by their progenitors. This molecular memory, also documented at the transcriptional level, might be involved in functional plasticity and stress adaptation. Finally, these findings may contribute to novel breeding approaches for climate-ready plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic history, nomenclature and application of the oldest species names available for the common hybrids between Pilosella caespitosa and P. lactucella are reviewed. Elias Fries created a nomenclatural and bibliographical collision when he replaced a printed label of his exsiccata Herbarium normale with its second version, distributed at a later date, in which the protologue of Hieracium suecicum had appeared. In this protologue, the new species name was validly published with a mere reference to the original description of H. auricula var. majus, thus being based on the type of the latter. In a later fascicle of the same exsiccata, Fries excluded this synonym and distributed a different morphotype of H. suecicum, which caused taxonomic confusion and re-description of the same taxon under the name H. fennicum. The surviving original material of H. auricula var. majus is rejected, and its neotype is designated, making H. suecicum the correct name for the hybrids strictly intermediate between P. lactucella and P. caespitosa. Such hybrids constitute the most common hybridogenous taxon of Pilosella in Scandinavia, Finland and neighbouring Russia, with many synonyms described from this area and partly typified here. Another hybridogenous taxon of the same origin, more similar to P. lactucella and previously known as P. cochlearis, is correctly named P. stipitiflora comb. nov. The nomenclatural value and bibliographic complexity of exsiccata, a commonly underestimated kind of grey literature in taxonomic botany, are further highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant metabolites that demonstrate biological activities essential to plant–environment interactions. They are of interest to plant food consumers, as well as to the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The class of the plant metabolites comprises both widespread (chlorogenic acids, luteolin, quercetin) and unique compounds of diverse chemical structures but of the common biosynthetic origin. Polyphenols next to sesquiterpenoids are regarded as the major class of the Inuleae-Inulinae metabolites responsible for the pharmacological activity of medicinal plants from the subtribe (Blumea spp., Dittrichia spp., Inula spp., Pulicaria spp. and others). Recent decades have brought a rapid development of molecular and analytical techniques which resulted in better understanding of the taxonomic relationships within the Inuleae tribe and in a plethora of data concerning the chemical constituents of the Inuleae-Inulinae. The current taxonomical classification has introduced changes in the well-established botanical names and rearranged the genera based on molecular plant genetic studies. The newly created chemical data together with the earlier phytochemical studies may provide some complementary information on biochemical relationships within the subtribe. Moreover, they may at least partly explain pharmacological activities of the plant preparations traditionally used in therapy. The current review aimed to systematize the knowledge on the polyphenols of the Inulae-Inulinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of organisms has been greatly influenced by the advent of molecular techniques, leading to a significant increase in studies utilizing genomic data from different species. However, the lack of standardization in gene nomenclature poses a challenge in database searches and evolutionary analyses, impacting the accuracy of results obtained. Results: To address this issue, a Python class for standardizing gene nomenclatures, SynGenes, has been developed. It automatically recognizes and converts different nomenclature variations into a standardized form, facilitating comprehensive and accurate searches. Additionally, SynGenes offers a web form for individual searches using different names associated with the same gene. The SynGenes database contains a total of 545 gene name variations for mitochondrial and 2485 for chloroplasts genes, providing a valuable resource for researchers. Conclusions: The SynGenes platform offers a solution for standardizing gene nomenclatures of mitochondrial and chloroplast genes and providing a standardized search solution for specific markers in GenBank. Evaluation of SynGenes effectiveness through research conducted on GenBank and PubMedCentral demonstrated its ability to yield a greater number of outcomes compared to conventional searches, ensuring more comprehensive and accurate results. This tool is crucial for accurate database searches, and consequently, evolutionary analyses, addressing the challenges posed by non-standardized gene nomenclature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the work of the Global Conservation Consortium for Erica and update the Erica checklist in the World Flora Online (WFO), we have curated the taxonomic backbone in the WFO by expanding it to include updated nomenclatural information from the International Plant Name Index, missing names present in the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), the Botanical Database of Southern Africa (BODATSA), and from the "International register of heather names" database, a data source not readily available online. The result is the most robust database of Erica names to date, including 851 species, 111 subspecies, 244 varieties, and 2787 synonyms, which is a reliable reference for initiatives such as the Erica identification aid, conservation prioritisation, and gap analyses. We disambiguate common orthographic variants within the database and present an overview of these. We also comment on the correct orthography of E. heleophila Guthrie & Bolus and E. michellensis Dulfer and the validity of E. tegetiformis E.G.H.Oliv. are discussed, and the use of E. adunca Benth. for a South African species rather than E. triceps Link, which is here regarded as insufficiently known and of uncertain application, is clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean landscapes have co-evolved with people: they often require human management to sustain biodiversity and local communities have developed detailed ecological knowledge about their surrounding ecosystems. We document plant names used by Tašlḥit speakers in the High Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco and explore how they encode local ecological knowledge of landscape and biodiversity as well as social histories. We conducted two complementary field studies in the communes of Imgdal and Ukaymdn, documenting plant names along with local definitions and perceptions of place, vegetation, and habitat and perceived trends of change in the local botanical environment through structured and semi-structured interviews. In Imgdal we used herbarium prompts, whilst in Ukaymdn we focussed on local definitions of ethnoecological categories. We analyse the diversity and multiplicity of life form and descriptive terms as well as plant names and compare these to scientific taxonomy. We conclude that current social and environmental change, especially climate change, could present a threat to the High Atlas biocultural diversity and local knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raimonds Cinovskis (1930–1998) devoted his entire life to plants, especially to the research of dendroflora in Latvia, as well as in the Baltic states in general, and he also participated in botanical expeditions in several places in Asia. He introduced many new names of plant taxa, described new taxa, and made new name combinations. Although the plant names he created are widely used by Latvian botanists and can also be found in the seed exchange catalogues issued by local botanic gardens, these names have never been (with some exceptions) evaluated before. This paper summarises all of the names of plant taxa introduced by R. Cinovskis. It was established that R. Cinovskis introduced more than 200 new names of plant taxa or new name combinations for plants belonging to 11 plant families — Betulaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Cupressaceae, Grossulariaceae, Juglandaceae, Pinaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, and Ulmaceae. The majority of the names of plant taxa were for plants of the rose family (Rosaceae). Critically evaluating the compliance of the names introduced by R. Cinovskis with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, it was concluded that the majority of the names were published illegitimately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Michael Francis Moloney (Micheál Proinnsias Ó Máoldhomhnaigh) (1888–1934) qualified as a physician and established his practice in Dungarvan, County Waterford, where he also served as Coroner. In 1919, his book Luibh-sheanchus, maille le gearr-chunntas ar shaothar lucht leighis i n-Éirinn: Irish ethno-botany and the evolution of medicine in Ireland was published in Dublin. Luibh-sheanchus is notable being one of the earliest books to employ the term 'ethnobotany'. It contained more than 950 Irish vernacular names for plants, representing about 525 different species of flowering plants, ferns and marine algae. For about one third of the species Moloney also provided brief notes about folk uses, mainly in treating illnesses but also for dyeing and in food. Moloney's sources are discussed but few can be fully elucidated as he made no direct acknowledgements but the Irish names probably were mainly those in use in the Gaeltacht na nDéise, an Irish-speaking area in County Waterford. Published during a period of violence and turmoil in Ireland, the author, who was bilingual in Irish and English, supported the Irish Republican cause and was locally noteworthy for being arrested and imprisoned in November 1920 in the aftermath of 'Bloody Sunday' when British troops shot and killed twelve people in Dublin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexander A. Tatarinow (1817?–1886) made an extensive collection of vascular plants and insects in North China and Mongolia while serving as a physician in the 12th Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Beijing during 1841–1850. Tatarinow's plant collection included about 800 species and became the basis for 70 new species, of which 12 were named after him. The collection was split into three large sets, each labelled in its own way and handled in different times by different people at different institutions, thus obscuring its correct attribution; notable misinterpretations include its misattributions to A. von Bunge and P.E. Kirilov who were attached to the 11th Mission and collected plants near Beijing during 1830–1840. In this study, the history of these three sets and their parts is uncovered, and label samples are provided and commented to allow unambiguous recognition of the sets for correct lectotypification of plant species names based on the material collected by the 11th and 12th Missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between migratory monarch butterflies and native vegetation in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The study was conducted in a protected natural area, and the researchers observed the interactions between the butterflies and flowering plants. They found that the number of interactions varied throughout the season, with the highest diversity occurring in September. The researchers identified the plant species visited by the butterflies, which mainly belonged to the Asteraceae, Verbenaceae, and Fabaceae families. The study suggests the need for further research to understand this relationship and establish conservation strategies. The article also emphasizes the importance of protecting monarch butterflies and their overwintering sites in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and proposes the creation of reserves and community-based research strategies. The text highlights the monarch butterfly's role as an indicator species and suggests using native plants in conservation efforts. The article provides contact information for the corresponding author and publication details. [Extracted from the article]

As part of an ongoing taxonomic study of the genus Deyeuxia, typifications for 12 names belonging to subtribe Agrostidinae from South America are presented here. A neotype for Bromidium rigescens var. brevifolium is herein designated. Eleven names belonging to the genera Agrostis, Calamagrostis, and Deyeuxia are lectotypified. Epitypes for Calamagrostis heterophylla var. robustior and Deyeuxia velutina are designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of urban botany and its significance in understanding urban spaces. It explains that urban botany extends beyond the scientific field and encompasses cultural and ecological aspects. The concept of forensic ecologies is introduced, which combines forensic architecture with indicator species to reconstruct past environments. The article emphasizes the importance of rare plants in marginalized urban areas for socio-ecological challenges to capitalist urbanization. It also highlights the role of urban botany in uncovering overlooked dimensions of urban ecology and connecting with global history. The text includes references to various sources, including books and articles, that discuss the history and presence of plant life in specific urban areas. An illustration from Richard Deakin's book, published in 1855, is included to visually represent the flora found in ruins. [Extracted from the article]

In the context of global change, understanding the knowledge and values given to plants is crucial for choosing relevant approaches towards a more sustainable future. Children are central holders of ethnobotanical knowledge, yet they are still under-considered in ethnobotany. Our study explored the medicinal knowledge of children of the Baka, forager-horticulturalists from Cameroon. We assessed the diversity of medicinal plants they know, the different ailments treated, and whether they could name complete herbal recipes. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combined ex situ interviews (freelisting and knowledge surveys) with in situ methods (walk-in-the-woods trips with voucher collection) with 106 children from 5 to 16 years old. They listed 128 local names of medicinal plants, which we linked to 126 different plant species. While the ex situ and in situ methods had some overlap in the diversity of medicinal plants reported, they also revealed substantial knowledge unique to each method. Our insights provide further evidence of children's considerable ethnobotanical knowledge and the extent to which different field methods can retrieve such knowledge. We discuss the methodological tools to be developed with and for children to put childhood at the center stage of ethnobotanical approaches for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]