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QUESTIONS: Studies on bryophyte and lichen diversity patterns along elevational gradients are scarce, although this approach can serve as space‐for‐time substitution to predict diversity changes because of climate warming. Therefore, we investigated bryophytes and macrolichens in disturbed and undisturbed stands along an elevational gradient in the unique laurel forest of Madeira island by addressing the following questions: (a) how does the species richness of functional‐taxonomic bryophyte and macrolichen groups differ with elevation; (b) how is the species richness of these groups affected by disturbances? LOCATION: UNESCO World Natural Heritage site laurel forest of Madeira island (Madeira, Portugal). METHODS: We analyzed species richness of bryophytes and macrolichens in 92 plots in response to elevation and to disturbances. RESULTS: Bryophyte species richness showed a mid‐elevational peak, while macrolichen richness increased with elevation. Disturbed plots harbored on average 20% less bryophyte and macrolichen species than undisturbed plots. CONCLUSIONS: The laurel forest of Madeira island is a bryophyte and lichen diversity hotspot. Our findings indicate future biodiversity threats by changing environmental conditions. This calls for the need for a strict protection status of the laurel forest on Madeira island to minimize human‐related disturbances, for the development of management measures that could mitigate climate change effects by maximizing habitat suitability and for the implementation of species conservation programs to prevent future extinctions, in particular of endemic species.

The ‘Rand flora’ is a biogeographical disjunction which refers to plant lineages occurring at the margins of the African continent and neighbouring oceanic archipelagos. Here, we tested whether the phylogeographical pattern of Exormotheca pustulosa Mitt. was the result of vicariance induced by past climatic changes or the outcome of a series of recent long-distance dispersal events. Two chloroplast markers (rps4-trnF region and psbA-trnH spacer) and one nuclear marker (ITS2) were analysed. Phylogenetic and phylogeographical relationships were inferred as well as divergence time estimates and ancestral areas. Exormotheca possibly originated in Eastern Africa during the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene while Exormotheca putulosa diversified during the Late Miocene. Three main E. pustulosa groups were found: the northern Macaronesia/Western Mediterranean, the South Africa/Saint Helena and the Cape Verde groups. The major splits among these groups occurred during the Late Miocene/Pliocene; diversification was recent, dating back to the Pleistocene. Climate-driven vicariance and subsequent long-distance dispersal events may have shaped the current disjunct distribution of E. pustulosa that corresponds to the Rand Flora pattern. Colonization of Macaronesia seems to have occurred twice by two independent lineages. The evolutionary history of E. pustulosa populations of Cape Verde warrants further study., This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (Project PTDC/AGR-FOR/3427/2014). We thank the LISU, E and PRE herbaria for providing material for the development of this work. We also thank Vera Nunes for her support in the laboratory. J.P. was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through the Ramón y Cajal Program (RYC-2016-20506), and Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND, Researchers’ Night and Individual Fellowships Global (MSCA grant agreement No. 747238, ‘UNISLAND’). We thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

The cosmopolitan genus Porella L. is the largest genus of Porellaceae with about 50–60 species (Schuster, 1980). Identification of Porella species can be difficult, due to high morphological plasti...

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On oceanic islands, the evolution of plants and animals with particular characteristics is favoured due to their isolation, populations normally comprising a large number of unique, endemic species. The Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos are considered biodiversity hotspots, containing an especially rich bryoflora. Due to its characteristically small size, this taxonomic group does not get much attention in conservation programmes. However, these plants are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems, representing a major part of biodiversity and playing a vital role in the ecosystem's functioning. As such, the development of the first Red List for Madeira and Selvagens Archipelagos has the potential to guide conservation efforts focused on taxa and habitats where threatened species and endemics are better represented. By applying the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) criteria, recently revised to apply to small islands, it was possible to obtain the percenta...

The Madeiran laurel forest (Laurisilva) is a subtropical forest with a very rich bryophyte flora and is considered as one of the most important remnants of the evergreen laurel forest from the Tertiary period. The effect of the laurel forest tree species on the epiphytic bryophyte species richness and composition in Madeira Island was studied in 40 sites. A total of 160 trees, belonging to 19 different tree species were assessed in the laurel forest. For subsequent analyses, we focused on seven tree species, for which at least nine individuals were sampled. A total of 137 trees from 40 sites were thus available for statistical analyses. We recorded 110 epiphytic bryophyte taxa (59 species and one variety of mosses and 50 liverworts). Accumulation curves showed clear differences in bryophyte species richness between the different tree species, with typical laurel forest tree species harboring more bryophytes. Tree species also had highly significant effects on species density (mean species richnes...

Relationships of the eight species of the liverwort genus Radula occurring in Portugal (mainland, the Madeira and Azores archipelagos), including the Macaronesian endemics R. jonesii and R. wichurae, were evaluated based on molecular, phytochemical and morphological–anatomical data. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed with sequences from three plastid DNA markers (trnS GGA-rps4 spacer, rps4 gene, trnL UAA intron), volatile oil compounds, as well as qualitative morphological–anatomical characters. In addition, the molecular data were subjected to maximum likelihood analysis. The eight taxa, R. aquilegia, R. carringtonii, R. complanata, R. holtii, R. jonesii, R. lindenbergiana, R. nudicaulis and R. wichurae, can be clearly distinguished from each other, either by molecular data alone or by combination of characters from all three data sets. Radula aquilegia is monophyletic according to the molecular data, but shows considerable, yet undescribed intraspecific morphological and phytochemica...

The volatiles isolated by distillation - extraction from 48 samples of seven liverwort Radula species collected on Azores and Madeira archipelagos and mainland Portugal, as well as one from Switzerland, were analysed by GC and GC-MS. Cluster analysis of the volatiles composition resulted in two major clusters. The chemically very diverse cluster I included the oil samples of Radula aquilegia from Madeira, R. jonesii, R. holtii, R. nudicaulis, R. lindenbergiana as well as R. complanata from Switzerland. Cluster II was characterized by high relative amounts of several sesquiterpenes and included the oil samples of R. aquilegia from the Azores as well as R. carringtonii and R. wichurae. 3-Methoxy bibenzyl was the major oil component from R. complanata and R. lindenbergiana. Except for R. aquilegia and the closely related species R. complanata and R. lindenber- giana, the cluster analysis allows distinction of all studied species, indicating the chemotaxonomical value of the volatile oil characters. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical and genetic differences of 11 individuals of Angelica lignescens and 3 individuals of Melanoselinum decipiens were studied to determine whether volatile components could be used as taxonomical markers and to examine the correlation between molecular and chemical markers. The volatiles were isolated from each individual by distillation–extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The same plants were analyzed by Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) using 14 arbitrary primers. The main component of volatile fraction isolated from vegetative aerial parts of A. lignescens was limonene (57–86%) while in M. decipiens the main components detected were β-pinene (38–47%) and sabinene (1–33%). Cluster analyses based both on the chemical composition of volatile fraction and on molecular markers grouped the 14 accessions in two main groups, corresponding to each of the two species under study. Considering the species together, a moderate Pearson's correlation of r = 0.61 was obtained between the two analyses.

Asterella africana (Mont.) A. Evans was collected on Madeira and in mainland Portugal at distinct locations and collection dates. The morphology of this marchantioid liverwort was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The Madeiran A. africana showed a large variability in spore and elater dimensions, but marked differences have not been found in most of the morphological characters. Essential oil samples isolated by distillation-extraction were analysed by GC and GC–MS. These samples were dominated by the monoterpene fraction (79–84%); the sesquiterpene and non-terpenoid fractions amounted to 1–2% and 4–8%, respectively. Myrtenyl acetate (30–42%) and α-pinene (10–17%) were the dominant components of all A. africana oil samples; the percentage contents of the other main components differed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The composition of the essential oils isolated from 24 populations of Thymus caespititius collected on Corvo, Flores, Sao Miguel and Terceira (Azores) and on Madeira were studied by GC and GC–MS. All the oil samples analysed were dominated by their monoterpene fraction (66–89%). In the Azorean populations, the proportion of the oxygenated monoterpenes (51–79%) was higher than that of the monoterpene hydrocarbons (8–27%). In contrast, the monoterpene hydrocarbons and the oxygenated monoterpenes represented 35–44 and 42–43%, respectively, of the total oils from the populations grown on Madeira. Cluster analysis of the identified components with a concentration ≥1% grouped the oils into three main clusters that corresponded with their main components: carvacrol (41–65%), thymol (35–51%) and α-terpineol (33–37%). Although the populations collected on Madeira were grouped in the same cluster, the chiral analysis of sabinene, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol showed that there was a clear chemical polymorphism. Actually, in the oils from two populations (−)-sabinene, (−)-terpinen-4-ol and (+)-α-terpineol were the predominant enantiomers while in that from the third population an opposite ratio was found. The chemical polymorphism of the essential oils from T. caespititius may result either from the genetic variability of the populations or from the influence of edaphic factors.

Plagiochila is one of the most frequent bryophyte genera in Madeira, inhabiting almost all habitats of the Madeiran laurel forest (Laurisilva). Results on the biodiversity, ecology and molecular relationships based on nuclear ribosomal ITS1 and ITS2 sequences of all Plagiochila species referred to Madeira Archipelago are summarized with the aims to provide (i) a first molecular confirmation of a species inventory of a bryophyte genus in a specific geographic region and (ii) a bryophyte example for displaying biogeographic affinities of the Madeiran laurel forest. The molecular analyses confirm the presence of nine species in Madeira, which belong to four sections: Plagiochila sect. Arrectae, sect. Rutilantes, sect. Vagae and sect. Plagiochila. Section Arrectae is represented in Madeira by five species, P. bifaria, P. punctata, P. retrorsa, P. spinulosa, and P. stricta. Section Rutilantes is represented by P. exigua and the Macaronesian endemic P. maderensis, which is reported for the first time to Canary Is. The sections Vagae and Plagiochila are represented by a single species each, P. virginica and P. porelloides, respectively. The molecular data indicate strong biogeographic affinities of the Madeiran Plagiochila flora with Central and northern South America, and to a lesser extent with Africa and Continental Europe. The environmental conditions found in Madeira Island, especially

Essential oils isolated by distillation–extraction from P. bifaria, P. maderensis, P. retrorsa and P. stricta, collected on Madeira, were analysed by GC and GC–MS. Methyl everninate (1–35%), peculiaroxide (13–16%) and ent-eudesm-4(15)-ene-6-one (9–19%) were the main components in all P. bifaria specimens analysed. Terpinolene (34–60%) dominated the oils isolated from P. maderensis specimens. β-Phellandrene (16–46%) was the main component of two of the three specimens of P. retrorsa, allo-ocimene (15%), terpinolene (13%), peculiaroxide (12%) and neo-allo-ocimene (10%) being the main components of the third specimen. P. stricta oils were dominated by peculiaroxide (11–21%), allo-ocimene (7–19%), bicyclogermacrene (4–17%), neo-allo-ocimene (4–11%) and spathulenol (2–14%). Essential oil cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between three of the four species studied, the least correlated being P. maderensis oils. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Jubula hutchinsiae (Hook.) Dumort. ssp. hutchinsiae is a highly polymorphic species frequently found in native forests of Atlantic Europe and Macaronesia. The main objective of this study is to contribute to a better knowledge of J. hutchinsiae in the Madeira Archipelago, where two varieties occur: var. integrifolia , the most frequent, and var. hutchinsiae found only in three localities. In Macaronesia J. hutchinsiae var. integrifolia is also common in the Canary Islands, and var. hutchinsiae is rarer in Madeira but more common in the Azores. The morphological study of re- presentative specimens and characters from the gametophyte and sporophyte together with light micrographs were used to support the taxonomic investigation. The differences found between the morphology and distribution of the two varieties of J. hutchinsiae in Macaronesia should be considered and seem to justify taxonomic distinction at the varietal rank. An updated cartography for Madeira Island is presented showing that this species is mainly distributed in the Laurisilva areas.

Four samples, from two populations, of the liverwort Marchesinia mackaii were collected on Madeira and at the mainland of Portugal, at different collection times. The oil yields determined by hydrodistillation attained 0.5% (v/w). The essential oils isolated by distillation-extraction were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main components (>5%) were α-asarone (23–31%), 2,4,5-trimethoxyallylbenzene (10–23%), (E)-methyl isoeugenol (12–19%), β-asarone (11–13%) and β caryophyllene (7–16%).

Morphological aspects of Porella inaequalis (Gott, ex Steph.) H. Perss. an endemic species of Madeira are presented. For the first time the gynoecium is described. Androecia and sporophyte remain unknown. Some ecological details are given and the distribution of the species is mapped.

(2008). New data on the status of threatened bryophytes of Madeira Island. Journal of Bryology: Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 226-228.

Summary The morphology and the distribution of the trichomes on the vegetative and reproductive organs of two endemic Teucrium species of Macaronesia (T. betonicum and T. heterophyllum) were studied by SEM. Both species possess an indumentum constituted by long, morphologically different non-glandu- lar trichomes and three types of glandular ones, differently distributed, depending on the organ studied. The particular distribution of the glandular trichomes on the inner surface of the corolla and on the anther filament seems to be of taxonomical importance.

The composition of the essential oils isolated from different aerial parts of Argyranthemum pinnatifidum (L. fil.) Lowe ssp. pinnatifidum and of A. haemotomma (Lowe) Lowe was analysed by GC and GC-MS. The oils were isolated separately from the flowers, and from the leaves collected during the flowering period and the vegetative phase of the plants. The oil yields varied from

The chemical composition of leaf oils of Helichrysum melaleucum Rchb. ex Holl., Oenanthe divaricata (R. Br.) Mabb. and Persea indica (L.) Spreng. were studied by GC and GC/MS. Twelve compounds of the oil of H. melaleucum were identified of which β-caryophyllene (35.4%) and γ-curcumene (22.3%) were the major components; 36 compounds of the oil of O. divaricata were identified of which β-bisabolene (17.7%), limonene (16.0%) and β-caryophyllene (15.3%) were the major components, while 55 compounds of the oil of P. indica were identified of which (E)-avocadodienofuran (15.3%), (E)-avocadenynofuran (13.2%) and β-caryophyllene (11.0%) were the major components.

The composition of the essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of Micromeria varia Benth. ssp. thymoides (Sol. ex Lowe) Perez var. thymoides, collected during the vegetative phase and the flowering period of the plant, was analysed by GC and GC-MS. Both oils consisted mainly of monoterpenes (62-69%), α-pinene being the major component (20-35%). Geranial (16%) and trans-nerolidol (15%) were the second and third most important constituents of the oil from the aerial parts collected during the vegetative phase of the plant, and β-caryophyllene epoxide (12%) and β-caryophyllene (10%) during the flowering period. The sesquiterpene fraction amounting to 27% of both oils, was dominated by trans-nerolidol (15%) during the vegetative phase, and by β-caryophyllene epoxide (12%) during the flowering period of the plant.

The composition of the essential oils from different aerial parts of Lavandula pinnata L. fil. var. pinnata was analysed by GC and GC-MS. The oils were isolated separately from flowering tops, and from leaves and stems collected during the flowering period and the vegetative phase of the plant. The three oil samples consisted mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons (37-80%), whereas oxygen-containing monoterpenes were hardly present (2-4%). β-Phellandrene (12-32%) was the main component of the oils analysed, and α-phellandrene (6-l6%) the second most important monoterpene. The sesquiterpene fraction of the oils (13-22%) was also characterized by hydrocarbons of which β-caryophyllene (11% of each oil) formed the major part. Phenylacetaldehyde amounted to 6-9% of the leaf oils. Common major components of lavender oils were not found in the oils or were present in very small amounts only.

The composition of the essential oils from different aerial parts of Artemisia argentea L'Her. was analysed by GC and GC-Ms. The oils were isolated separately from flower heads, and from leaves collected during the flowering period and the vegetative phase of the plant. The composition of the oils did not differ to a large extent. The tree oil samples consisted mainly of monoterpenes (67-73%). α-Phellandrene (25-27%) was the dominant component of the oils analysed, while isopinocamphone (cis-3-pinanone; 7-12%) was the second most important monoterpene. The sesquiterpene fraction amounting to 21-27% of the oils, was dominated by β-caryophyllene (5-8%) and β-eudesmol (8% in each oil sample)

Mestrado em Matemática - Ensino Nos últimos anos tem-se vindo a assistir a um avanço extraordinário da Genética com a descodificação do código genético completo de um número cada vez maior de espécies. Usando uma terminologia matemática, pode-se dizer que a molécula de DNA, de qualquer organismo, é constituída por pares de sequências complementares de símbolos retirados de um alfabeto de quatro símbolos (os nucleótidos). Para cada sequência, e dependendo do contexto de interesse, podem ser realizadas contagens daqueles símbolos e daí extrair informações estatísticas relevantes na identificação de regras que governam as sequências de DNA e, consequentemente, a tradução do mRNA pelo ribossoma. O grupo de Bioinformática da Universidade de Aveiro tem vindo a investigar o sequenciamento de codões (tripletos de nucleótidos) em zonas codificantes do DNA de organismos de qualquer domínio da Vida: Archaea, Eukarya e Bacteria. Um dos objectivos práticos da presente dissertação é contribuir para o avanço dessa investigação analisando propriedades associadas aos pares de codões iguais e aos codões raros. Para tal, cento e dezanove espécies dos três domínios da Vida são aqui consideradas. Nesta dissertação estudam-se, assim, metodologias estatísticas apropriadas à análise de dados discretos de populações Binomiais, Multinomiais e de Poisson, sendo consideradas diferentes propostas de inferir os parâmetros das distribuições. Analisam-se e comparam-se ainda, vários procedimentos que garantem a significância global fixada na realização de testes simultâneos. Este estudo permitiu estabelecer diferentes formas de identificar pares de codões problemáticos no sequenciamento do DNA em zonas codificantes. De forma ainda a contemplar a componente Ensino, foram criadas aplicações interactivas com o propósito de dinamizar o interesse pelo estudo do Tema: Probabilidades e Análise Combinatória, do actual programa do 12º ano de escolaridade. Nessas aplicações mostram-se representações gráficas de funções de massa de probabilidade das distribuições Binomial, Hipergeométrica e de Poisson e tem como objectivo que o aluno/utilizador, de modo intuitivo, estabeleça distribuições limite para as distribuições discretas; nomeadamente, a convergência da distribuição Binomial à Normal, da Hipergeométrica à Binomial e desta à distribuição de Poisson. ABSTRACT: In the past few years we have been assisting a remarkable development of Genetic with the decoding of the genetic code for a larger number of species. Using a mathematic terminology one can state that the DNA molecule is defined by pairs of complementary sequences of four symbols (nucleotides). Several estimating can be made for these sequences depending on the objective of the studies. It can provide new insight on the rules that govern the DNA sequences and so the mRNA decoding accuracy by the ribosome. The Aveiro University Bioinformatics group has been investigating the evolution of codons (nucleotides triplets) context on a genome wide scale for species of any Life domain: Archaea, Eukarya and Bacteria. One of the main practical aims of this work is to contribute for the progress of these investigations, by the analysis of associated properties to equal pairs of codons and rare codons. For that matter a hundred and nineteen species from all the three domains were considerer in this study. In this work, different specifics statistical methodologies to discrete data from Binomial, Multinomial and Poisson populations were studied, by analyzing several approaches to infer their parameters. Also, several procedures were analysed and compared, that guarantee the global significance of performing multiple tests. These studies allowed us to establish different forms in the identification of problematic codon pairs in coding sequences of genome. The educational component was also considered in this work by the creation of interactive applications in contents of Mathematic discipline in Secondary school. These applications show graphical representations of the probability mass function for discrete probability distributions herein studied and provide an easy way for students/users to analyse their limiting distributions.

The composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Melanoselinum decipiens (Schrad. & Wendl.) Hoffm., collected during the vegetative phase on Madeira and on the Azores, respectively, was analysed by GC and GC–MS. Both oils consisted mainly of monoterpenes (87% and 86% for Madeiran and Azorean oils, respectively), β-pinene (72%) and limonene (82%) being the main components of the Madeiran and Azorean oils, respectively. The sesquiterpene fraction attained 7% of the oil isolated from the Madeiran plants, whereas 5% was found in the oil isolated from the Azorean M. decipiens, the latter consisting only of hydrocarbons. This oil contained a higher non-terpenoid fraction, dominated by n-nonane (4%), than that of the Madeiran M. decipiens (7% and 1%, respectively). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The composition of the essential oils isolated separately from leaves and from inflorescences of Monizia edulis Lowe was analysed by GC and GC–MS. During the flowering period of the plant, monoterpenes were the most abundant components of both oils (57% of the leaf oil and 51% of the oil from the inflorescences). γ-Terpinene (37% and 44% of the two oils, respectively) and myristicin (18% and 40% respectively) were the predominant oil components. The sesquiterpene fraction of the leaf oil (16%) was dominated by zingiberene (8%) and β-caryophyllene (7%), whereas that of the oil from the inflorescences (4%) contained β-caryophyllene (4%) as the major component. During the vegetative phase of the plant, myristicin (37%) was the main component of the essential oil isolated from the leaves. In this oil, the monoterpenes amounted to 40%, γ-terpinene (21%) and trans-β-ocimene (14%) being main components. The sesquiterpene fraction was rather small (9%), and β-caryophyllene (8%) was its most abundant component. n-Alkanes (14%) constituted another important fraction of this oil. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The essential oils isolated from twigs of Juniperus cedrus Webb & Berth. grown on Madeira were analysed by GC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR. The oils consisted mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons (53.1-87.8%), the main ones being alpha-pinene (19.6-55.3%), limonene (17.3-32.7%) and Delta-3-carene (5.5-15.7%). The sesquiterpenoid fraction (4.1-22.3%) was dominated by E-caryophyllene (1.6-7.4%), while sandaracopimaradiene (0.1-6.1%), isoabienol (0.5-1.3%) and trans-totarol (0.4-2.2%) were the main diterpenoids (2.2-11.9%). Oct-1-en-3-ol (1.0-2.2%) was the major constituent of the non-terpenic fraction (1.3-2.7%). The composition of our oil samples differed to some extent from that reported for J. cedrus oil grown on the Canary Islands. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ffj.1061

The chemical composition of the leaf oil of Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco var. longifolia (O. Kuntze) Kunk. was studied by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-six compounds were identified, of which 2-tetradecanone (11.7%), 1,8-cineole (10.0%), α-cadinol (7.7%) and δ-3-carene (6.1%) were the major components.

The peculiar disjunction between Macaronesia and Australasia of the morphologically isolated pleurocarpous moss genus Echinodium is one of the most prominent questions in bryology. Echinodium as traditionally circumscribed comprises six extant species, four restricted to the Macaronesian archipelagos and two confined to the Australasian/Pacific regions. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on plastid trnLUAA intron and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences indicate that Echinodium is polyphyletic and split into three groups. Three of the four Macaronesian species (E. spinosum and the single island endemics E. renauldii and E. setigerum) are closely related to each other and treated as Echinodium s.str. (Echinodiaceae). Further clarification of the relationships of Echinodium s.str. with Orthostichella, a segregate of Lembophyllaceae, is needed. The remaining Macaronesian species, E. prolixum, is transferred to Isothecium (Lembophyllaceae); this systematic position is also strongly supported by leaf characters. The two Australasian species, E. hispidum and E. umbrosum, are molecularly unrelated to the Macaronesian species and are transferred to Thamnobryum in the Neckeraceae. While the molecular data suggest that the peculiar distribution pattern of ‘Echinodium’ is an artefact, the striking morphological similarity observed in Macaronesian and Australasian species cannot be dismissed. Possible explanations are: (i) parallel morphological evolution of the ‘Echinodium habit’ in Macaronesia and Australasia, or (ii) retention of a set of plesiomorphic characters in non-related groups in relict habitats, the Macaronesian laurel forest and the austral temperate rain forests, respectively. Of these hypotheses, the evolutionary parallelism hypothesis seems more plausible for several reasons, which are discussed.