Flora最新文献

{"title":"From herbarium specimens to contemporary surveys: Tracing the extinction dynamics and performance of endangered plant species in central Germany","authors":"Weronika A. Vörös ,&nbsp;Isabell Hensen ,&nbsp;Sabrina Träger ,&nbsp;Christoph Rosche ,&nbsp;Jochen Müller ,&nbsp;Christine Römermann ,&nbsp;Annett Baasch ,&nbsp;Marcus Lehnert","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitat loss and fragmentation, extensive land use, and climate change lead to an unprecedented amount of local extinctions in the Anthropocene. To protect endangered species, population ecological studies are essential to assess the current state of remnant populations. In addition, it is pertinent to investigate changes in the distribution of endangered species over time and space. Given the apparent lack of long-term studies, herbarium records are a valuable source for tracking these changes. In this study, we analyze three endangered plant species (<em>Antennaria dioica, Omphalodes scorpioides</em>, and <em>Viola pumila</em>), with different habitat preferences (dry grassland, riparian forest, and alluvial meadow, respectively) to examine their current status, and performance of the extant populations in central Germany. The analysis of herbarium specimens from the last 200 years indicates a dramatic decline in the occurrence area of all three species. Furthermore, most populations still found in central Germany are very small and strongly fragmented. Our results suggest that of several factors categorized into four groups (population size, climate, soil parameters, and vegetation parameters), the number of individuals or patches, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), soil depth, and percentage of bare soil exert the most pronounced influence on plant performance of the studied species. However, nature and strength of these correlations vary considerably across species. All this clearly shows an urgent need to prevent species extinction, underlining the imperative importance of species conservation, and the need for initiatives such as conservation breeding and reintroduction or reinforcement, which could lead to success even in small populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152664"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbon and nitrogen contents and isotopic composition among venezuelan plant communities, functional groups and successional stage","authors":"Nelson Ramírez,&nbsp;Ana Herrera,&nbsp;Herbert Briceño","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The main aim was to determine the diversity and differences in the leaf values of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents and natural isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) among tropical species from 27 contrasting plant communities, functional groups and the successional status. The high variation in the leaf values of δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, %N, %C and C:N ratio are related to the high diversity of species, communities and functional groups. Significant results were as follow: δ¹⁵N and %N were negatively correlated with elevation and rainfall. The %C increased with elevation and rainfall. The hightest N content and δ¹⁵N were found in drier communities and the lowest values in the wettest areas following the leaf economics spectrum. The highest mean values of δ¹⁵N was found in annual herbs and the lowest in shrubs and trees. The mean values of δ¹⁵N were higher in disturbed than undisturbed habitats. The highest mean values of δ¹³C occurred in perennial herbs, succulent species, epiphytes and parasites and the lowest in trees, shrubs and vines. The %C was higher in trees and shrubs and lowest in herbaceous species, and higher for species in undisturbed compared to disturbed habitats. Some trends between plant families, physiology, and communities were recorded. The most important conclusions highlight that climate, composition of functional groups, plant families and ultimately the structure of the communities influence the isotopic composition and C and N contents of species. Functional groups contribute to understanding how life diversity in the tropics may reflect biogeochemistry diversity. Classification of communities based on the isotopic composition and C and N of leaves allows partially grouping certain communities according to some general characteristics such as life form composition and geographical areas. The taxonomic composition also partially influenced communities classification and only explains a fraction of the variation determined according to leaf biogeochemistry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152671"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extrafloral nectary plants in Brazilian biomes: Dominance of Cerrado and Fabaceae","authors":"Vanessa Dayane da Costa Barbosa ,&nbsp;Alexandra Bächtold ,&nbsp;Kleber Del-Claro ,&nbsp;Estevao Alves Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) have been described in almost 4500 plant species, but there are several gaps in our knowledge of their occurrence and distribution. Here, we investigated the distribution and richness of EFN˗plants in Brazilian biomes. Data were extracted from published literature, and our analysis included only EFN˗plants that interacted with ants. A total of 234 EFN˗plant species in 47 families were registered in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pampa, and the Amazon. The Cerrado was evaluated in 65 % of all publications and had the highest richness (92 species) and the most exclusive species compared to the other biomes. Fabaceae was the most speciose family and was dominant in all biomes (except in the Amazon). Only 13 of 234 plant species were observed in more than one biome. In a network analysis, <em>Qualea grandilflora, Turnera subulata</em> and <em>Plathymenia reticulata</em> were relatively more important than other species, as they connected biomes and increased the community's cohesion. Our understanding of EFN˗plants is limited because the Fabaceae and Cerrado were overrepresented. In addition, the high exclusivity of flora within biomes adds a regional factor to our understanding of ant–plant interactions. Our data of plants visited by ants were compared with descriptive checklists of EFN˗plants, and 127 species and 16 families of EFN˗plants unknown from checklists were identified. Conversely, checklists contain hundreds of EFN˗plants from which interactions with ants are unknown, indicating a great potential for studies of ant–plant interactions and mutualisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152668"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anatomical adaptations of plants within the Southern Brazil coastal sand dunes","authors":"Everton Richetti ,&nbsp;Ana Júlia Poletto ,&nbsp;Ana Claudia Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Fernanda Maria Cordeiro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Makeli Garibotti Lusa","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal ecosystems play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services to society. Among these ecosystems, coastal dunes and Restinga vegetation stand out for their uniqueness and the diversity of species adapted to extreme environmental conditions. This study aims to investigate the adaptations of plants in these ecosystems, with a specific focus on leaf anatomy, to deepen our understanding of the adaptive strategies adopted by these species and to provide an overview of the most common strategies. To achieve this, we analyzed leaves from 47 prevalent species in herbaceous Restinga of Southern Brazil, across four different microhabitat conditions, employing microscopic techniques to address both qualitative and quantitative measurements to evaluate anatomical characteristics. The results yielded insights into the diversity of plant adaptations to different microhabitats. Key findings include the presence of thickened external periclinal walls, the height of epidermal cells, and a predominance of amphistomatous leaves. These characteristics suggest adaptations to minimize water loss through transpiration due to solar radiation protection against damage of radiation, and a better use of the light that arrives from all directions, reflected by the sand. Additionally, specialized water storage tissues such as the hydrenchyma, voluminous epidermal cells, and hypodermis were identified, indicating adaptations to environments with water restriction and high temperatures. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the adaptive strategies of plants in coastal ecosystems, providing insights for more specialized research approaches and the implementation of practical conservation and management measures in these ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152661"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hybrids of broad-leaved Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae) are common in Siberia","authors":"Alexander A. Bobrov,&nbsp;Denis Yu. Efimov,&nbsp;Elena V. Chemeris,&nbsp;Lyudmila A. Efimova,&nbsp;Nikita P. Tikhomirov","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We have summarized the distribution of <em>Potamogeton</em> hybrids in Siberia based on extensive field and herbarium work. Four most common broad-leaved <em>Potamogeton</em> hybrids, <em>P</em>. × <em>angustifolius, P</em>. × <em>nitens, P</em>. × <em>salicifolius</em> and <em>P</em>. × <em>sparganiifolius</em>, and one very rare <em>P</em>. × <em>cognatus</em> occur in 178 localities, of which 108 are newly reported ones. Hybrids are mostly found in areas where both parental species are common and the research activity is high. Unlike Europe where both hybrid diversity and frequency of occurrence increase with latitude, in Siberia both diversity and frequency peak south of 60° N, which is the northern distribution limit for many <em>Potamogeton</em> species due to the more severe continental climate of Siberia. Habitat preferences of the hybrids depend on the dominant type of water bodies and the suitability of environmental conditions in the area. In the southern lowlands, most records of hybrids are made in rivers. At higher elevations (&gt;800 m a.s.l.) or at the northern and western distribution limits, <em>Potamogeton</em> hybrids were found in lakes or stagnant water bodies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152663"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional implications of cell wall composition in leaf-folding galls induced by Gynaikothrips uzeli (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) on Ficus benjamina L. (Moraceae)","authors":"Iara Cristina Santos Curvelo Viol ,&nbsp;Gracielle Pereira Pimenta Bragança ,&nbsp;Ígor Abba Arriola ,&nbsp;Elka Fabiana Aparecida Almeida ,&nbsp;Rosy Mary dos Santos Isaias","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ficus benjamina - Gynaikothrips uzeli</em> system was herein used as the study model to test if and to what degree the leaf-folding and establishment of the colony of thrips demand alterations in cell wall flexibility and porosity, which were mapped by immunocytochemical techniques. Cell wall flexibility was related to arabinans at the epidermis level, while the balance of methyl-esterified and non-esterified forms of homogalacturonans in the cell walls of the homogeneous parenchyma provided a balance between flexibility and rigidity. In this specific gall morphotype, arabinans contribute to regulating water balance and nutrient transport while also providing extra structural support to the inner epidermis of the gall, which is the area most affected by the thrip colony. The methyl-esterified homogalacturonans also improved the porosity necessary for translocating nutrients and water from cell-to-cell. Some degree of rigidity in gall tissues was guaranteed by the xyloglucans, whose epitopes were labeled in the homogeneous parenchyma cells. As expected, the dynamics of pectins and hemicelluloses in the <em>G. uzeli</em> on <em>F. benjamina</em> system implied in cell expansion and porosity, which related to leaf folding and apoplastic translocation of water and nutrients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152665"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevational patterns and drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pteridophytes: A case study from the Himalaya","authors":"Sajad Ahmad Wani ,&nbsp;Shabir Ahmad Zargar ,&nbsp;Firdous Ahmad Dar ,&nbsp;Aadil Abdullah Khoja ,&nbsp;Akhtar Hussain Malik ,&nbsp;Irfan Rashid ,&nbsp;Anzar Ahmad Khuroo","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent times of global biodiversity crisis, documenting the distribution patterns of regional biodiversity and unravelling the drivers that shape these patterns has assumed urgent research priority. In mountains, understanding the distribution of biodiversity along elevational gradients is crucial to its conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. In the Himalaya – highest mountain range in the world – although studies focusing on the elevational distribution of higher plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms) are available, however such studies on lower plants such as pteridophytes are largely lacking. To fill this knowledge gap, here we investigate the elevational patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pteridophytes and their bioclimatic drivers in Jammu and Kashmir. We compiled a comprehensive dataset on 225 pteridophyte species of the study region. We divided the elevation gradient in the study region into 43 vertical bands, each with a width of 100 meters. We used regression analysis to assess the relationship of species richness (SR), standardized effect sizes of phylogenetic diversity (PDses), mean pairwise distance (MPDses), and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTDses) with the elevation. Our results revealed a mid-elevational peak in species richness and a half U-shaped curve in phylogenetic structure along the elevational gradient. Overall, we found phylogenetic clustering at mid- and high-elevational bands and phylogenetic overdispersion at low-elevational bands. Taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity was mainly governed by species turnover component. Further, the precipitation-related climatic variables explained a greater proportion of the variation in SR compared to temperature-related variables; but converse was true for PDses, MPDses, and MNTDses, thereby indicating that niche conservatism and environmental filtering shape the composition of pteridophytes along the elevation in this Himalayan region. Overall, the findings of the present study advance our understanding about the elevational distribution patterns in pteridophytes with wide implications for ecology, evolution and biogeography of mountain biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152654"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling a longstanding misinterpretation: Revisiting the pattern formation of testa surface in Astragalus (Fabaceae, Astragaleae)","authors":"Raheleh Darzi,&nbsp;Shahin Zarre","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2024.152666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the largest plant genus among flowering plants, <em>Astragalus</em> requires a thorough evaluation of morphological and anatomical evidence to understand its evolutionary history, species relationships, and systematic placements. This study assesses seed surface patterns across various species and evaluates the variation and formation processes of testa ornamentation for taxonomic and phylogenetic purposes. Previous investigations have identified fixed features in several species that aid in species delimitation or characterize related groups. We examined seed surface characteristics, such as roughness under a stereomicroscope, cell shape, and cellular arrangement using Scanning Electron Microscopy, in 181 specimens representing 124 species and 55 sections of <em>Astragalus</em>, along with five species from related genera for comparison. We propose standardized terminology for seed surface characters to establish a consensus framework for future studies. Our results reveal distinct testa surface patterns within a single species and even within individual seeds as they develop. Initially, testa cells exhibit a polygonal isodiametric or elongated shape, which progressively narrows and spaces out, leading to the expansion and deepening of areas at the anticlinal walls. This pattern develops into an irregularly rugulate and ultimately a multi-reticulate form. Notably, <em>A. annularis, A. epiglottis</em>, and <em>A. pelecinus</em> display a rare cellular pattern akin to <em>Phylolobium</em> and <em>Podlechiella vogelii</em>, supporting their phylogenetic placement as the most basal clade in <em>Astragalus</em>. The verrucose-walled multi-reticulate pattern is characteristic of the Phaca clade, while an accelerated emergence of a multi-reticulate pattern in the Astracantha and Hypoglottis clades may indicate an advanced state. Future studies on seed surface patterns should consider these testa surface changes to address taxonomic issues within <em>Astragalus</em> and other Fabaceae genera.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152666"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenotypic diversity and genetic characterization of Cordia myxa L. using multivariate analysis","authors":"Prakash Chandra Tripathi ,&nbsp;Anuradha Sane ,&nbsp;Prakash Kumar ,&nbsp;Kanupriya Chaturvedi ,&nbsp;Daya Shankar Mishra ,&nbsp;Prakashbhai Ravat","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study characterizes a collection of <em>Cordia myxa</em> L. genotypes from southern Karnataka, evaluating a range of qualitative and quantitative traits to assess phenotypic diversity. The analysis revealed significant variation (P &lt; 0.05) across most of the traits, indicating their potential for distinguishing germplasm diversity. Notable traits such as leaf length (6.67–11.28 cm), leaf width (4.87–9.05 cm), and fruit weight (1.40–3.11 g, with an average of 2.22 g) showed wide variation. Additionally, economically important attributes, including the number of fruits per tree, fruit yield, total soluble solids (TSS), as well as qualitative traits like fruit peel color and taste, exhibited substantial variability, with coefficient of variation exceeding 20 %. Strong correlations were identified between traits influencing fruit yield and quality. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis effectively grouped genotypes based on their phenotypic profiles. Genotypes from diverse geographic regions were widely distributed across the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2), highlighting the broad range of phenotypic diversity within the collection. A subset of traits accounted for 94 % of the total variance in the PCA, suggesting their utility in <em>Cordia myxa</em> breeding programs. The results underscore the importance of phenotypic diversity for developing core collections with enhanced variability and for designing targeted breeding strategies. This study provides valuable insights for the improvement and conservation of <em>Cordia myxa</em>, an underexplored species with considerable potential for fruit production and other applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152673"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Siliceous phytoliths in species of the Costaceae and Zingiberaceae families of Sri Lanka","authors":"Thilini Wijesinghe,&nbsp;Anoma Perera","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytoliths, due to their distinctive characteristics and durability, are valuable tools for identifying plant taxa, but their broader application is hindered by limited knowledge. This study aimed to identify phytolith forms and their key discriminative features—shape, margin features, surface ornamentation, and size—in 4 species from the family Costaceae and 14 species from the family Zingiberaceae that grow in Sri Lanka, with the goal of exploring their potential use in taxonomic identification. We also investigated the phytolith mass (per unit weight) among plant species or different plant parts. Phytoliths in leaf, pseudo-stem, and petiole samples (<em>n</em> = 3) from these species were extracted using the wet-oxidation protocol. The samples from species that did not respond were subjected to a modified wet-oxidation protocol, but only <em>Zingiber officinale</em> and <em>Z. zerumbet</em> responded to this protocol. A total of ten phytolith forms were identified across eleven species. Phytolith forms in <em>Hellenia speciosa, Curcuma aromatica, C. zedoaria</em>, and <em>Etlingera elatior</em> are distinctive and allow for their taxonomic identification. However, some species exhibited similar phytolith forms, making taxonomic identification based solely on phytoliths impossible. Although <em>Zingiber officinale</em> Type I phytoliths are SPHEROIDAL NODULATE, this species can still be distinguished by its unique Type II phytoliths (PYRAMIDAL NODULATE), which are specific to <em>Z. officinale</em>. In all species, phytolith shapes were consistent across all plant parts (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). With the exception of <em>Hellenia speciosa</em>, phytolith size varied significantly depending on the plant part (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the mass of phytoliths per unit weight differed significantly between species and among plant parts (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), with the highest mass found in leaves. Notably, we identified new phytolith features, contributing to the refinement of phytolith nomenclature. Our findings highlight the potential of phytolith analysis for plant identification and underscore the need for further research to enhance its broader applicability in multidisciplinary studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 152672"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}