Flora最新文献

{"title":"Phenology of Psittacanthus palmeri (Loranthaceae), a deciduous mistletoe, and its host Bursera fagaroides","authors":"Mónica E. Queijeiro-Bolaños,&nbsp;Israel G. Carrillo-Angeles,&nbsp;Mónica Cervantes-Jiménez,&nbsp;Humberto Suzán-Azpiri","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deciduousness is a common trait among plants inhabiting semi-arid regions; however, this foliar habit is rare in mistletoes and has not been documented in tropical species. In Central Mexico, <em>Psittacanthus palmeri</em> parasitizes <em>Bursera fagaroides</em> trees. Both species share similar characteristics, such as shedding their leaves during the dry season and having notably similar fruit morphology. To document the deciduous habit of <em>P. palmeri</em> and investigate whether its phenophases align with those of <em>B. fagaroides</em>, we evaluated the phenological changes of both species over the course of one year. Additionally, we compared the mean fruit size of both species to evaluate their morphological similarity. Both species exhibit a leafless phase during the dry season, although <em>B. fagaroides</em>’s leafless period is more extended. Their flowering phenophases differ: <em>B. fagaroides</em> flowers during the dry season with an intermediate duration and mid-synchronic timing, while <em>P. palmeri</em> flowers during the rainy season with an extended duration and non-synchronous timing. The fruiting phase for <em>Bursera</em> is extended, synchronous, and even forming aerial seed bank. In contrast, the fruiting phase of <em>P. palmeri</em> is extended (but not more than six months), occurs during autumn-winter, and is non-synchronous. The fruits of both species are very similar in size (<em>t</em> = 1.086, d.f. = 118, <em>p</em> = 0.279) and color, suggesting they may share disperser birds, potentially enhancing seed dispersal for both species. However, this hypothesis requires further research. <em>P. palmeri</em> is a poorly studied mistletoe, and its unique features, such as deciduous habit, inconspicuous nature and a possible mimicry of the host, opens new opportunities of research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 152707"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577970","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":"Leaf morpho-anatomy and taxonomic significance in six Phalaenopsis s. l. (Orchidaceae) species from China","authors":"Wenhao Liu ,&nbsp;Yunxi Xie ,&nbsp;Le Zou ,&nbsp;Yan Luo ,&nbsp;Lu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Phalaenopsis</em> is well-known as a highly ornamental and rare orchid. The taxonomy and infrageneric relationship of the genus of <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em> has been highly disputed due to some overlapping morphological features. Leaf morpho-anatomy of six <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em> species from China were investigated using a microscope and paraffin section to provide new evidence for taxonomic implications. The observation of the study revealed the following: (1) The shape of the ordinary epidermal cells on both sides are polygonal with straight-arched anticlinal wall. (2) Papillae occurre on each epidermal cells and are present on both leaf sides, including the uni-papilla on both the adaxial and abaxial epidermis cells in these six species, with an exception of the bi-papillae on adaxial epidermis cells in <em>P. wilsonii</em> and <em>P. braceana</em>. (3) Orbicular stomata and elliptic stomata occur only on the abaxial epidermis, commonly with co-occurrence of tetracytic and anomocytic stomata. (4) The straight type and the convex type of outline of leaf midrib were observed in six <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em> species. The thickness of leaf midrib is different greatly, the thickest observed in <em>P. deliciosa</em> and the thinnest observed in <em>P. braceana</em>. (5) Spherical silica bodies and prismatic and raphide crystals were observed in six <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em> species. Some leaf morpho-anatomic features were selected and used for species discrimination, including the size of ordinary epidermal cells, type of papillae, stomatal shape and density, thickness and outline of cross-section of a leaf midrib, and crystal type. Meanwhile, it was supported that <em>Kingidium</em> should be grouped into <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em>, since <em>P. deliciosa</em> (syn. = <em>K. deliciosum</em>) and <em>P. braceana</em> (syn. = <em>K. braceanum</em>) shared common leaf morpho-anatomic features with the other four species of <em>Phalaenopsis s. s.</em> In addition, a key to six <em>Phalaenopsis s. l.</em> species from China was proposed based on leaf morpho-anatomic features.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 152710"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143563420","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":"Leaf traits as predictors of climatic adaptation and distributional range in wide- and narrow-range species","authors":"Sandara Nadja Rodrigues Brasil ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo de Carvalho ,&nbsp;Francisca Soares de Araujo,&nbsp;Maria Iracema Bezerra Loiola","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The distribution of species and their resistance to climate change can be predicted by examining the range of abiotic factors and the expression of intraspecific functional trait variation. Functional traits, such as specific leaf area (SLA) and total leaf surface area (LA), may vary in individuals according to their natural habitat conditions, improving plant performance. The genus <em>Erythroxylum</em> is a good model for understanding the vulnerability of tropical plants to climate change as it widely occurs from semiarid to humid tropical climates at different elevations, and many species now face the risk of extinction in response to climate change and other factors. In this study, we examined the relationship between leaf functional traits and climatic variables and how intraspecific variation in these traits and variables correlates with the distribution breadth of <em>Erythroxylum</em> species. We also aimed to identify which specific traits influence their distribution across Brazil's diverse climates and elevations. We found a negative correlation between specific leaf area (SLA) and precipitation and temperature, indicating that individuals with lower SLA are more common at higher temperatures and precipitation. In contrast, we observed a positive correlation between leaf area (LA) and precipitation. We also found higher intraspecific variability in SLA and LA across wide-range compared to narrow-range species. LA was a good predictor in estimating the area of occupancy and extension of occupancy in <em>Erythroxylum</em> species. We suggest that <em>Erythroxylum</em> has adapted to hotter and wetter environments using relatively slow investment strategies, prioritizing long-term survival over rapid growth, also known as a resource-conservative strategy. Additionally, the capacity to exhibit a wide range of leaf thickness and size has enabled these plants to expand their distribution, allowing for a broader range of environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 152708"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577969","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":"Contrasting effects of a native and an alien N-fixing species on the diversity and composition of dune plant community assemblages","authors":"Liliana Vasquez-Garcia ,&nbsp;Bruce Arthur Osborne ,&nbsp;Jorge F. Perez-Quezada","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The establishment of plant species in coastal dune systems has received increasing attention in recent years due to their potential threats to the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of these fragile ecosystems. Plants exhibiting invasive behavior, whether alien or native, merit particular focus in coastal dunes systems given their ability to form extensive, high-density populations. To address whether there are differences in the effects of a native and an alien species on dune systems, we examined the impact of two N-fixing species, one an alien invader (<em>Ulex europaeus</em>) and the other a native colonizer (<em>Gunnera tinctoria</em>), on taxonomic and functional plant diversity. In these coastal dune systems where the resident community contains a high (56 %) proportion of introduced species, invasion by the alien species <em>Ulex europaeus</em> significantly reduced the diversity of the resident community by decreasing species richness, evenness, and taxonomic complexity. In contrast, colonization by the native <em>Gunnera tinctoria</em> did not lead to significant reductions in species richness or evenness but did reduce overall species diversity and likely facilitated species turnover by altering species assemblages. We conclude that U<em>. europaeus</em> invasions exert significantly negative effects on resident coastal plant communities, whereas colonization by the native G<em>. tinctoria</em> has comparatively less impact. This study represents one of the few field experiments directly comparing the impacts of invasive alien species with those of range-expanding native species, providing evidence that alien species can exert greater ecological effects. These findings hold significant conservation and management implications, as they highlight the need to address the ecological consequences of overgrowing populations, whether native or alien, particularly in coastal dune systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 152702"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549583","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":"The geographic covariation of functional traits of flowers and pollinators in Delphinium caeruleum","authors":"Nurbiye Ehmet ,&nbsp;Wen-Juan Shao ,&nbsp;Ruo-Chun Gao ,&nbsp;Guang Yang ,&nbsp;Yi-Fan Xu ,&nbsp;Kun Sun ,&nbsp;Qin-Zheng Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A crucial question regarding plant-pollinator interactions is how can plants single out the efficient pollinators when plants cannot directly assess the quality of their visitors? Some floral traits can be interpreted as an entry barrier that plants impose on floral visitors, incorporating a strategic cost, such as mechanical obstacles or physical barriers. We posit that these “mechanical fit” traits may vary within a species across different pollinator landscapes in populations, leading to a matching of traits between plants and local pollinator insects. Here, we observed the pollinator species, visitation rate and pollination efficiency, and measured the pollinator and floral traits in three populations of <em>Delphinium caeruleum</em>. Additionally, we made a comparison between the operative strength of staminodes and the strength that insects were able to exert on opening the staminodes. We also compared the length of the nectar spur and the proboscis of insects, for the purpose of verifying whether there was a match between these traits. Our results indicated that the floral traits, visitor species, visitation frequency, and pollination efficiency of visitors differed among populations. The operative strength of staminodes and length of the nectar spur matched the strength and proboscis length of the local visitors respectively, and those visitors who could successfully enter the flower boasted a high pollination efficiency. Our results demonstrate that pollinator shifts have resulted in geographically divergent operative strength of staminodes across the populations, which might be a consequence of plants’ adaptation to local pollinator landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 152704"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601105","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":"Distribution and diversity of epiphytic macroalgae in Digenea (Rhodophyta: Ceramiales) in a Caribbean rocky shore","authors":"Abdiel Jover ,&nbsp;Anakarla Mora-García ,&nbsp;Asiel Cabrera ,&nbsp;Ana M. Suárez ,&nbsp;José Lucas Pérez-Lloréns","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The diversity of epiphytic macroalgae in the intertidal rocky shore could be modulated by the zonation patterns of the host macroalgal thallus and the exposure to waves. This study characterized the spatial variation of the taxonomic and functional diversity of epiphytic macroalgae on the thallus of <em>Digenea</em> in the Caribbean intertidal rocky shore of Cuba. Alpha diversity was quantified by calculating species diversity (q0, q1, and q2) and functional diversity (CWM, Fric, FEve, FDiv, FDis). Changes in the structure (taxonomic and functional) were quantified using the Sorensen Index. On the thallus of <em>Digenea</em>, 21 epiphytic macroalgae with a dominance of rhodophytes were recorded. Based on frequency of occurrence, these epiphytes are characterized by the prevalence of rare species with erect and branched thalli, fast growth rates, and perennial longevity. The greatest taxonomic richness and diversity were observed in secondary branches and exposed environments. In contrast, the greatest diversity of functional traits was found in sheltered environments and secondary branches of the thallus. These findings suggest that species occupy different ecological niches that complement each other, avoiding competition and facilitating coexistence. There is a low taxonomic and functional dissimilarity between the assemblages, which, together with the similarity of the CWM values, is indicative of the functional convergence of macroalgal epiphytism in <em>Digenea</em>. Incorporating compositional and functional diversity analysis allowed the identification of patterns in the composition and structure of the epiphytic macroalgal assemblages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 152703"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592678","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":"Intraspecific variation of leaf traits in tree plantings of different ages in a tropical forest","authors":"Nathalie Loureiro ,&nbsp;Jerônimo Sansevero","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Response functional traits are characteristics related to how organisms respond to variations in abiotic or biotic factors, which can vary along an environmental gradient. Variations in traits within a community arise due to the arrival or departure of species, but also due to variation across individuals of the same species. The objectives of this study were: (i) to assess differences in the intraspecific variation (ITV) of leaf traits in restoration sites of different ages in a tropical forest; (ii) to observe if species of the same ecological group exhibit similar variation in resource use traits over time; and (iii) to assess the relationships between pairs of traits for each species at different sites. The tree species <em>Alchornea triplinervia, Calophyllum brasiliense, Guarea guidonia, Inga laurina</em>, and <em>Pseudobombax grandiflorum</em> were evaluated in 5-, 13-, and 25-year-old plantings in an area of Atlantic Forest. The results showed that, for most traits, the highest ITV was observed in the oldest planting and the species did not show equivalence in the pattern of trait changes, regardless of their ecological group. Most correlations between pairs of traits differed among plantations of different ages. We showed that intraspecific variation does not necessarily occur in a similar way among species of the same ecological group and suggest that ITV in a given area is related to environmental rather than ontogenetic factors. We also demonstrated that even well-established correlations between pairs of traits do not always persist over time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 152700"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143487993","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":"Drought immediately increases soluble sugar and decreases starch in seedlings of the shade-tolerant compared to the sun-tolerant ecotype of Paubrasilia echinata","authors":"Geraldo Rogério Faustini Cuzzuol ,&nbsp;Carlos Luis Sánchez Fonseca ,&nbsp;Moemy Gomes de Moraes ,&nbsp;Bernardo Pretti Becacici Macieira","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How shade-tolerant and sun-tolerant plants will respond to the predicted increase in drought for tropical forests by the end of this century is a subject of global interest. One of the physiological defense mechanisms of plants against the harmful effects of drought is their ability to adjust their contents of non-structural carbohydrates – NSC (soluble sugars and starch) and cell wall polymers – CWP (hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin). As a research model, we used plants of the small leaf (shade-tolerant) and medium leaf (sun-tolerant) ecotypes of <em>Paubrasilia echinata</em>, a tree native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The plants were subjected to drought (no watering) for 17 days when the water potential (<em>Ψ_w</em>) of the leaves reached -3 MPa. Then, they were watered daily (rehydration) for 36 days. In different periods, we evaluated the NSC and CWP contents of their leaves, stem, and roots. Intraspecific similarities and divergences occurred in the contents of these molecules. The shade-tolerant ecotype showed immediate responses to drought by raising the soluble sugar and hemicelluloses, and decreasing the starch contents (aerial organs). The lignin content increased in the aerial organs of both ecotypes and the cellulose content more in the sun-tolerant ecotype. After rehydration, the NSC and CWP contents of the two ecotypes were equal to their controls. We concluded that the shade-tolerant ecotype showed greater sensitivity to drought by demonstrating a greater need for NSC and hemicelluloses adjustments at the beginning of the drought. However, the drought did not affect the survival of the two ecotype's plants. If climate change forecasts for the southeastern region of Brazil prevail in the coming decades, natural or planted seedlings of the shade-tolerant ecotype of <em>P. echinata</em> may suffer greater consumption of its transient energy reservoir (starch). Such responses can compromise the functioning of their seedlings if droughts become more intense and frequent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 152701"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509677","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":"Morphological and anatomical variations in stem-related photosynthetic structures of the Fabaceae","authors":"Veit M. Dörken ,&nbsp;Philip G. Ladd ,&nbsp;Robert F. Parsons","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leaves are the photosynthetic organs of most plants. However some species have other photosynthetic structures as well as leaves or have lost the ability to produce green leaves and have evolved alternative organs for carbon fixation. The Fabaceae is a speciose family that has species with probably the widest range of photosynthetic structures in land plants. We examined five pea species where leaves are often ephemeral or have been entirely reduced to nonphotosynthetic bracts to understand the ways in which alternative structures have been formed. The evolutionary incentive to use stems for photosynthesis is likely related to light and seasonal water availability. <em>Cytisus scoparius</em> sheds leaves under dry conditions and photosynthesis is then restricted to ridged stems where the ridges are derived from highly modified stipular tissues. In <em>Genista sagittalis</em> the annual shoots do have leaves but the stems form extensions derived from leaf bases that laterally expand to form continuous leaf-like wings down the stem increasing photosynthetic area. Anatomically <em>Cytisus</em> and <em>Genista</em> are relatively mesomorphic and avoid water stress by losing leaves (<em>Cytisus</em>) or having annual stems (<em>Genista</em>). The other three species grow in a mediterranean-type climate with pronounced summer drought. Leaf blades are reduced to brown bracts but the leaf bases extend between the stem nodes to form photosynthetic ridged stems or cladodes. <em>Jacksonia alata</em> is a diminutive species with limited photosynthetic area which may contribute to its subordinate position in its community. <em>Leptosema aphyllum</em> and L. <em>tomentosum</em> have much broader cladodes and are larger shrubs. These three species have stems and cladodes with a dense anatomical structure and abundant sclerenchyma that allow the species to take advantage of the winter-spring rainfall but enable their survival through the hot and arid summer. The five species emphasise that different structures can be modified to achieve a similar outcome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 152693"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143479822","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":"Evolution of the occurrence of phytomelanin in aerial stems of American Vernonieae subtribes (Asteraceae)","authors":"Josiane Wolff-Coutinho ,&nbsp;Benoit Francis Patrice Loeuille ,&nbsp;Carolina M. Siniscalchi ,&nbsp;Fábio Vitalino Santos Alves ,&nbsp;Fernanda Maria Cordeiro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Ana Claudia Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Makeli Garibotti Lusa","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytomelanin is a dark pigment frequently reported in fruits and/or seeds, but recently described in aerial stems of species of the tribe Vernonieae, in subtribe Lychnophorinae. We hereby report the presence of this pigment in aerial stems of additional species belonging to this tribe and investigate the evolution of its occurrence in these lineages. Samples from 42 species belonging to the main lineages of American Vernonieae subtribes, and two species belonging to an outgroup, were analyzed with traditional plant anatomy techniques. The ancestral states of phytomelanin occurrence were reconstructed with maximum likelihood methods, using a recent phylogenetic hypothesis of American Vernonieae based on molecular data. Of the species listed for the present study, the secretion of phytomelanin, when present, was observed in the intercellular spaces of the sclereids. The pigment is more frequently found in the pith, secondary phloem, and cortex. The ancestral state reconstruction suggests that the most recent common ancestor of tribe Vernonieae had phytomelanin in those three regions. The phylogenetic signal for presence of phytomelanin in these regions may indicate this character was preserved throughout the evolutionary history of the tribe. Thus, the ability to produce phytomelanin would have been conserved in the more nested lineages of the American Vernonieae subtribes, although it could also reflect distinct ecological adaptations across lineages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 152685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143526947","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}