Flora最新文献

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Do stem functional traits determine the phenology of tree species in semiarid highland forest, Brazil” [Flora Volume 332, November 2025, 152845]","authors":"Isnaiane Maria de Azevedo de Sousa Lima , Angela Lucena Nascimento de Jesus , Cintia Amando , Nielson Dinivan da Silva Brito , Marcia Nunes de Melo Santos , Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal , Renata Akemi Shinozaki-Mendes , André Laurênio de Melo , André Luiz Alves de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152870","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152870"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693910","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":"Sex-specific trade-offs of ecological strategies of Spinacia oleracea plants under intermittent drought stress","authors":"Chunshan Gong ,&nbsp;Jun Wang ,&nbsp;Shengmei Guo ,&nbsp;Tingfa Dong ,&nbsp;Chunyan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With global climate change, the frequency of alternating drought and rainfall will increase, which will have a significant impact on the growth and survival of annual dioecious plants. However, sex-specific response of dioecious plants and trade-offs among growth, defense and reproduction under intermittent drought conditions (ID) remain unknown. Spinach (<em>Spinacia oleracea</em> L.), an annual dioecious plant, was used as the model and subjected to well-watered conditions (WW) and ID, and then the growth, reproduction and defense-related traits were compared between female and male plants. Our results showed that under WW, compared with male plants, female plants had significantly higher biomass (e.g., root and leaf biomass, RDW and LDW), and higher flower dry weight (FDW), stem-flower dry weight (SFDW) and inflorescence number (NI), but lower peroxidase (POD) activities, which suggested sex-specific trade-offs between growth and reproduction and defense in female and male plants. Under ID, female plants exhibited significant reductions in RDW and LDW, while their superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased markedly and FDW, SFDW, and NI decreased. In contrast, RDW and LDW of male plants did not change significantly under ID compared to WW, but their POD activities decreased significantly, while their FDW, SFDW and NI did not change significantly. These results revealed how variations in sex-specific trade-offs among growth, reproduction and defense affect the performance of males and females under ID. This sex-specific trade-offs provide evolutionary insights into the ecological mechanisms underlying the persistence of dioecious plant populations under stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152892"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624213","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":"Modelling the growth of the clonal invasive plant Carpobrotus sp.: A management approach","authors":"Rubén Portela ,&nbsp;Natalia García Vázquez ,&nbsp;Sergio R. Roiloa","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological invasions are considered of the most serious threats to global biodiversity, with considerable economic costs being a consequence. The efficient management of these harmful species should therefore be considered a priority in conservation policy. As invasive species proliferate and new species arrive in a region, control costs are expected to increase, making the improvement of prevention and management strategies mandatory. The objective of this study is to develop a predictive model to facilitate the management of two invasive species of the genus <em>Carpobrotus</em>. A comprehensive understanding of the expansion patterns of a particular population is essential for the selection of suitable management strategies. The model developed in this study indicates that chemical control is the most economically efficient method. Conversely, methods involving manual removal of plant material implicate a greater number of working hours, and therefore a higher economic cost. For all three methods evaluated (mechanical removal, chemical treatment, chemical treatment with necromass removal), the total management costs increased with time. However, this cost increase was not proportional between the different methods, being much more pronounced for mechanical control. The findings underscore the pivotal role of early detection, facilitating the implementation of cost-effective mechanical eradication strategies, thereby reducing the reliance on chemical control measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152881"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624336","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":"Dehydration, programmed cell death, and developmental arrest as possible mechanisms for the transition to unisexuality in Matayba marginata (Sapindaceae)","authors":"Maria Laura Araujo Gonçalves ,&nbsp;Ana Tereza Araújo Rodarte ,&nbsp;Bárbara de Sá-Haiad","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sapindaceae, order Sapindales, has a tropical and subtropical distribution. Most species of Sapindaceae are monoecious with unisexual flowers. Dioecy is rare in the family, but has been recorded for some species. The genus <em>Matayba</em> Aubl. contains tree species, mostly monoecious but with some exceptions, such as <em>M. marginata</em> Radlk., a dioecious Brazilian tree. The present study investigated the structure and development of pistillate and staminate flowers of this species, evaluating the functionality of the reproductive whorls. Pistillate flowers have staminodes with indehiscent anthers, containing pollen grains at the binucleate microgametophyte stage; the anther wall has epidermis, endothecium, middle layers with compressed cells, and a tapetum with thin-walled cells with cytoplasmic retraction; the parenchymatic interlocular septum has compressed cells. In staminate flowers, pistillodes may show an ovary wall with collapsed parenchymatic and epidermal cells; a stigma with less-conspicuous papillae; a short style with less-developed transmitting tissue; and inviable ovules with juvenile characteristics. Our results suggested that failures in the processes of dehydration and programmed cell death of the anther tissues in staminodes are responsible for male sterility in pistillate flowers of <em>M. marginata</em>, and that arrested ovule development may be responsible for the female sterility of staminate flowers. Therefore, we suggest that failures in the dehydration and PCD processes cause male sterility in the pistillate flowers, and that ovule arrested development in staminate flowers of <em>M. marginat</em>a may indicate possible mechanisms for achieving the transition to unisexuality, in both dioecious and monoecious Sapindaceae species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152866"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529444","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":"Leaves damaged by insect herbivory have consistently different biomechanical traits compared to undamaged leaves within individual plants","authors":"Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Jifa Cui ,&nbsp;Bo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leaf herbivory by insects is a widespread phenomenon across ecosystems, significantly impacting plant growth, survival, and community structure and biodiversity maintenance. While past research has mainly focused on interspecific and intraspecific differences in insect herbivory and its correlation with leaf traits, intra-individual variation in the susceptibility of leaves to insect herbivory remains under-investigated. Here, we investigated 5583 leaves from 584 seedlings of 40 woody species from a subtropical forest in southwestern China, focusing on five key leaf traits: size, specific leaf area (SLA), water content, thickness, and toughness. Our results revealed significant differences in these trait properties between insect-damaged and undamaged leaves from the same individual plant, with damaged leaves being larger, thicker, and harder, but having lower SLA and water content. These patterns were consistent across species, suggesting a conserved mechanism influencing the evolution of traits resisting insect herbivory. Furthermore, our findings offer valuable insights for future research on herbivory, particularly in terms of experimental design. Relying solely on traits from intact leaves may compromise the reliability of the leaf trait effects on herbivory. Traits of damaged leaves should also be considered to ensure the robustness of herbivory research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152857"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145278070","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":"In praise of bracteoles","authors":"Jean-Paul Walch ,&nbsp;Solange Blaise","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152861","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are currently few articles dedicated to bracteoles even though they play a unique role in the development of inflorescences and flowers. What functions do they perform? How do cymes develop without bracteoles?</div><div>Eichler (1875) hypothesized that bracteole position influences sepal arrangement. Our phyllotaxis model, based on the influence of inhibition fields on primordia initiation patterns, gives a theoretical basis to Eichler's hypothesis: we used our model to examine the influence of bracteoles on calyx arrangement in different angiosperms with diverse inflorescence and bracteole configuration.</div><div>In Ranunculales, bracteoles play a significant role in cymose branching, but are also sometimes found in racemose inflorescences, for instance in <em>Delphinium</em>. Members of the core eudicot subfamily Faboideae give us the opportunity to compare the arrangement of calyces within racemose inflorescences with and without bracteoles (either absent or aborted during development).</div><div>Cincinnus are highly complex cymes that evolved independently in monocots and dicots. In Solanaceae, the spiral initiation of the calyx depends on either two lateral bracteoles, as in <em>Petunia</em>, or a single bracteole, as in some <em>Nicotiana</em> species. When bracteoles are absent, as in <em>Solanum</em>, other peripheral organs play a role in determining calyx arrangement. Evolution has allowed the production of increasingly compact inflorescences. Boraginaceae, and in particular the genus <em>Myosotis</em>, illustrate the complexity of these inflorescence structures.</div><div>In conclusion, we discuss the evolution of bracteole function, a key element of the diversity of inflorescences and for the arrangement of floral organs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152861"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145365350","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":"Comparative leaf anatomy of Brazilian Manihot species (Euphorbiaceae): diversity, systematic value and ecological significance","authors":"Marcos José da Silva,&nbsp;Uglânia Sardinha do Amaral,&nbsp;Alexandre Antônio Alonso","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Manihot</em> is exclusively Neotropical, and comprises approximately 140 species. Most of those species (ca. 116) can be found in Brazil, and are difficult to differentiate due to their homogeneous flowers and varied, but overlapping, leaf morphologies, and habits and growth aspect such as erect, decumbent, prostrate lianescent and arboreal. We carried out an anatomical leaf study of 64 <em>Manihot</em> species of Brazil to assist in their delimitation within the genus, verify the existence of any anatomical patterns, and better understand the ecological functions of their characters. Cross sections of completely expanded leaves obtained from natural populations (median portion of the petiole, leaf blade, and midrib) were prepared using standard techniques of light microscopy, as well as the dissociation of the epidermis (median portion of the leaf blade). The species studied showed anatomical traits with taxonomic value, including for the leaf blade (the presence or absence of papillae and trichomes, type of mesophyll, type of stomata, leaf margin orientation, presence of idioblast crystals); for the midrib (contour, types of vascular bundles, xylem arrangement, numbers of rows of vessel elements, distribution of collenchyma in the cortex); and for the petiole (contour, composition of the cortical parenchyma layers, numbers of vascular bundles and their arrangements, aspects of the pericycle). The presence of druses, polyhedral crystals and idioblasts containing phenolic compounds, as well as a thickened cuticle, are reflections of environmental pressures on the studied populations and should be avoided as taxonomic markers. The results of the present study highlight the importance of leaf anatomy in assessing taxonomic similarities between <em>Manihot</em> species that can be used for phylogenetic reconstructions within the genus and are partly related to the environments occupied by the species, but do not reflect infrageneric classifications at the sectional level. A phylogenetic reconstruction derived from the combination of three genes (G3<em>pdh, NIA</em> and <em>trn</em>C-D) revealed the homoplasy of some studied characters, which was corroborated by phenetic analysis where 63 groups were formed, with only group 2.2 having exclusive characters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324051","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":"Fruit and seed morphology of Trichantherinae (Acanthaceae: Ruellieae) and its phylogenetic and ecological implications","authors":"Igor H.F. Azevedo ,&nbsp;Pedro L.R. de Moraes","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trichantherinae is the only exclusively Neotropical subtribe of Ruellieae (Acanthaceae), comprising approximately 80 species distributed from Mexico to western and northern South America. Although fruit and seed morphologies have provided important insights into the phylogeny and ecology of Ruellieae, these characters remain poorly documented for Trichantherinae. In this study, we analyzed the fruit and seed morphology of five out of the six genera within the subtribe, encompassing a total of 26 species, using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We present detailed morphological descriptions at the generic level, along with measurements and photographic illustrations for each species. Our results identify the reduction of seed trichomes as a newly reported synapomorphy for Trichantherinae. Furthermore, fruit and seed morphology proved effective in distinguishing among the genera of the subtribe. <em>Louteridium</em>, the sister-group to all other genera, is the most morphologically distinct, particularly due to the presence of marginal trichomes on the seeds. In contrast, these trichomes have been entirely lost in the core-Trichantherinae, supporting a synapomorphy for that clade. Members of the <em>Bravaisia</em>–<em>Trichanthera</em> clade are differentiated from those of the <em>Sanchezia</em>–<em>Suessenguthia</em> clade by their more robust capsules. Additionally, the presence of trichomes on the capsules distinguishes <em>Suessenguthia</em> and <em>Trichanthera</em> from their respective sister-genera. A notable and previously undescribed feature observed in this study is an atypical capsule dehiscence, here referred to as \"fragmentary dehiscence.\" This novel characteristic in Trichantherinae may play a compensatory role in seed dispersal strategies, potentially offsetting the evolutionary loss of seed trichomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152864"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145364511","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 changes at stems and roots of Carthamus tinctorius in response to zinc toxicity during the vegetative stage","authors":"Ameni Smaoui ,&nbsp;Imene Ben Salah ,&nbsp;Hela Mahmoudi ,&nbsp;Mouhiba Ayachi Ben Nassri ,&nbsp;Zeineb Ouerghi","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the effect of different zinc concentrations (15, 225, and 1000 μM ZnSO₄) on the anatomical structures of the root and stem in safflower plants (<em>Carthamus tinctorius</em> L.) during the vegetative stage, in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Our results showed that plant growth remained unaffected at 15 μM Zn but was significantly reduced by 90 % at 225 and 1000 μM. The net uptake of zinc by the plant was increased consistently with the increasing zinc concentration in the culture medium. Notably, zinc accumulation in the roots was greater 4 times more than the translocation to shoots, particularly at the higher concentrations (225 and 1000 μM). Both zinc net accumulation in roots and export to shoots amplified uniformly with increasing of zinc concentration in the medium.</div><div>Anatomical analysis showed that zinc treatment caused a 50 % of reduction in radial root dimension, cortical cross-sectional area, and metaxylem vessel density, with the development of a thick-walled endodermis at 1000 μM compared to the control plants. Similarly, in the stem, zinc treatment led to a decrease of diameter, cortical area, and both xylem vessel dimensions and abundance. These anatomical changes revealed both detrimental effects and structural adjustments that may contribute to a partial adaptation of safflower under Zn stress. Understanding the mechanisms underlying zinc flux regulation and plant tolerance to heavy metals is essential to propose efficient strategies for the remediation and control of contaminated soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152868"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418413","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":"Species distribution modeling of two rare endemic Myrtaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: challenges in conserving “invisible species”","authors":"Ana Flávia Augustin ,&nbsp;Duane Fernandes Lima ,&nbsp;Fábio C S Vieira ,&nbsp;Mayara Krasinski Caddah","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rare species are more susceptible to environmental changes, often face a high risk of extinction, and suffer from a lack of general geographic and biological data. Finding new populations of these species and understanding how future climate change will affect their distributions are crucial for conservation purposes. We investigated the potential distribution of two rare species of <em>Myrceugenia</em> (Myrtaceae) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil, evaluated how these regions are inserted in protected areas (PAs), analyzed land-use patterns in these areas and investigated how the distribution will respond to future climate change scenarios. Species distribution models (SDMs) were built using Maxent with the flexsdm package, across the dense ombrophilous forest (Atlantic Forest domain). As results, we identified few areas of high suitability for both species in the current scenario, concentrated in coastline regions. Between 42-44 % of the suitability areas are inserted within PAs, but most are partially protected areas, where some land use and human activity are allowed. Suitable habitats are even more limited when land-use information is considered. Future scenarios reveal an alarming situation, with projections indicating a significant loss of suitable climatic niches for both species, potentially leading to their near-complete extinction within the next century. This is the first study encompassing SDMs for <em>Myrceugenia</em>. Our results are particularly relevant to expand the knowledge of species with few empirical data since they can guide new collections, support solid assessments of extinction risk, and guide protectionist decisions from competent agencies in the medium and long term.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"333 ","pages":"Article 152854"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145323300","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}