@article {593, title = {Cytotaxomical observations on flowering plants from the Balearic Islands}, journal = {Annales Botanici Fennici}, volume = {44}, year = {2007}, pages = {409-415}, abstract = {

The mitotic chromosome numbers of 40 accessions of 33 species of vascular plants collected in the Balearic Islands are presented. The triploid cytotype of Allium commutatum (2n = 24), the tetraploid cytotype of Scilla autumnalis (2n = 28), and the hexaploid (2n = 36) and octoploid (2n = 48) cytotypes of Tuberaria guttata are reported here for the first time in the Balearic archipelago. The tetraploid cytotype of Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica was not previously known from the Western Balearics, where it grows sympatrically with the diploid endemic D. glomerata subsp. ibizensis. The divergent chromosome number 2n = 26 is confirmed for Micromeria inodora. A new chromosome number (2n = 44) was determined for the restricted endemic Rubia balearica subsp. caespitosa. The existence of several infraspecific cytotypes bear phytogeographical significance.

}, keywords = {continental islands, cytotaxonomy, Mediterranean flora, polyploidy}, url = {http://www.annbot.net/PDF/anbf44/anbf44-409.pdf}, author = {Mercedes Castro and Pere Fraga and N{\'e}stor Torres and Josep A. Rossell{\'o}} } @article {384, title = {Interacting influence of cold stratification treatment and osmotic potential on seed germination of Triglochin maritima L.}, journal = {Acta Universitatis Latviensis}, volume = {723}, year = {2007}, pages = {115{\textendash}122}, abstract = {

The effect of cold stratification treatment and isoosmotic NaCl and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) concentrations on germination of Triglochin maritima seeds was assessed. The highest (400 mM) NaCl concentration caused a significant decrease in germination percentage and no germination was observed at the two highest (64 and 128 mM) PEG concentrations. The large difference in germination among experiment replications suggests that time of collection and length of storage may have influenced germination. Stratification treatment had a significant positive effect on seed germination and there was a significant interaction between PEG, but not NaCl, concentration and duration of cold stratification during germination. Further research is required to determine the importance of the degree of seed ripeness as well as the possible effect of after-ripening or induction of secondary dormancy of undispersed seeds on seed germination.

}, keywords = {cold stratification, dormancy, NaCl, polyethyleneglycol, seed germination, Triglochin maritima}, author = {Ne{\v c}ajeva, Jevgenija and Ievinsh, Gederts} } @article {196, title = {Phylogeographic evidence for the postglacial colonization of the North and Baltic Sea coasts from inland glacial refugia by Triglochin maritima L.}, journal = {Flora}, volume = {202}, year = {2007}, pages = {79-88}, abstract = {

We investigated the geographical distribution of genetic variation in 67 individuals of Triglochin maritima from 38 localities across Europe using AFLP markers. Analysis of genetic variation resulted in the recognition of two major genetic groups. Apart from few geographical outliers, these are distributed (1) along the Atlantic coasts of Portugal, Spain and France and (2) in the North Sea area, the Baltic Sea area, at central European inland localities, the northern Adriatic Sea coast and the Mediterranean coast of southwest France. Considering possible range shifts of T. maritima in reaction to Quaternary climatic changes as deduced from the present-day northern temperature limit of the species, Quaternary changes of coastline in the North Sea area and the very recent origin of the Baltic Sea, we conclude that the coastal populations of T. maritima in the North Sea and Baltic Sea areas originated from inland populations.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2006.05.001}, author = {Lambracht, Esther and Westberg, Erik and Kadereit, Joachim W.} } @article {115, title = {The Cape element in the Afrotemperate flora: from Cape to Cairo?}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. BProc. R. Soc. B}, volume = {274}, number = {1609}, year = {2007}, pages = {535-543}, abstract = {The build-up of biodiversity is the result of immigration and in situ speciation. We investigate these two processes for four lineages (Disa, Irideae p.p. the Pentaschistis clade and Restionaceae) that are widespread in the Afrotemperate flora. These four lineages may be representative of the numerous clades which are species rich in the Cape and also occur in the highlands of tropical Africa. It is as yet unclear in which direction the lineages spread. Three hypotheses have been proposed: (i) a tropical origin with a southward migration towards the Cape, (ii) a Cape origin with a northward migration into tropical Africa, and (iii) vicariance. None of these hypotheses has been thoroughly tested. We reconstruct the historical biogeography of the four lineages using likelihood optimization onto molecular phylogenies. We find that tropical taxa are nested within a predominantly Cape clade. There is unidirectional migration from the Cape into the Drakensberg and from there northwards into tropical Africa. The amount of in situ diversification differs between areas and clades. Dating estimates show that the migration into tropical East Africa has occurred in the last 17Myr, consistent with the Mio-Pliocene formation of the mountains in this area.}, keywords = {historical biogeography, ancestral character reconstruction, phytogeography, molecular dating, Africa}, author = {Galley, Chlo{\'e} and Bytebier, Benny and Bellstedt, Dirk U. and Linder, H. Peter} }