Carexqingyuanensis (Cyperaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China.

Carexqingyuanensis, a new species of Cyperaceae from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Carexpeliosanthifolia F. T. Wang & Tang ex P. C. Li, but it can be distinguished by the racemose inflorescence branches appearing single (rarely binate or ternate) (vs. binate or ternate), one (rarely two or three) (vs. 1-3) spiked, male part of linear-cylindrical spikes much longer than the female part (vs. just male part short-cylindrical and slightly longer than female part), style base thickened (vs. not thickened) and perigynium horizontally patent with a short (vs. long and excurved) beak. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the two nuclear DNA regions (ETS 1f and ITS) and three chloroplast DNA regions (matK, ndhF and rps16), suggests that the new species belongs to sect. Siderostictaes.s. of subg. Siderosticta and shows a closer phylogenetic relationship to Carexscaposa C. B. Clarke.

Characterization of Firmiana danxiaensis plastomes and comparative analysis of Firmiana: insight into its phylogeny and evolution.

BACKGROUND: Firmiana danxiaensis is a critically endangered and ecologically important tree currently only found in four locations in Danxia or Karst habitats in northern Guangdong Province, China. The specialized habitat preference makes it an ideal model species for study of adaptive evolution. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic relationships of F. danxiaensis in four locations under two landforms are unclear. Therefore, we sequenced its complete chloroplast (cp.) genomes and conducted comprehensive interspecific and intrageneric plastome studies. RESULTS: The F. danxiaensis plastomes in four locations showed a typical quadripartite and circular structure that ranged from 160,832 to 161,206 bp in size, with 112 unique genes encoded. Comparative genomics showed that the plastomes of F. danxiaensis were relatively conserved with high similarity of genome organization, gene number, GC content and SSRs. While the genomes revealed higher biased codon preferences in Karst habitat than those in Danxia habitats. Eighteen and 11 divergent hotpots were identified at interspecific and intrageneric levels for species identification and further phylogenetic studies. Seven genes (clpP, accD, ccsA, ndhH, rpl20, rpoC2, and rps4) were under positive selection and may be related to adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that F. danxiaensis is sister to F. major and F. simplex. However, the interspecific relationships are not consistent with the habitat types. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics and interspecific relationship of F. danxiaensis plastomes provide new insights into further integration of geographical factors, environmental factors, and genetic variations on the genomic study of F. danxiaensis. Together, our study will contribute to the study of species identification, population genetics, and conservation biology of F. danxiaensis.

Proposal to recognise the tribes Adinobotryeae and Glycyrrhizeae (Leguminosae subfamily Papilionoideae) based on chloroplast phylogenomic evidence.

Within the legume family, the taxonomic status of subtribe Glycyrrhizinae of tribe Galegeae and of the genus Adinobotrys has been re-assessed. Based on genome skimming data, we conducted phylogenomic analyses of the inverted repeat-lacking clade within subfamily Papilionoideae. The results support the sister relationship between Glycyrrhizeae and Adinobotrys. Glycyrrhizeae is resurrected based on Glycyrrhiza and Glycyrrhizopsis, and a new tribe, Adinobotryeae, is proposed to accommodate Adinobotrys.

The complete chloroplast genome of desert spiny semi-shrub Alhagi sparsifolia (Fabaceae) from Central Asia.

Alhagi sparsifolia is a sand-resistant subshrub and food resource for camels in the desert and semi-desert areas of Central Asia. In China, this is the olny Alhagi species and it is restricted in the Northwestern region. Its complete chloroplast genome was sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq X-Ten platform. The genome lacks an inverted repeat (IR) region, containing 74 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs genes, and four rRNAs. The overall GC content is 43.6%. Based on the chloroplast genome sequence, a maximum-likelihood (ML) tree was constructed along with its 15 taxa, indicating that A. sparsifolia belong to the tribe Hedysareae, which nested in IRLC group of the subfamily Papilionoideae (Fabaceae).

A fossil-calibrated phylogeny reveals the biogeographic history of the Cladrastis clade, an amphi-Pacific early-branching group in papilionoid legumes.

The early-branching Cladrastis clade of papilionoid legumes (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) has an intriguing amphi-Pacific disjunct distribution in eastern Asia and temperate-tropical Americas. Here we used nuclear and three plastid regions to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times in the Cladrastis clade, as well as the evolution of morphological characters that might have been key in its biogeographic history. The ancestral character state estimation revealed that the most recent common ancestor of the Cladrastis clade was deciduous trees possessing compressed, winged fruits. The Cladrastis clade was inferred to have originated in the mid-latitude thermophilic forests of North America in the early Eocene, followed by the split between ancestors of wing-fruited Platyosprion and the non-wing-fruited group, and later the divergence of Cladrastis s.s. from the non-wing-fruited group in middle Eocene. Platyosprion and Cladrastis s.s. display an "out-of-North-America" biogeographic pattern and might have migrated to Asia via the Bering land bridge (BLB) or the North Atlantic land bridges (NALB) during middle to late Eocene. Our results, coupled with the relatively well documented fossil record for the clade, suggest that Platyosprion experienced an extinction event in North America caused by climatic cooling around the Eocene-Oligocene transition, which drove a major vegetation shift in western North America, in turn serving as a barrier for the vicariance of Pickeringia and Styphnolobium. The evolution of shrubby habit and sclerophyllous leaves in the former might be adaption to the chaparral vegetation in southwestern North America; the latter gained the trait of moniliform, succulent fruit. Styphnolobium further dispersed southward to tropical North America in the Oligocene, and eastward to Asia through BLB during middle Miocene. Subsequent sundering of BLB facilitated the vicariance of St. affine and St. japonicum.

The complete chloroplast genomes of rare medical herb Glycyrrhiza inflata and its relative G. aspera (Fabaceae).

Glycyrrhiza inflata is a threatened perennial herb with medicinal value, which restricts in NW China and Mongolia. Its ally species, G. aspera, is widely distributed from northern China to Turkey. The complete chloroplast genomes were sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq X-Ten platform. Each of the genomes lacks an inverted repeat (IR) region, containing 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs genes, and 4 rRNAs. The overall GC contents are both 34.3%. A phylogenetic tree based on the whole chloroplast genomes of 15 species indicated that G. aspera and G. inflata belonged to a monophyletic Glycyrrhiza, which was nested in IRLC group of the subfamily Papilionoideae (Leguminosae).

Ethnobotanical survey of herbal tea plants from the traditional markets in Chaoshan, China.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Herbal tea, which refers to "cooling tea", "cool beverage", or "liáng chá" in China, includes a range of drinks with heat-clearing and detoxification qualities. Herbal tea plants are great contributive to the health and prosperity of Chaoshan people. The aim of the study was to document herbal tea plant species used and commercialized as "liáng chá" in Chaoshan area, to facilitate the use and development of herbal tea enterprises, and to promote the further development of national herbal tea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information and data were obtained from all 83 stall holders in 12 traditional markets, semi-structured informant interviews were carried out individually with the stall holders, 10 questions were asked. RESULTS: In this study, 186 species of herbal tea plants belonging to 65 families and 156 genera were indicated by 83 stall holders, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent family with 22 species. Herbs are main sources of herbal tea plants in Chaoshan area, with whole plants (97 species) being the most used parts. Herbal drinks are mostly consumed for heat-clearing and detoxification, and a large number of plant species were reported to treat coughs, colds, dysentery, dampness and sore throats. The most cited species were Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (47 times mentioned), Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (46), Plantago asiatica L. (43), Houttuynia cordata Thunb (42), Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (36), Desmodium styracifolium (Osbeck) Merr. (35) and Morus alba L. (31), and 5 protected species were recorded in the list of the nationally protected species of China: Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Anoectochilus formosanus Hayata, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (J. E. Smith) Lindl. and Pholidota chinensis Lindl. The selling price of most fresh herbal tea plants in the market varied fromï¿¥10-16/kg, with the profit margin of sales ranging from 12.5% to 20%. The consumption of herbal tea for one family costs about ï¿¥3-5/day. CONCLUSION: Chaoshan herbal teas, prepared by diverse plant species, are regarded as a long tradition inseparable part in daily life of local people. Although they can effectively prevent and treat different kinds of diseases, they are not suitable for everyone (e.g. the elderly, children, and pregnant or breastfeeding women), even in healthy people, improper use of herbal tea can lead to physical discomfort. Furthermore, in order to appropriately understand the function, efficacy, and safety of herbal tea plants, additional research of traditional practices and phytochemistry, nutrient, physiological and toxicity properties should be analyzed.