A group of temperate grassland plant species, referred to as the 'Mansen elements,' is found in Japan and extensively distributed in the grasslands of continental East Asia. It has been considered that these species are remnants of once-expanded grasslands in Japan during a colder geological era. However, the detailed phylogeographic history, including migration age and distributional changes within Japan for these species, remains unresolved. To elucidate the phylogeographic history of the Mansen elements, we investigated the genetic structure and phylogeny of the populations ofPulsatilla cernua, one of the Mansen elements, using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). The phylogenetic analysis indicates a continental origin and migration route via the Korean Peninsula for P. cernua. The DIYABC and the genetic structure analyses suggest that the divergence between the continental and Japanese populations occurred the late stage of the Last Glacial Period (LGP). Although the estimated divergence time is not fully constrained, it is suggested that an initial expansion in Japan occurred before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). This once-expanded distribution area was subsequently fragmented during the coldest climate, followed by a secondary expansion after the LGP. This represents the first documented instance among the Mansen element species in which secondary range expansion brought fragmented populations into secondary contact.
A new species, Firmiana laotica (Malvaceae), and five new records, Justicia oreophila (Acanthaceae), Aganosma wallichii (Apocynaceae), Colebrookea oppositifolia (Lamiaceae), Myristica yunnanensis (Myristicaceae), and Brachytome hainanensis (Rubiaceae) are reported for the flora of Laos. Voucher specimens, photographs, and ecological information in Laos are provided for each species.
Asplenium simaoense K. W. Xu, Li Bing Zhang, and W. B. Liao was found in Shan State, Myanmar. This discovery contributes to a better understanding of pteridophyte diversity in Myanmar and provides insights into species distributions in neighboring China, Laos, and Thailand, emphasizing the need for further taxonomic and conservation efforts.
Insufficient diagnostics in the protologue of Frullania warnckeana var. dentosa S. Hatt. may has hampered the understanding of the morphology and taxonomy of this taxon endemic to Vietnam and led to its omission in several liverwort checklists for the country. In this report, a supplementary type-based description and illustration of F. warnckeana var. dentosa is provided for the first time. Since the holotype was not found in EGR, a lectotype for var. detonsa is also designated.
An Arctic montane liverwort, Bucegia romanica, is reported to be in China and represents the first record of both the genus Bucegia and the species, B. romanica, in eastern Asia. Morphological descriptions, taxonomic notes, ecological information, and color illustrations are provided. Since only male populations were found during the study, the descriptions and photographs are based of male plants. Bucegia romanica can be readily distinguished from other members of Marchantiaceae by the following combination of characteristics: (1) spongiose areas on the dorsal side of the thallus, (2) dichotomously and apically innovative branching pattern, (3) each ventral scale with up to two appendages, and (4) unlobed male receptacles.
A morphological examination of moss specimens collected during biodiversity studies of bryophytes on Megriss Mountain has led to the identification of Syntrichia calcicola (Pottiaceae), here reported for the first time in Algeria. A comprehensive description of the species, accompanied by microphotographs, a distribution map illustrating its presence within the study area and a discussion of its ecology, is provided.
Based on cytological analyses, phylogenetic analyses using chloroplast and nuclear genes, and morphological examination, Lepisorus tajimaensis T. Fujiw. (Polypodiaceae, Polypodiales) is described as a new allohexaploid species in the Japanese L. thunbergianus polyploid species complex. Our phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that L. tajimaensis originated through interspecific hybridization between L. nigripes and L. oligolepidus. The new species can be distinguished from L. nigripes by the broadly lanceolate rhizome scales (vs. narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate), lanceolate laminae (vs. linear to narrowly lanceolate), scales throughout the abaxial surface of the laminae (vs. scales mainly along costa on the proximal part of the abaxial surface of laminae), and larger sori (3-5 mm in diam.) (vs. 1-2.5 mm in diam.), and from L. oligolepidus by the brown rhizome scales with 3 or 4 rows of marginal transparent lumina (vs. dark brown rhizome scales with 1 or 2 rows of transparent marginal lumina), the light brown leaf scales (vs. dark brown), and sori being closer to the margin (vs. sori nearer costa). Additionally, sterile pentaploid hybrids resulting from backcrossing between L. tajimaensis and one of the parental species, L. nigripes is reported.
The variation in vegetative morphological traits, flower color and flower morphological traits of Cypripedium macranthos Sw. s. lat. in Japan were quantified. The quantitative vegetative morphological traits did not clearly demarcate any infraspecific taxa in Japan, but the larger dimensions might reflect a slightly dark environment. The morphology of the flowers of C. macranthos s. lat. in Japan tended to be differentiated into two trends toward the smaller 'atsumori type' flowers and larger 'hotei type' flowers. Japanese C. macranthos s. lat. is slightly different from Russian and Chinese plants by having a wider dorsal sepal and fused lateral sepals (synsepal). I recognize three endemic infraspecific taxa for Japanese C. macranthos; i) var. speciosum (Rolfe) Koidz. for individuals with small light pink 'atsumori type' flowers, native to mainly Honshu and sparsely in Hokkaido, ii) var. hotei-atsumorianum Sadovsk & yacute; for individuals with large 'hotei type' purplish red to deep purplish red flowers, native to central Honshu and Hokkaido; and iii) var. rebunense Kud & ocirc; ex Miyabe & Kud & ocirc; for individuals endemic to Rebun Island in northwestern Hokkaido with comparatively small pale cream flowers, which have a wide range of morphological variation and are rather similar to those of var. speciosum in Japan. Some populations in central Honshu and Hokkaido show intermediate features between var. speciosum and var. hoteiatsumorianum. Intermediate individuals between the two varieties should be recognized as typical Cypripedium macranthos only at species rank.
Based on a morphological examination of herbarium specimens and literature review, minor adjustments to the subfamilial classification of Marchantiaceae were made. Preissia is transferred to Bucegioideae (Marchantiaceae) based on a morpho-phylogenetic perspective. A revised diagnosis of the two subfamilies of Marchantiaceae is also proposed.
Due to broad distribution and great morphological diversity, Festuca ovina and allies, have long been controversial with respect to their taxonomic treatments. Here, their taxonomic treatments are reconsidered using individuals broadly distributed in Japan, based on analyses of morphology (including leaf anatomy), ploidy level, and molecular phylogeny. Molecular analyses based on 70 chloroplast coding sequences (CDS) (52,164 bp in total) from 16 samples distributed from Hokkaido to Kinki District, Honshu, resulted in two robust clades with 100% bootstrap support in the ML tree: one consisting of individuals with sparse leaves, and the other consisting of individuals with dense leaves. Morphologically, the individuals in the latter clade clearly differ from those in the former clade in that at least one nest (none in the former) of old concentric sheaths envelopes four or more new leaf fascicles. As they sometimes grow sympatrically, individuals in the former clade are considered to be F. ruprechtii (lectotypified in this study) and those in the latter clade as F. ovina s.s. The analyses showed that the two species include both diploids and tetraploids and that F. probatovae and F. chiisanensis are synonyms ofF. ruprechtii and F. ovina, respectively.
Cardamine brevicaulis, sp. nov. (Brassicaceae), described from plants collected in Susaki, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, differs from other species of Cardamine in having extremely short stems in both the rosette and inflorescence, resulting in a flat growth habit throughout the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages. Cardamine brevicaulis is an octoploid, based on chromosome observations and relative genome size. Cardamine tanakae, a widespread species that sometimes shares its habitat with C. brevicaulis, was estimated to be hexaploid. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. brevicaulis forms a distinct lineage from other species of Cardamine.
Through phylogenetic analysis and morphological examination of specimens newly collected in Qinghai Province, northwest China, modification is provided for the morphology of Sauteria spongiosa.Kashyap (Cleveaceae, Marchantiophyta).
Torenia benthamiana Hance (Linderniaceae), found growing wild in a semi-natural grassland on Ishigaki Island, is the first record for this species in Japan. We here provide a Japanese name for this species 'Nanto-urikusa.'
Five species of Cyperaceae, Carex breviscapa, Carex cryptostachys, Cyperus trialatus, Fimbristylis kernii, and Mapania enodis, are recorded for the first time in Laos, the first of which was obtained from our field survey in central Laos and the latter four were confirmed during specimen surveys in the herbaria FOF and KAG. Among them, Mapania is newly recorded genus for the country.
Heracleum kingdonii H. Wolff (Apiaceae) collected on Mount Saramati, Nagaland, is reported from India for the first time. Previously, it was known from northwestern Yunnan (China) to northeastern Myanmar.
An alien plant, Alchemilla australis (Rydb.) Bomble (Rosaceae), is newly confirmed for Japan. A detailed morphological description, phylogenetic analyses, distribution and habitat are included. The possible means of dispersal and potential risk to the local flora are discussed.
Confirmation of the occurrence of leafy liverworts Plagiochila semidecurrens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Lehm. & Lindenb. (Plagiochilaceae) in Malaysia and Myanmar is provided for the first time. An illustration and taxonomic notes based on the Malaysian and Burmese material are provided.
The temperate grassland plant group known as the 'Mansen elements' is widely distributed across the grasslands of East Asia, including Japan. It has been hypothesized that these plants originated in continental regions of East Asia and migrated to Japan during the Quaternary period. However, their origins and migration history remain insufficiently elucidated. In this study, we attempted to infer the phylogeographic history of Potentilla discolor, a Mansen element member, using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis via multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and ecological niche modeling (ENM). The MIG-seq data revealed distinct genetic differentiation between the Japanese and continental populations. Demographic history analysis suggested that initial divergence likely occurred on the East Asian continent. This finding supports the hypothesis of a continental origin for P. discolor. In contrast, chloroplast DNA analysis, commonly used in traditional phylogeographic studies, failed to reveal genetic differentiation between the Japanese and continental populations observed in the SNP-based analyses and provided limited phylogeographic information. ENM analysis predicted that during the Last Glacial Maximum, suitable habitat for P. discolor extended continuously from central China to the Pacific coast of Japan via the exposed continental shelf of the East China Sea, suggesting the possibility that this species was introduced to Japan via that route.
The holotype of the Japanese liverwort, Metzgeria fukuokana Kuwah., has been considered lost. Our reinvestigation again failed to locate this holotype in NICH where it was supposedly deposited. It is thus lectotypified based on an isotype housed in NY.
In the Kyushu region of Japan, a novel species, Chrysosplenium brevifilamentum (Saxifragaceae), has been identified. The species was previously confused with either C. macrostemon var. macrostemon or C. macrostemon var. viridescens owing to its morphological similarities, including yellow anthers and overall appearance. However, C. brevifilamentum can be distinguished from the varieties of C. macrostemon by the oblong leaves of the scape with a cuneate base and flowers exhibiting a pronounced disk and abbreviated stamens. Additionally, Chrysosplenium brevifilamentum usually maintains greenish hued foliage during winter; C. macrostemon usually displays brownish coloration. Comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses, employing sequence variations in the ITS and ETS regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and six chloroplast DNA regions, corroborated the distinct phylogenetic position of C. brevifilamentum within Chrysosplenium Ser. Macrostemon in Japan. Like other species of Chrysosplenium Ser. Macrostemon, C. brevifilamentum is diploid, suggesting that polyploidization is not relevant to its origin. Chrysosplenium brevifilamentum is primarily restricted to calcareous areas in central Kyushu.
