Mapania (Cyperaceae) is a pantropical genus associated with the forest understorey. Its evolutionary history and species delimitation are poorly known in Southeast Asia. To address this lack of knowledge, DNA sequence data from four chloroplast regions (trnL-F, atpH-F, psbA-trnH, and trnK-matK) were generated for a number of populations of 15 species of Mapania. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of the concatenated regions showed a better-resolved phylogeny than previous analyses based on morphological data alone. Mapania bancana was resolved as the sister to the other species of Mapania included in the study. Moreover, this study highlights the need for further investigation of the species limits in this genus. For instance, Mapania cuspidata is retrieved as polyphyletic, and a tentative new species has been detected closely related to Mapania debilis. This study also infers the cradle of the Southeast Asian Mapanias in Borneo, which also holds the largest diversity of the genus in the region. Mapania is still a poorly understood genus that requires further local taxonomic work and more comprehensive fieldwork records to better assess and protect these species.

Tropical forests harbour the majority of global plant biodiversity[1][1],[2][2], yet the genomic mechanisms governing the assembly and maintenance of these communities remain poorly understood. Here, we assembled draft genomes for 499 angiosperm species from a lowland rainforest in Singapore, representing 67% of its flora, and integrated these with plant traits and comprehensive forest census data. Across the community, most gene families evolve under stabilising selection, with copy numbers maintained near long-term optima that differ among ecological strategies. These niche-associated genomic attractor states provide a mechanism for convergent adaptation and species coexistence. Modelling stabilising selection also identified a strong trade-off between defence and growth, indicating that pathogen pressure constrains developmental diversification. Consistent with this, species-specific genome space was enriched for resistance genes and transposable elements. In contrast, genomic processes structuring present-day plant community composition differ from those driving deep-time convergence. Genomic comparisons across forest types revealed stronger selection on defence-related pathways in old-growth primary forests and on growth-related processes in regenerating secondary forests, while community-level genomic profiles showed expansions in gene families associated with rapid responses to environmental fluctuations. Stabilising selection therefore links population-level adaptation[3][3],[4][4] with long-term species diversification in the tropics. Niche similarity promotes long-term coexistence, whereas local community structure is shaped by more rapid ecological filtering driven by environmental change. Taken together, these two distinct evolutionary layers provide a genomic framework for understanding how hyperdiverse rainforest floras arise and persist. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4

Observations and phenetic analyses of the leaf anatomy of 23 Smilax species from Thailand were carried out to assess the utility of anatomical characters in elucidating the taxonomy of the genus. The outline of the petiole in transverse section is circular or elliptic. The abaxial outline of the midrib is rounded, acute or attenuate. Parenchymatous, sclerenchymatous and sclereid cells are observed in ground tissues. The number of vascular bundles ranged from 8 – 27 in the petioles and 2 – 11 in the midribs. The vascular bundles are surrounded by sclerenchymatous or parenchymatous cells. The mesophyll consists of 1 – 4 cell layers in the palisade part and 3 – 10 cell layers in the spongy part. Papillae are observed on the abaxial leaf surfaces of some species. Idioblast cells containing raphides are usually found in the ground tissue of the petioles, midribs and mesophylls. Epidermal cells are jigsaw-like or irregular in shape. Prismatic crystals are observed in the leaf epidermis. Stomata are anomocytic. The phenetic study was based on 11 anatomical characters using Principal Components Analysis and Discriminant Analysis to demonstrate the suitability of the classification of the studied species. Significant characteristics are the marginal outlines and the numbers of vascular bundles of the petioles, the abaxial outlines of the petioles and midribs, the numbers of cell layers of the spongy mesophyll, epidermal cell shapes and lamina types (amphistomatic or hypostomatic). The species are classified into three groups. Group I comprises three species, S. blumei, S. leucophylla and S. ovalifolia. Group II comprises 10 species, S. bracteata, S. china, S. glabra, S. luzonensis, S. microphylla, S. pertenuis, S. polyandra, S. polyacantha, S. seisuiensis and S. verticalis. Group III comprises 10 species, S. asiatica, S. calophylla, S. extensa, S. hemsleyana, S. inversa, S. lanceifolia, S. megacarpa, S. myosotiflora, S. perfoliata and S. prolifera. Descriptions of the groups and keys to the species within each group, based on the anatomical characters, are provided. Our analyses suggest that further investigation of the anatomical groups, using taxa from a broader distributional range, will be needed to clarify the relationships between the groups and the currently recognised sections.

Poales are one of the most species-rich, ecologically and economically important orders of plants and often characterise open habitats, enabled by unique suites of traits. We test six hypotheses regarding the evolution and assembly of Poales in open and closed habitats throughout the world, and examine whether diversification patterns demonstrate parallel evolution. We sampled 42% of Poales species and obtained taxonomic and biogeographic data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants database, which was combined with open/closed habitat data scored by taxonomic experts. A dated supertree of Poales was constructed. We integrated spatial phylogenetics with regionalisation analyses, historical biogeography and ancestral state estimations. Diversification in Poales and assembly of open and closed habitats result from dynamic evolutionary processes that vary across lineages, time and space, most prominently in tropical and southern latitudes. Our results reveal parallel and recurrent patterns of habitat and trait transitions in the species-rich families Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Smaller families display unique and often divergent evolutionary trajectories. The Poales have achieved global dominance via parallel evolution in open habitats, with notable, spatially and phylogenetically restricted divergences into strictly closed habitats.

Cyperaceae (sedges) are the third largest monocot family and are of considerable economic and ecological importance. Sedges represent an ideal model family to study evolutionary biology due to their species richness, global distribution, large discrepancies in lineage diversity, broad range of ecological preferences, and adaptations including multiple origins of C 4 photosynthesis and holocentric chromosomes. Goetghebeur′s seminal work on Cyperaceae published in 1998 provided the most recent complete classification at tribal and generic level, based on a morphological study of Cyperaceae inflorescence, spikelet, flower, and embryo characters, plus anatomical and other information. Since then, several family‐level molecular phylogenetic studies using Sanger sequence data have been published. Here, more than 20 years after the last comprehensive classification of the family, we present the first family‐wide phylogenomic study of Cyperaceae based on targeted sequencing using the Angiosperms353 probe kit sampling 311 accessions. In addition, 62 accessions available from GenBank were mined for overlapping reads and included in the phylogenomic analyses. Informed by this backbone phylogeny, a new classification for the family at the tribal, subtribal, and generic levels is proposed. The majority of previously recognized suprageneric groups are supported, and for the first time, we establish support for tribe Cryptangieae as a clade including the genus Koyamaea . We provide a taxonomic treatment including identification keys and diagnoses for the 2 subfamilies, 24 tribes, and 10 subtribes, and basic information on the 95 genera. The classification includes five new subtribes in tribe Schoeneae: Anthelepidinae, Caustiinae, Gymnoschoeninae, Lepidospermatinae, and Oreobolinae.

Morphological characterizations of genera in Cyperaceae tribe Abildgaardieae have been highly problematic and the subject of much debate. Earlier molecular phylogenetic studies based on Sanger sequencing and a limited sampling have indicated that several generic circumscriptions are not monophyletic. Here, we provide the first phylogenetic hypothesis for Abildgaardieae using targeted sequencing data obtained with the Angiosperms353 enrichment panel for 50 species. We test whether recent taxonomic decisions made based on Sanger sequencing data are validated by our targeted sequencing data. Our results support subsuming the small African genus Nemum into the large genus Bulbostylis and subsuming the monotypic genus Crosslandia into the diverse genus Fimbristylis. Also, our results support the recent publication of the new genus Zulustylis for two African species previously placed in Fimbristylis. Furthermore, we investigate the phylogenetic placement of recently described tropical Australian endemic species of Actinoschoenus, which are recognized here as the new morphologically cryptic genus Scleroschoenus. Based on our phylogenetic hypothesis and supported by morphological data, we recognize the genus Abildgaardia. The placement in Abildgaardieae of two monotypic genera Nelmesia and Trichoschoenus, only known from the type collections from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar, respectively, are also discussed. New combinations and lectotypifications are made in Abildgaardia, Actinoschoenus, Arthrostylis and Scleroschoenus.

New Guinea is the world’s largest tropical island and has fascinated naturalists for centuries 1 , 2 . Home to some of the best-preserved ecosystems on the planet 3 and to intact ecological gradients—from mangroves to tropical alpine grasslands—that are unmatched in the Asia-Pacific region 4 , 5 , it is a globally recognized centre of biological and cultural diversity 6 , 7 . So far, however, there has been no attempt to critically catalogue the entire vascular plant diversity of New Guinea. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, expert-verified checklist of the vascular plants of mainland New Guinea and surrounding islands. Our publicly available checklist includes 13,634 species (68% endemic), 1,742 genera and 264 families—suggesting that New Guinea is the most floristically diverse island in the world. Expert knowledge is essential for building checklists in the digital era: reliance on online taxonomic resources alone would have inflated species counts by 22%. Species discovery shows no sign of levelling off, and we discuss steps to accelerate botanical research in the ‘Last Unknown’ 8 .

All native and introduced Thai Piper are enumerated to include 46 species and two varieties. Typifications for accepted names and synonyms are made where necessary. Family and generic descriptions, based on Thai collections, are provided. A key to species and varieties and relevant synonymy are also presented. Additional morphological characters for P. smitinandianum are summarised. Data on the distribution, ecology, vernacular names, utilization and collections of each taxon in Thailand are presented in the standard Flora of Thailand format.

A checklist of Acanthaceae subfamily Nelsonioideae in Thailand is presented. Two genera (Nelsonia and Staurogyne) and 29 species are considered native to Thailand, including new species Staurogyne kaengkrachanense. Ecological and distributional data, together with a key to the species, are provided.

Summary Two new species, Justicia flavescens and J. vasculosoides are described and illustrated from northern Thailand. Both species have restricted distributions. The conservation status of each species is assessed.

Phylogenetic hypotheses and morphological characterizations of genera in the Abildgaardieae have suggested that current generic circumscriptions are not monophyletic. We here provide an updated phylogenetic hypothesis of the Abildgaardieae using nrDNA ITS sequences that continues to support the derivation of Nemum from within the Bulbostylis lineage. We make the nomenclatural combinations necessary to include Nemum in an expanded Bulbostylis, including seven new combinations and one new name. Further, we lectotypify two names and neotypify one.

TAXONVolume 67, Issue 3 p. 642-642 Proposals to Conserve or Reject NamesFree Access (2618) Proposal to conserve Bulbostylis, nom. cons. (Cyperaceae) against an additional name, Nemum Eric H. Roalson, Corresponding Author Eric H. Roalson eric_roalson@wsu.edu School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, 99164-4236 Pullman, Washington, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorDavid A. Simpson, David A. Simpson Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE U.K. Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorIsabel Larridon, Corresponding Author Isabel Larridon I.Larridon@kew.org Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE U.K. Ghent University, Department of Biology, Research Group Spermatophytes, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this author Eric H. Roalson, Corresponding Author Eric H. Roalson eric_roalson@wsu.edu School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, 99164-4236 Pullman, Washington, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorDavid A. Simpson, David A. Simpson Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE U.K. Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorIsabel Larridon, Corresponding Author Isabel Larridon I.Larridon@kew.org Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE U.K. Ghent University, Department of Biology, Research Group Spermatophytes, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 June 2018 https://doi.org/10.12705/673.23Citations: 3AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume67, Issue3June 2018Pages 642-642 RelatedInformation

A nomenclatural synopsis of 11 of the 28 Smilax species recorded in Thailand (S. bracteata, S. calophylla, S. corbularia, S. davidiana, S. extensa, S. hemsleyana, S. luzonensis, S. myosotiflora, S. myrtillus, S. perfoliata and S. prolifera) is presented. Three names, S. helferi var. maingayana, S. microchina and S. ocreata are placed into synonymy of S. luzonensis, S. davidiana, and S. perfoliata, respectively. Smilax prolifera is reinstated. Ten taxa, S. calophylla, S. extensa, S. helferi, S. helferi var. maingayana, S. hemsleyana, S. myosotiflora, S. myrtillus, S. ocreata, S. stenopetala and S. woodii are lectotypified.

Cyperus macer C. B. Clarke is lectotypified, and its taxonomy and distribution are discussed.

A new species of the genus Ilex is recorded for northern Thailand. Ilex pubifructa is closely allied to I. denticulata but is immediately recognisable by the dense pubescence covering many parts of the plant.

Sixteen lectotypifications of Asian Piper species are provided. Piper argyrites, P. baccatum, P. leptostachyum, P. majusculum, P. peepuloides, P. quinqueangulatum and P. sulcatum are accepted as species and many new synonyms are proposed. Useful diagnostic characters are described and geographical distribution data of each species are provided.

The genus Scleria (Cyperaceae), with ca. 250 species, is placed in the monotypic tribe Sclerieae. It has a primarily pantropical distribution. Previously, infrageneric classifications have been proposed but none has been based on molecular phylogenetic evidence and most studies have treated the genus from only one geographical region. In this study, DNA portions from 101 species of Scleria from across its distributional range and all infrageneric groups were extracted and amplified for three molecular markers: the coding chloroplast marker ndhF, the chloroplast intron rps16 and the nuclear ribosomal region ITS. Phylogenetic hypotheses were constructed using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood approaches. Additionally, ancestral states of four morphological characters were reconstructed at important nodes using the program BayesTraits. A new infrageneric classification based on molecular evidence and supported by morphology is presented. Scleria is confirmed as monophyletic and sister to tribe Bisboeckelereae. A subdivision of Scleria into four subgenera (S. subg. Browniae, S. subg. Hypoporum, S. subg. Scleria, S. subg. Trachylomia) is supported by our results. In this paper, twelve major clades are recovered within Scleria subg. Selena. Clear morphological diagnostic features match these clades. Ancestral state reconstruction indicates that androgynous spikelets, a zoniform hypogynium, a paniculate inflorescence with staminate and subandrogynous spikelets, and normal linear leaves are ancestral in Scleria. Androgynous spikelets are found in the three first-branching subgenera, while in S. subg. Scleria an evolutionary shift towards subandrogynous and strictly unisexual spikelets is noted. Hypogynia are generally well developed with the exception of S. subg. Hypoporum, where the hypogynium is reduced or even lost. Inflorescences in Scleria vary from short, densely paniculate and pyramidal to subcapitate, only in S. subg. Hypoporum a glomerate-spicate inflorescence is found. The pseudopremorse leaf habit arose only once within S. subg. Scleria. Scleria sect. Scleria shows a reversal to normal leaf tips.

Major public DNA databases - NCBI GenBank, the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ), and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) - are invaluable biodiversity libraries. Systematists and other biodiversity scientists commonly mine these databases for sequence data to use in phylogenetic studies, but such studies generally use only the taxonomic identity of the sequenced tissue, not the specimen identity. Thus studies that use DNA supermatrices to construct phylogenetic trees with species at the tips typically do not take advantage of the fact that for many individuals in the public DNA databases, several DNA regions have been sampled; and for many species, two or more individuals have been sampled. Thus these studies typically do not make full use of the multigene datasets in public DNA databases to test species coherence and select optimal sequences to represent a species. In this study, we introduce a set of tools developed in the R programming language to construct individual-based trees from NCBI GenBank data and present a set of trees for the genus Carex (Cyperaceae) constructed using these methods. For the more than 770 species for which we found sequence data, our approach recovered an average of 1.85 gene regions per specimen, up to seven for some specimens, and more than 450 species represented by two or more specimens. Depending on the subset of genes analyzed, we found up to 42% of species monophyletic. We introduce a simple tree statistic-the Taxonomic Disparity Index (TDI)-to assist in curating specimen-level datasets and provide code for selecting maximally informative (or, conversely, minimally misleading) sequences as species exemplars. While tailored to the Carex dataset, the approach and code presented in this paper can readily be generalized to constructing individual-level trees from large amounts of data for any species group.