Flora最新文献

{"title":"Lighting up the underground: Enhancing growth-ring detection in grassland subshrubs using autofluorescence and histochemistry","authors":"Tiago M. Gomes-Pinto ,&nbsp;Jean-Luc Verdeil ,&nbsp;Christelle Baptiste ,&nbsp;Claudia Fontana ,&nbsp;Matthieu Dejean ,&nbsp;Gilles Chaix ,&nbsp;Davi N. Lemos ,&nbsp;Maycon S. Teixeira ,&nbsp;Mario Tomazello-Filho ,&nbsp;Giselda Durigan","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152907","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152907","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Growth rings in woody plants form in response to seasonal variation in the environment and are fundamental to dendrochronological studies, but estimating plant ages—especially in underexplored growth forms such as forbs, shrubs and subshrubs from grasslands—remains challenging. Here, we address a knowledge gap in the anatomy and histochemistry of subshrubs from natural Cerrado grasslands and evaluate their potential for dendrochronological applications. We studied underground woody organs of <em>Jacaranda decurrens, Lippia lupulina</em>, and <em>Mandevilla longiflora</em>, collected at the Santa Bárbara Ecological Station (Brazil). We used autofluorescence microscopy and a suite of histochemical tests targeting structural and non-structural compounds. Autofluorescence allowed spatial assessment of wood tissues without staining, and improved growth-ring visualization. FASGA staining increased contrast between fibers and parenchyma, facilitating tissue discrimination and growth-ring delimitation, while Mäule staining highlighted differences in cell-wall composition and guaiacyl/syringyl (G/S) ratios throughout growth-ring formation. Starch was consistently detected in parenchymatic cells of all species (lowest in <em>J. decurrens</em>, intermediate in L. <em>lupulina</em>, highest in <em>M. longiflora</em>), and its spatial association with parenchyma aided growth-ring identification. Combining fluorescence and histochemical approaches provides complementary insights into the anatomy and chemistry of underground organs and advances dendrochronological studies in grassland ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"335 ","pages":"Article 152907"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790726","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":"Pollen cones of Afrocarpus and Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae, Coniferales) in the light of conifer evolution and Zimmermann´s telome theory","authors":"Veit Martin Dörken ,&nbsp;Thomas Stützel","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152906","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152906","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pollen cones from various species of Podocarpaceae were investigated and a new evolutionary model of coniferous male reproductive structures is proposed. The inflorescence-like groups of pollen cones are identified as dense pollen cone clusters. These clusters result from a significant reduction in the length of the internodes of the fertile shoot axis, coupled with a shift of the cones towards the distal end. There is strong evidence that the simple structure of each pollen cone originates from a markedly reduced pseudanthial structure. The lateral hyposporangiate microsporangiophores are dorsiventral synangia comprising numerous fused, stalked microsporangia. It is highly likely that the hyposporangiate structure evolved from an ancestral radial (= perisporangiate) condition. The distal, leaf-like scutellum is formed by one or more sterile microsporangia that are fused and compressed. Contrary to the widely held view, the scutellum is not the tip of a microsporophyll. Based on Zimmermann's telome theory it is demonstrated how microsporangia can be produced in the absence of a microsporophyll.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"335 ","pages":"Article 152906"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790724","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":"Leaf anatomical diversity in subfamily Dryadoideae (Rosaceae): taxonomic significance at the generic level","authors":"Diana I. Trujillo-Juárez ,&nbsp;Alicia Rojas-Leal ,&nbsp;Teresa Terrazas","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dryadoideae (Rosaceae) comprises the genera <em>Cercocarpus, Chamaebatia, Dryas</em>, and <em>Purshia</em>. Despite its taxonomic value, the foliar anatomy of this subfamily has not been studied or compared between genera. The objective was to characterize and identify qualitative leaf anatomical traits that allow diagnosis of genera and compare them with other Rosaceae. Transverse and paradermal sections were prepared from 32 species and analyzed using light microscopy. Each genus exhibited a unique combination of traits. <em>Cercocarpus</em> showed stomatal crypts and an abaxial hypodermis. <em>Chamaebatia</em> displayed S-undulated anticlinal epidermal walls and fibers above the phloem. It also showed glandular trichomes with a multiseriate stalk and vascular tissue at the base. Additionally, the mesophyll was reduced and continuous, supporting simple leaves in <em>Chamaebatia</em>, a trait not previously recognized in this genus. <em>Purshia</em> showed glandular trichomes with a multiseriate stalk on the adaxial surface, less developed spongy parenchyma and palisade parenchyma in the midvein. In <em>Dryas</em> eglandular multicellular trichomes were found on the abaxial surface, and a sunken adaxial midvein. Other informative characters included mesophyll type, idioblasts, and secondary growth in the midvein. Although some intrageneric variation was observed, anatomical traits were generally consistent within genera. These findings provide the first comprehensive anatomical framework for Dryadoideae and highlight the taxonomic value of leaf anatomy. The results contribute with novel characters for genera, and offer their integration into future phylogenetic and evolutionary studies within Rosaceae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"335 ","pages":"Article 152903"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737558","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":"A conservation concern to a critically endangered Zingiber engganoense Ardiyani (Zingiberaceae)","authors":"Angga Yudaputra ,&nbsp;Inggit Puji Astuti ,&nbsp;Elga Renjana ,&nbsp;Elok Rifqi Firdiana ,&nbsp;Melisnawati H Angio ,&nbsp;Vandra Kurniawan ,&nbsp;Danang Wahyu Purnomo ,&nbsp;Iyan Robiansyah ,&nbsp;Marlina Ardiyani ,&nbsp;Fitriany Amalia Wardhani ,&nbsp;Puguh Dwi Raharjo ,&nbsp;Gut Windarsih ,&nbsp;Suhartono ,&nbsp;Dwi Murti Puspitaningtyas ,&nbsp;Prima Wahyu Kusuma Hutabarat ,&nbsp;Unggul Handoko ,&nbsp;Wendell P. Cropper Jr","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Zingiber engganoense</em> Ardiyani is a critically endangered species that occupies a restricted habitat on Enggano Island. A single location was reported in a previous study. Due to the lack of information about the current population status, surveys were used to find new populations and improve our understanding of its conservation status. Surveys were conducted centered on the known location reported from the previous study, then expanding into surrounding areas and also surveying locations informed by local people. The study area covered two villages: Malakoni and Banjarsari. These locations are surveyed based on historical records and local information. A purposive sampling method was applied to assess the population and habitat characteristic of <em>Z. engganoense</em> Ardiyani. The population was quantified and physical variables were measured inside the plots. The coordinate points and spatial environmental layers were used as input of a model for predicting habitat suitability of the species. An ensemble model was constructed by aggregating the results of three algorithms: Random Forest (RF), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS), and Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to generate a habitat suitability map. Six new occurrence locations in Malakoni village were identified with the surveys. The ensemble model predicted 18 km² of moderately suitable habitat and 3 km² of highly suitable habitat on the island. Our model predicted only 4 km² of moderately suitable habitat was located inside a protected area of Taman Buru Gunung Nanu’ua. Three input variables were identified as important for habitat suitability: soil organic carbon, elevation and annual precipitation. The predictive model resulted from this study was categorised as an effective model with an AUC value of 0.90 and a TSS value of 0.88. We propose CR B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii), D as the new conservation status of <em>Z. engganoense</em> Ardiyani. Cuttings from four individuals and two tubers that were secured from the wild, all successfully grew under controlled conditions in the greenhouse of the botanic gardens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"335 ","pages":"Article 152893"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145685312","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":"2025-11-22","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":"High salt tolerance and salt-mediated enhancement of drought stress tolerance in Zygophyllum fabago","authors":"Fereshteh Karimian,&nbsp;Roghieh Hajiboland,&nbsp;Fatemeh Nazari","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Zygophyllum fabago,</em> a perennial species of the family Zygophyllaceae native to arid and semi-arid regions, is a key component of the Irano-Turanian floristic zone. Despite its ecological relevance, this species’ halophytic behavior and salt response mechanisms have not been previously characterized. In a short-term hydroponic experiment, plants were exposed to NaCl concentrations of up to 700 mM for two weeks. In a long-term study, plants subjected to control, 150 mM, and 400 mM NaCl were further exposed to three levels of drought stress. The highest dry biomass production was observed at 200–400 mM, with no significant growth reduction even at 700 mM, indicating a remarkable level of salt tolerance. Measurements of growth parameters, water relations, and stress indicators confirmed a high tolerance to both salt and drought, with evidence of salt-enhanced drought resilience. Under single-stress conditions, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and organic osmolyte levels remained unchanged or declined, but elevated when both stresses were applied simultaneously. Under both treatments, phenolics content in the leaves increased, whereas lignin deposition decreased, reaching the lowest levels under stress combination. The findings indicate that <em>Z. fabago</em> employs integrated tolerance mechanisms, including high Na accumulation capacity, salt-induced succulence, optimized stomatal density, enhanced taproot elongation, and minimization of non-essential metabolic costs. These features support individual stress tolerance and cross-tolerance to combined salt and drought conditions. Given its physiological resilience and adaptive plasticity, <em>Z. fabago</em> is proposed as a promising candidate for land stabilization and ecological restoration of saline soils in arid and semi-arid environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152891"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624335","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":"Topographic factors drive plant diversity to a greater extent than vegetation structure in dry woodlands dominated by Ramorinoa girolae Speg","authors":"Campos Valeria Evelín ,&nbsp;Gatica Gabriel","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dominant woody species inhabiting drylands play a critical role as ecosystem engineers, altering microclimate, soil properties, and resource availability, thereby enhancing plant species diversity at the community level. Understanding the importance of woodland structure versus environmental drivers (such as topographic factors) is key to defining management and conservation strategies for species diversity. We test the importance of these drivers in dry woodlands dominated by <em>Ramorinoa girolae</em> Speg., an endemic woody species in the Monte Desert that provides valuable ecosystem services. We hypothesized that <em>R. girolae</em> is a nurse woody species, modifying microclimate and soil conditions to create spatial heterogeneity in resources and habitats, thereby promoting high plant species diversity. To this end, we conducted an observational study over 36 plots of dry <em>R. girolae</em>-dominated woodlands, distributed across a topographic factors gradient. Although woodland structure did not affect the diversity, altitude exhibited a negative relationship with the number of common and dominant species across all study sites and scales. The ruggedness and wetness indices exerted significant effects but only at a single spatial scale. Our results highlight that conservation concerns are greater when plant species diversity depends primarily on abiotic factors beyond the reach of forest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"335 ","pages":"Article 152880"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145610307","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":"2025-11-19","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":"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 ,&nbsp;Angela Lucena Nascimento de Jesus ,&nbsp;Cintia Amando ,&nbsp;Nielson Dinivan da Silva Brito ,&nbsp;Marcia Nunes de Melo Santos ,&nbsp;Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal ,&nbsp;Renata Akemi Shinozaki-Mendes ,&nbsp;André Laurênio de Melo ,&nbsp;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":"2025-11-16","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":"The effects of lead and manganese in soil on males and females of the dioecious herb Spinacia oleracea","authors":"M. Fisher ,&nbsp;K. BéruBé ,&nbsp;T. Jones ,&nbsp;B. Rees ,&nbsp;J. Sánchez Vilas","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152879","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152879","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Males and females of dioecious plant species commonly differ in their morphology, physiology or life-history traits, and also in their response to environmental stress, which may lead to sex biases and eventually to population declines. Metal toxicity is an extreme case of environmental stress, where differences in tolerance between males and females have been reported before, but mainly in woody species (trees from the genus <em>Populus</em>)<em>.</em> Here, we aimed to increase our understanding of the response of the sexes of dioecious species to metal stress by investigating the individual and combined effects of added Pb and Mn to the soil on the growth and physiological performance of male and female plants of the wind-pollinated herb spinach (<em>Spinacia oleracea</em> L). We carried out a glasshouse experiment, where male and female plants of <em>S. oleracea</em> were grown in soils without and with added Pb, Mn and combined Pb + Mn (added as nitrates), and with different nutrient levels (‘low’ or ‘high’ nutrients). The addition of Pb and Mn as nitrates did not have any detrimental effects on the growth, chlorophyll content, % N, %C and C/N in spinach plants. Moreover, the addition of Pb (NO₃)₂ and Mn (NO₃)₂ appears to have increased the nitrates in the soil, as shown by the improved nitrogen content found in plants growing under low nutrients. Male plants accumulated more Pb and Mn in their aboveground tissues than females, but this was not followed by greater detrimental effects on growth. Overall, this study highlights the relevance of the metal species added in causing toxic effects and points to a greater tolerance to metal stress in males of <em>S. oleracea</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"334 ","pages":"Article 152879"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145580096","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}