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Orenburg Region is located in the South Urals, mostly in the steppe zone and is characterised by various landscapes suitable for many Chenopodiaceae. The species of Chenopodiaceae are present in all major plant communities (saline vegetation, steppes, on limestone, chalk and sand, and as degraded or ruderal communities). In the steppe zone, many native subshrubby species ( Atriplex cana , Caroxylon laricinum , Suaeda physophora ) playing a crucial role in semi-deserts (known as southern steppes in the recent Russian literature) located southwards of Orenburg Region are locally found, and several annuals ( Salicornia perennans , Suaeda spp.) are most common dominants in plant communities. Some typical semi-desert species ( Kalidium foliatum , Bassia hyssopifolia , Soda foliosa , Spirobassia hirsuta ) are found in the easternmost part of the region. We compiled a checklist of Chenopodiaceae in Orenburg Region, with two new records ( Chenopodium virgatum , Corispermum laxiflorum ), based on our critical revision, comprehensive inventory of herbarium specimens and documented observations and field research. In total, we report 76 species in the Region, which is the third-highest number of the Chenopodiaceae species compared with other administrative territories of European Russia, North Caucasus and West Siberia. Alien and native taxa are distinguished. Zonal patterns of species distributions are confirmed. A preliminary conservation status is proposed for each native species. Three species are recommended for exclusion from the Red Data Book of Orenburg Region: Petrosimonia triandra (because of its extensive distribution), Kalidium foliatum and Anabasis salsa (because of the lack of actual threat to their populations). Arthrophytum lehmannianum and Salsola rosacea are considered threatened (Vulnerable) because of their restricted occurrence and population size and because their localities are under anthropogenic pressure. Atriplex hortensis , Atriplex rosea , Chenopodium acuminatum , C. karoi , C. praetericola , C. vulvaria , Climacoptera affinis , C. crassa , Halimocnemis karelinii , Salsola paulsenii and Xylosalsola arbuscula are excluded from the checklist, based on various reasons as discussed in the paper. Point distribution maps are provided for each species. Agriophyllum pungens (Vahl) Link is accepted as the correct authorship instead of \"M.Bieb. ex C.A.Mey.\"

Background Baolia H.W.Kung & G.L.Chu is a monotypic genus only known in Diebu County, Gansu Province, China. Its systematic position is contradictory, and its morphoanatomical characters deviate from all other Chenopodiaceae. Recent study has regarded Baolia as a sister group to Corispermoideae. We therefore sequenced and compared the chloroplast genomes of this species, and resolved its phylogenetic position based on both chloroplast genomes and marker sequences. Results We sequenced 18 chloroplast genomes of 16 samples from two populations of Baolia bracteata and two Corispermum species. These genomes of Baolia ranged in size from 152,499 to 152,508 bp. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were primarily located in the LSC region of Baolia chloroplast genomes, and most of them consisted of single nucleotide A/T repeat sequences. Notably, there were differences in the types and numbers of SSRs between the two populations of B. bracteata . Our phylogenetic analysis, based on both complete chloroplast genomes from 33 species and a combination of three markers (ITS, rbcL , and matK ) from 91 species, revealed that Baolia and Corispermoideae ( Agriophyllum , Anthochlamys , and Corispermum ) form a well-supported clade and sister to Acroglochin . According to our molecular dating results, a major divergence event between Acroglochin , Baolia , and Corispermeae occurred during the Middle Eocene, approximately 44.49 mya. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis showed that Baolia exhibited symplesiomorphies with those found in core Corispermoideae characteristics including pericarp and seed coat. Conclusions Comparing the chloroplast genomes of B. bracteata with those of eleven typical Chenopodioideae and Corispermoideae species, we observed a high overall similarity and a one notable noteworthy case of inversion of approximately 3,100 bp. of DNA segments only in two Atriplex and four Chenopodium species. We suggest that Corispermoideae should be considered in a broader sense, it includes Corispermeae (core Corispermoideae: Agriophyllum , Anthochlamys , and Corispermum ), as well as two new monotypic tribes, Acroglochineae ( Acroglochin ) and Baolieae ( Baolia ).

The family Aizoaceae includes ~1880 species and is one of the more diverse groups within Caryophyllales, particularly in arid areas in the western part of southern Africa. Most species are dwarf succulent-leaf shrubs. In response to the harsh climatic conditions prevalent where they occur, many representatives have evolved special reproductive adaptations. These include hygrochastic capsules (mostly found in Mesembryanthemoideae and Ruschioideae), burr-like indehiscent and one-seeded, winged diaspores, and fast germination of seeds after rain. We focused on anatomical features, evolutionary trends, and the ecological significance of various morpho-anatomical structures found in the seeds. The seeds of 132 species from 61 genera were studied, and 18 diagnostic characters were discovered. All studied characters were compared with those of other families from core Caryophyllales. The seed notch and embryo shape were added to the list of characteristics distinguishing major clades within the family. In addition, the presence of longitudinal ridges and a keel on the seed are additional characters of Aizooideae and combined Ruschioideae-Apatesieae, respectively. Puzzle-like borders of testa cells are a common trait in Ruschioideae and Mesembryanthemoideae. Most taxa in Aizoaceae have a thin seed coat, which is the ancestral state within the family. This may facilitate fast germination. We observed several shifts to a medium-thick or thick seed coat in members of Ruschioideae and Acrosanthoideae. These inhabit fire-prone environments (in vegetation types known as fynbos and renosterveld ), where the thickened seed coat may protect against damage by fire. Multi-seeded fruits are the ancestral state within Aizoaceae, with several shifts to one-(two-)seeded xerochastic fruits. The latter are dispersed via autochory, zoochory, or anemochory. This trait has evolved mainly in less succulent subfamilies Acrosanthoideae, Aizooideae, and Sesuvioideae. In highly succulent subfamilies Ruschioideae and Mesembryanthemoideae, fruits are almost exclusively multi-seeded and hygrochastic with ombrohydrochoric dispersal. A reduction in the number of seeds within a dispersal unit is rare. Within Apatesieae and Ruschieae, there are also a few unusual genera whose fruits fall apart into one- to two-seeded mericarps (that are mainly dispersed by wind).

Pollen–stigma interactions have been studied extensively because they play an important role in sexual reproduction and crop yield. The vast majority of studies have focused on dry stigmas, which are typical of many model and agricultural plants; however, the data obtained are difficult to apply to plants with wet stigmas, such as tomato and tobacco. Pollen germination in this case occurs in a liquid, an exudate, which has a complex, species-specific composition. UPLC-ESI-MS-based hormone screening was carried out for six plant genera belonging to Solanaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Gesneriaceae families and revealed jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA) and/or jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (IleJA) in stigma exudates of tobacco, tomato, and Streptocarpus sp. To assess the physiological significance of plant hormones in stigma exudate we tested their effect in vitro, finding that JA, IleJA, and MeJa significantly stimulated germination of tobacco pollen, with JA being most effective in accordance with its predominance in the stigma exudate; furthermore, ABA stimulated pollen germination in all tested species including bromeliads despite the lack of this hormone in their exudates. Both JA and ABA had an anti-oxidant effect on germinating pollen. Possible functions of hormones and ROS in exudate as well as ways of implementing the anti-oxidant effect of phytohormones are discussed.

Desmochaeta (now Cyathula ) achyranthoides was described from South America and reported to be a widespread tropical plant in both Africa and the Americas. A revision of herbarium material revealed that inter alia leaf shape differs between the populations of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Therefore, we maintain the name C. achyranthoides s.str. for the American populations and re-instate the name C. geminata for most of the African plants. Both species are found in tropical evergreen forests, mainly at low altitudes. Furthermore, two mountain species, C. brevispicata from Madagascar and C. aethiopica from east tropical Africa, which were previously identified as C. achyranthoides , are described as new to science. Compared to both C. achyranthoides and C. geminata , these new species have short inflorescences and longer, recurved or uncinate perianths in the fertile flowers and morphologically resemble C. fernando-poensis ; the latter is only known from the mountains of Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), south-west and (newly recorded here) North-West Regions of Cameroon. The species under study are compared with one another and with the related, pantropically distributed species C. prostrata ; their synonymy is verified and typifications are established. The fine-level partial florescence (cyme) structure of each species is also studied, with further taxonomic implications. Cyathula geminata seems to be restricted to west and central tropical Africa, with its range replaced eastwards by C. aethiopica and in Madagascar by C. brevispicata .

The composition of many Chenopodiaceae genera in different parts of Himalaya and Tibet has been insufficiently known or contradictory. A revision of the family in Himalaya including Bhutan, Nepal, parts of India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand) and Tibet (Xizang, China) is presented for the first time. Altogether, 57 species from 20 genera are reported, including three species new to science ( Agriophyllumtibeticum , Salsolaaustrotibetica and Salsolahartmannii ). Atriplexcentralasiatica , Corispermumdutreuilii and Salsolamonoptera are identified as new records for India and Chenopodiumpamiricum is recorded in China for the first time. Dysphaniaambrosioides and Sympegmaregelii are recorded for Xizang. The generic and species keys, species distributions (including maps) and taxonomic notes are provided. We indicate for the first time that the presence of short yellow hairs is the remarkable morphological characteristic of the genus Grubovia . Evident heterocarpy and heterospermy is found in Dysphania for the first time ( Dysphaniatibetica ). Agriophyllumpungens , Atriplexcrassifolia , Atriplexlaciniata , Atriplexsagittata , Axyrisamaranthoides , Axyrishybrida , Bassiaindica , Corispermumkorovinii , Dysphaniaschraderiana (= Chenopodiumfoetidum auct.), Halocharisviolacea and Suaedamicrosperma are excluded from the species list. Neobotrydiumcorniculatum is synonymised with Dysphaniakitiae , Neobotrydiumlongii with Dysphaniahimalaica and Neobotrydiumornithopodum seems to be conspecific with Dysphanianepalensis . Corispermumladakhianum is a new synonym of Corispermumtibeticum . Amaranthusdiandrus is added to the synonyms of Acroglochinpersicarioides , and Bassiafiedleri , previously considered as conspecific with Gruboviadasyphylla , is added to the synonymy of Bassiascoparia . Lectotypes of Anabasisglomerata (≡ Halogetonglomeratus ), Halogetontibeticus (= Halogetonglomeratus ), Amaranthusdiandrus (= Acroglochinpersicarioides ), Chenopodiumtibeticum (≡ Dysphaniatibetica ), Corispermumdutreuilii , Corispermumfalcatum , Corispermumlhasaense , Corispermumpamiricumvar.pilocarpum (= Corispermumgelidum , syn. nov.), Corispermumtibeticum , Kochiaindica (≡ Bassiaindica ), Kochiaodontoptera (≡ Bassiaodontoptera ) and Salsolamonoptera are selected. Out of 53 native elements, 42 are restricted in their distribution to Himalaya and Tibet at altitudes 2000–4500 m above sea level. The greatest taxonomic diversity of the Chenopodiaceae is represented in Jammu and Kashmir (India) and Xizang (China) with a continuous decrease in the number of species southwards.

Achyranthes in its traditional sense (excluding Achyropsis that phylogenetically falls into Achyranthes ) has been considered to contain a restricted (three to four) number of species in Africa and one or two species in the Arabian Peninsula. The morphology of the type species of the genus, A. aspera , has been treated as highly polymorphic, with several varieties recognised by various authors. Not surprisingly, a recent extended phylogeny revealed a non-monophyly of A. aspera . We present a deeper insight into morphological characters of the A. aspera aggregate together with taxonomic, nomenclatural, ecological, and chorological data based on field investigations and herbarium studies. Instead of one polymorphic species, we accept A. aspera s.str., A. abyssinica , A. acuminata , A. annua , A. mauritiana , A. porphyrostachya , A. sicula , and A. seychellensis sp. nov. , all being native to different parts of Africa. In most herbaria, the vast majority of African specimens labelled as A. aspera belong to other species, which are being reinstated here. In addition, two well-recognized species, A. fasciculata and A. talbotii from Tropical East and West Africa, respectively, are also discussed. Moreover, we found that the type of A. aspera var. pubescens as listed in the African and Arabian floras and checklists belongs in fact to an American species A. fruticosa , which is absent in the Old World. In place of the misapplied A. aspera var. pubescens, we accept A. porphyrostachya , a species described from Myanmar, as a correct name for the populations growing in Africa and Arabia. According to our results, at least 10 native species of Achyranthes occur in Africa (or 16 species if Achyropsis is merged with Achyranthes ), which is a major diversity center of the genus. Four species are recorded from the Arabian Peninsula ( A. abyssinica , A. annua , A. aspera s.str., A. porphyrostachya ), and two of them ( A. abyssinica and A. annua ) reach their easternmost range limit in this region. As a result, the distribution as well as ecological conditions of each species is now clarified or circumscribed for the first time.

For a long time, the systematics of Atriplex was based solely on morphological characters and leaf anatomy. The latest worldwide phylogenetic study of Atriplex significantly improved our knowledge about the relationships within the genus, but a new classification has not been put forward thus far. Here we re-evaluate the taxonomy of C 4 -species of Atriplex that are native to Russia. Seven species are classified into two sections, A. sect. Obione (incl. A. sect. Sclerocalymma, syn. nov.) ( A. altaica , A. centralasiatica , A. rosea , A. sibirica , and A. sphaeromorpha ), and A. sect. Obionopsis (incl. A. sect. Psammophila, syn. nov.) ( A. fominii and A. tatarica ). Although the majority of Eurasian C 4 -species have similar morphology, leafy inflorescence is a typical character for A. sect. Obione. The members of A. sect. Obionopsis are characterised mostly by aphyllous inflorescences, but some species ( A. laciniata , A. pratovii , and A. tornabenei ) have leafy inflorescences. Geographically, almost all members of A. sect. Obione are confined to Central Asia, although A. rosea is a typical Mediterranean element and A. argentea occurs in North America. The representatives of A. sect. Obionopsis are distributed mostly in the Mediterranean and the Irano-Turanian floristic region. The alien status of A. rosea , A. sibirica and A. tatarica is discussed. Atriplex flabellum , a desert species from the Irano-Turanian region, is reported for the first time from Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, North Siberia) as a casual alien. This species occupies a phylogenetic position distant from both aforementioned sections. An identification key to all C 4 -species of the genus growing in Russia is given, and a sectional checklist with updated nomenclature and revised synonymy is provided.

A new subshrubby C 4 -species from the lowlands and foothills of India, Pakistan and SE Afghanistan, Atriplex pseudotatarica , is described and illustrated. Previously, it was incorrectly identified as A. crassifolia auct. non C.A.Mey. belonging to a distant C 3 -group of the genus. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS and nrETS revealed its position as sister to A. schugnanica (sect. Obionopsis). Both species share aphyllous inflorescence and smooth bract-like cover, but differ in life form, leaves, seed colour, and geographical distribution. We revised native Indian Atriplex species and excluded some of them from the flora of the country. An improved checklist of the native Atriplex species in India with their corrected synonymy and nomenclature is given, and a new diagnostic key is provided.

Bassia scoparia is a widespread weedy species in the temperate regions of the world and is valued as a medicinal and ornamental plant. To date, the taxonomic concept of B. scoparia remains insufficiently studied due to a limited number of samples used in the previous phylogenetic analyses. To solve the taxonomy of the B. scoparia complex, we constructed a new phylogeny based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), plastid intergenic spacer atpB-rbcL, and plastid region rpL16 intron sequences for numerous samples with diverse morphology. Our analysis revealed a close proximity and intermixed positions of the samples of the B. scoparia group with various morphology. Because of this polyphyly, we prefer to broadly delimit the species. An updated nomenclature of B. scoparia is provided including four new synonyms: Bassia angustifolia, B. littorea, Kochia albovillosa, and K. scoparia subsp. hirsutissima. In its new circumscription, B. scoparia encompasses populations with glabrous or variously hairy leaves and perianths. The original material of Kochia sieversiana, previously considered a species with hairy leaves and inflorescences, has the same diagnostic characters as in B. scoparia s.str. The correct name for more hairy-leaved plants is B. scoparia var. subvillosa. Plants with hairy perianths known as Kochia albovillosa and K. scoparia subsp. hirsutissima have a restricted distribution in Central Asia and South Siberia and have never been recorded as alien in other regions; they can be classified as a separate variety, B. scoparia var. hirsutissima. The ornamental variant of oblong or pyramidal shape may be called B. scoparia var. trichophila. Bassia scoparia is often confused with a similarly looking relative, B. indica, especially in North Africa, a region where secondary ranges of both species overlap. Phylogenetically, these species are sister groups; they share some morphological characters but have different primary distribution ranges. We traced a recent expansion of B. indica in the Mediterranean with the first record reported from the European continent (Spain) and uncovered various introduction pathways of the species in this region.