The fruit and seed morphology of 20 taxa representing 2 sections within the genus Musa (Musaceae), one species of Musella (Musaceae) and one species of Ensete (Musaceae) from China, was examined using both camera and light microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic relevance ofmorphological features.. Details articulating variation in inflorescence, fruit and seed size, color, shape, and seed coat ornamentation are described, illustrated, and compared, and their taxonomic importance is discussed. Erect or pendent inflorescence, rows of fruit per hand have limited taxonomic significance in Musa sect. Musa and M.sect.Callimusa, because of overlapping morphology in a few species such as M. yunnanensis and M. acuminata. Fruit size showed wide variation, ranging from 3.37–17.93 cm in length and 1.62–5.82 cm in width, and fruit pedicel length ranging from 0–6.90 cm. Fruit color could be used to distinguish some species but have little useful at the section level. Seeds were generally black in color but becoming to dull black or brown after drying, and smooth, tuberculate to wrinkled or spiny in seed coat ornamentation. Seed size also displayed wide variation, ranging from 1.53–11.23 mm in length and 3.70–13.13 mm in width, and could be classified as three type (length less than 5mm and width less than 7mm, length more than 8 mm and width more than 10 mm, length 5-8mm and width 7~10 mm). Seed shape has high phenotypic plasticity four types(oblate, sub-globose, cylindrical, mushroom-shaped) can be recognized, and cylindrical, barrel shaped seed from Musa sect. Callimusa was marked externally by a transverse line or groove, internally with a well developed perisperm chamber above the same line. In general, seed color and ornamentation have limited taxonomic significance. The findings illustrate that considerable taxonomic knowledge can be obtained by investigating the fruit and seed features of Musaceae.

We describe six new species and reinstate two species of Viola (Violaceae) from China, based on material collected in Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Chongqing. Field surveys, detailed morphological comparisons, and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and GPI gene sequences placed these taxa within section Plagiostigma subsections Diffusae. The GPI data provided higher resolution, revealing complex relationships and suggesting ancient hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting in subsect. Diffusae. Our findings clarify species boundaries and contribute to understanding the diversity and evolution of Viola in China.

The circumscription of the Paleotropical dioecious and species-rich genus Timonius has long been based on the restricted combination of morphological features, namely: valvate corolla aestivation and drupes bearing multiple, free, single-seeded pyrenes. Previous studies, albeit focused on different taxonomic problems in tribe Guettardeae, have two contradicting views on the phylogenetic status of Timonius. The first is that Timonius is monophyletic, but did not encompass the vast morphological variation within the genus. The second is that it is polyphyletic, although the hypothesis relied on a limited number of species. Based on these, the phylogeny of Timonius and related genera is here reconstructed using sequences obtained from five molecular loci (ETS, ITS, atpB-rbcL, rps16 and trnT-F) to provide a better understanding on its generic boundaries. The phylogenetic results generally affirm the unnaturalness of Timonius, and its species are retrieved in three well-supported lineages: 1) Abbottia clade, containing representatives of T. subgen. Abbottia, 2) Timonius clade, containing the majority of the sampled species of Timonius; whereas 3) the New Caledonian endemic T. platycarpus is recovered in an isolated position that is sister to TinadendronTinadendron. These findings are supported by morphological characters and molecular apomorphies, implying the necessity to resurrect the genus Abbottia with an amended diagnosis. Diagnostic morphological characters of Timonius Timoniusclade are also presented for succeeding efforts toward a more stable taxonomy of the genus.

Coastal dune landscapes in Western Europe have become increasingly stabilized over the past century as a result of nitrogen deposition and human interventions such as afforestation and sand fixation. These changes have been linked to losses in terrestrial biodiversity, but the consequences for aquatic dune wetlands remain largely unexplored. We investigated plant community composition in 38 shallow dune lakes and slacks in Northwest Denmark and assessed the role of environmental drivers. Fine benthic organic matter (FBOM) emerged as the dominant factor shaping macrophyte communities: isoetids and other low-growing species showed strong negative associations with FBOM, whereas emergent and amphibious species increased. Stable isotope signatures suggested that FBOM originated mainly from allochthonous inputs derived from catchment vegetation and soils. These findings highlight organic matter accumulation—rather than eutrophication or acidification—as the primary mechanism driving vegetation change in dune lakes. The process mirrors patterns seen in terrestrial dune habitats, where stabilization favors common and competitive species over rare specialists. With ongoing climate change and nitrogen deposition expected to accelerate dune fixation, our study points to organic matter build-up as a key but overlooked threat to dune lake biodiversity.

Western European coastal dune landscapes are naturally dynamic and ever changing. However, in the past 100 years coastal dunes have become more stable and encroached by sand-fixating grasses and shrubby vegetation. The drivers of these changes are primarily due to human exploitation with deliberate planting for coastal protection and nitrogen deposition, mainly from agricultural sources. The effects of these changes on terrestrial plant communities in dune landscapes are well documented; they are becoming more homogenous and species poor especially due to the loss of specialized pioneer species. However, much less is known about the effects on the aquatic plant communities in the dune landscape. Here we studied the composition of plant communities in 38 shallow dune lakes in Northwest Denmark, with the aim to identify the effect of stabilization and vegetation encroachment on the aquatic plant communities. Fine benthic and dissolved organic matter (FBOM and DOC) along with lake type (permanent/temporary) was among the main explanatory factors for specialized dune lake plant communities. Isoetids and low-growing plant communities were negatively impacted by increasing amounts of FBOM and DOC, the latter being more pronounced in permanent lakes. At the same time, elevated amounts of organic matter led to an increase of emergent and amphibian plant communities. Stable isotope analysis suggested that the main source of organic matter was allochthonous, possibly resulting from a buildup of organic matter in the catchment of each lake. These results suggest that coastal dune fixation and vegetation encroachment affect plant communities in a similar manner to terrestrial communities, leading to a loss of rare and low-growing dune lake plant species specialists and a favoring of more common and competitive species.

Materials and methodsSpecimens of the new species were collected in late June 2023 from Mount Kallar in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Specimens or high-resolution images of specimens of the genus Bufonia were compared with herbarium specimens at B, D, E, G, HSHU, JE, K, P, and TARI. Additionally, relevant literature (de Candolle 1824, Freyn 1903, Cullen 1966, Shishkin 1995, Rechinger 1988, Chrtek and Krisa 1999, Rostami Ghadi et al. 2023) was reviewed. The gross morphology of the new species was examined and measured under a stereo-binocular microscope. A total of 13 specimens of the new species, along with 25 flowers, were examined. Photographs of plant parts were taken at the herbarium with a Samsung Galaxy A20s phone and Canon EOS 850D camera. The conservation status was evaluated based on field observations following IUCN (2022) guidelines. This material has been deposited in the D herbarium. Herbarium codes are according to Thiers (2024).

Boesenbergia kalakadensis (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu, India is described and illustrated. Boesenbergia kalakadensis is closely allied to B. rotunda (L.) Mansf., and B. tiliifolia (Baker) Kuntze, but differs from them in its rhizome; leaves; inflorescence; length of flowers; glabrous nature of bract and bracteoles; length of calyx and corolla tube; size and shape of the corolla lobes; size, colour and margins of lateral staminodes; broader, orbicular, flat labellum; sessile, glandular hairy, crested anther; and length of style. A key to species of Boesenbergia in Peninsular India is provided.

The Cordillera Central is a vast mountain range, spanning 22,500 km2 in the Philippines, containing some of the country’s last remaining intact forests. These forests are a reservoir for biodiversity and home to many poorly-known species, including those in the genus Rafflesia, renowned for containing the world’s largest flowers. Here we describe Rafflesia balatociana, a distinctive yet overlooked taxon from the high elevation moss forest, which we name after the Balatoc Indigenous Peoples, one of the subtribes in the Kalinga Province. This species is distinguished from its close relatives by a combination of conspicuous and stable characters including a double-dentate disk rim and strap-shaped lacuna on the annulus interior. We compare R. balatociana with co-occurring species in the Cordillera Central, provide a key, and consider our findings in the wider context of the exceptional biodiversity of this region and its conservation requirements. We propose R. balatociana should be classified as Critically Endangered, and recommend its habitat be declared as either a Critical Habitat Area (CHA) or a Local Conservation Area (LCA).

An updated synopsis of the genus Chara L. (Characeae) occurring in India are discussed here in conformity with the available monographs, literatures, related publications, digital herbarium records and online taxonomic databases. The taxonomy and nomenclature are based on the critical review of 51 taxa of Chara L. which include 35 species, 9 varieties and 7 forms so far reported from India. Information related to type citations, range of distribution along with the key for each taxon was included in discussion. The review further marks 9 taxonomically uncertain taxa of India.

This paper continues the publication of Aspidistra species newly discovered in the flora of Vietnam. It includes an illustrated description of A. pentagona, found in northern parts of the country. Detailed analytical color illustrations, data on morphology and ecology, phenology, tentative relationships, distribution, and expected conservation status are provided for the discovered species.

Species of Apiaceae despite uniform floral structure show great variation in floral morphs and sexual distribution. In the present study, ontogeny of the diclinous flowers within “cage-like” inflorescence of the andromonoecious Dicyclophora persica Boiss., studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to recognize whether they follow the same ontogenetic processes. The development of interesting unusual club-like organ in center of the umbel, furthermore, studied. The floral organs in diclinous flowers initiated from the common sectorial group-like primordia. Petals initiated as clockwise direction and stamens as modified helical pattern. Perfect flowers, despite sepal suppression, synchronized with staminate flowers in initiation of petals, stamens and carpels. In staminate flowers, in turn, two prominent sepals arise subsequently after initiation of stamens. Only in late stages, ovules get aborted. The club-like organ initiated from a naked receptacle that has no resemblances to the umbellets or flowers. The prolonged spatial constrains imposed by massive staminate flowers are responsible for suppression of sepals and sessile status of perfect flowers. Considering the ovules suppression, staminate flowers may likely adopt to conserve the perfect flowers from exposing in extreme environmental conditions, but not as substitution for perfect flowers.

A new species of Psammogeton (Apiaceae) found in Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Psammogeton canescens and P. shivalikense but differing from them in having noticeably radical leaves, deeply ternate leave with acuminate apex, pale yellow flowers, an elongated stylopodium, and fruits hairs that are over three times longer than they are wide. Together with the images, a distribution map, comparison of closely related Psammogeton canescens and P. shivalikense with comparable morphologies and phenology, and a key are included.

A new salsify species, Tragopogon davut-turanii is described from Anatolia based on micro- and macro-morphological, and molecular evidences. The new species is morphologically similar to T. vvedenskyi and T. abbreviatus but, it is closely related to T. stenophyllus and T. coelesyriacus on the basis of the phylogenetic tree obtained nrDNA ITS sequences. Diagnostic characters, description, and conservation status together with micro- and macro-morphological properties of achenes and pollen grains are also provided.

Commelina badamica var. palakondensis ……….var. nov. (Commelinaceae), a remarkable new variety from Palkonda hills of Eastern Ghats of Peninsular India is described and illustrated. It is apparently similar to C. badamica in habitat ecology and general morphology, but strictly differs in features like presence of 2-3 nerved ligule, lower cincinnus with single bisexual flower, ovary glabrous, anthers-elliptic and seeds ovoid-oblong or trapezoidal. In addition to description, habitat ecology, details on population distribution and the conservation status are also provided for the new variety.

A new species of Gagea iranshahrii ***** & ***** (Liliaceae, G. sect. Stipitatae (Pascher) Davlianidze) has been described from the basin of the Atrak River basin, Iran and Turkmenistan. Morphological features and a distribution map are given. Differences from four superficially similar taxa are indicated. The new species differs in the totality of features and, especially, in the presence of a relatively large, rounded vegetative bulb, which forms annually throughout the entire ontogenesis.

The genus Sorbus consists of small to medium-sized trees primarily found in coastal areas, with three European hotspots for diversification: Fennoscandia, South-East Europe, and Britain. Taxonomic classification of Sorbus in Europe is still unresolved, and this study aims to address this issue by examining the pollen morphology of different Sorbus hybrids. Pollen morphology of 16 specimens from 13 species of Sorbus, Aria and Hedlundia, some of which are common, while others are endemic and listed as threatened species, were studied. Measurements of the polar and equatorial axis of all pollen show that there are variations in pollen size and shape among different hybrids, with correlation between polyploidy levels and the width of the pollen. Surface structures of pollen were observed using SEM. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed to analyze the pollen characters, and the results show that it is possible to separate Aria from Sorbus and Hedlundia based on the length of the pollen grain, while the number of perforations is important for classification within Hedlundia. The study concludes that pollen morphology can be a useful tool for distinguishing between different Sorbus hybrids and can thus aid in understanding their past distributions.

Litter decomposition represents a major path for atmospheric carbon influx into Arctic soils, thereby controlling below-ground carbon accumulation. Yet, little is known about how tundra litter decomposition varies with microenvironmental conditions, hindering accurate projections of tundra soil carbon dynamics with future climate change. Over 14 months, we measured landscape-scale decomposition of two contrasting standard litter types (Green Tea and Rooibos Tea) in 90 plots covering gradients of micro-climate and -topography, vegetation cover and traits, and soil characteristics in Western Greenland. We used the Tea Bag Index protocol to estimate relative variation in litter mass loss, decomposition rate (k) and stabilisation factor (S) across space, and Structural Equation Modelling to identify relationships among environmental factors and decomposition. Contrasting our expectations, microenvironmental factors explained little of the observed variation in both litter mass loss, as well as k and S, suggesting that the variables included in our study were not the major controls of decomposer activity in the soil across the studied tundra landscape. We use these shortcomings of our study combined with findings from the current literature to discuss future avenues for improving our understanding of the drivers of tundra decomposition and, ultimately, carbon cycling across the warming Arctic.

Euploca wightiana P. Javad & A. A. Ancy sp. nov., a new species of the family Heliotropiaceae is described from Coimbatore district of South India. Morphologically it is similar to Euploca marifolia but differs in being perennial; erect woody stem with dense hirsute hairs; oblong leaves with obtuse apex; inflorescence with distantly placed flowers; long, cylindrical style with unifid, capitate stigma and densely hirsute nutlets. The species remained misidentified in herbaria for long. Detailed description, photo plates and distribution maps are provided. Morphological differences with relevant species are discussed. The status of the new species is provisionally assessed here as ‘endangered’ according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.