Plant Ecology and Evolution

This new study reveals that two Neotropical Malaxis orchids rely on cross-pollination by specialist fungus gnats. Both produce nectar and are self-incompatible, yet show high pollination efficiency, with M. excavata achieving notably higher fruiting success.

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Myrcianthes spans a large ecological and geographic range, with late diversification, southern origins, and two major clades across the Americas. New insights into its biogeography and wood anatomy highlight a complex evolutionary history across lowlands and highlands.

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New analyses of the neotropical palm Chamaedorea elatior (Arecaceae) show that its solitary and cespitose forms differ clearly in leaf morphology, consistently separating into two groups across multiple statistical tests. This suggests they may represent distinct species.

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Historical biogeography and character-mapping of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae) evidence a revised infrageneric classification system and shifts in African biomes from the Eocene to the Miocene Background and aims – Acridocarpus belongs to one of the seven Malpighiaceae lineages that dispersed from the Neotropics to the Paleotropical region, being by far the most widely diversified and distr...

This phylogenetic study of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae) reveals that its current classification does not reflect true evolutionary relationships. It originated in East African and Malagasy rainforests about 43 mya and adapted repeatedly to Africa’s shifting dry biomes.

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New field data clarify the diversity of Pulsatilla in Kosovo, confirming five taxa and reporting the first records of P. halleri subsp. rhodopaea and P. vernalis. Misidentifications are corrected and threatened taxa are identified in the Balkans.

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Species distribution models predict Lippia turbinata and Salimenaea integrifolia (Verbenaceae) could expand their ranges by 2070 while Lippia alba may lose habitat. Contrasting responses show the need for species-specific conservation strategies to protect plant resources.

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A new orchid, Telipogon villonacoensis, is described from the Andes. Once thought restricted to southern Ecuador, it is now known from Colombia to Peru, which is an unusually wide range for the genus. This discovery sheds light on the hidden diversity of miniature orchids.

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A new species of carnivorous plant, Pinguicula panfetiae, has been described from eastern Cuba. Endemic to the slopes of the River Toa in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, it differs from related species by its smaller white flowers and leaf shape.

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This taxonomic study of the genus Tragia (Euphorbiaceae) in Gabon recognizes 6 species in the country, including 2 newly described species, T. flagellata and T. sericea. The work also reports two species as new records for Gabon and provides updated identification tools.

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A new set of 48 nuclear microsatellite markers (14 polymorphic) was developed for Cola acuminata, an important African food tree. Results indicate high genetic diversity, and the markers also proved transferable to C. nitida.

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Hedgerows play a crucial ecological role in maintaining connectivity in the fragmented Atlantic Forest. This study showed hedgerows matched forest fragments in seed rain and litter, with even greater fruit richness, highlighting their role in biodiversity conservation.

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The allohexaploid genus Campeiostachys (StYH) originated from natural hybridization between tetraploid Roegneria (StY) and diploid Hordeum (H), with Roegneria as the maternal donor. The study also shows that C. purpuraristata belongs in the C. dahurica complex.

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Wild Vigna marina shows remarkable salt tolerance, surviving up to 20,000 ppm NaCl, outperforming commercial Vigna radiata varieties. Populations differ widely, making their conservation crucial for breeding salt-tolerant crops in a changing climate.

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Symmetry and structure re-visited: is symmetry still over-emphasised as a taxonomic character for naviculoid diatoms? Background and aims – Over 40 years ago, I explored the use of symmetry and structure as taxonomic criteria for naviculoid diatoms, arguing that structure was the more informative character. This pape...

Symmetry vs structure in naviculoid diatoms. This review shows how SEM & wall morphogenesis studies reshaped our understanding: structure, not symmetry, underpins true relationships. Valve shape and symmetry still matter but beware of overemphasising single traits.

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An endemic Uvariopsis (Annonaceae) is described from Gabon with distinct foul-smelling, cauliflorous flowers attracting rove beetles.

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Neotropical litter-gathering Rubiaceae: taxonomic novelties in Faramea from Brazil and French Guiana, and notes on other litter-gathering taxa (e.g. Rudgea, Psychotria, Palicourea).

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Morphological, phylogenetic, and breeding system analyses of the Vanilla chamissonis clade delimit its constituent species and support recognizing V. argentina as a separate taxon.

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This paper takes us to the montane forests of Central Africa where a new endemic orchid was described. The authors distinguish it from two other, similar Rhipidoglossum species in the area.

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After decades of mix-ups, Ouratea crassinervia (Ochnaceae) is confirmed as a unique Atlantic Forest species in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has the typical "dracenoid" habit but can be recognized by its terminal inflorescences and large flowers.

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A new type of epicotyl physiological dormancy is described for the crypto-viviparous mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum (Primulaceae).

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Plant Ecology and Evolution now has its own dedicated GBIF hosted portal: data.plecevo.arphahub.com. This portal showcases biodiversity data extracted from articles published in the journal. It significantly improves the visibility, accessibility, and reusability of the underlying data.

Plant Ecology and Evolution Plant Ecology and Evolution is a diamond open access journal that publishes papers about ecology, phylogenetics, and systematics of all plant groups (including algae, fungi, and myxomycetes), also cov...

Since its inception in 2010, Plant Ecology and Evolution has published exactly 600 papers about plant ecology, systematics, and evolution. Will your research be next?

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What is the IUCN conservation status of the bat-pollinated species in the Caatinga of Brazil? Half of the species is assessed as Least Concern but 80% of the species saw their conditions worsen in the last years.

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Calcium oxalate crystals are the most common biominerals in plants and they can have taxonomic value in Rubiaceae. In Mexico, Randia is characterised by the presence of druses.

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Struthanthus longipetiolatus (Loranthaceae) is a newly described hemiparasite that is endemic to the forests of the Sierra Madre del Sur Biogeographic Province in Mexico.

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Photo of a mountain in Marojejy National Park, Madagascar by Frank Vassen.

Morphological traits of liverworts reveal how habitat filtering and niche differentiation jointly influence species distribution in a tropical rainforest on a mountain in Madagascar.

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Psoralea (Fabaceae) is a speciose genus from Africa. The authors of this study present nomenclatural notes on the genus in South Africa and provide 6 new names.

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This study takes us to Bahia, Brazil where 3 new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) were found. There are now 25 species with yellow corollas, an uncommon characteristic in the genus.

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This study introduces the new corticioid fungal genus Palliocystidium, which includes a new species from French Guiana and a new combination from La Réunion.

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The phenotypic variation in Wittrockia cyathiformis (Bromeliaceae) is not significantly influenced by its different life forms but rather by the different forest types in which it grows.

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