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Fulltext Studies on Monstereae (Araceae) of Peninsular Malaysia I: Rhaphidophora megasperma, a new record for West Malaysia

Baharuddin Sulaiman, Boyce, Peter C.

Trop Life Sci Res, 2010;21(2):-.

MyJurnal

Rhaphidophora megasperma Engl., a species hitherto regarded as endemic to Sarawak, East Malaysia, is published as a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. It is the first species in the Rhaphidophora Spathacea group recorded for western Sunda. The species is illustrated and a key to the perforate-laminated Rhaphidophora in Peninsular Malaysia is presented.

Fulltext Studies on homalomeneae (araceae) of borneo v: a new species and new supergroup record, of homalomena from sabah, malaysian borneo

Sulaiman B, Boyce PC

Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Dec;21(2):85-90.

PMID: 24575201 MyJurnal

Homalomena galbana Baharuddin S. & P.C. Boyce is described from the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, representing the first species of the Homalomena Supergroup to be recorded from Sabah, and the first mesophytic species of the Supergroup to be described from Borneo. The species is illustrated and a brief discussion on the pollination role of interpistillar staminodes is presented.

Studies on Monstereae (Araceae) of Peninsular Malaysia I: Rhaphidophora megasperma, a New Record for West Malaysia

Sulaiman B, Boyce PC

Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Dec;21(2):1-6.

PMID: 24575195

Rhaphidophora megasperma Engl., a species hitherto regarded as endemic to Sarawak, East Malaysia, is published as a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. It is the first species in the Rhaphidophora Spathacea group recorded for western Sunda. The species is illustrated and a key to the perforate-laminated Rhaphidophora in Peninsular Malaysia is presented.

Fulltext A new Haniffia species (Zingiberaceae) and a new generic record from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Wong SY, Ooi IH, Boyce PC

Bot Stud, 2014 Dec;55(1):51.

PMID: 28510939 DOI: 10.1186/s40529-014-0051-9

BACKGROUND: Haniffia Holttum is a genus of three described species of terrestrial gingers hitherto restricted to Peninsular Thailand and various localities in Peninsular Malaysia.

RESULTS: With generic placement confirmed using nrITS, trn K and mat K plastid sequence data, Haniffia santubongensis S.Y. Wong & P.C. Boyce is described as a taxonomically novel species representing a new generic record for Borneo, to where it is endemic to Mount Santubong, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. An identification key to all species is given and H. santubongensis is illustrated from living plants.

CONCLUSION: Haniffia santubongensis is the fourth species of Haniffia so far described, and the first occurring on sandstone.

Novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the helophytic plant species Hanguana malayana (Jack) Merr. (Commelinales: Hanguanaceae)

Rahman SN, Mansor A, Boyce PC, Othman AS

J Genet, 2012;91(1):e15-7.

PMID: 22552339

Schismatoglottis and Apoballis (Araceae: Schismatoglottideae): A new example for the significance of pollen morphology in Araceae systematics

Ulrich S, Hesse M, Bröderbauer D, Wong SY, Boyce PC

Taxon, 2012 Apr 13;61(2):281-292.

PMID: 28904408

Pollen characters in Araceae accord well with recent DNA-based phylogenies, and here we provide a new example of "compass needle" quality in Araceae on the basis of two closely related genera, Schismatoglottis and Apoballis. All investigated Schismatoglottis pollen is psilate (smooth pollen surface) with calcium crystals covering the pollen surface. By contrast, pollen of species transferred to recently resurrected Apoballis (Apoballis acuminatissima and A. mutata) is distinctively echinate (spiny). A unique layer covers the endexine of Schismatoglottis, and the whole pollen surface of Apoballis. Our findings strongly suggest that "Schismatoglottis" species with echinate pollen fall into the genus Apoballis. Moreover, all schismatoglottid taxa perform spathe movements during anthesis to control the movement of pollinators. The spathe movements of Apoballis acuminatissima clearly differ from those known in Schismatoglottis species, and indeed are so far unique for the entire family. This, together with differences in floral odour is strongly suggestive of differences in pollination ecology between the genera Schismatoglottis and Apoballis.

Fulltext Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiosperms

Zuntini AR, Carruthers T, Maurin O, Bailey PC, Leempoel K, Brewer GE, et al.

Nature, 2024 May;629(8013):843-850.

PMID: 38658746 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07324-0

Angiosperms are the cornerstone of most terrestrial ecosystems and human livelihoods1,2. A robust understanding of angiosperm evolution is required to explain their rise to ecological dominance. So far, the angiosperm tree of life has been determined primarily by means of analyses of the plastid genome3,4. Many studies have drawn on this foundational work, such as classification and first insights into angiosperm diversification since their Mesozoic origins5-7. However, the limited and biased sampling of both taxa and genomes undermines confidence in the tree and its implications. Here, we build the tree of life for almost 8,000 (about 60%) angiosperm genera using a standardized set of 353 nuclear genes8. This 15-fold increase in genus-level sampling relative to comparable nuclear studies9 provides a critical test of earlier results and brings notable change to key groups, especially in rosids, while substantiating many previously predicted relationships. Scaling this tree to time using 200 fossils, we discovered that early angiosperm evolution was characterized by high gene tree conflict and explosive diversification, giving rise to more than 80% of extant angiosperm orders. Steady diversification ensued through the remaining Mesozoic Era until rates resurged in the Cenozoic Era, concurrent with decreasing global temperatures and tightly linked with gene tree conflict. Taken together, our extensive sampling combined with advanced phylogenomic methods shows the deep history and full complexity in the evolution of a megadiverse clade.

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