Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) is a large, isolated mountain on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Its isolation has led to high diversity and endemism in its fauna; however, knowledge of the mountain’s floristics remains limited. Here, we aim to better characterize the flora of the SNSM above 1700 m.s.m. Using occurrence records and a literature review, we compile a list of all known seed plants endemic to the SNSM montane flora and perform biogeographical analyses to compare the cloud forest and páramo floras of the SNSM to those of surrounding mountain ranges in the northern Andes and Central America. We first compared broad patterns in collection efforts and species diversity across mountain ranges. We then analyzed the elevational limits of plant species on the SNSM and surrounding mountain ranges to test for the Massenerhebung effect (i.e., the phenomenon that species have higher elevational limits on large mountains rather than small mountains). Finally, we performed a cluster analysis to explore compositional similarities among floras. We identified 164 plant species that are endemic to the SNSM and that occur above 1700 m.s.m., the largest list of SNSM endemics to date. Overall, the SNSM has lower plant diversity than surrounding mountain ranges but also much lower collection effort, indicating a need for continued botanical exploration of the mountain. Our analysis supported the Massenerhebung effect, with the SNSM showing lower elevational limits when compared to larger mountain ranges. The cloud forest and páramo floras of the SNSM were most similar to those of the Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuela. Our results highlight the importance of increasing efforts to explore and conserve the SNSM’s unique flora.

Abstract The armored scale insect Diaspis boisduvalii (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) has been observed affecting horticulturally grown and wild plants worldwide including orchids. Gaining an understanding of the diet breadth and infestation level of such herbivores on threatened wild orchid populations can raise awareness of their impacts and better guide conservation management. In 2022, we surveyed orchid-dense regions at the Everglades National Park (ENP), Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP), and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) in Florida, USA. All orchid species within the surveyed areas were identified, inspected, and individual plants were given a score of D. boisduvalii relative abundance. Six of the 23 orchid species (Orchidaceae) inspected were infested with the scale. These were Bletia purpurea (Lamarck) A.DC. (17 % of surveyed individuals infested), Cyrtopodium punctatum (L.) Lindley (15.8 %), Dendrophylax lindenii (Lindl.) Benth. ex Rolfe (1.8 %), Encyclia tampensis (Lindley) Small (14 %), Prosthechea boothiana (Lindl.) W.E. Higgins (20 %), and Prosthechea cochleate (L.) W.E. Higgins (0.3 %). All affected species except E. tampensis were of endangered or threatened species status in Florida. Overall, the scale infested a greater percentage of orchids in the ENP than that in BCNP and FSPSP. We speculate that the Boisduval scale is most likely an introduced species, a hypothesis supported by historical specimen records. However, the presence of cryptic species could render these historical data misleading. Native origin and impact of D. boisduvalii on wild populations need further research to understand fully. This is one of very few studies of the ecology of an armored scale insect species in a natural environment.

Abstract Extreme heat events are becoming increasingly common, and the short‐term acclimation of photosynthesis will have a large impact on plant performance. Trees in lowland tropical forests, which are hypothesized to have limited abilities to tolerate rising temperatures, may need to rely on short‐term acclimation of their more plastic traits, like photosynthetic thermal tolerance, to persist in the face of increasingly variable climates. Here, we investigated seasonal acclimation of thermal tolerances in plant species of the moist Amazon. Specifically, we measured the photosynthetic thermal tolerances of six common woody Amazonian species at the beginning and at the end of the dry season to determine the species' abilities to acclimate to intra‐annual changes to climate. In addition, we used the natural thermal gradient present at our research site to test the acclimation of individual plants to maximum air temperatures not currently observed elsewhere in the moist lowland Amazon (up to ~43°C). Between seasons, there were significant overall increases in the thermal tolerances of three species (i.e. higher thermal tolerances in the hotter dry season), suggesting that leaf megathermy is prominent in these species. Also, three species acclimated their thermal tolerances to microsite‐level differences in seasonal temperature maxima, suggesting closer fidelity between leaf and air temperatures (i.e. limited homeothermy) for these species. Our results show that some woody species from the moist Amazon can acclimate their thermal tolerances over short time‐scales, although acclimation is likely insufficient to overcome thermal stress during extreme temperature events. Some species may therefore be more sensitive to heatwaves than others, which could impact survival and composition of tropical lowland forests into the future. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Abstract Prosthechea cochleata or clamshell orchid is recognized as a species of both conservation and commercial importance. It has long been prized by orchid breeders and growers for its unique flower and hardy disposition. The commercial market has failed to meet the demand for this species since it is still targeted for illegal collection in the wild. This study examines the effectiveness of the banana powder on two variants (var. diandra and var. triandra) with disparate home ranges and levels of genetic diversity using two commercially available agar-based media (PhytoTechnology P668 and P748). Undifferentiated protocorms of the two variants were monitored for shoot growth and differentiation across a period of 156 days. Banana powder supplement (P748) was more effective in initiating shoot formation in both variants compared to control media (P668) (F = 65.11, p < 0.001, df = 81). The diandrous variant grown with banana showed the highest mean shoot count (98.17 shoots/flask) at the end of the monitoring period. Results suggest that banana supplement is an effective source of plant growth regulators and organic nutrients necessary to promote shoot formation and seedling development in this species. This research is important for the conservation of P. cochleata as it identifies an effective and cost-efficient method for micropropagation, which can aid in increasing the wild populations of this species. Additionally, the findings have implications for commercial orchid production, as it can potentially improve the cultivation and yield of this species for economic purposes.

The cycad species known in cultivation since the 1970s as Ceratozamia sp. ‘Presa Alemán’ was only recently described, as both C. aurantiaca Pérez-Farr., Gut.Ortega, J.L.Haynes & Vovides and C. martinezii Mart.-Domínguez, Nic.-Mor. & D.W. Stev. Because the two formal descriptions contain somewhat contradictory diagnoses, it became necessary to critically evaluate the two taxonomic treatments and clarify the discrepancies between them to allow for a clearer understanding of the species. A revised taxonomic treatment is herein provided, along with a proposal to formally synonymize C. martinezii under C. aurantiaca.

Brother Marie-Victorin was the founder of the Montreal Botanical Garden, and one of the most important figures in the botanical history of Canada. Between 1938 and 1944, he undertook seven major plant exploration expeditions to Cuba that resulted in the discovery of several new Cuban endemics. Archival research carried out in the Division de la Gestion de Documents et des Archives (University of Montreal) revealed that during his voyages to Cuba, he made three major side-trips in 1940, 1941, and 1942 to other regions of the Caribbean. Specifically to Barranquilla (Colombia), Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Yucatan (Mexico). We could not find any of his written accounts of his 1940 voyage to the Yucatan; however, we were able to find a collection of photographic slides. An unpublished 33-page travelogue of his 1941 trip to Colombia, Jamaica, and Trinidad was discovered, studied, and translated into English, with annotations. Furthermore, we examined and interpreted two of his published papers that described the 1942 visits to Haiti and Puerto Rico. During these three “out-of-Cuba” voyages, no plant material was collected; however, Brother Marie-Victorin's written accounts and the 502 photos that he took provide unique insights into Caribbean society of the 1940s, as well as on the naturalists and botanists working in the region, and the plants and habitats they encountered. Brother Marie-Victorin's records highlight racial discrimination against those of African descent in Jamaica and Trinidad. It appears that these trips did not lead to major botanical research initiatives. Furthermore, the few collections that he made for potential propagation in botanic gardens or botanical institutes are not currently being grown any longer. The trips had clear leisure aims and they were centered on learning about the society, the flora, and plant science research activities of the visited areas.

Florida is home to 106 native orchid species, of which 77 are listed as endangered or threatened by the State of Florida. The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) has classified 62 of these species as either critically imperiled, imperiled, or rare in South Florida. Because of lack of endosperm, orchid germination rates are very low in nature, as they depend on an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungi for nutrients. Most orchid seeds can be germinated in vitro without the need for specific mycorrhizal fungi. This study aims are to establish a fast and efficient protocol for in vitro seed germination using different nutrient media and plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations, and to optimize seedling acclimatization protocols using different greenhouse media. To determine germination preferences, three different in vitro seed germination media were tested supplemented with PGRs, including 1) Murashige & Skoog (MS) (control), 2) MS supplemented with 1.5 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and 3) MS supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on Cyrtopodium punctatum, a state-listed endangered, IRC critically imperiled epiphytic orchid. There was no significant difference amongst the treatments after 2 and 6 weeks of seed sowing culture. To understand post-culture survivorship, two epiphytic and one terrestrial native species ( Trichocentrum undulatum, Encyclia tampensis, and Oncidium ensatum ) were chosen for the acclimatization study with two commercially available potting substrates (coir, sphagnum). To measure seedling growth rates, phenotypic measurements [leaf number, leaf length, root length, plantlet height, light intensity, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC)] and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values were recorded monthly for five months. All media/PGR combinations resulted in an initial high percentage of stage I growth but inhibited Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) development, suggesting more research is necessary to determine later improvements or detriments to MS basal media with BAP and NAA. Comparing acclimatization media with the three species of orchid chosen for this experiment, neither O. ensatum nor E. tampensis showed a marked preference for sphagnum moss or coir. However, T. undulatum did perform better with coir compared with sphagnum. This research will help botanical gardens and commercial plant tissue culture laboratories to have a better understanding on selection of PGR combinations for in vitro cell culture and acclimatization media on increasing the viability and plant health and decreasing the mortality of endangered plants.

Simple SummaryLauraceae, as an angiosperm group with high ecological and economic value, has been widely studied. With the development of science and technology, the research of Lauraceae has changed from morphology to molecular systematics. Our paper reviewed the molecular phylogeny of Lauraceae in recent years. From the aspects of gene fragments, chloroplast genome and DNA barcodes, we mainly discussed the establishment of Cinnamomeae in the ‘Core Lauraceae’ and the tribal controversial genera (Actinodaphne, Sassafras, Caryodaphnopsis, Neocinnamomum and Cassytha). We think that the whole genome and inflorescence characteristics are the breakthrough to solve the tribal problem of Lauraceae. Using reliable molecular and morphological evidence to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Lauraceae will provide an important theoretical basis for the rational utilization of Lauraceae resources, the development of potential resources and the protection of rare plants.Lauraceae is a large family of woody plants with high ecological and economic value. The tribal and generic division and phylogenetic relationship of Lauraceae have long been controversial. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, phylogenetic relationships within the Cinnamomeae, Laureae and Perseeae tribes, also called ‘the Core Lauraceae’, have arisen particular attention. In this review, we comprehensively collated the literatures on the phylogeny of Lauraceae published in recent years and summarized progress made in molecular systematic researches employing gene fragments, chloroplast genomes and DNA barcodings analyses. We clarified the phylogenetic relationships and main controversies of ‘the Core Lauraceae’, the systemic position of fuzzy genera (Neocinnamomum, Caryodaphnopsis and Cassytha) and the development of chloroplast genome and DNA barcodes. We further suggested and proposed the whole genome analysis and different inflorescence types would be possible to provide more information for further research on phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of Lauraceae.

This is the first record of Eleocharis mutata in Florida, and the second record in the continental USA, suggesting a potential natural range expansion of this species from the Caribbean region. A key to species of Eleocharis subg. Limnochloa in Florida is included, along with a site description of the occurrence, visual aids for identification, and a brief discussion of nativity.