Real Jardín Botánico

Cities increasingly face the impacts of global change, demanding innovative approaches in species selection and management to create more adapted and resilient urban landscapes. The incorporation of native Mediterranean flora into planting design offers an opportunity for certain Mediterranean cities to achieve this by selecting species according to their ecological feasibility and aesthetic impression throughout the year. This study constitutes a first step towards understanding the germination behaviour of 16 native Iberian plant species, with potential for use in urban planting through direct seeding. Species were selected for their ecological feasibility in Mediterranean urban environments and to maximise functional diversity in growth forms, phenology, and other vegetative and reproductive traits, thereby supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Controlled germination trials were used to evaluate germination percentage and mean germination time of 16 species under temperature and light conditions that simulated autumn and spring, the main Mediterranean germination seasons, and spring-like conditions following cold stratification. The results revealed variability in seed germination among scenarios and species, indicating diverse and contrasting germination strategies. The majority of species achieved their highest final germination percentage under the autumn scenario. Germination speed was also strongly scenario-dependent, with several species completing germination within 10 days, and cold stratification reducing the mean germination time of the most responsive species. Based on these findings, a functional classification is proposed to guide the optimal sowing season. Although autumn appears to be the most favourable time for seed sowing, species-specific germination patterns must be considered to ensure successful establishment and the effective inclusion of each species in seed mixtures.

Understanding gene flow between ploidy levels in polyploid complexes is essential for species delimitation and conservation. This study explores evolutionary dynamics in the polyploid complex Thymus sect. Mastichina (Lamiaceae), comprising three taxa: T. mastichina subsp. mastichina, T. mastichina subsp. donyanae, and the endangered T. albicans. Using Hyb-Seq data, phylogenomics (nuclear orthologs), and population genomics (SNPs), we confirm the section consists of two sister groups with distinct ploidy levels: a diploid and a tetraploid one. The tetraploid group shows low genetic differentiation among its populations, probably indicating rapid expansion across diverse environments. In contrast, the diploid group exhibits more complex genetic structuring, potentially shaped by geomorphology, interploidy introgression, and incipient isolation. Four diploid subgroups (Algarve, Cádiz, Doñana, and Hercynian) are identified, with reticulate evolution. The dense reticulation observed is compatible with incomplete lineage sorting in diploid lineages due to recent and rapid divergence events. Phylogeographic analyses suggest isolation-by-distance, with two major riverbeds maybe playing a role in shaping genetic differentiation, while interploidy gene flow detected could have facilitated ancient and/or ongoing admixture between diploid and tetraploid lineages, despite geographic isolation. These findings highlight cryptic genetic diversity and emphasise the need for an integrative taxonomy that includes multiple lines of evidence: morphological, cytological, genomic, and ecological. Conservation efforts should prioritise protecting the four diploid subgroups, aided by flow cytometry, since they may harbour critical adaptive potential to both specific habitat types and/or environmental conditions. This work contributes to advancing our knowledge of evolution in polyploid complexes by combining genomic approaches and highlighting cryptic diversity in Thymus species. Future research should investigate morphometric and chemical data, hybridisation events, divergence times, diversification dynamics, and relationships with other Thymus species to further understand polyploid evolution and its impact on biodiversity.

El Bosque Las Mercedes es el último relicto de bosque de planicie en Bogotá, el cual, se ve afectado por la expansión urbanística y las actividades productivas, hasta el punto de interrumpir el flujo y corredor ecológico y dejarlo aislado de otros ecosistemas. Debido a su importancia ecológica, el Jardín Botánico de Bogotá inició, en 2011, un proceso de restauración en el bosque y, posteriormente, se incorporaron otras áreas, con el objetivo de lograr una conectividad funcional con el Humedal La Conejera. Para evaluar los efectos de este proceso, se llevó a cabo un estudio sobre las especies de aves que habitan las diferentes coberturas y que potencialmente actúan como dispersoras de semillas. Se utilizó el índice de calidad de hábitat (ICH), que se basa en la evaluación de un conjunto de atributos y variables requeridas por este grupo de fauna. Se seleccionaron cuatro coberturas, en cada una de las cuales, se establecieron tres transectos lineales y seis puntos de observación. Además, se realizaron grabaciones de audio en la mañana y la tarde. Se registraron 2.083 aves pertenecientes a 38 familias, 88 géneros y 145 especies. De estas, 66 son potenciales dispersoras de semillas, destacándose Zonotrichia capensis, Zenaida auriculata, Turdus fuscater e Icterus chrysater. Se concluye que la presencia de estas especies generalistas está relacionada, principalmente, con la oferta de alimento y refugio, y no tanto con la calidad del hábitat. Esto favorece el proceso de restauración y la conectividad ecológica, mediante el flujo de semillas entre las áreas cercanas.

Croton is a predominantly woody pantropical genus that exhibits the so-called ‘Odd Man Out’ pattern, with Africa having the lowest species diversity across the tropics. Previous phylogenetic analyses have shown that all the Old World species of Croton sampled so far form a single clade nested within a New World backbone. Here we focus on a taxonomically challenging group of African Croton characterized by the presence of lepidote indument. Species delimitation within this group has proven difficult due to the lack of strong morphological differentiation and the incompleteness of numerous herbarium specimens from tropical Africa. We sequenced two universal genetic regions (ITS, trnL-F) using multiple accessions per species/morphospecies based on herbarium material to provide a preliminary phylogenetic framework to guide the lineage sampling for a broader phylogenomic study targeting this group and the rest of all African Croton. We also used these molecular data, along with information on geographic occurrences, to aid in the identification of poor, immature or infertile specimens and to detect possible instances of taxonomic misidentification in herbarium collections. Our results show that African lepidote species belong to several separate clades, one of them containing the majority of the lepidote species. Phylogenetic resolution within this largest lepidote clade is low, but several highly supported subclades were recovered. The sampling of these subclades should be considered in any future study aimed at reconstructing a phylogenetic tree of African Croton using phylogenomics.

This study was carried out to show variation in soil nutrients under the different land use types of the upper catchment area of Narmada River Amarkantak in Central India. The soil sample was collected from 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm using a soil auger and under six land use types. The land use were dense mixed forest, sal mixed forest, mixed forest, open land, rangeland and agriculture land. A total of 60 composite samples were obtained (6 land use types x 5 quadrates x 2 depths) and analysed for pH, EC, N, P, K and SOC. The results revealed that the average pH ranged from 5.75±0.15 to 6.79±0.58, average EC values ranged from 0.13±0.03 to 0.31±0.08 dS m-1 statistically significant in different land use types. The average nitrogen ranged from 115.83±22.74 to 523.75±161.54 kg ha-1. The average nitrogen was highest measured in dense mixed forest and lowest was in open land. The average potassium content varied from 240.97±31.20 to 474.56±90.69 kg ha-1. The highest potassium was observed in dense mixed forests and the lowest was in open land. The average phosphorus contents were lies from 6.77±1.50 to 23.03±9.42 kg ha-1. The maximum average P was measured in dense mixed forest and the minimum was in open land. The average SOC and SOM varied from 0.58±0.35 to 2.38±0.70% and 0.99±0.61 to 4.11±1.21%, respectively. The highest SOC and SOM were recorded in mixed forest and the lowest was recorded in open land. The highly positive correlation was observed between nitrogen to phosphorus, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value was 0.96, 0.96, 0.91 and 0.91, respectively. The phosphorus was showing highly positive correlation with nitrogen, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value was 0.96, 0.94, 0.93 and 0.93, respectively. The soil organic carbon and soil organic matter was statistically positive correlation was performed of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with R2 value 0.91, 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. The electrical conductivity was negatively correlation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value -0.39, -0.32, -0.34, -0.17 and -0.17, respectively. The present study indicated that the soil nutrient (NPK) contents were statistically significant relation to different land use types. The soil nutrient was highest in forest vegetation as compared to agricultural land, rangeland, and open land due to the forest area’s large no. of plant vegetation are present and higher litter decomposition rate.

La cestería tradicional de Andalucía (España), de origen milenario y basada en el manejo de una riquísima flora, entró en declive acelerado al comenzar el siglo XXI y está poco documentada científicamente en sus materias primas. Con el objetivo de identificar las especies vegetales, los métodos de obtención de materias primas para cestería y sus aplicaciones antes de desaparecer, se desarrolló una investigación entre 2000 y 2020. Tuvo lugar en 30 áreas naturales de Andalucía con entrevistas etnobotánicas, salidas de campo, observaciones, aprendizaje participativo, toma de muestras e identificación de materias primas para cestería. Se tomaron datos cuantitativos del uso de objetos y su fabricación. La identificación de las especies utilizadas por los informantes generó un catálogo de plantas vasculares que constituye la primera Etnoflora cestera de Andalucía vigente hasta 2020. Está integrada por 115 taxa pertenecientes a 87 géneros y 40 familias. Poaceae es la familia con más especies cesteras, referencias de uso y diversidad de aplicaciones. La información obtenida sobre materias primas y sus 26 categorías de uso específicas para cestería citadas por los informantes en distintas áreas es clave para frenar la erosión de conocimientos tradicionales. El estudio científico y sistemático de la cestería andaluza ha frenado la pérdida de saberes de especies. Perduran a duras penas conocimientos de cestería fuertemente arraigados y ligados a las características naturales del territorio y a la diversidad de su flora. Se plantea la importancia de la Etnobotánica aplicada a las actividades de cestería como una nueva forma de transmisión intergeneracional.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins involved in plant defense and have been widely explored for their insecticidal properties. While most lectins studied to date target pests from the orders Homoptera and Hemiptera, few are effective against Lepidoptera. This group includes highly destructive agricultural pests such as Spodoptera frugiperda. In this study, we report the purification and characterization of a novel Glc/Man-specific lectin, GLL-I, from the seeds of Galactia lindenii, an endemic Colombian legume. GLL-I was purified using ion exchange and affinity chromatography, and SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, and mass spectrometry confirmed its identity. Structural analysis revealed a canonical legume lectin fold with high sequence similarity to ConA lectin. Functional assays demonstrated that GLL-I exhibits dual effects on CF203 insect cells derived from S. frugiperda, promoting proliferation at a low concentration (0.03 μM) and inducing cytotoxicity at a higher concentration (10 μM). Histochemical analyses confirmed the binding of biotinylated GLL-I to the midgut of S. frugiperda larvae. These findings suggest that GLL-I differs from previously characterized lectins in its origin and target specificity. It highlights its potential as a novel bioinsecticidal agent for controlling lepidopteran pests affecting key crops such as maize.

Plant growth forms reflect the environmental conditions under which they evolved and persist. Yet, previous studies linking environmental conditions with plant growth form have overlooked that different growth form types arose through distinct evolutionary pathways. For instance, some woody angiosperm lineages evolved woodiness from a herbaceous ancestor, whereas others have retained their woodiness throughout evolutionary history. The Canary Islands are a global hotspot of insular woodiness (woodiness trait evolved on the islands from herbaceous colonisers), raising the question of whether insular woody species generally occur in different environmental conditions than other growth forms on the islands. Here, we use a novel pipeline to extract, filter, and analyse publicly available spatial data to identify the environmental correlates of plant growth forms in the angiosperm flora of the Canary Islands, accounting for their distinct evolutionary histories as well as differences in life span. To assess whether and how five growth forms (annual herbaceous, perennial herbaceous, ancestral woodiness, derived woodiness, and insular woodiness) differ in environmental niche space, we applied a phylogenetic principal component analysis to a dataset of ~1,000 native Canary Island angiosperm species. We show the herbaceous and woody growth forms have an unexpectedly high overlap in niche space. The subtle differences are explained mostly by climatic seasonality (in both temperature and precipitation) and topographic complexity. We use phylogenetic ANOVAs to identify significant pairwise differences between the five growth forms, and find significant differentiation between five environmental variables, with differences between a combined woody and a combined herbaceous niche, and between the different evolutionary histories across the woody growth forms. Through our approach, the collection and analysis of publicly available spatial and environmental data can be automated, facilitating research into the environmental niche.

Euphorbia subgenus Esula is one of four main lineages within the megadiverse angiosperm genus Euphorbia. It comprises 490 species, including herbs, shrubs, dendroid shrubs, and succulents. The subgenus is a northern temperate lineage, most diverse in the Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean regions. We assembled the largest taxon sampling of subg. Esula to date (321 spp.), using DNA sequences from nuclear ITS and plastid ndhF regions, and updated previous phylogenetic analyses and sectional classification of the group. We used Bayesian methods to estimate divergence times and reconstruct ancestral ranges, characterising the tempo and mode of lineage diversification that shaped the present distribution and extant diversity of the subgenus. We tested whether changes in life-history (annual vs. perennial) played a role in the diversification and current elevational distribution of subg. Esula. Our results show that subg. Esula diverged from its sister clade in the Mid-Eocene and started to diversify in the Late Eocene. The Western Palearctic was inferred to be the ancestral area of the subgenus, where the first diversification events began 41 Mya. Expansion to other continents was dated as occurring in the last 10 million years. This coincided with an increase in the diversification rate and with clade-specific rate shifts coupled with changes from annual to perennial life-histories. We found a positive correlation between perenniality and high elevations. These results support that the recent rapid diversification of subg. Esula could be associated with an evolutionary shift to perenniality, allowing colonisation of montane habitats and global range expansion beyond the Western Palearctic.