Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Summary Macroptilium comprises approximately 20 species native to the Americas. Eleven of these have been recorded in Bolivia, representing all three currently recognised sections. This article describes an additional species for the country, Macroptilium chuquisacense . This new species is recorded from Chuquisaca and is currently represented by only two collections, which, morphologically, most closely resemble Macroptilium prostratum . It is primarily distinguished by its lanceolate leaflets with a sericeous indumentum, flowers approximately 6.5 mm long with petals described as lilac and sericeous floral bracts that exceed the length of the buds at the apex of the inflorescence. A detailed morphological description, illustrations, taxonomic notes, distributional data and an identification key to the Bolivian species of Macroptilium are provided.

Abstract Since the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), international frameworks have emphasized benefit-sharing and private-sector engagement in conservation, a call reinforced by the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022). Yet biodiversity continues to decline, highlighting the need for funding models that effectively link commerce with conservation. Here, we examine how the fragrance industry—a sector deeply dependent on plant diversity and cultural value chains—can contribute more meaningfully to global plant conservation. Drawing on international policy frameworks, published literature, and illustrative conservation–industry partnerships, we assess mechanisms through which fragrance-related initiatives support biodiversity protection, accountability, and culturally grounded conservation narratives. We then examine The Red List Project as a conservation-first model that integrates biodiversity objectives directly into fragranced product development, using scent inspiration rather than wild harvesting. We argue that scaling such approaches could reposition the fragrance industry as an active partner in safeguarding plant diversity, biocultural heritage, and equitable benefit-sharing.

Abstract The genus Sericanthe (Rubiaceae—tribe Coffeeae DC.) included, at the time of writing, 23 species in tropical Africa, with a centre of diversity in the Lower Guinea domain. In the present paper, a new species, Sericanthe owonoana Sonké, Cheek & O.Lachenaud sp. nov., is described and illustrated; it resembles S. auriculata (Keay) Robbr. in its densely parallel tertiary leaf veins, but differs by the acute to obtuse (vs. cordate to auriculate) leaf base, and smaller fruits, 1.2–1.5 cm long, with 1–2 seeds only [vs. (1.8–)3–6 cm long, with 2–5 seeds in each locule]. The new species is endemic to the highlands of western Cameroon and is assessed as Vulnerable following IUCN categories and criteria. The two varieties of Sericanthe testui (N.Hallé) Robbr. are here considered as separate species, hence the new combination S. pseudosalacia (N.Hallé) O.Lachenaud & Sonké comb. nov. Previous confusions are corrected, as a result of which the range of S. pseudosalacia and S. roseoides (De Wild. & T.Durand) Robbr. is extended to Cameroon and that of S. raynaliorum (N.Hallé) Robbr. to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sericanthe testui is no longer recorded from the latter country and S. rabia Sonké & Robbr. is now restricted to Gabon. New records of S. lowryana Sonké & Robbr. from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, of S. petitii (N.Hallé) Robbr. from Equatorial Guinea, and of S. roseoides from Gabon are also presented. As a result of these changes, Sericanthe currently includes 25 species, of which 13 (plus an imperfectly known one) occur in Lower Guinea. A new dichotomic key to the species from this area is also presented.

Neuropsychiatric disorders affect nearly one billion people worldwide, yet many existing psychopharmacological treatments are limited by adverse effects, drug interactions, and variable efficacy. Ethnopharmacological knowledge embedded in Indigenous health systems offers important perspectives for understanding mental and neurological distress and for informing future research on central nervous system (CNS)-active plants. Colombia, one of the world's most biodiverse countries, harbors a rich medicinal flora that is deeply embedded in Indigenous and rural cultural practices. This review synthesizes published ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and neuropharmacological literature on 42 Colombian plant species reported in Indigenous and local health systems to address conditions that may overlap with what biomedicine classifies as mental and neurological disorders. Within this review, traditional uses were analytically grouped into biomedical categories for comparative purposes, including psychoactive, stimulant, sedative, anxiolytic, and cognitive effects, while recognizing that these categories do not fully capture Indigenous epistemologies. Ayahuasca (locally called yagé) was the most frequently reported preparation, and Nicotiana tabacum, Erythroxylum coca, and Aloysia citrodora were the most commonly cited species. Leaves (38%), stems (14%), and roots (13%) were the most frequently used plant parts, most often prepared as decoctions (21%) and infusions (17%). Across the reviewed taxa, five lack phytochemical characterization, fourteen have demonstrated neuropharmacological activity in preclinical studies, and only seven have been examined in clinical contexts, underscoring substantial evidence gaps. Six species-Iochroma fuchsioides, Brunfelsia grandiflora, Souroubea corallina, Tabernaemontana heterophylla, Psidium guajava, and Dianthera pectoralis-emerged as recurrently cited across ethnobotanical and pharmacological sources, warranting further investigation. Overall, this review highlights both the potential and the limitations of existing evidence on Colombian plants, emphasizing the need for ethically grounded, collaborative research that respects Indigenous knowledge systems while advancing neuropharmacological understanding, cultural preservation, and biodiversity conservation.

Abstract The two native British oak species Quercus robur (pedunculate oak) and Q. petraea (sessile oak) are widespread and of ecological, cultural and economic value. Here we sequence whole genomic DNA of 418 individuals from 60 natural oak populations, most of which were previously monitored in a Forest Condition Survey that ran from 1987 to 2007 across Great Britain. Variant calling identifies 146,995,863 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 28,275,691 indels. Analysing population genetic structure at 7,112,139 biallelic SNPs, we find two groups, indicating that Q. robur is more common in the south and east of Britain, and Q. petraea in the north and west. The species distributions show niche differentiation in that Q. robur prefers warmer and more thermally variable environments with alkaline soils, while Q. petraea prefers rainy environments with more topographically complex terrain. We show extensive hybridisation and back-crossing between the two species. This is biased in favour of introgression from Q. robur into Q. petraea . By analysis of allele balance, we find five triploid trees among our samples, two belonging to each species and one being hybridised. We find little population genetic structure within species. Despite genome-wide introgression, we find islands of genomic differentiation between species, particularly in chromosome two. These differentiated regions contain 8,230 SNPs of which 2,005 are within gene annotations. We also show widespread chloroplast haplotype sharing between species. Between 1990 and 2019, mean stem growth was higher in Q. robur than in Q. petraea and hybrids, due to environmental factors. Triploids grew significantly faster than diploids even when environmental factors were accounted for.

Time-scaled phylogenetic trees summarising evolutionary relationships are fundamental to many analyses in biology, from diversification rate estimation to conservation prioritisation. The most comprehensive available summary of these relationships, the Open Tree of Life, synthesises information from over two thousand studies into a supertree covering the full range of global biodiversity, but its use in downstream analyses is limited by the lack of divergence times. Previous work has mapped dates from Open Tree's database of trees to certain nodes in the supertree, but for the majority of nodes no date is available. While algorithms exist to interpolate missing dates in a tree, we found that their time and memory requirements scaled quadratically with the number of nodes, which made it computationally infeasible to run them on the entire tree. In this work, we describe novel date interpolation algorithms that scale linearly with the number of nodes. These enabled us to produce a distribution of fully-dated trees containing 2.3 million extant described species, greatly expanding the scope of feasible phylogenetic analyses. We illustrate the utility of these trees by computing the most robust estimate yet of the phylogenetic diversity of the complete tree of life, incorporating both topological and temporal uncertainty.

Societal Impact Statement The global coffee industry, supporting 25 million smallholder farmers, is vulnerable to climate change. Diversifying the coffee species portfolio beyond Arabica and robusta is a promising intervention. Liberica coffee could provide adaptive capacity, although its climate parameters for cultivation are poorly known. This study pioneers climate niche analysis for cultivated Liberica, benchmarking it against its indigenous populations and Arabica coffee. Our analyses show that cultivated Liberica grows in warmer, wetter and less seasonal climates than its wild counterparts and exhibits distinct climate tolerances from Arabica. The results provide intelligence for integrating Liberica as a resource for a climate‐resilient coffee portfolio. Summary To secure the global coffee sector against climate change, diversification beyond the market‐dominant Arabica ( C. arabica ) and robusta ( C. canephora ) could become a critical adaptation strategy for many farmers. This contribution provides the first comprehensive analysis of the cultivated (fundamental) niche of Liberica ( C. liberica ) to identify optimal climate parameters and suitable locations for cultivation. Environmental niche profiling was applied to a global dataset of wild (realised) and cultivated (fundamental) occurrences to quantify climate parameters for this species. This was supported by a species distribution model (SDM) for Liberica in Upper West Africa and an in‐depth analysis of this coffee species in Malaysia, under current and future climate projections. Niche modelling for wild Arabica was used to provide a climate parameter benchmark for wild Liberica. Our research demonstrates that the cultivated climate niche of Liberica extends beyond its wild niche, enabling farming in warmer, wetter and less seasonal climates. Critically, the study reveals that some of the major cultivation areas, such as Sarawak (Malaysia), operate at the edge of the cultivated niche. These findings expand our understanding of key climate parameters for Liberica, providing a data‐driven guide for its integration into farming systems and breeding work. While confirming its promise as a climate‐resilient crop species, realising the potential of Liberica will require targeted research and development to overcome its known agronomic and processing challenges.

ABSTRACT Aim Orchids make up 8% of Madagascar's vascular plant species richness and are typically associated with the island's forests. Yet most of the island is covered by open ecosystems, long dismissed as degraded. This perception has contributed to their neglect, limiting our understanding of species ecology and hindering conservation action in this global biodiversity hotspot. Using orchids, we provide a novel understanding of plant diversity patterns across Madagascar's ecosystems. Location Madagascar. Methods We assessed the ecosystem attribution of the 884 orchid species of Madagascar among closed (forest) and open (grassy, marsh, rocky outcrop, scrub) ecosystems. We analysed the taxonomic composition, richness, environmental niche, geographic patterns, phenology, and collection patterns of orchids using a mix of herbarium, publication, and iNaturalist data. Results We find that 31% of Madagascar's orchid species occur in open ecosystems, with 17% restricted to them. These species match closed‐ecosystem species in degree of endemism to Madagascar (~85%) but are associated with higher elevations, fire, and pronounced precipitation seasonality, and are distributed particularly in the grassy Central Highlands, a region historically undervalued ecologically compared to humid forests. Temporally, open‐ecosystem specialist orchids exhibit strongly synchronous, brief wet‐season flowering, unlike the more diffuse flowering observed throughout the year in forests. Conclusions We reveal a distinct component of Madagascar's orchid flora, demonstrating that open‐ecosystem species represent high endemism and ecological specialisation, with implications for understanding biogeography and conservation planning across tropical landscapes. These results provide an evidence base for open ecosystem conservation and suggest that other taxa may also be under‐represented in our understanding of Madagascar's open‐ecosystem biodiversity. Re‐evaluating open ecosystems can uncover overlooked dimensions of species diversity and ecological function, informing more balanced conservation strategies across contrasting ecosystems.