@article{BeenkenSaingeKocyan2016, author = {Beenken, Ludwig and Sainge, Moses N. and Kocyan, Alexander}, title = {Lactarius megalopterus, a new angiocarpous species from a tropical rainforest in Central Africa, shows adaptations to endozoochorous spore dispersal}, series = {Mycological progress : international journal of the German Mycological Society}, volume = {15}, journal = {Mycological progress : international journal of the German Mycological Society}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {1617-416X}, doi = {10.1007/s11557-016-1198-4}, pages = {158 -- 173}, year = {2016}, abstract = {A new sequestrate Lactarius species was found in a humid evergreen tropical rainforest dominated by Fabaceae of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae in Cameroon, Central Africa. It is described here as new to science and is named Lactarius megalopterus, referring to its spore ornamentation of extraordinarily high wings. Anatomical characters and molecular systematic analyses confirm its relationship to Lactarius subgenus Plinthogali. Phylogenetic analyses based on two nuclear DNA regions revealed its close relationship to Lactarius angiocarpus, which is also an angiocarpous species from Zambia in Africa. Molecular studies have shown that tuber-like, sequestrate sporocarps evolved independently in several lineages of Basidiomycota. The findings of sequestrate fungi in tropical rainforests raise questions regarding the evolutionary benefit of enclosing the spore-producing hymenium. The enclosure of spore-producing tissue has often been associated with the protection of the delicate hymenium against desiccation in arid habitats or against frost in cold habitats. However, these cannot be the selective factors in warm and humid areas like the tropics. This controversy is exemplarily studied and discussed in the family of Russulaceae, especially in the genus Lactarius. Characters shown by the angiocarpous sporocarp of the new Lactarius, such as thick-walled statismospores, an aromatic smell and mild taste, can be interpreted as adaptations to endozoochorous spore dispersal by mammals. Therefore, here we prefer the alternative hypothesis that sequestrate sporocarps are the result of adaptation to endozoochorous spore dispersal.}, language = {en} } @article{GardinerKocyanMotesetal.2013, author = {Gardiner, Lauren M. and Kocyan, Alexander and Motes, Martin and Roberts, David L. and Emerson, Brent C.}, title = {Molecular phylogenetics of Vanda and related genera (Orchidaceae)}, series = {Botanical journal of the Linnean Society}, volume = {173}, journal = {Botanical journal of the Linnean Society}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0024-4074}, doi = {10.1111/boj.12102}, pages = {549 -- 572}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The genus Vanda and its affiliated taxa are a diverse group of horticulturally important species of orchids occurring mainly in South-East Asia, for which generic limits are poorly defined. Here, we present a molecular study using sequence data from three plastid DNA regions. It is shown that Vanda s.l. forms a clade containing approximately 73 species, including the previously accepted genera Ascocentrum, Euanthe, Christensonia, Neofinetia and Trudelia, and the species Aerides flabellata. Resolution of the phylogenetic relationships of species in Vanda s.l. is relatively poor, but existing morphological classifications for Vanda are incongruent with the results produced. Some novel species relationships are revealed, and a new morphological sectional classification is proposed based on support for these groupings and corresponding morphological characters shared by taxa and their geographical distributions. The putative occurrence of multiple pollination syndromes in this group of taxa, combined with complex biogeographical history of the South-East Asian region, is discussed in the context of these results.(c) 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 173, 549-572.}, language = {en} } @article{GeigerKocyan2018, author = {Geiger, Daniel L. and Kocyan, Alexander}, title = {Studies on Oberonia 3. Aberrant flowers and other floral modifications in the orchid genus Oberonia}, series = {Nordic Journal of botany}, volume = {36}, journal = {Nordic Journal of botany}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0107-055X}, doi = {10.1111/njb.01699}, pages = {8}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Orchid flowers are amongst the most conspicuous attractions that plants have generated over evolutionary epochs. However, organ homology in particular of androecium and gynoecium of orchid flowers have been, and are still, the subject of long-term discussion. Studies of aberrant - teratologic - flowers have traditionally helped to clarify organ identity in orchids. We here present for the first time teratological flowers within the florally smallest and inconspicuous orchid genus Oberonia and illustrate them by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pseudopeloria with half of a lateral petal transformed into a lip was found in O. costeriana J.J.Sm. and O. mucronata (D.Don) Ormerod \& Seidenf. A supernumerary lip is known from O. mucronata. Oberonia rufilabris Lindl. is documented with multiple aberrations: triple gynostemium and a total of 10 tepals, twin flowers, and duplicate lips. We interpret these aberrations in light of known floral developmental and organ identity information.}, language = {en} } @article{HilongaOtienoGhorbanietal.2018, author = {Hilonga, S. and Otieno, Joseph N. and Ghorbani, Abdolbaset and Pereus, D. and Kocyan, Alexander and de Boer, H.}, title = {Trade of wild-harvested medicinal plant species in local markets of Tanzania and its implications for conservation}, series = {South African journal of botany : an international interdisciplinary journal for botanical sciences}, volume = {122}, journal = {South African journal of botany : an international interdisciplinary journal for botanical sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0254-6299}, doi = {10.1016/j.sajb.2018.08.012}, pages = {214 -- 224}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In Tanzania, about 10\% of the reported 12,000 species of higher plants are estimated to be used as medicine for treating different human health problems. Most of the medicinal plants are collected from wild populations, but their trade and quantities are not properly recorded. Monitoring of trade in wild-harvested medicinal plants is challenging asmostmaterials are traded in various processed forms and most vendors practice informal trade. Yet, monitoring is important for conservation and sustainability. This study aims to assess the trade of wild-harvested medicinal plant species in local markets of Tanzania and its implications for conservation. Semi-structured interviews were used to record frequency, volume of trade and uses of wild-harvested medicinal plants in Arusha, Dodoma, Mbeya, Morogoro and Mwanza regions. Relative frequency of citation and informant consensus factor were calculated for each species and mentioned use category. Forty vendors were interviewed, and 400 out of 522 collected market samples were identified to 162 species from herbarium-deposited collections. Plant parts with the largest volume of trade were roots (3818 kg), bark (1163 kg) and leaves (492 kg). The most frequently traded species were Zanthoxylum chalybaeum Engl., Albizia anthelmintica Brongn., Zanha africana (Radlk.) Exell, Warburgia stuhlmannii and Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H. Hurter \& Mabb. The most popular medicinal plants in the markets are connected to local health problems including malaria, libido disorders or infertility. The high diversity of commercialized plants used for medicinal issues mainly relies on wild stock for local consumption and international trade, and this has significant implications for conservation concerns. (C) 2018 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kocyan2014, author = {Kocyan, Alexander}, title = {Evolution within the speciose plant group of asparagales}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{KocyanSchuiteman2014, author = {Kocyan, Alexander and Schuiteman, Andre}, title = {New combinations in Aeridinae (Orchidaceae)}, series = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, volume = {161}, journal = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, number = {1}, publisher = {Magnolia Press}, address = {Auckland}, issn = {1179-3155}, pages = {61 -- 85}, year = {2014}, abstract = {New combinations are made in the genera Arachnis, Brachypeza, Dimorphorchis, Grosourdya, Phalaenopsis, Renanthera, Robiquetia, Taeniophyllum, Thrixspermum, Trachoma and Trichoglottis. Two new subgenera are established in Phalaenopsis (subgen. Ornithochilus and Hygrochilus). These changes are proposed to begin aligning the genera recognized in subtribe Aeridinae with results of recent DNA analyses ( published elsewhere).}, language = {en} } @article{KocyanSnijmanForestetal.2011, author = {Kocyan, Alexander and Snijman, Deirdre A. and Forest, Felix and Devey, Dion S. and Freudenstein, John V. and Wiland-Szymanska, Justyna and Chase, Mark W. and Rudall, Paula J.}, title = {Molecular phylogenetics of Hypoxidaceae - Evidence from plastid DNA data and inferences on morphology and biogeography}, series = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {60}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {1055-7903}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2011.02.021}, pages = {122 -- 136}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Phylogenetic relationships of the monocot family Hypoxidaceae (Asparagales), which occurs mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, were reconstructed using four plastid DNA regions (rbcL, trnL intron, trnL-F intergenic spacer, and trnS-G intergenic spacer) for 56 ingroup taxa including all currently accepted genera and seven species of the closely related families Asteliaceae, Blandfordiaceae, and Lanariaceae. Data were analyzed by applying parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The intergenic spacer trnS-G - only rarely used in monocot research - contributed a substantial number of potentially parsimony informative characters. Hypoxidaceae consist of three well-supported major clades, but their interrelationships remain unresolved. Our data indicate that in the Pauridia clade one long-distance dispersal event occurred from southern Africa to Australia. Long-distance dispersal scenarios may also be likely for the current distribution of Hypoxis, which occurs on four continents. In the Curculigo clade, the present distribution of Curculigo s.s. on four continents could support a Gondwanan origin, but the level of divergence is too low for this hypothesis to be likely. The main clades correspond well with some floral characters, habit and palynological data, whereas chromosomal data exhibit plasticity and probably result from polyploidization and subsequent dysploidy and/or aneuploidy. Evolutionary flexibility is also suggested by the number of reported pollination syndromes: melittophily, myophily, sapromyophily, and cantharophily. Based on our phylogenetic results, we suggest cautious nomenclatural reorganization to generate monophyly at the generic level.}, language = {en} } @misc{KocyanWilandSzymanska2017, author = {Kocyan, Alexander and Wiland-Szymanska, Justyna}, title = {A new name and a new combination for Friedmannia nom. illeg. (Hypoxidaceae)}, series = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, volume = {291}, journal = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, number = {3}, publisher = {Magnolia Press}, address = {Auckland}, issn = {1179-3155}, doi = {10.11646/phytotaxa.291.3.10}, pages = {239 -- 239}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Recently, Kocyan \& Wiland-Szymańska (2016) have published a thorough research article on one of the outstanding members of the family Hypoxidaceae on the Seychelles, which resulted in the raise of a new genus (Friedmannia Kocyan \& Wiland-Szymańska 2016: 60) to accommodate the former Curculigo seychellensis Bojer ex Baker (1877: 368). However, it has turned out that the name Friedmannia Chantanachat \& Bold (1962: 45) already exists in literature for a green alga, which renders the new hypoxid genus illegitimate (Melbourne Code; McNeill et al. 2012). Therefore, we assign a new generic epithet to Curculigo seychellensis.}, language = {en} } @article{KocyanWilandSzymanska2016, author = {Kocyan, Alexander and Wiland-Szymanska, Justyna}, title = {Friedmannia: a new genus from the Seychelles and the beginning of a generic realignment of Curculigo (Hypoxidaceae)}, series = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, volume = {283}, journal = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, publisher = {Magnolia Press}, address = {Auckland}, issn = {1179-3155}, doi = {10.11646/phytotaxa.283.1.3}, pages = {54 -- 64}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Recent molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of the monocot Hypoxidaceae implies that the genus Curculigo is non-monophyletic. Curculigo seychellensis occurs on the Seychelles islands and is part of an isolated though geographically well-defined clade. However, Curculigo seychellensis differs in a wide range of character-states from other species of Curculigo and from the genus Hypoxidia, representing the sister clade of C. seychellensis. Therefore, we here propose a new-though monotypic-genus, endemic to the Seychelles: Friedmannia. A detailed reasoning combined with a whole set of new data is presented. A neotype for the genus and the species is designated here.}, language = {en} } @article{KumarGaleKocyanetal.2014, author = {Kumar, Pankaj and Gale, Stephan W. and Kocyan, Alexander and Fischer, Gunter A. and Averyanov, Leonid and Borosova, Renata and Bhattacharjee, Avishek and Li, Ji-Hong and Pang, Kuen Shum}, title = {Gastrochilus kadooriei (Orchidaceae), a new species from Hong Kong, with notes on allied taxa in section Microphyllae found in the region}, series = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, volume = {164}, journal = {Phytotaxa : a rapid international journal for accelerating the publication of botanical taxonomy}, number = {2}, publisher = {Magnolia Press}, address = {Auckland}, issn = {1179-3155}, pages = {91 -- 103}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A new species, Gastrochilus kadooriei, is described from Hong Kong. Notes are presented on its distribution, ecology and conservation status, and its distinguishing features are compared with those of allied taxa. Gastrochilus jeitouensis is reduced to the synonymy of G. distichus, and a lectotype is assigned for G. pseudodistichus. Gastrochilus fuscopunctatus is reinstated as an accepted species. Dichotomous keys to this taxonomically difficult group of morphologically similar species are presented.}, language = {en} }