The Allium subgenus Amerallium Traub encompasses a diverse and ancient lineage of approximately 140 species distributed disjunctly across the Mediterranean Basin, North America, and Western Asia. Phylogenetic and cytogenetic evidence supports its origin in the Old World, with North American taxa sharing a conserved base chromosome number (x = 7), unlike the broader variation observed in Old World taxa (x = 7–11). Despite its evolutionary significance, the North African representatives of this subgenus remain insufficiently studied, and their taxonomic boundaries are often unclear. This study focuses on elucidating the chromosomal diversity and phylogenetic structure of Amerallium species in Algeria, with the aim of clarifying species delimitations and identifying key evolutionary processes. A total of 80 wild populations belonging to six taxa (A. subhirsutum, A. subvillosum, A. roseum, A. odoratissimum, A. triquetrum, and A. chamaemoly) were sampled along an environmental gradient from coastal to arid regions in northern Algeria. Karyotype analyses uncovered a high degree of variation, with six distinct cytotypes (2n = 14, 16, 18, 22, 28, 32) corresponding to four basic chromosome numbers (x = 7, 8, 9, 11). Polyploid forms were limited to x = 7 and x = 8. Significant disparities in karyotype asymmetry indices were detected, particularly among polyploids. Molecular phylogenies based on ITS rDNA and chloroplast sequences (trnL–trnF, trnD–trnT) resolved a distinct North African clade, clearly separated from other Old and New World lineages. These findings emphasize the unique evolutionary trajectory of North African Allium species and underscore the role of chromosomal dynamics, particularly polyploidy and dysploidy, in their diversification. Further genomic investigations are needed to fully understand the origins and complexity of this lineage.

Abstract

Introduction: Orchidaceae is one of the largest groups of angiospermic plants with worldwide distribution, except in hot deserts and cool polar regions, and it is found in three different habitats: i. Saprophytic, ii. Terrestrial and iii. Epiphytic.

Method: A selective and periodical field survey was conducted covering the entire area of West Bengal. Because orchids bloom throughout almost the entire region, specimen collection was performed and photographs were taken in habitats as well as drawing and dissection, mounting and herbarium preparation and identification.

Result: Our findings related to their diversity, endemic nature, new records, new species, new varieties, etc.

Conclusion: Entire orchidaceae families face extreme threats in nature. Therefore, in situ conservation is emphasized.

During a field survey for the orchid flora of West Bengal, the author collected blooming orchid species from Darjeeling Himalaya and the collected species was identified as Cleisostoma linearilobulatum (Seidenfaden & Smitinand) Garay with the help of the available literature of King & Pantling 1898, Tang & Wang 1951, Yonzone et al. 2012, Pearce & Cribb 2002, with no earlier records from West Bengal. Therefore, we identified a new record for the occurence of Cleisostoma linearilobulatum (Seidenfaden & Smitinand) Garay for the state of West Bengal, India. Details, including a taxonomic description, its exact existence, flowering month, and habitat photographs, have been provided for its easy identification in fields.

In early 2024, a large influx of holopelagic Sargassum were discovered drifting along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, marking the first recorded occurrence of these drifting macroalgae in the region. This event revealed a striking morphological diversity within the drifted biomass, with three distinct morphotypes identified: Sargassum natans morphotypes I and VIII, and Sargassum fluitans morphotype III. The biomass density reached 10 ± 3 ind/m², with S. natans VIII dominating at 58%. Alongside the algal masses, a diverse associated fauna was observed, including hydroids and crustaceans, highlighting the role of Sargassum mats as transient pelagic habitats. The diversity of morphotypes observed reflects complex dispersal dynamics and potentially multiple origins or developmental pathways, possibly shaped by environmental drivers. The arrival of these forms following the Nelson storm underscores the influence of extreme hydrometeorological events in facilitating long-distance transport from the tropical Atlantic to the North Atlantic coast of Africa. As climate change continues to intensify such events, the frequency and morphotype variability of holopelagic Sargassum blooms are likely to increase. This study highlights the importance of monitoring not just biomass but also morphological variability, which can influence ecological impact and inform future coastal management strategies.

Species-rich genera with various circumscriptions are always a source of controversy. This controversy is illustrated in questions such as which taxonomic level did the taxa belong to? Which characters help botanists to classify taxa in natural groups? The taxa show diversity in life form, leaf shape, and texture, flower shape, and in the pieces of flowers. Genetic diversity and accommodation make some genera rich, like the genus Silene. Silene, currently numbering 870 species, is a large genus. It grows in temperate to arctic zones in the northern hemisphere. The following three central diversities are discerned for it: SW Asia, the Mediterranean area, and Central Asia. Several species have been shown to be polyploid. In order to use the species-rich genus as a model in genetic, ecological, and evolutionary study, it is necessary to classify the genus.

Phylogeny reconstruction could be one way to find natural groups. To this end, a comprehensive sampling of Silene and allied genera in the tribe Sileneae was provided. Two common and very useful markers, nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rps16, were used. All 44 sections recognized by Chowdhuri (1957) covered the entire geographical range of the genus. The analyses were performed with STACEY v.1.2.5 as implemented in BEAST v.2.5.1.

Nuclear and chloroplast tree topologies were congruent. The polyploidy in some taxa can distort the phylogeny and classification of the species-rich genus. Differences in acclimating to different habitats can also make the phylogeny and classification unclear. These led us to face limitations in defining the diagnostic morphological characters of subgrouping.

To circumvent these limitations and define subgrouping, a broad sense was used. Three subgenera, Lychnis, Behenantha, and Silene, and 35 sections were recognized for the genus. However, one section has uncertain placement.

Here, the Silene sects Auriculatae, Physolychnis, Sclerocalycinae, Silene, and Siphonomorpha are each defined in a broad sense. The next step, phylogeny, using more loci, will be reconstructed to discover the natural subgrouping of these sections.

Lantana camara L., a species native to tropical and subtropical regions, is known for its high morphological plasticity, which complicates both its identification and control. This study aims to review the taxonomic heterogeneity of L. camara in India, with a special focus on its spatial distribution, ecological adaptability, and morphological polymorphism.

Introduction:
Belonging to the family Verbenaceae, L. camara is widely recognized for its ornamental and medicinal applications. However, due to its invasive nature, it poses significant threats to native ecosystems. Effective management of this species requires a thorough taxonomic understanding.

Methods:
Field surveys were conducted from 2021 to 2023 across diverse biogeographical zones, including the Western Ghats, Gangetic Plains, and Himalayan Terai. Morphological traits such as leaf shape, flower color, and fruiting habits were recorded. Molecular identification was performed using ITS2 and matK DNA barcodes. Spatial distribution was mapped using GIS tools.

Results:
The study revealed substantial phenotypic variation among L. camara populations, corresponding to regional climatic and edaphic conditions. Five distinct morphotypes were identified, although morphological boundaries between them were often ambiguous. Molecular analyses supported the presence of cryptic diversity within the L. camara complex. The species was most invasive in disturbed habitats, particularly in semi-arid and tropical zones.

Based on the recent comprehensive taxonomic reassessment of the subtribe Scorzonerinae (Cichorieae, Asteraceae) using molecular, morphological, and carpological data, the genus Scorzonera s.l. was divided into six distinct genera. Each of the species belonging to these new genera received new combination names in accordance with the international plant nomenclature rules. Ramaliella, with seven species in the world, is one of these new genera. This genus comprised the species that previously belonged to the section Intricatae of Scorzonera subg. Scorzonera. The name Ramaliella was derived from the fact that most of the species belonging to this genus have semi-shrub to cushion-like habitats, otherwise known as brushwood (rāmālia: brushwood). Morphologically, members of this genus are characterized by possessing a subshrub or cushion-like vegetative form, numerous intricately or divaricately branched stems, few numbers of filiform basal leaves, reduced and curved cauline leaves, terminal capitula with 3-12 florets, and pollen with 24 lacunae. Furthermore, previous karyological studies on this genus represented the basic chromosome number of n=7 and also demonstrated the presence of different ploidy (2n, 3n, 4n, 6n) and aneuploidy (3n-1) levels. In general, the species belonging to this genus are geographically distributed in southwest Asia, with high species richness in the eastern and southern regions of the Irano-Turanian region. Among these regions, Iran has high species diversity, including five species such as R. tortuosissima, R. microcalathia, R. intricata, R. koelopinioides, and R. longipapposa. Members of this genus are mainly found in steppes or semi-desert areas in the east and south of Iran, indicating that the species can tolerate semi-dry or dry climates. Among the species distributed in Iran, R. intricata and R. microcalathia are endemic to Iran. Moreover, R. longipapposa and R. koelpinioides are considered rare species, since only limited numbers of individuals were observed in the Khalij-Omani region in south of Iran. Moreover, to define the species delimitation in this genus, based on morphological characteristics, we distinguished between traits such as cushion- or not cushion-like life forms, the thickness of infloresence pedunle relative to the stem, the density of hairs on the stems, and the length of the capitula, achene, and pappus.

Caricaceae Dumort. (the papaya family) is primarily known for its edible fruit-bearing species, including the genera Carica L., Jacaratia A.DC., and Vasconcellea A.St.-Hil. These genera are economically and ecologically important, providing food, traditional medicine, and ecological services in their native habitats. In this study, we describe a new species within the genus Jacaratia, locally economically important and segregated from J. corumbensis Kuntze, named Jacaratia guazoubira E.C.O.Chagas & Costa-Lima sp. nov. Both Jacaratia corumbensis and the newly described J. guazoubira are found within the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests and Woodlands biome of South America, particularly on sedimentary soils. Jacaratia corumbensis occurs in dry and semideciduous forests in the central region of South America, spanning Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, within the Bosque Seco Chiquitano, Gran Chaco, and Pantanal ecoregions. In contrast, J. guazoubira is restricted to the caatinga vegetation and dry forests of northeastern Brazil and adjacent areas, including the Caatinga ecoregion and the edges of the Cerrado. Morphologically, these two species can be distinguished by a series of reproductive characters, including sessile staminate flowers in J. guazoubira (vs. pedicellate in J. corumbensis), corolla tube 5–7 mm long (vs. 10–12 mm), reflexed corolla lobes (vs. suberect to patent), pistillate inflorescences with 5–8 flowers (vs. solitary), hypopodium 2.5–3 mm long (vs. 7–30 mm), closely spaced bracteoles (vs. sparsely distributed), pentagonal-fusiform fruits (vs. ellipsoid to pyriform), 5 greenish longitudinal ribs (vs. 8–10 cream or pinkish to reddish), and seeds with tuberculate (vs. smooth) sarcotesta. Additionally, we discuss the potential uses of these species in human and animal nutrition, their roles in landscaping, and their conservation implications. To stabilize the nomenclature and taxonomy of this group, we also designate lectotypes for J. corumbensis and its synonyms.

We provide a detailed taxonomic description of Thryssa encrasicholoides based on five specimens collected from the Andaman Islands, India. The species taxonomic status and distribution have historically been misinterpreted across the Indo-West Pacific due to close similarities with T. baelama, leading to frequent misidentification. To address this, we performed comprehensive morphological and molecular analyses, targeting the COI gene, to confirm the identity of T. encrasicholoides. A 594 bp long sequence was obtained and submitted to GenBank (Accession Number: PV936664). The COI sequence showed high similarity to T. encrasicholoides sequences available in the NCBI database. The Neighbour-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree revealed that the Andaman isolate clustered in a distinct clade with conspecific sequences from GenBank, thereby confirming its identity. Although T. encrasicholoides closely resembles T. baelama in having fewer prepelvic scutes and a short upper jaw, it can be distinguished by the presence of weakly developed scutes just behind the isthmus and a blunt posterior tip of the maxilla. By integrating morphological and molecular data, this study clarifies species boundaries, resolves taxonomic ambiguities in Indian marine fishes, and strengthens regional biodiversity records for better conservation and management.

The lateral line distribution is an important morphological feature for taxonomic differentiation within the genus Cynoglossus. This study documents a rare lateral line anomaly in Cynoglossus quadrilineatus, a species typically characterized by two ocular-side lateral lines. A specimen with three well-developed ocular-side lateral lines was discovered in coastal waters near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Morphological and molecular analyses, including a direct comparison between anomalous and non-anomalous specimens, were conducted to determine whether the anomaly represents a taxonomic feature or a developmental variation. Meristic and morphometric assessments confirmed that the anomalous specimen falls within the diagnostic range of C. quadrilineatus. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene analysis revealed minimal genetic divergence (0.48%) between specimens with two and three ocular-side lateral lines, supporting their conspecificity. These findings suggest that the additional lateral line is a developmental anomaly rather than a species-specific trait, demonstrating that lateral line variations can occur in C. quadrilineatus, despite being a critical morphological character in species diagnosis. This conclusion is based on a single individual exhibiting the anomaly, which limits broader generalization and emphasizes the need for additional observations. This study highlights the importance of integrating molecular tools with traditional taxonomy to resolve uncertainties arising from morphological deviations in fish species.

Characiformes represent the largest order of fish in the Neotropical region. Among the most diverse families within the group is Anostomidae, which includes 148 species across 17 genera, including Hypomasticus—a recently revalidated genus comprising 17 valid species—although its composition and diagnosis remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the species composition of the genus using DNA barcoding. Tissue samples were collected from various river basins where the genus occurs across South America, ranging from coastal drainages of the Guiana Shield, rivers of the Amazonian Shield, to Brazilian coastal drainages. A ~640 bp fragment of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c Oxidase I (COI) was amplified and sequenced for molecular analyses. All available sequences from online repositories were also included. The data were used to construct a phylogenetic tree to visualize species relationships and apply species delimitation analyses. Species delimitation was performed using three mitochondrial DNA-based approaches: ASAP, GMYC, and PTP. The use of DNA barcoding as a taxonomic investigative tool revealed the existence of seven undescribed species—four from Amazonian basins and three from Brazilian coastal drainages—representing a 41.18% increase in species richness for the genus. The analyses highlight the great utility of DNA barcoding as an investigative tool in the family Anostomidae, particularly within Hypomasticus, and demonstrate how the genus’s hidden diversity underscores the need for a more comprehensive taxonomic revision.