Pond populations in Cape Cod described as Persicaria puritanorum (≡ Polygonum puritanorum) have been treated by recent authors as a synonym of P. maculosa (≡ Polygonum persicaria) based on gross morphology. However, consistent differences in leaf and inflorescence features raise the question as to whether this is an extreme phenotype of P. maculosa, an ecotype of that species, or a distinct tax...

Curculigo orchioides is most commonly used as an imperative medicinal plant in Vietnam. The roots are mainly to treat sexual dysfunction, back pain, arthritis, nephritis, jaundice, and infertility. Given the high market demand herbal market, C. traders adulterate with other similar plants for illegitimate benefits. Maturase K (matK) ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) DNA barcode loci p...

Macrosolen bidoupensis Tagane & V.S.Dang, sp. nov. (Loranthaceae) is newly described from Bidoup Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam. The new species is characterized by small broadly elliptic to circular leaves, sessile to short petioles, slightly cordate to rounded leaf bases, 4-5 pairs of lateral veins and a basally green corolla tube. An illustration, a summary of DN...

Checkpoints are the sentinels of cell-cycle progression. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Yaffe and colleagues (Reinhardt et al., 2010) show that spatial and temporal resolution of Chk1 and MK2, checkpoint kinases with identical substrate specificity, are necessary to signal different aspects of DNA damage signaling.

A new species, Popowia bachmaensis Ngoc, Tagane & Yahara, sp. nov. is described from Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam. This species is morphologically similar to Popowia pisocarpa (Blume) Endl. ex Walp., but can be readily distinguished from it by its lower stems, smaller leaves, shorter flowering pedicels, shorter carpels, longer sepals and inner petals. A deta...

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is very expensive and, because of this, often subject to adulteration. Modern genetic fingerprinting techniques are an alternative low cost technology to the existing chemical techniques, which are used to control the purity of food products. Buddleja officinalis Maxim, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Curcuma longa L., Carthamus tinctorius L. and Calendula officinalis L....

We present the outcome of a century of post-bottleneck isolation of a long-lived species, the little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii, LSK) and demonstrate that profound genetic consequences can result from protecting few individuals in isolation. LSK were saved from extinction by translocation of five birds from South Island, New Zealand to Kapiti Island 100 years ago. The Kapiti population now nu...

Background: In Peru, ethnomedicinal plants have not been extensively assessed in the current context of DNA-based techniques. Amazonas region, medicinal use for diarrhea and fever treatment are mainly known by local or traditional names, while their phenotypic plasticity limits proper morphological identification. Methods: this regard, selected with uses region were confirmed characterized usin...

background: more than 60 species of the genus lathyrus are distributed in southwest asia. it is the second largest genus of the tribe fabeae, after vicia, in the region (and in iran with 23 species). in the regional flora (flora of turkey, florairanicaand flora of iran), the genus has been divided into 9-10 sections. here we analyzed the phylogeny of lathyrus and its relationship with pisum bas...