Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Recovery of the type specimen of Avena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history

Jennifer Gabriel, View ORCID ProfileNatalia Tkach, View ORCID ProfileMartin Röser
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/691717
Jennifer Gabriel
1Institute of Biology, Department of Systematic Botany, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Neuwerk 21, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
2German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Natalia Tkach
1Institute of Biology, Department of Systematic Botany, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Neuwerk 21, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Natalia Tkach
Martin Röser
1Institute of Biology, Department of Systematic Botany, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Neuwerk 21, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Martin Röser
  • For correspondence: martin.roeser@botanik.uni-halle.de
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Avena breviaristata, collected only once (1882) in Algeria and never re-collected since, is a very mysterious grass species because unfortunately even the type specimen got lost 60--80 years ago. Morphological information on this species was thus based on a few published descriptions, which made it difficult, however, to correctly infer the genus affiliation of this morphologically odd species. Avena breviaristata became affiliated in the past with various oat-like genera (Avenula, Helictotrichon, Tricholemma). Due to the recent rediscovery of the type specimen at the P herbarium and the opportunity to study this specimen, we report here on the morphological characters of A. breviaristata underpinned by meaningful illustrations. They are discussed in comparison with the morphology of representative species of the above-mentioned genera. Uncommon characters of the spikelets (type of disarticulation of the rachilla, lemma structure, lodicules) and to some extent of the inflorescences, leaves and leaf sheaths support the inclusion of A. breviaristata in the North African genus Tricholemma. Considering biogeography, T. breviaristatum from the arid Hauts Plateaux in Algeria is a highly xeromorphic counterpart of the mesomorphic species T. jahandiezii, which is confined to higher altitudes of the rather humid Moyen Atlas in Morocco. This underlines the status of Tricholemma as a relic endemic. Our morphological survey supports the classification of Avenula (only A. pubescens) as separate from Helictotrichon s.str. and Helictochloa. Moreover, morphological evidence does not support an origin of A. pubescens by intergeneric hybridization between the latter genera as hypothesized in some prior studies. Especially the glabrous palea, the special shape of the lodicules and the structure of the awn show no intermediacy. The complicated history of the type collection of T. breviaristatum and the role of botanical authors are given.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted July 03, 2019.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Recovery of the type specimen of Avena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Recovery of the type specimen of Avena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history
Jennifer Gabriel, Natalia Tkach, Martin Röser
bioRxiv 691717; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/691717
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Recovery of the type specimen of Avena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history
Jennifer Gabriel, Natalia Tkach, Martin Röser
bioRxiv 691717; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/691717

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Plant Biology
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (2643)
  • Biochemistry (5245)
  • Bioengineering (3659)
  • Bioinformatics (15764)
  • Biophysics (7231)
  • Cancer Biology (5607)
  • Cell Biology (8073)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (4755)
  • Ecology (7489)
  • Epidemiology (2059)
  • Evolutionary Biology (10546)
  • Genetics (7711)
  • Genomics (10102)
  • Immunology (5172)
  • Microbiology (13865)
  • Molecular Biology (5370)
  • Neuroscience (30684)
  • Paleontology (214)
  • Pathology (874)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (1522)
  • Physiology (2243)
  • Plant Biology (5001)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1039)
  • Synthetic Biology (1383)
  • Systems Biology (4139)
  • Zoology (810)