ISSN: 0967-8018

Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 Science news from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place Digitising Kew’s collections Digitisation strategies at Kew The new science strategy of RBG Kew recognises the need to increase access to its 8.5 million collections and sets an ambitious target of digitising 80% of these by 2020. Kew is seeking to reach this target with two strategies: rapid digitisation of large parts of the collections using modern technologies and smaller-scale projects capturing more in-depth data from specific collections. Examples of the rapid digitisation approach are the imaging of all Kew’s herbarium specimens of the potato genus (Solanum) and yam family (Dioscoreaceae) Imaging of herbarium specimens in The Netherlands Photo: S. Knapp in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, (London) and Picturae, a Economic Collections specialist digitisation company based in The Kew’s Economic Botany Collection has been Netherlands. In contrast, in-depth data will online since 2012, making available full data start to be be captured from Kew’s 150,000 for nearly 90,000 ethnobotanical specimens. microscope slide collection following the A major upgrade occurred in 2014 with recent acquisition of a digital microscope the addition of 5,500 specimens of materia slide scanner. medica from the Harrod Collection of the Contact: Dr Alan Paton ([email protected]) former Chelsea College, donated by King’s College London. The online catalogue has Digitisation of type specimens both raised the visibility of the Economic Botany Collection and enabled users to This year sees the culmination of a long- target specimens more effectively; data term endeavour which counts among its can also now be downloaded for use in achievements the digitisation of all the type spreadsheets. The next challenge is to specimens deposited in Kew’s herbarium. increase the proportion of photographed Initiated in 2004 as the African specimens. So far about 2,500 specimens Initiative (API), with generous support from have been imaged, mainly those used in the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the recent publications and exhibitions. digitisation work grew rapidly to encompass http://apps.kew.org/ecbot/search numerous herbaria, creating high quality (600 dpi) images of African type specimens, Contact: Dr Mark Nesbitt ([email protected]) and detailed transcription of all associated data to common data standards. The Latin Type specimen of banksii Boott, American Plants Initiative (LAPI) built on collected by Charles Darwin Photo: RBG Kew this success and by 2009 the endeavour had grown into the Global Plants Initiative, specimens filed in red covers within the eventually involving 329 partner herbaria main Kew herbarium, which include worldwide and imaging a cumulative total confirmed types, putative types and other of 2.2 million herbarium sheets including historic material. Over 325,000 such sheets nomenclatural types, other historic and at Kew have been digitised to date, and this original material, and specimens of plants work is expected to be completed over the endemic to a single tropical country. The summer of 2015. In addition, the Mellon- images and data mobilised are consolidated funded digitisation team have imaged all in a single resource at JSTOR Global Plants: of the specimens (> 25,000) in the East http://plants.jstor.org. India Company Herbarium, which is rich Kew’s contribution to the Global Plants in unmarked types, and conducted pilot Initiative and its predecessors (API and projects on imaging important material LAPI) included the provision of imaging in the Fungarium (> 4,000 specimens). equipment, staff training and technical Kew’s herbarium specimen images are also available at www.kew.org/herbcat. support to herbaria as they joined the Examples of the Harrod Collection recently network of contributors. The main focus Contact: Dr Eimear Nic Lughadha accessioned into Kew’s Economic Botany of digitisation efforts at Kew has been ([email protected]) Collection with data now digitised. Photo RBG Kew

www.kew.org Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 1 Awards Direction In February 2015, Honorary Research Fellow Peter Brandham was awarded the Science Strategy Peter Barr Memorial Cup by the Royal Horticultural Society at a ceremony in the 2015 marks the beginning of a new RHS Lindley Hall in recognition of his work phase in Kew Science. The launch of the on the chromosomal evolution of Narcissus Science Strategy in February has set the in cultivation. organisation on a clearly defined pathway Herbarium volunteer Sheila Thompson in pursuit of a new scientific vision: to was the 2014 winner in the Long Service document and understand global category of the London Volunteers and fungal diversity and its uses, bringing in Museums Awards. The Herbarium authoritative expertise to bear on the reorganisation volunteers were the overall critical challenges facing humanity today. winners of the 2014 Marsh Trust Volunteer It reinforces Kew’s position as a global Awards. resource in plant and fungal knowledge and recognises the value and potential of In November 2014, Kew magazine won the collections to contribute to hard-hitting, the Environmental Award at the 2014 relevant research. Developed by scientists Garden Media Guild Awards at The Savoy across Kew, the strategy provides focus in London. The award was for a piece and clarity on Kew’s scientific priorities, by Stephanie Pain called ‘Saving for the Peter Brandham awarded the Peter Barr which are defined as follows: Future’ on the UK National Tree Seed Memorial Cup Photo: R. Scamp 1. To document and conduct research into Project. global plant and fungal diversity and its An Atlas of the World’s Conifers by Aljos Farjon PhDs uses for humanity. was awarded an Outstanding Academic The following students, co-supervised by 2. To curate and provide data-rich Title by CHOICE (Current Reviews for Kew staff, have successfully defended their evidence from Kew’s unrivalled Academic Libraries) in January 2015. theses: collections as a global asset for An exhibit by Joanne Everson, Ilia scientific research. Paulina Hechenleitner, ‘Biogeography Leitch and Laurence Hill showcasing the and systematics of South American Vicia 3. To disseminate our scientific knowledge variation in genome size in Fritillaria, using (Leguminosae)’ (December 2014). of plants and fungi, maximising photographic, scientific and horticultural Jacqueline St Quinton, ‘An evaluation of its impact in science, education, displays, won a Gold Award at the Early conservation policy and management. fungal pathogens as biological control Spring Show of the Alpine Garden Society agents against the weed Rubus niveus’ These priorities will enable us to curate, in Harlow, February 2015. use, enhance, explore and share Kew’s (February 2015). global resource, providing robust data and a strong evidence base for our UK and Preferences of horse chestnut global stakeholders. We have also developed an ambitious leaf miner set of strategic outputs to be delivered by 2020. These include an online portal giving access to information on all the world’s known plant , an annual report on the State of the World’s Plants, and a target of banking 25% of the world’s seeds by 2020. Each of our outputs draws on strengths from across the Science Directorate at Kew and will be implemented by the six newly formed research departments: Collections, Identification and Naming, Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Conservation Science, Natural Capital and Horse chestnut leaves damaged by the leaf Plant Health, and Biodiversity Informatics miner Cameraria ohridella Photo: T. Kokubun and Spatial Analysis. The departments bring out the best in our collections, our A study has examined oviposition people and our partnerships, and with a preference and larval performance of new vision and strategy we aim to make the horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria Kew’s scientific resources a global asset, ohridella) on its native host, Aesculus Soejatmi Dransfield planting Soejatmia ridleyi bringing benefits to science, conservation hippocastanum, and other species of Aesculus at Singapore Botanic Gardens Photo: J. Dransfield policy and education worldwide. that are novel hosts. Cameraria ohridella laid The strategy does not claim to have eggs on all species of Aesculus, but showed all the answers. The challenges facing preferences for A. hippocastanum and the Soejatmi plants Soejatmia humanity will evolve, and science will closely related A. turbinata. Successful mine In October 2014, Honorary Research Fellow continue its forward progress. However, development, however, was observed only Soejatmi Dransfield ceremonially planted understanding and conserving plant on A. hippocastanum and A. turbinata, and her eponymous , Soejatmia ridleyi, in and fungal diversity has never been these species showed similar leaf traits, Singapore Botanic Gardens. The monotypic more relevant, and I am excited by the which might explain why larvae performed genus Soejatmia was described by K.M. Wong opportunities for Kew’s scientists to equally well. In contrast, resistant species in 1993 to accommodate Bambusa ridleyi, continue to produce world-class research showed considerable variation in leaf traits, misplaced in Bambusa. The new genus was and make an important and unique named after Soejatmi for her contribution contribution to addressing some of the suggesting that different species of Aesculus major challenges of our time. have different mechanisms of resistance. to the systematic knowledge of Malesian Entomol. Exp. Appl. 152, 157 (2014). . Prof. Katherine Willis, Director of Science Contact: Prof. Monique Simmonds Contact: Dr Soejatmi Dransfield ([email protected]) ([email protected])

2 Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 www.kew.org Drivers of global plant diversity

Climbing palm diversity Climbing plants contribute significantly to species diversity and ecosystem processes in tropical rainforests. In palms, climbing species account for 22% of global palm species richness, but their distribution is highly skewed across the tropics. A multi- institution team has analysed the broad- scale patterns and drivers of climbing palm species richness. The study identified multiple origins of the climbing habit between the early Eocene and the Miocene, with diversification rate increases occurring in those lineages leading to the most species-rich groups. Past and present day climatic factors and canopy height partly explain climbing palm species richness, but Many extinctions occurred in the magnoliid clade (Liriodendron pictured) following the global cooling a strong role for historical contingencies is that started approximately 50 million years ago Photo: W. Eiserhardt. also evident. Thus, climbing palm origins Climate-driven extinctions tolerances, and phylogenetic relationships and diversification are likely to have been of temperate trees, researchers from Kew driven by a combination of factors including Species extinction is one of the fundamental processes shaping biodiversity and Aarhus University have shown that this climate, morpho-anatomical innovations, cold-driven extinction was concentrated biogeographic history of , as well as the appearance and function of ecosystems. Extinction of entire groups of in groups of closely related genera. and ecological opportunity due to the Therefore, certain parts of the tree of life evolution of tall dipterocarps in Asian related organisms is more likely to have drastic ecosystem consequences than species are overrepresented in the surviving floras, rainforests since the Miocene. Front. Genet. while others are lacking. This effect was 5, 452 (2015). losses that are spread evenly across the tree of life and is less easily amended by the most pronounced in the regions that were Contact: Dr Bill Baker ([email protected]) evolution of new species. Understanding hardest hit by cold-driven extinction. what circumstances lead to the loss of entire Given that many taxa are currently branches from the tree of life is crucial. threatened with extinction due to In the temperate forests of the Northern anthropogenic climate change, the study Hemisphere, many tree genera went raises concerns that future climate-driven regionally extinct due to a global cooling extinctions will prune the tree of life in a trend that started approximately 50 million similarly non-random way. Ecol. Lett. 18, 263 years ago. By combining data on fossil (2015). and present distributions, environmental Contact: Dr Wolf Eiserhardt ([email protected])

Genomes ‘frozen in time’? Adaptive species divergence The royal ferns (Osmundaceae) have Research on the plants of Lord Howe Island traditionally been regarded as ‘living has revealed some of the most compelling fossils’ due to similarity in morphological examples of how natural selection can appearance between extant species and drive the evolution of new species in a very fossils over 200 million years old. Further small area. Now, a research team from Kew evidence for this stasis was recently and Imperial College London has used suggested by scientists from Sweden innovative genetic methods to understand who discovered a new Jurassic fossil with whether individuals of 18 endemic plants exceptionally well preserved cellular on Lord Howe Island are adapted to their structures. Indeed, the similarity in size local habitat. Unexpectedly, all species of the fossil cell nuclei with extant species Plectocomia elongata, a climbing palm Photo: W. Baker studied show genetic evidence of adaptation of Osmundastrum led the authors to to the local environment and a third of suggest that genome size had remained the species are adapted to their local unchanged over 180 million years. plant communities. These results further Does this mean that the DNA which strengthen the case for adaptive species makes up the genomes of royal ferns divergence in nature and demonstrate that has also undergone limited evolution local adaptation is widespread in plants. and hence become ‘frozen in time’? Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 369, 20130342 (2014). To address this, colleagues at Kew, the Contact: Dr Alex Papadopulos Natural History Museum (London) and ([email protected]) Fairylake Botanical Garden (China) combined new genomic data with those in the literature. The observations indicate that while the genomes of royal ferns are indeed less dynamic and evolving more slowly than other fern lineages, they are not completely ‘frozen in time’ as there is evidence of some limited evolutionary capacity. New Phytol. 207, 10 (2015).

Osmunda regalis – frozen in time? Photo: G. Kite Contact: Dr IIia Leitch ([email protected]) Zygogynum howeanum Photo: W. Baker www.kew.org Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 3 What plants and fungi occur on Earth? Eugenia systematics Eugenia is one of the most species diverse genera in the Neotropics and one of the most taxonomically challenging. In the first phylogenetic hypothesis of Eugenia, based on DNA sequencing and analyses carried out at Kew, researchers from Brazil and Kew have investigated the validity of currently recognised infrageneric groups in Eugenia as well as identifying supporting morphological characters. The study used the largest Eugenia sample analysed to date and included representative species from Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The results confirm that Neotropical genera Calycorectes, Hexachlamys, Phyllocalyx and Stenocalyx should be included within Eugenia to preserve its monophyly. In Eugenia s.l., nine morphologically diagnosable clades are identified. The Diversity of mushrooms from a cloud forest in Ecuador Photo: B. Dentinger results provide a basis for a much needed new subgeneric classification for Eugenia. Genome mining from fungarium specimens These subgeneric groupings now form the The advent of high throughput DNA of >60,000 amino acids from over 200 bases for multiple doctoral studies currently sequencing has had a major impact on genes for 35 taxa representing most of the underway. Kew Bull. 69, 9497 (2014). many areas of biological research, including known families of mushrooms in the order Contact: Dr Eve Lucas ([email protected]) systematics where the use of genomic data Agaricales, demonstrates the feasibility of for phylogeny reconstruction has been using traditional fungarium collections for greatly accelerated. However, the utility of generating genomic datasets, and provides preserved natural history collections for the first reliable subordinal classification generating genomic datasets is not well for the group. In addition to seven new known. A new study, led by Kew scientists suborders, this study also provides a set of Bryn Dentinger and Ester Gaya, applied top performing genes for phylogenomic high throughput sequencing to generate 14 studies of other fungi. Biol. J. Linn. Soc, in whole genome sequences from fungarium press, doi: 10.1111/bij.12553 (2015). specimens and newly collected fungi. Their study, which compiled a dataset Contact: Dr Bryn Dentinger ([email protected]) Eugenia azurensis Photo: O.Berg

Phylogenetic signal in repetitive elements When using next-generation sequencing, (programs that do this are available). In six most genomic information, especially distantly related cases, five flowering plants repetitive elements, is usually discarded and one insect (the fruit fly,Drosophila ), this without any investigation of content method provides generally well-supported and usefulness. Various types of repeats relationships that are in accord with results are scattered across chromosomes in based on standard markers. This methodology angiosperms and can comprise most is potentially useful in groups where there genomic DNA. In a new study, the is minimal variability found in standard usefulness of these repetitive elements is phylogenetic markers and hybridisation is evaluated in a phylogenetic context by suspected. It also provides a wealth of data comparative graph-based clustering of next- for comparative studies of genome evolution. generation sequence reads. This analysis Syst. Biol., in press, doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syu080 Nicotiana cavicola, one of the species studied results in abundance estimates of different (2015). that revealed phylogeneatic signal in repetitive classes of genomic repeats that must be elements Photo S. Hopper treated as continuously varying characters Contact: Prof. Mark Chase ([email protected]) Relationships in Myrcia sect. Aulomyrcia Researchers from Universidade Federal de groups for imminent monography. The Goiás and Kew have produced a DNA-based major ecological results are that there is phylogenetic overview of relationships support for a link between Amazonian and in a section of Myrcia (sect. Aulomyrcia northeastern species as well as between c.130 species; Myrtaceae) that brings northeastern and southeastern species. clarity to the systematics of a very complex Lower extinction rates within glacial refugia and ecologically significant group. The suggest that these areas were important in researchers also used likelihood to estimate the maintenance of current diversity in the region-dependent rates of speciation, Atlantic forest biodiversity hotspots and extinction and dispersal, comparing that range expansion from unstable areas historical climatically stable (refuges) and contributed to the highest levels of plant unstable areas. Phylo-systematic results diversity within these refugia. Ann. Bot. 181, re-iterate the polyphyly of Myrcia and 115, 747(2015). Floral and fruit diversity of Myrcia sect. Aulomyrcia Marlierea and divide the ‘Aulomyrcia’ Photo: V. Staggemeier clade into morphologically explicable Contact: Dr Eve Lucas ([email protected])

4 Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 www.kew.org What plants and fungi occur on Earth? Filling gaps in legume phylogeny A recent study (Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 84, 112; 2015) has focused on filling the gaps in early diverging lineages of papilionoid legumes. It revealed that the Amazonian monospecific genusPetaladenium is sister to the genus Dussia in the Amburaneae clade, one of the first-diverging lineages of the Papilionoideae. The fimbriate-urceolate- glandular wing petals make Petaladenium unique among legumes. Similar structures on the bracts of some Dussia species and a similar floral morphology support the sister relationship of the two genera. Previously, Petaladenium was considered related to genistoid legumes, but a supplementary study (Phytochemistry 116, 198; 2015) showed that the leaves lacked quinolizidine alkaloids, characteristic of genistoids, and instead accumulated novel pipecolic acids Dehisced fruits of Medusagyne oppositifolia Photo: M. Christenhusz derivatives, a character unique among members of the Amburaneae clade. Ochnaceae phylogenetics and Testuleeae. The position of Lophira Two further studies into the Amburaneae With nearly-complete generic sampling has varied between earlier classifications, clade have focussed on Amburana, for the first time, phylogenetics of family but in the new study it is sister to the rest describing the of the genus and Ochnaceae has been studied using of Ochneae; endosperm-free seeds and one new species (Phytotaxa 212, 249; 2015) five DNA regions. Based on this, a new ovules with partly to completely united and floral morphology and development classification of Ochnaceae has been integuments are thus characters that unite (Int. J. Pl. Sci. 176, 94; 2015). The corolla published, with Medusagynoideae and that tribe. Ancestral state reconstructions of Amburana cearensis is reduced to a single Quiinoideae included as subfamilies, revealed zygomorphic flowers with petal and the analysis of its floral ontogeny and former subfamilies Ochnoideae and adaptations to buzz-pollination, syncarpous unearthed rare and novel ontogenetic Sauvagesioideae recognized as tribes. gynoecia, numerous ovules, septicidal characters that deviate from patterns found Medusagynoideae (Medusagyne oppositifolia capsules and winged seeds with endosperm in more derived papilionoid legumes. alone) are weakly supported as sister to as ancestral states in Ochnoideae. Winged This fits into the emerging picture of an Quiinoideae. Ochneae are supported seeds in Medusagyne are not homologous ‘experimental phase’ in the floral evolution as monophyletic, but Sauvagesieae in with those in Ochnoideae. Mol. Phylogenet. of early diverging legumes. Eugenia azurensis Photo: O.Berg Evol. 78, 199 (2015). the traditional sense are polyphyletic, Contact: Dr Gerhard Prenner ([email protected]) necessitating recognition of Luxemburgieae Contact: Dr Mike Fay ([email protected])

Updated classification of Epidendroideae phylogeny Orchidaceae In terms of pollination strategies, Molecular studies have covered nearly vegetative adaptations and sheer number all groups of Orchidaceae, and this of species, Epidendroideae, the largest wealth of information has revealed subfamily of Orchidaceae, represent one many unexpected sets of relationships of the largest angiosperm radiations. A and required fairly extensive revision new study has used seven DNA regions of generic limits within many groups. A to evaluate associations of key characters team led by Mark Chase has reviewed with diversification. The matrix included phylogenetic papers published since the representatives of 312 genera (of the reclassification of Orchidaceae in 2003 roughly 740 recognised in the most recent and proposed an updated classification. classification). Likelihood and parsimony Relative to the 2003 classification, the analyses yielded highly resolved trees that updated classification recognises three new are in good agreement and show significant tribes, all in subfamily Epidendroideae, support for many key clades. Statistical Seasonally dry woodland of the inter-Andean the largest of the five subfamilies character-associated diversification valleys of Bolivia Photo: B. Klitgaard recognised. Compared to other large analyses were performed and showed that families, such as Asteraceae, the number epiphytism is most strongly associated with Bolivian biodiversity of genera recognised in Orchidaceae is diversification, followed by dispersal to the Kew scientists contributed accounts of modest (approximately 740), and several New World and anther characters involved Acanthaceae, Convolvulaceae, , recent cases of major lumping of genera with pollinator specificity. However, all Lamiaceae, Leguminosae and Poaceae to has occurred, propelling many orchid other characters examined also exhibited the Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of genera into the top ten largest genera, significant association with species richness, Bolivia (Monogr. Syst. Bot. Mo. Bot. Gard. 127; for example: Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, indicating that there was no single key 2014). In Kew’s Science Strategy, Bolivia Epidendrum and Maxillaria. Publication character that initiated an episode of is identified as a focus for developing of this revised classification can be used explosive speciation. A series of important partnerships to conduct targeted field to organise other sorts of studies because features evolved at different times, research and identify priority areas for it provides a reliable way of knowing the sometimes in parallel, and these often plant and habitat conservation under Kew`s closest relatives of any target orchid genus. supported diversification.Ann. Bot., in press, TIPAs (Tropical Important Plant Areas) Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 177, 151-174 (2015). doi:10.1093/aob/mcu253 (2015). programme. Contact: Prof. Mark Chase ([email protected]) Contact: Prof. Mark Chase ([email protected]) Contact: Dr Bente Klitgaard ([email protected])

www.kew.org Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 5 Mapping and monitoring What plant and fungal diversity mycorrhizal fungi Mycorrhizal fungi are a major functional guild controlling plant-soil interactions. is under threat? Mapping and monitoring of forest Phylogeny, extinction ectomycorrhizal fungi has untapped and conservation potential to inform forest management The IUCN Sampled Red List Index and fungal conservation. However, studies (SRLI) is a policy response by biodiversity need to reach beyond national boundaries scientists to the need to estimate trends to reflect fungal geographic distributions in extinction risk. Kew scientists are and their drivers of change. The vast actively involved in the SRLI for Plants, European forest monitoring network, ICP Phase I of which provided baseline data Forests, is an ideal platform for mycorrhizal predominantly by making assessments studies. A study, based on the findings of using herbarium specimen data. This an NERC-supported workshop organized is due to the overwhelming absence of at Kew in April 2014, has assessed the accurate population data or detailed potential of intensively monitored long- Immature fruits of Eligmocarpus cynometroides, a distribution maps for the vast majority term forest plots in developing and scaling ‘Critically Endangered’ Madagascan legume up forest mycorrhizal research and fungal of plant species. This method creates Photo: F. Forest difficulties in re-assessing these species to biomonitoring. The authors propose measure genuine changes in conservation and Mark Chase from Kew), was to research hypotheses and encourage status. However, the same specimen data offer a platform to present the available further discussion by raising questions identify precise localities where threatened methods allowing the integration of covering current knowledge gaps. They species have previously been collected phylogenetic and extinction risk data in also make recommendations for scaling and can be used to model species ranges conservation planning. Evolutionary studies up mycorrhizal assessments so as to inform and to target fieldwork. Thus, Phase II have played a fundamental role in our a variety of stakeholders, with a focus on of the SRLI for Plants aims to mobilise understanding of life, but they have had conservation and policy. Discussions will an extensive global network of botanists, only a modest involvement in addressing continue at a workshop supported by the academics and conservationists to establish conservation issues. In a third paper in British Ecological Society in October 2015 an international monitoring scheme. The the issue co-authored by Kew scientists, it at Kew. Ann. For. Sci., in press, doi: 10.1007/ strategy for prioritising fieldwork efforts to is shown how incorporating evolutionary s13595-014-0447-4 (2015). produce a more robust estimation of the history directly in conservation actions is Contact: Dr Laura Martinez-Suz SRLI in Phase II has been published in a beneficial, particularly given the likelihood ([email protected]) discussion meeting issue of the Philosophical that extinction is not random and that Transactions of the Royal Society B entitled phylogenetic diversity is lost at higher Currently, there is only one non-lichen ‘Phylogeny, extinction and conservation’ rates than species diversity. The authors fungus species worldwide on the IUCN’s (http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/ use evolutionary data on the legumes of Red List. To begin to address this dearth content/370/1662/). to show that this evidence of information on what fungal diversity is The goal of this discussion meeting is even more compelling in biodiversity under threat, mycologists from Europe, issue, outlined in the introductory paper hotspots. including Kew’s Martyn Ainsworth, attended by the organisers (including Felix Forest a workshop in Sweden aimed at getting the Contact: Dr Félix Forest ([email protected]) conservation status of more threatened fungal species assessed. Anogramma success Does genome size influence invasive potential? Winners and losers among British Invasive plants are estimated to cost the and Irish orchids. UK over £1.7 billion each year. Much research has been targeted at trying to Based on the Local understand and predict why some plants Change Survey become invasive and others do not by (published by the comparing traits of invasive and non- Botanical Society invasive species. However, the role of of the British Isles) genome size (the total amount of DNA and recent Red List in the nucleus), which varies c. 2,400- assessments, the fold, has not been widely investigated current state and even though species with large genomes the likely future of are known to be constrained in many populations of all functional traits that have been linked native British and Sporophytes developing on gametophytes of to invasive potential (e.g. minimum Irish orchids have Anagramma ascensionis. generation time, seed characteristics, been analysed. This Following the rediscovery of Anogramma relative growth rate of seedlings, water Neottia nidus-avis identified likely ascensionis (Ascension Island parsley fern) in use and photosynthetic efficiency). Photo: M. Christenhusz winners and losers 2009, successful propagation work has been A recent review highlights the many in the face of climate change and other carried out by Kew and the Ascension Island ways that genome size could influence factors. Winners include Himantoglossum Government Conservation Department. the invasive potential of a species, and hircinum, Ophrys apifera and Orchis In November 2014, ten plants at different argues that such data are needed in purpurea, while losers include Cephalanthera developmental stages were planted into the comparative macroecological studies longifolia, Epipactis palustris, Hammarbya habitat of this critically endangered species on species invasiveness. The authors of paludosa and Neottia nidus-avis. Changes in on Ascension Island. The success has been the review predict that such data will woodland management and drying out of outstanding with gametophytes producing provide a more complete understanding localities (due to natural causes or human over 175 sporophytes, many of which have of how interactions between multiple intervention) appear to be major reasons produced spores, ensuring the full cycle of traits influence the invasive potential of a for the declining populations of some of the generations. species. New Phytol. 205, 994 (2015). losers. Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 32, 3 (2015). Contact: Marcella Corcoran ([email protected]) Contact: Dr Ilia Leitch ([email protected]) Contact: Dr Mike Fay ([email protected])

6 Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 www.kew.org Phytochemicals as micronutrients in Plants contributing to natural capital health and disease Evolutionary history of Aloe Worldwide, non-infectious diseases (NIDs) – including cardiovascular disease, cancer A team of scientists led by Kew and the and diabetes – kill 38 million people University of Copenhagen have studied each year, and 47.5 million people have evolution in the succulent genus Aloe, dementia, which is a WHO public health shedding light on the world’s preference priority. While unhealthy diets increase the for Aloe vera over hundreds of related risk of dying from a NID, intake of dietary species of Aloe. The common term ‘aloes’ phytochemicals has been associated with refers to the large Old World genus Aloe health benefits. The role of phytochemicals (ca. 500 species) and a further 20 species in maintaining health and preventing in five smaller related genera,Aloidendron , disease has recently been reviewed by Kew Aloiampelos, Aristaloe, Gonialoe and Kumara. In scientists in a study that focused on recent this study, a phylogenetic tree constructed progress on their mechanistic effects, with DNA sequence data from about 40% clinical and epidemiological evidence. of the aloes—an unprecedented sampling Phytochemicals emerging as potentially of the group—was used to estimate the relevant for health, with particular relevance distribution of the predecessors of modern for NIDs, include catechins, resveratrol, aloes using biogeographical methods. The curcumin, anthocyanins and isoflavones. resulting evolutionary hypothesis identified It was concluded that evidence for the role the origin of the aloes to southern Africa of phytochemicals in health and disease approximately 16 million years ago, and the is growing, but knowledge of the species origin of Aloe vera to the Arabian Peninsula in which they occur and their specific more recently. The succulent leaf tissue of associations with health need to be more Aloe vera is one of the world’s most popular firmly understood and established from plant ingredients. Many other species of Aloe more robust data using authenticated plant are used traditionally, but none has the same material and phytochemically characterised commercial status. Using the phylogenetic preparations. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. tree to scrutinise patterns in the properties Care 17, 558 (2014). of leaf succulence and medicinal use Aloe vera, a globally popular succulent plant revealed that aloes with very succulent leaves Photo: O. Grace Contact: Dr Melanie Howes ([email protected]) are the most likely to be used medicinally. Hence, Aloe vera does not appear to have a unique evolutionary history, and the early Comparative seed biology introduction of the species to major trade routes likely contributed to its popularity Homoglutathione in legumes Centrosema and near-cosmopolitan distribution, and the Glutathione ( -glutamylcysteineglycine), pubescens: contains homoglutathione in global market it supports today. BMC Evol. a tripeptide found in all higher Biol. 15,29 (2015). its roots and seeds eukaryotes, has antioxidant properties Photo: L. Colville Contact: Dr Olwen Grace ([email protected]) and plays a key role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. A glutathione homologue, homoglutathione, is found Food security from cultivated yams only in some species of Leguminosae Across Madagascar, wild endemic yam and is believed to have arisen as a result species are collected from open access of gene duplication after the divergence areas and used as a food of last resort, at of the Leguminosae. Previous studies Seed persistence times when other crops fail. An alternative on the distribution of homoglutathione is to cultivate yams. A notable knowledge have focused only on species belonging A team of scientists from Australia and the gap in using yam cultivation to enhance to seven of the 35 tribes of Leguminosae, UK have reviewed the ecophysiology of seed local food security is a paucity of data all of which belonged to subfamily persistence. Seed persistence is a strategy concerning demand for cultivated yams and Papilionoideae. enabling plants to disperse seeds through whether people in the relevant communities Recent research by Kew scientists time and avoid germination in adverse prefer the wild yam species to the exotic into the distribution of glutathione seasons. It also enables seeds to be stored cultivated yam species. Understanding and homoglutatione in legume species, for long periods ex situ. Seeds dispersed these preferences contributes to addressing representing 30 tribes across all three sub into the natural environment encounter the issue of poor food security causing families, revealed that homoglutathione dynamic climatic, soil and site conditions, extinction pressure on specific native was restricted to the Old World clade which result in variable persistence times. yams and helps to determine whether yam of Papilionoideae. The appearance Thus, persistence of individual seeds is an cultivation can reduce this. A study, using of homoglutathione coincides with a expression of numerous seed characteristics a preference choice experiment approach, whole genome duplication event that including inherent dormancy, longevity and has found that subsistence farmers would is proposed to have occurred after defence, and how these characteristics are rather obtain the cultivated but introduced divergence of the Old World clade. influenced by the immediate environment species Dioscorea alata as a standby rather Not all species in the Old World clade of the seed. An understanding of seed than the three wild species of yam that produce homoglutathione, so the persistence is critical for weed management, occur locally: D. kimiae, D. arcuatinervis and ability to synthesise homoglutathione agricultural management and restoration D. seriflora. The study shows that a choice may have been lost in some species. programmes. The authors of the review experiment can provide information about Homoglutathione showed a different propose a resistance-exposure model as a preferences in a subsistence setting and tissue-specific distribution to glutathione, first step in addressing the need to predict demonstrates how validity tests can be which suggests that it may play a distinct how seed, species, climate, soil and site incorporated into a choice experiment role in some tissues. Phytochemistry 115, factors influence overall persistence.Biol. approach. Afr. J. Agric. Econ. Rural Develop. 175 (2015). Rev. 90, 31 (2015). 31, 165 (2015). Contact: Dr Louise Colville ([email protected]) Contact: Dr Louise Colville ([email protected]) Contact: Dr Tim Harris ([email protected]) www.kew.org Kew Scientist Spring 2015 Issue 47 7 New orchid in quarantine New species found in Kew glasshouses During a fieldtrip to the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia in November- Each year Kew scientists publish numerous New pitcher plant December 2013, André Schuiteman and species of plants and fungi from around the The longstanding Nepenthes research Christopher Ryan had permission to collect world that are new to science. Discovering collaboration of Martin Cheek (Kew) and a number of living orchid specimens for new species in the glasshouses at Kew, rather Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens, Kew. Among these was a small epiphytic than in a remote corner of the tropics, is Ireland) has resulted in many new species orchid, which superficially resembled the unusual. Nevertheless, two new species (a of Nepenthes being described. Twelve widespread Porpax elwesii. About a dozen pitcher plant and an orchid) have recently new species from the alone specimens were seen, all growing on the been discovered in Kew’s living collections. were published in 2013, resulting from trunk of a fallen tree. The flowering season examination of herbarium specimens of this species being almost over, only two loaned to Kew from diverse botanical flowers were left, which were collected and institutes. In addition to these, the sterile preserved in spirit. A few living plants were specimen ‘Elmer 14248’ collected in brought back to Kew, where they flowered a 1912 from Mt Masaya in Mindanao did year later in the Quarantine House. A closer not fit any known species. While verifying examination of the bell-shaped flowers identifications of the living collections in revealed that it was not P. elwesii, but an Kew’s glasshouses, Martin Cheek noticed undescribed species. It differs from P. elwesii a plant mislabelled as N. copelandii that especially in the much broader petals that connected it to the Elmer specimen. are covered with large, translucent warts. Eventually the living plant flowered, The new orchid will soon be published and and the herbarium specimen made named in Kew Bulletin. from it was a close match for the Elmer Contact: André Schuiteman specimen. Records showed that the Kew ([email protected]) plant had been collected from Mindanao in 1997 from a location close the Elmer The undescribed species of Porpax specimen. The species has been named Photo: A. Schuiteman Nepenthes zygon, and it is only known from a small number of individuals at two locations in Mindanao, one of which is reported to have been cleared for timber, so the species has been assessed as Critically Endangered. Blumea 59, 144 (2014).

Nepenthes zygon Photo: M. Cheek Contact: Dr Martin Cheek ([email protected]) New books Treasured Trees (by MSc in Plant and Fungal M. Yamanaka, C. Taxonomy, Diversity and Curating Biocultural Harrison & M. Rix; Kew Collections: A Publishing, 2015; ISBN Conservation Handbook (Eds J. 978 18 42465 86 8) is In partnership with Queen Mary Salick, K. Konchar a celebration of the University of London, Kew will launch a & M. Nesbitt, Kew oldest and finest trees new joint MSc course in Plant and Fungal Publishing, 2014; growing at the Kew, with Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation ISBN 978 18 2464 beautiful botanical art by Japanese artist in September 2015, based at Kew. With 98 4) provides Masumi Yamanaka. only a small percentage of the planet’s advice for successful On the Forests of Tropical Asia: Lest the Memory diversity formally described by science, management of collections that Fade (by P. Ashton; Kew Publishing/Arnold it is more important than ever to train document the richness and diversity of Arboretum, 2015; ISBN 97 8 1 842464 75 a new generation of taxonomists who human engagement with the natural 5) is the first book to describe the forests of will go on to describe, understand and world. The book places a strong the entire tropical Asian region, from Sind conserve biodiversity. The new MSc emphasis on meeting the needs of to New Guinea. It opens with chapters on course delivers vital plant and fungal collection users and encourages ethical physical geography and geological history identification skills in combination with and equitable engagement with source and then moves on to address forest and a thorough grounding in molecular communities, and it gives valuable tree structure and dynamics, floristics, and systematics, evolutionary biology and insight into biocultural collections symbiotic organisms, as well as genetics, conservation policy, theory and practice. for anyone working to preserve these evolutionary history, species diversity, and The one-year taught Masters programme valuable resources. human impact. A final chapter covers future is designed for biology graduates or The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: An policy and practice options for saving what graduates of other relevant natural Annotated Checklist (by I. Darbyshire, remains. science degree courses. Applicants M. Kordofani, I. Farag, R. Candiga & Atlas of Wood Diversity in the Cerrado of São with relevant professional experience H. Pickering; Kew Publishing, 2015; Paulo (by J. Sonsin, P. Gasson, S. Machado, in science will also be considered. ISBN 978 18 4246 47 3) is the first C. Caum & C. Marcati; Editora FEPAF, 2014; Applications should be made through publication dedicated to the flora of ISBN 978 85 98187 50 1) describes the Queen Mary University of London. the Republic of Sudan and the recently Kew is also organizing an Applied , wood anatomy and macromorphology of 91 Identification and Field Survey Skills Course from 7 to 18 seceded Republic of South Sudan. It species of trees and shrubs collected in a 180 September, 2015. The course is designed for early career provides a baseline reference for all ha nature reserve in the state of São Paulo. environmental scientists and PhD students of any discipline, with competitive bursaries supported through NERC future botanical and conservation work funding. Contact: Dr Gemma Bramley ([email protected]) in the Sudan region. Order Kew Publishing books from kewbooks.com

Kew Scientist, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB. Editor: Dr M. Fay Editorial advisory team: Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5000 Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5310 Web: www.kew.org Production Editor: Dr G. Kite F. Cook, Dr C. Clubbe, Dr F. Forest, Dr E. Gaya, Published in Spring and Autumn. Design: Design team, RBG Kew Dr G. Lewis, Prof. M. Simmonds

8 RBG Kew receives about half its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).