TY - JOUR T1 - Leaf epidermal features of Quercus subgenus Cyclobalanopsis (Fagaceae) and their systematic significance JF - Botanical Journal of the Linnean SocietyBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society Y1 - 2014 A1 - Deng, Min A1 - Hipp, Andrew A1 - Song, Yi-Gang A1 - Li, Qian-Sheng A1 - Coombes, Allen A1 - Cotton, Alexa SP - 224 EP - 259 KW - anatomy KW - evergreen oak KW - light microscope KW - SEM KW - trichome AB - Leaf epidermal features are important taxonomic features in Quercus. We studied leaf epidermal features of 91 species and one forma of Quercus subgenus Cyclobalanopsis using light and scanning electron microscopy. Trichome terminology in oaks was assessed and clarified, aiming to score the epidermal features accurately for genus-wide comparison. Nine trichome types, anomocytic and cyclocytic stomatal apparatus, smooth layer and platelet epicuticular wax flakes, and two trichome base types were found in subgenus Cyclobalanopsis. The epidermal features revealed three main groups in subgenus Cyclobalanopsis. The epidermal features of Quercus s.l. were uniform, supporting recognition of Cyclobalanopsis as a subgenus of Quercus rather than as a separate genus. Most leaf epidermal features show a mosaic pattern, although their numerous variations offered valuable resources for species identification. The leaf epidermal features that can be used for identification of Quercus leaves are also discussed and summarized. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 176, 224–260. VL - 176 SN - 1095-8339 JO - Bot J Linn Soc ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Application of plastid and nuclear markers to DNA barcoding of Euro-Mediterranean oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae): problems, prospects and phylogenetic implications JF - Botanical Journal of the Linnean SocietyBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society Y1 - 2013 A1 - Simeone, Marco C. A1 - Piredda, Roberta A1 - Papini, Alessio A1 - Vessella, Federico A1 - Schirone, Bartolomeo SP - n/a EP - n/a KW - cerris KW - ecology KW - ilex KW - phylogeny KW - regional sampling AB - DNA barcoding, a species identification system based on sequences from a short, standardized DNA region, has emerged recently as a new tool for taxonomists. We investigated the discriminatory power of a subset of highly variable proposed plant barcoding loci (matK, trnH-psbA, ITS2) in Quercus, a taxonomically complex tree genus of global importance. The research included all currently recognized species and some major variants of the Mediterranean region and Europe (32 taxa) and 17 East Asian and North American species used for comparison. Based on sequence character state, we assigned unique plastid haplotypes to 40.8% of the investigated species; ITS2 increased the resolution up to 87.8% of total taxa. Nevertheless, unsuccessful genetic distance-based discrimination questioned the potential efficiency of correct species identification for future studies. Most species appeared to be nonmonophyletic in parallel phylogenetic tests. Three subgeneric groups were outlined, with different rates of within-group variability and geographical differentiation. Members of one of these groups (corresponding to the Eurasian Group Ilex) were paraphyletic to Group Quercus from the New and Old World and the Eurasian Group Cerris. The data gathered indicate that barcoding markers may help to identify closely related species clusters and contribute to the inference of major diversification and evolutionary patterns in oaks, but the methodology per se appears to be of limited efficacy in defining species limits, unless we make a profound revision of traditional Quercus taxonomic categories. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 00, 000–000. SN - 1095-8339 JO - Bot J Linn Soc ER -