Andean orogeny is considered as one of the most important events for the developmentof current plant diversity in South America. We compare available phylogenetic studies anddivergence time estimates for plant lineages that may have diversified in response to Andeanorogeny. The influence of the Andes on plant diversification is separated into four major groups:The Andes as source of new high-elevation habitats, as a vicariant barrier, as a North-Southcorridor and as generator of new environmental conditions outside the Andes. Biogeographicalrelationships between the Andes and other regions are also considered. Divergence timeestimates indicate that high-elevation lineages originated and diversified during or after the majorphases of Andean uplift (Mid-Miocene to Pliocene), although there are some exceptions. Asexpected, Andean mid-elevation lineages tend to be older than high-elevation groups. Mostclades with disjunct distribution on both sides of the Andes diverged during Andean uplift.Inner-Andean clades also tend to have divergence time during or after Andean uplift. This isinterpreted as evidence of vicariance. Dispersal along the Andes has been shown to occur ineither direction, mostly dated after the Andean uplift. Divergence time estimates of plant groupsoutside the Andes encompass a wider range of ages, indicating that the Andes may not benecessarily the cause of these diversifications. The Andes are biogeographically related to allneighbouring areas, especially Central America, with floristic interchanges in both directionssince Early Miocene times. Direct biogeographical relationships between the Andes and otherdisjunct regions have also been shown in phylogenetic studies, especially with the easternBrazilian highlands and North America. The history of the Andean flora is complex and plantdiversification has been driven by a variety of processes, including environmental change,adaptation, and biotic interactions

/pdf/phylogenetic-insights-into-andean-plant-diversification-2vjoru8xxw.pdf

Phylogenetic insights into Andean plant diversification

Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae), commonly known as stinging nettle, is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the group of phytoalimurgic vegetables, including the wild edible species that were all used in the past when there was a shortage of food. The plant is well known from everybody for the dermatitis it causes when touched, due to biochemical mediators such as histamine and acetylcholine. Recently there was a rediscovery of the plant as food and medicine because of the range of biological activities exhibited such as antirheumatic, anti-infective, immuno-modulatory, anti-hyperglycaemic, and allergy relief. This review, providing a botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview of the species, aims to contribute to arouse interest in the scientific community on this promising plant.

Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica L.: botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview

Pulling the sting out of nettle systematics - A comprehensive phylogeny of the genus Urtica L. (Urticaceae).

The stinging nettle Urticadioica L. is a perennial crop with low fertilizer and pesticide requirements, well adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. It has been successfully grown in most European climatic zones while also promoting local flora and fauna diversity. The cultivation of nettle could help meet the strong increase in demand for raw materials based on plant fibers as a substitute for artificial fibers in sectors as diverse as the textile and automotive industries. In the present review, we present a historical perspective of selection, harvest, and fiber processing features where the state of the art of nettle varietal selection is detailed. A synthesis of the general knowledge about its biology, adaptability, and genetics constituents, highlighting gaps in our current knowledge on interactions with other organisms, is provided. We further addressed cultivation and processing features, putting a special emphasis on harvesting systems and fiber extraction processes to improve fiber yield and quality. Various uses in industrial processes and notably for the restoration of marginal lands and avenues of future research on this high-value multi-use plant for the global fiber market are described. 

/pdf/nettle-a-long-known-fiber-plant-with-new-perspectives-10rzk916.pdf

Nettle, a Long-Known Fiber Plant with New Perspectives

Polyploidy is one of the major forces of plant evolution and widespread mixed-ploidy species offer an opportunity to evaluate its significance. We therefore selected the cosmopolitan species Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), examined its cytogeography and pattern of absolute genome size, and assessed correlations with bioclimatic and ecogeographic data (latitude, longitude, elevation). We evaluated variation in ploidy level using an extensive dataset of 7012 samples from 1317 populations covering most of the species' distribution area. The widespread tetraploid cytotype (87%) was strongly prevalent over diploids (13%). A subsequent analysis of absolute genome size proved a uniform Cx-value of core U. dioica (except for U. d. subsp. cypria) whereas other closely related species, namely U. bianorii, U. kioviensis and U. simensis, differed significantly. We detected a positive correlation between relative genome size and longitude and latitude in the complete dataset of European populations and a positive correlation between relative genome size and longitude in a reduced dataset of diploid accessions (the complete dataset of diploids excluding U. d. subsp. kurdistanica). In addition, our data indicate an affinity of most diploids to natural and near-natural habitats and that the tetraploid cytotype and a small part of diploids (population from the Po river basin in northern Italy) tend to inhabit synanthropic sites. To sum up, the pattern of ploidy variation revealed by our study is in many aspects unique to the stinging nettle, being most likely first of all driven by the greater ecological plasticity and invasiveness of the tetraploid cytotype.

Polyploid evolution: The ultimate way to grasp the nettle.

The taxonomy of subcosmopolitan Urtica dioica L. s.l. is problematic. Recent floras recognize Urtica dioica as a subcosmopolitan species ranging throughout the entire holarctic region and also South Africa and New Zealand. Numerous infraspecific taxa have been proposed, especially in western Eurasia. There is only weak character differentiation, with floral and fruit morphology largely uniform, details of leaf morphology and indumentum are therefore primarily used for species delimitation, together with some characters of gender distribution and growth habit. The present study addresses the enigmatic relationships of the infraspecific taxa in Urtica dioica with a special emphasis on the monoecious, American representatives of Urtica dioica s.l. The study is based on extensive field and herbarium studies, molecular data and the experimental cultivation of all relevant forms. Infraspecific taxa currently assigned to U. dioica are retrieved mainly on two separate clades, one comprising the predominantly polygamous western Eurasian and African taxa (all subspecies and varieties sampled), the other comprising the monoecious American taxa. Monoecious American representatives of “ Urtica dioica” and closely allied taxa ( U. aquatica, U. mollis ) are retrieved as a monophyletic group sister to a clade with East Asian and Australasian species, this clade is then retrieved as sister to the western and central Eurasian and African taxa of U. dioica . We therefore advocate the removal of the American representatives of this group from Urtica dioica and their placement as infraspecific taxa under Urtica gracilis . The following new names are consequently proposed: Urtica gracilis subsp. gracilis (for Urtica dioica subsp. gracilis ), Urtica gracilis subsp. holosericea, comb. nov . (for Urtica dioica subsp. holosericea ), Urtica gracilis subsp. aquatica , comb . & stat. nov . (for Urtica aquatica ), Urtica gracilis subsp. mollis , comb . & stat. nov . (for Urtica mollis ). Additionally, we describe a new subspecies from Peru under the name Urtica gracilis subsp. incaica . The literature report of Urtica gracilis ( dioica subsp. gracilis ) as an introduced weed in New Zealand is shown to be erroneous – the corresponding specimens belong to Australian Urtica incisa . Based on gross morphology close affinities have been proposed between a range of Australasian, Asian, North American and European infraspecific taxa, all of these can be shown to be erroneous.

/pdf/weeding-the-nettles-ii-a-delimitation-of-urtica-dioica-l-2itrtkr0ja.pdf

Weeding the Nettles II: A delimitation of "Urtica dioica L." (Urticaceae) based on morphological and molecular data, including a rehabilitation of Urtica gracilis Ait.

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Weeding the Nettles II: A delimitation of "Urtica dioica L." (Urticaceae) based on morphological and molecular data, including a rehabilitation of Urtica gracilis Ait.