Cacalia

Abstract: Agricultural production of rubber and other hydrocarbons in the United States may be compatible with increased food and fiber production if entire plants are harvested and processed for fiber, protein, and carbohydrate as well. Thus, procedures and criteria have been established for the preliminary evaluation of plant species as potential multi-use hydrocarbon-producing crops. Previously, 106 species representing 44 families and 81 genera were evaluated. Now an additional 100 species representing 13 additional families and 60 additional genera have been evaluated, and some of these species also offer promise as future crops. Several Labiatae are high in natural rubber (NR) content;Pycnanthemum incanum (Mountain Mint) andTeucrium canadense (American Germander) were evaluated as promising species. Three Compositae,Cacalia atriplicifolia (Pale Indian-Plant),Solidago graminifolia (Grass-leafed Golden-rod), andSolidago rigida (Stiff Goldenrod) were also evaluated as promising species for NR.Campanula americana (Tall Bellflower, Campanulaceae) has potential as a source of both oil and NR.Euphorbia dentata (Euphorbiaceae ) does not produce NR but is very high in protein and oil contents.Sassafras albidum (Sassafras, Lauraceae ) is of interest for its rapid growth rate in combination with a high oil content. A few other species offer some promise.

Abstract: The family Compositae is generally recognised as one of, if not the, largest of the families of flowering plants in the world with an estimated 25,000 species (effrey 1978) in about 1500 genera (effrey, pers. comm.). Roughly half are from the New World and are centred in Central and South America. Using these figures an estimate can be made as follows c. 3,000 species, i.e. about 25% of the 12,500, for the Brazilian Compositae which would place the family on a par with its general representation in most floras, i.e. c. 10%. The family is one of the most dominant in arid, semi-arid and montane vegetation types, but is absent or very poorly represented in tropical rain forests. The tribe Senecioneae Cass. is one of the larger tribes in the family with an estimated 3,400 species, about a third of these occurring in the New World. Cabrera (1985) has recently provided a breakdown of the numbers of species of Senecio in several countries in the New World, clearly demonstrating that the genus is relatively poorly represented in Brazil. A draft list was compiled by the present author a year or two ago in response to interest in the Brazilian Compositae, especially in the state of Bahia. The stimulus for this revised checklist of Brazilian Senecioneae came largely from three excellent papers, by Cabrera (1950, 1957) and Cabrera & Zardini (1980), on east tropical South American taxa and the results of several projects initiated since; one (effrey 1992) has required significant changes to the draft list following a review of the tribe on a global scale. A study of the protologue and accompanying illustration of Cacalia dichroa Bong., (Bongard 1838) suggests a strong similarity with Graphistylis organensis (Casar.) B. Nord. and G. itatiaiae (Dusen) B. Nord. as indicated by Cabrera (1957). The latter two species were placed in the genus Graphistylis (Dusen) B. Nord., which is characterised by having penicillate apical appendages to the style arms, auriculate basal anther appendages, glabrous achenes and radiate capitula, usually with few rays. One of the obvious difficulties in placing C. dichroa alongside these other two species was the presence of discoid capitula reported by Bongard. Examination of the type (LE), confirmed the presence of ray-florets;

Abstract: Because Eurasian samples of Neoerysiphe collected on the Asteraceae were not identical in morphology, the molecular and morphological differences among these specimens were compared with those of the American N. cumminsiana. Neoerysiphe on Asteraceae was found to consist of at least four different species. Three of them are described as new species, viz. N. hiratae, N. joerstadii, and N. nevoi. Neoerysiphe hiratae is a Japanese species parasitizing hosts belonging to the genera Cacalia and Ligularia (tribe Senecioneae). Neoerysiphe joerstadii was found in Israel on Phagnalon rupestre (tribe Gnaphalieae). Neoerysiphe nevoi was recorded in Israel and Ukraine on a number of hosts in different genera but all belonging to tribe Cichorieae. Thus, Eurasian Neoerysiphe species infecting the Asteraceae are strongly specialised to particular tribes of this family. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the three new species were not closely allied. Neoerysiphe hiratae is related to the American N. cumminsiana and species belonging to Oidium subg. Striatoidium. Neoerysiphe nevoi is sister to N. geranii, and N. joerstadii is allied to N. galii. In addition, Ukrainian Neoerysiphe samples on Geranium were phylogenetically and morphologically identical to Japanese samples of N. geranii, and this fungus seems to be an invasive species in Ukraine.