Since the Monocots II meeting in 1998, significant new data have been published that enhance our systematic knowledge of Cyperaceae. Phylogenetic studies in the family have also progressed steadily. For this study, a parsimony analysis was carried out using all rbcL sequences currently available for Cyperaceae, including data for two new genera. One of the four subfamilies (Caricoideae) and seven of the 14 tribes (Bisboeckelereae, Cariceae, Cryptangieae, Dulichieae, Eleocharideae, Sclerieae, Trilepideae) are monophyletic. Subfamily Mapanioideae and tribe Chrysitricheae are monophyletic if, as the evidence suggests, Hellmuthia is considered a member of Cypereae. Some other features of our analysis include: well-supported Trilepideae and Sclerieae-Bisboeckelereae clades; a possible close relationship between Cryptangieae and Schoeneae; polyphyletic tribes Schoeneae and Scirpeae; the occurrence of Cariceae within the Dulichieae-Scirpeae clade, and a strongly supported clade, representing Cyperus and allied genera in Cypereae, sister to a poorly supported Ficinia-HellmuthiaIsolepis-Scirpoides clade. Such patterns are consistent with other studies based on DNA sequence data. One outcome may be that only two subfamilies, Mapanioideae and Cyperoideae, are recognized. Much further work is needed, with efforts carefully coordinated among researchers. The work should focus on obtaining morphological and molecular data for all genera in the family.

The purpose of this catalogue was to combine the available data from publications, theses, databases, and herbarium specimens from around 120 Herbaria, and colections sampled in Brazilian vegetation during the last 15 years to produce the most complete list, as possible as, of Cyperaceae species for Brazil. We catalogued ca. 1,700 names for 678 species in 42 genera occurring in Brazil. These values represent ca. 15 percent of the species and 40 percent of the genera found in the world. Both subfamilies of Cyperaceae are found in Brazil with Cyperoideae being the most diverse at both generic and specific levels. Although lower species were recorded for the tribes Cryptangieae, Sclerieae, and Trilepideae, these tribes represent a much higher percentage of the world's totals for genera and species. The most diverse genera are Rhynchospora (157 spp.), Cyperus (101 spp.), Scleria (82 spp.) and Eleocharis (69 spp.). Fifteen genera have one species in Brazil, although five of them are monospecific. The most species-rich regions in Brazil are the North and Southeast. There are no genera endemic to Brazil. There are, however, around 200 endemic species, of which 40 are in the genus Rhynchospora. Taxonomic and nomenclatural problems found are pointed under the species. For each catalogued species, the principal synonyms, bibliographic references, distribution within Brazil's five regions, vegetation type, and citation of selected material examined are provided.

The tribe Rhynchosporeae comprises the genera Rhynchospora and Pleurostachys and has never been studied using molecular techniques. The objective of this study was to use an analysis of trnL-F sequences to evaluate the hypothesized taxonomic divisions within the Rhynchosporeae including the monophyly of the genera and the soundness of the subgenera and sections. A total of 44 ingroup species were studied, 41 of Rhynchospora representing 22 of Kükenthal's 28 sections, and three of Pleurostachys. Five outgroup species from other genera were also included. The cladistic analysis of 50 trnL intron and trnL-F intergenic spacer sequences resulted in 16 trees and a strict consensus tree. The Rhynchosporeae form two well-supported primary clades with several well-supported smaller clades, many of which agree with previously hypothesized sections. Pleurostachys is embedded within the second primary clade.

The strong genetic differentiation between southeastern Caatinga and the remaining regions may indicate the occurrence of a cryptic species in . The unique genetic composition of each inselberg population suggests in situ conservation as the most appropriate protection measure for this plant lineage.

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RESUMO -(Diversidade polínica das Mimosoideae (Leguminosae) ocorrentes em uma área de caatinga, Pernambuco, Brasil). O município de Mirandiba, Pernambuco, considerado prioritário para a conservação da caatinga, apresenta cerca de 25% das espécies de Leguminosae do bioma, sendo 23 espécies em 13 gêneros da subfamília Mimosoideae, das quais 6 espécies são endêmicas. Dezenove táxons desta subfamília tiveram seus grãos de pólen caracterizados por microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura, ilustrados e incluídos em uma chave de identifi cação. A morfologia polínica dos táxons estudados é muito variada, principalmente em relação às unidades de dispersão, sendo encontradas desde mônades, em Neptunia e Desmanthus; políades com oito grãos de pólen, uniplanar em Calliandra depauperata e multiplanar em Mimosa spp. e Pityrocarpa moniliformis, políades com 16 grãos de pólen, em Anadenanthera, Inga, Parapiptadenia, Pithecellobium e Senegalia, tétrades também em espécies de Mimosa, e políades amorfas com 32 grãos de pólen, presentes em Chloroleucon e Pithecellobium. Essas diferenças aliadas a caracteres morfométricos e da ectexina possibilitam a identifi cação da maioria dos táxons de Mimosoideae de Mirandiba. Palavras-chave: Leguminosae, Mimosoideae, caatinga, políade, tétrade ABSTRACT -(Pollen diversity of Mimosoideae taxa (Leguminosae) from a caatinga region, Pernambuco, Brazil). Mirandiba municipality in Pernambuco, is a prioritary conservation area for caatinga. It has almost 25% of Leguminosae species from the caatinga, where 23 species in 13 genera belong to the Mimosoideae subfamily and 6 species are endemics. The pollen grains of 19 mimosoid taxa were characterized by their pollen grains using light and scanning electron microscopy. All taxa are illustrated and keyed. Pollen morphology of these taxa is varied, mainly regarding pollen units; we found monads in Neptunia and Desmanthus; 8-grain uniplanar polyads in Calliandra depauperata and multiplanar ones in Mimosa spp. and Pityrocarpa moniliformis, tetrads also in Mimosa, polyads with 16 pollen grains in Anadenanthera, Inga, Parapiptadenia, Pithecellobium and Senegalia, and polyads with 32 pollen grains in Chloroleucon and Pithecellobium. Different pollen units allied to other morphometric and ectexine characters were useful to identify most mimosoid taxa from Mirandiba.

Species delimitation remains a central problem in systematic, taxonomic and evolutionary studies. However, the precise delimitation of species depends on the criteria used to identify lineages and the specific species concept that is applied. Recently, multidisciplinary studies using different data sources have significantly improved the delimitation of species within complex taxonomic groups, leading to an integrative taxonomy. To investigate the species delimitation within the Atlantic clade of Epidendrum (subg. Amphyglottium), four different species criteria were examined (phenetic differentiation, mono–phyly, diagnosability, absence of genetic intermediates). Morphometrics, plastid DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers were used to explore the agreement between patterns recovered and species criteria tested. The conflicts among species criteria are discussed in light of pollination ecology, patterns of gene flow, reproductive isolation mechanisms and selective pressures currently acting in deceptive orchid species. Four currently recognized species from the Atlantic clade could be delimitated, including one newly described species, Epidendrum flammeus. Three out of five species satisfied the monophyly criterion, and few diagnostic flower characters were found among species. In contrast, nuclear microsatellite data correctly assigned individuals to their respective species, even in the presence of weak reproductive isolation and extensive hybridization events reported in the literature. One important implication of this finding is that phylogenetic studies in Epidendrum spp. should make use of single– or low–copy nuclear loci instead of plastid markers, which may be true for other plant groups. The results also indicate that the generalized pollination syndrome found among species of the Atlantic clade, the different levels of gene flow observed between nuclear and plastid markers, and hybridization events are commonly observed as the main evolutionary forces within this orchid group. Finally, we discuss evolutionary processes and taxonomic limits among these species, and we highlight the need to increase the inter–disciplinary approach to investigate species limits in complex plant groups.

RESUMO -(Anatomia e ultra-estrutura foliar de Cyperus maritimus Poir. (Cyperaceae): estratégias adaptativas ao ambiente de dunas litorâneas). Foram analisados aspectos anatômicos e ultra-estruturais foliares de Cyperus maritimus Poir. visando identificar caracteres adaptativos ao ambiente de dunas litorâneas. Para isto, indivíduos ocorrentes nas dunas da Praia de Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, tiveram as folhas submetidas a diferentes análises: microscopia de luz, eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão. Em vista frontal, a epiderme possui tricomas unicelulares, corpos de sílica, cutícula estriada e depósitos de cera. Em secção transversal, a epiderme é unisseriada com parede periclinal externa espessa. Os estômatos são paracíticos, podendo o ostíolo estar obstruído por cera. Abaixo da face adaxial observa-se o parênquima aqüífero. Os feixes vasculares ocorrem em múltiplas fileiras, sendo as periféricas compostas por feixes de diâmetro menor que os feixes da fileira central. Foram observados caracteres relacionados à síndrome Kranz do tipo clorociperóide. Aspectos ultra-estruturais, como cloroplastos presentes na bainha do feixe, esses sem grana evidentes, entre outras características, reforçam a possível ocorrência da via C 4 nesta espécie. É a primeira citação para o gênero Cyperus de cloroplasto nas celulas do tecido vascular. Neste trabalho foi possível observar vários caracteres importantes para plantas submetidas a estresse hídrico e salino, como: cera, células epidérmicas com parede periclinal externa espessada, parênquima aqüífero e síndrome Kranz. Palavras-chave:Cyperus, Kranz, anatomia, ultra-estrutura, salinidade ABSTRACT -(Leaf anatomy and ultrastructure of Cyperus maritimus Poir. (Cyperaceae): adaptive strategies for coastal dune environment). Anatomical and ultrastructural aspects of Cyperus maritimus Poir. were analyzed with the aim of identifying adaptive features for the dune environment. Collections were made at Pipa beach, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Leaves were submitted to different analyses: light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In frontal view, the epidermis has unicellular trichomes, silica bodies, a striate cuticle and wax deposits. In transverse section, the epidermis is uniseriate with thickened outer periclinal walls. The stomata are paracitic and the pore sometimes obstructed by wax. Under the adaxial epidermis, there are several layers of aqueous parenchyma. The vascular bundles occur in multiple rows, the peripheral row having bundles with narrower diameters than the central row. Characters related to Kranz syndrome of the chlorocyperoid type were observed. Ultrastructural features support a possible C 4 pathway in this species. This work is the first citation of chloroplasts in the cells of the vascular system for the genus. In this study, it was possible to observe several important features of plants submitted to water and salt stress, such as: wax, thickened outer periclinal walls of the epidermal cells, aqueous parenchyma and Kranz syndrome.