Thailand is the biodiversity hotspot of genus Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae) and harbours 14 species belonging to K. subgenus Protanthium. To better understand the taxonomic circumscription and verify the taxonomic status, the present characterization of cytogenetic characters included all recognized and one undescribed species of K. subg. Protanthium from Thailand. Overall, 88 accessions of plant materials were analysed cytogenetically: 84 and 42 accessions were subjected to flow cytometry and karyology, respectively. Based on genome size and mitotic chromosome numbers, 74 accessions from all species investigated were putative diploid, whereas the others were putative polyploid: triploid (three accessions) and tetraploid (11 accessions). The cytogenetic evidence indicates that 2n = 2x = 22 is the diploid number and x = 11 is the base chromosome number for K. subg. Protanthium. The genome sizes among the diploid accessions ranged from 3.687 to 6.412 pg while high intraspecific variation in genome size was observed with up to 19.4%. Two species included accessions with different ploidy levels: K. rotunda L. (diploid, triploid and tetraploid) and K. takensis Boonma & Seansouk (diploid and tetraploid). The increase in genome size of tetraploid K. rotunda is nearly in correlation to the increase in ploidy level, whereas the triploid plants represent genome expansion with an approximately 11% larger than expected genome. Interestingly, tetraploid K. takensis displays genome downsizing of 15.3% compared to their diploids. The cytogenetic characteristics, together with morphology, unequivocally clarify the taxonomic status of a new species, named Kaempferia calcicola Noppornch. A revised identification key to species of K. subg. Protanthium is provided.

Citation: Nopporncharoenkul N., Sukseansri W., Nopun P., Meewasana J., Jenjittikul T., Chuenboonngarm N., Viboonjun U. & Umpunjun P. 2024: Cytotaxonomy of Kaempferia subg. Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) supports a new limestone species endemic to Thailand. – Willdenowia 54: 121–149. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54201

Version of record first published online on 28 June 2024 ahead of inclusion in August 2024 issue.

We propose a long-overdue subgeneric classification of Fagus and revision of its western Eurasian taxa based on population-level sampling of morphological and molecular data. The molecular sequence data bolstering this classification derive from nuclear-encoded genetic markers. Fagus subg. Fagus comprises twelve species, of which two occur in North America, four in western Eurasia, and six in East Asia. Fagus subg. Englerianae Denk & G. W. Grimm comprises three East Asian species. Application of a new species concept using fine-scale data justifies the recognition of previously overlooked cryptic taxa. Beech trees from western Eurasia are currently treated as one species, F. sylvatica L., with two subspecies. Despite this, several previous studies pointed out distinct differences between beech populations from Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus region, and the Hyrcanian forest region including the Talysh Mountains of Azerbaijan and the forests south of the Caspian Sea in Iran. All newly generated data indicate that the various Oriental beeches reflect divergences and speciation processes predating the split between the European beech and its eastern siblings. Therefore, based on morphological and molecular differences, we recognize four species in western Eurasia, the European F. sylvatica L., the chiefly northwestern Turkish F. orientalis Lipsky, the Caucasian F. hohenackeriana Palib., and the Hyrcanian F. caspica Denk & G. W. Grimm. Diagnostic genotypic characteristics are included in the descriptions.

Citation: Denk T., Grimm G. W., Cardoni S., Csilléry K., Kurz M. Schulze E.-D., Simeone M. C. & Worth J. R. P. 2024: A subgeneric classification of Fagus (Fagaceae) and revised taxonomy of western Eurasian beeches. – Willdenowia 54: 151–181. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54301

Version of record first published online on 2 October 2024 ahead of inclusion in December 2024 issue.

Allium dinaricum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species of A. sect. Codonoprasum from the NW Balkan Peninsula is described and illustrated. It is a late summer flowering geophyte occurring in several localities of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, where it usually grows in rupestrian calcareous stands from the coastal to mountain belts. The morphological traits, karyology (2n = 2x = 16), leaf anatomy, seed micromorphology and ecology of the new species are provided. Possible taxonomic relationships with other species occurring mainly in the E Mediterranean are also examined.

Citation: Bogdanović S., Anačkov G., Ćato S., Borovečki-Voska L., Salmeri C. & Brullo S. 2024: Allium dinaricum (Amaryllidaceae) a new s ecies of A sect Codono rasum from the Balkan Peninsula based on mor holo and kar olo – Willdenowia 54: 183–196.

Version of record first published online on 30 October 2024 ahead of inclusion in December 2024 issue.