Recent plastid phylogenomic studies have helped clarify the backbone phylogeny of angiosperms. However, the relatively limited taxon sampling in these studies has precluded strongly supported resolution of some regions of angiosperm phylogeny. Other recent work has suggested that the 25,000-bp plastid inverted repeat (IR) region may be a valuable source of characters for resolving these remaining problematic nodes. Consequently, we aligned all available angiosperm IR sequences to produce a matrix of 24,702 aligned bases for 246 accessions, including 36 new accessions. Maximum likelihood analyses of the complete data set yielded a generally well-supported topology that is highly congruent with those of recent plastid phylogenomic analyses. However, reducing taxon sampling to match a recent 83-gene plastid analysis resulted in significant changes in bootstrap support at some nodes. Notably, IR analyses resolved Pentapetalae into three wellsupported clades: (1) superasterids (comprising Santalales, Caryophyllales, Berberidopsidales, and Asteridae), (2) superrosids (comprising Vitaceae, Saxifragales, and Rosidae), and (3) Dilleniaceae. These results provide important new evidence for a stable, well-supported phylogenetic framework for angiosperms and demonstrate the utility of IR data for resolving the deeper levels of angiosperm phylogeny. They also reiterate the importance of carefully considering taxon sampling in phylogenomic studies.

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Macro-and micromorphological characters of the seeds of 32 species belonging to Aizoaceae (26 species), Gisekiaceae (one species) and Molluginaceae (five species) were analysed for their taxonomic value. Seed morphology is found to be of considerable taxonomic value within the taxa investigated, although additional criteria are usually necessary for distinguishing the species. However, a subgroup of Trianthema , consisting of T. cussackiana , T. megasperma , T. pilosa , T. rhynchocalyptra and T. oxycalyptra var. oxycalyptra (Aizoaceae) shares the synapomorphy of seeds with scattered idioblast cells (papillae). There is little infrageneric variation within Sesuvium and Zaleya in contrast to Trianthema , whose seeds are considerably polymorphic. The fairly different seed structures found in Aizoaceae s.s . and Molluginaceae support their treatment as two distinct families. However, the position of Lineum (Molluginaceae) remains uncertain. Moreover, seed characters support the independence of Gisekia (Gisekiaceae) in a family of its own.

Pollen morphology of seven species of genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen was studied to show all possible characteristic features like shape, size, apertures, wall stratification, etc., with special reference to the specific characters of each pollen type. Four pollen types were recognized viz. Salvia aegyptiaca pollen type, Salvia deserti pollen type, Salvia palaestina pollen type and Salvia spinosa pollen type. Description of each type, a key to the investigated taxa as well as SEM micrographs of pollen types are provided. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Seed morphology of 29 taxa including 9 subgenera belonging to the genus Veronica was compared using scanning electron microscopy to assess their diagnostic value for systematic studies. Subgenus Beccabunga is the largest in this study represented by nine taxa. Seed surface often varies from ridged reticulate or verrucose/granulate reticulate to rugose-reticulate. Seed color and size have limited taxonomic significance as their variation is uninformative. Thereagainst, seed shape and seed coat ornamentation present informative characters that can be used efficiently in distinguishing the studied taxa. Our seed features support the DNA sequence data in showing close relationships between V. biloba and V. campylopoda, and between V. fruticans and V. fruticulosa. The present study indicates that V. anagallis-aquatica, V. anagalloides, V. comosa, and V. catenata have more or less the same seed features; consequently, these four former species are most likely representing a single species as reported by earlier studies. Furthermore, V. polita and V. persica are very similar in terms of seed characteristics. Our results justify placement of V. peregina within subgenus Beccabunga and support the monophyly of the subgenus Veronica.