Double migration of the endangered Tricyrtis formosana (Liliaceae) in Japan.

The Ryukyu Islands of Japan are a biodiversity hotspot due to geographical and historical factors. Tricyrtis formosana is a perennial herbaceous plant that commonly found in Taiwan. But only a few populations have been identified in a limited habitat on Iriomote Island, while populations of unknown origin occur near human settlements in an area on the main island of Okinawa.

 (Hydrangeaceae), a new species from Osumi Peninsula, southern Japan.

Tagane & S. Fujii, from the Kimotsuki Mountains in the Ohsumi Peninsula, southern Japan, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to in having three-petaloid calyx lobes in marginal flowers, but is distinguished by the larger stamen number, and longer styles and seeds.

Genomic insights into rapid speciation within the world's largest tree genus Syzygium.

Species radiations, despite immense phenotypic variation, can be difficult to resolve phylogenetically when genetic change poorly matches the rapidity of diversification. Genomic potential furnished by palaeopolyploidy, and relative roles for adaptation, random drift and hybridisation in the apportionment of genetic variation, remain poorly understood factors. Here, we study these aspects in a model radiation, Syzygium, the most species-rich tree genus worldwide.

Multiple origins of two Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) species endemic to the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands.

The genus, Ochrosia, is widely distributed from the West Indian Ocean throughout tropical Asia to the Middle Southern Pacific region. Ochrosia comprises many island-endemic species, suggesting that long-distance dispersal and isolation after migration are key factors for clarifying the diversification process. However, the phylogeny and biogeography of endemic Ochrosia species have not been evaluated well due to the difficulty of adequate sampling from the entire distribution range of the genus.