Improving educational functions in botanic gardens by employing landscape narratives

Landscape narrative, combining landscape and narrative, has been employed to create storytelling layouts and interpretive information in some famous botanic gardens. In order to assess the educational effectiveness of using "landscape narrative" in landscape design, the Heng-Chun Tropical Botanical Garden in Taiwan was chosen as research target for an empirical study. Based on cognitive theory and the affective responses of environmental psychology, computer simulations and video recordings were used to create five themed display areas with landscape narrative elements. Two groups of pupils watched simulated films. The pupils were then given an evaluation test and questionnaire, to determine the effectiveness of the landscape narrative. When the content was well associated and matched with the narrative landscape, the comprehension and retention of content was increased significantly. The results also indicated that visual preference of narrative landscape scenes was increased. This empirical study can be regarded as a successful model of integrating landscape narrative and interpretation practice that can be applied to the design of new theme displays in botanic gardens to improve both the effectiveness of interpretation plans and the visual preference of visitors. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evolutionary patterns in neotropical Helieae (Gentianaceae): evidence from morphology, chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences

Parsimony-based phylogenetic analyses of the neotropical tribe Helieae (Gentianaceae) are presented, including 22 of the 23 genera and 60 species. This study is based on data from morphology, palynology, and seed micromorphology (127 structural characters), and DNA sequences (matK, trnL intron, ITS). Phylogenetic reconstructions based on ITS and morphology provided the greatest resolution, morphological data further helping to tentatively place several taxa for which DNA was not available (Celiantha, Lagenanthus, Rogersonanthus, Roraimaea, Senaea, Sipapoantha, Zonanthus). Celiantha, Prepusa and Senaea together appear as the sister clade to the rest of Helieae. The remainder of Helieae is largely divided into two large subclades, the Macrocarpaea subclade and the Symbolanthus subclade. The first subclade includes Macrocarpaea, sister to Chorisepalum, Tochia, and Zonanthus. Irlbachia and Neblinantha are placed as sisters to the Symbolanthus subclade, which includes Aripuana, Calolisianthus, Chelonanthus, Helia, Lagenanthus, Lehmanniella, Purdieanthus, Rogersonanthus, Roraimaea, Sipapoantha, and symbolanthus. Generic-level polyphyly is detected in Chelonanthus and Irlbachia. Evolution of morphological characters is discussed, and new pollen and seed characters are evaluated for the first time in a combined morphological-molecular phylogenetic analysis.

The gynoecium of male Anchietea pyrifolia (Violaceae): Preserved structure with a new function

Structure of inflorescences and flowers and flowering behaviour are reported for the woody liana Anchietea pyrifolia (Violaceae) from Brazil. The specimen studied is grown for some decades now in the greenhouses of Halle Botanical Garden and turned out unisexually male, which adds a further example of dioecism to the family Violaceae, in which this type of sex distribution is rarely encountered. The flowers are exceptional also for the strongly asymmetric anterior petal, which represents a rare case of a species with enantiomorphic flowers pollinated by Lepidoptera. They have a fully developed gynoecium with a complicated architecture comparable to the pistil of bisexual Violaceae flowers, though without ovules. The style head is capable to release viscose liquid on tactile stimulation or pressure, which is known to act as pollen-gathering mechanism in bisexual Violaceae species with usually dry pollen and buzz-pollination. This function has switched in male A. pyrifolia to a mechanism for efficient pollen release mediated by insect pollinators from its short-lived flowers. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Indicadores de desempenho do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

This document presents the research developed to define performance indicators for the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Comprehends a bibliographical survey on enterprises evaluation, with special emphasis on the public sector, the indexes used by similar institutions and a proposal of indicators that allow measuring the Botanic Garden performance. A list of ideal indicators had been produced, followed by an analysis of the ones that can already be adopted based on the data available.

Propagação de espécies nativas com potencial ornamental : Kelissa brasiliensis (Baker) Ravenna e Sinningia lineata (Hjelmq.) Chautems

A pesquisa em tecnologia de sementes contribui para a manutenção de bancos de germoplasma. Kelissa brasiliensis (Baker) Ravenna e Sinningia lineata (Hjelmq.) Chautems são espécies nativas com potencial ornamental. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram desenvolver testes para a germinação de sementes, conhecer a qualidade fisiológica de lotes coletados in situ, desenvolver protocolos de propagação vegetativa e conhecer estratégias reprodutivas no ambiente. Avaliaram-se o vigor, bem como o comportamento germinativo das sementes em diferentes substratos, temperaturas e condições de luz. Foram realizados experimentos com propagação vegetativa de S. lineata. O trabalho foi conduzido no Laboratório de Sementes da Fepagro, no Jardim Botânico de Porto Alegre e na Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS. Durante as coletas, foi feita a observação dos nichos das espécies. O delineamento experimental foi completamente casualizado com quatro repetições de 10 e 20 sementes para K. brasiliensis e S. lineata, respectivamente; para S. lineata, três tratamentos com 17 repetições foram utilizados no experimento com estaquia, e nove tratamentos com quatro repetições para o teste de divisão dos tubérculos. A comparação das médias foi realizada através do teste de Duncan (P<0,05). A temperatura mais adequada para a germinação de sementes de K. brasiliensis foi 10ºC, o que explica a sua restrita distribuição ao bioma Pampa; a combinação 24h/25ºC levou a uma liberação maior de lixiviados na condutividade elétrica; o envelhecimento acelerado (72 h em 41ºC e 100% de umidade) não provocou redução significativa no percentual de germinação das sementes de K. brasiliensis. Já as sementes de S. lineata não germinaram após serem expostas ao estresse. A temperatura mais adequada para o teste de germinação de sementes de S. lineata foi 20ºC; para ambas espécies, o substrato papel e a presença de luz foram as condições mais adequadas para a germinação. S. lineata demonstrou ser facilmente propagada por sementes e via assexuada, o que revelou a rusticidade característica das espécies rupícolas.

A new species of Tontelea from Amazonian Peru and Ecuador, and notes on the Tontelea attenuata species group (Celastraceae, Hippocrateoideae)

Tontelea fuliginea differs from other species whose stamens alternate with undivided stigma-lobes by its profusely ramified, many flowered, and densely dirty-brown puberulous inflorescences. This paper also provides a synopsis and key of the group of species with alternate stamens and 3-lobed stiomas with undivided lobes (T. attenuata group). Four lectotypes are designated for previously published names: Tontelea longifolia, Tontelea micrantha, Tontelea corrugulata, and Salacia micrantha var. lancifolia.

Edaphic characterization of a forest savanna ecotone in southeastern Brazil

Edaphic characterization of a forest savanna ecotone in southeastern Brazil. This study was motivated by the scarcity of studies involving descriptions of edaphic horizons in the transition from savanna to forest. It aims at comparing the chemical features and the texture of savanna and forest soils in one ecotone, and at considering possible edaphic influences on vegetation. In areas pertaining to the Botanical Garden of Bauru, State of São Paulo, two-meter deep pits were opened in different parts of a seasonal semi-deciduous forest and of a forested savanna to directly collect soil samples in different horizons. The physicochemical analysis revealed high contents of different nutrients, e.g., Ca and Mg, and low contents of Al in the superficial horizons of the seasonal forest, which were classified as eutrophic. Conversely, all the forested savanna horizons were considered as dystrophic. These edaphic features may be due to the different microenvironments of the studied phytocenoses.

Análise estrutural e considerações sobre a dinâmica sucessional de dois fragmentos florestais semideciduais do Jardim Botânico Municipal de Bauru, SP, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chromosome numbers and their taxonomic implications for eight Brazilian andropogons (Poaceae: Andropogoneae)

Eleven chromosome counts are reported for Brazilian populations of eight species of Andropogon. Counts for five of the species are first reports for the species. Four of these species, A. arenarius, A. glaziovii, A. lateralis, and A. lindmanii, are hexaploids (n=30) and belong to a group of about a dozen species informally referred to as the Andropogon lateralis complex. Two other species of this complex, A. bicornis and A. hypogynus, we also found to be hexaploids, in agreement with previous reports. Diploid counts (n=10) for A. macrothrix (a first report) and A. virgatus (the same as two previous reports) support the morphological affinities of these two species to other species complexes within Andropogon. © 1986 the New York Botanical Garden.

Anatomy of scapes, bracts, and leaves of Paepalanthus sect. Diphyomene (Eriocaulaceae, Poales) and its taxonomic implications

Paepalanthus sect. Diphyomene comprises 18 species with a convoluted taxonomic history. Aiming to correlate anatomical structures with the systematics of this group and its relatives, we studied the anatomy of scapes, reproductive axis bracts, and leaves of 20 Paepalanthus species. Bracts and leaves show differences in epidermal cell thickening; mesophyll width; vascular bundle arrangement; presence or absence of a hypodermis; types of cells in the vascular bundle sheath extensions; margin shape and composition; and presence or absence of aquiferous parenchyma. Scapes differ in contour, rib number, and pith size. Some diagnostic characters found are presence of aquiferous parenchyma and absence of vascular bundle sheath extensions in leaves of P. urbanianus; vascular bundles decreasing in size towards the margin of leaves and bracts, and scapes with a triangular contour in P. flaccidus; scapes with nine ribs in P. acanthophyllus and ten in P. macer. All anatomical features are summarized in tables. These results aid in the identification and characterization of the species of P. sect. Diphyomene. They also support the current section circumscription, reinforcing the relevance of the anatomical characters in order to define natural groups. © 2012 The New York Botanical Garden.

Pollination ecology of the Cerrado species Eschweilera nana (Lecythidaceae subfam. Lecythidoideae)

Eschweilera nana is pollinated by a guild of pollinators consisting of mostly bees. Effective pollinators are large bees able to force their way into the closed androecium to access nectar. The morphology of the flowers diminishes self pollination and promotes cross-pollination. Although many pollinators make diurnal visits to the flowers, fruit set was very low in comparison with the number of flowers produced. Breeding system tests yielded only two fruits, one produced by xenogamy and another one in the control test. The results of this study are consistent with studies of other Cerrado plants pollinated by guilds of insects and support the conclusion of other pollination studies of Lecythidaceae that fruit set is low in comparison with the high numbers of flowers produced. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden.

Caracterização fisionômica de fragmentos vegetacionais do distrito de Rubião Júnior, minicípio de Botucatu, São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O Programa de Educação Ambiental do Jardim Botânico Municipal de Bauru (Bauru-SP): a busca por uma identidade

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC