Karyomorphology of Sinadoxa (Adoxaceae) and its systematic significance

Karyomorphology of Sinadoxa corydalifolia and the karyotype of the diploid Adoxa moschatellina are investigated for the first time. Karyomorphological data indicate that Sinadoxa is directly akin to other two genera of the Adoxaceae, rather than related to Araliales; and three genera of the Adoxaceae should be a natural group. The karyomorphological combinations of the Adoxaceae delimit it from all taxa assumed to be related to it. The karyotype characteristics of all taxa of the Adoxaceae are compared and summarized. The mechanisms of speciation in the Adoxaceae are discussed.

The systematic significance of floral morphology, nectaries, and nectar concentration in epiphytic cacti of tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)

A long-standing interest in cactus taxonomy has existed since the Linnaean generation, but an appreciation of the reproductive biology of cacti started early in the 1900s. Numerous studies indicate that plant reproductive traits provide valuable systematic information. Despite the extensive reproductive versatility and specializations in breeding systems coupled with the striking floral shapes, the reproductive biology of the Cactaceae has been investigated in approximately 10% of its species. Hence, the systematic value of architectural design and organization of internal floral parts has remained virtually unexplored in the family. This study represents the most extensive survey of flower and nectary morphology in the Cactaceae focusing on tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae (subfamily Cactoideae). Our objectives were (1) to conduct comparative morphological analyses of flowers and floral nectaries and (2) to compare nectar solute concentration in these two tribes consisting of holo- and semi-epiphytic species. Flower morphology, nectary types, and sugar concentration of nectar have strong taxonomic implications at the tribal, generic and specific levels. Foremost, three types of nectaries were found, namely chamber nectary (with the open and diffuse subtypes), furrow nectary (including the holder nectary subtype), and annular nectary. All Hylocereeae species possess chamber nectaries, in which the nectarial tissue has both trichomes and stomata. The Rhipsalideae are distinguished by two kinds of floral nectaries: furrow and annular, both nectary types with stomata only. The annular nectary type characterizes the genus Rhipsalis. Nectar concentration is another significant taxonomic indicator separating the Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae and establishing trends linked to nectar sugar concentration and amount of nectar production in relation to flower size. There is an inverse relationship between flower size and amount of nectar production in the smaller Rhipsalideae flowers, in which nectar concentration is more than two-fold higher despite the smaller volume of nectar produced when compared to the large Hylocereeae flowers. Variability of nectary morphology and nectar concentration was also evaluated as potential synapomorphic characters in recent phylogenies of these tribes. In conclusion, our data provide strong evidence of the systematic value of floral nectaries and nectar sugar concentration in the Cactaceae, particularly at different taxonomic levels in the Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae. © 2013 Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics.

苦苣苔科比较胚胎学和花粉形态学研究及其系统学意义

本文对苦苣苔科的3族8属10种植物进行了比较胚胎学研究，得出该科植物的基本胚胎学特征是： 花药具4个小孢子囊，当花药达到成熟期时，每—侧的两个小孢子囊由于隔壁的消失而连通。药壁由1层表皮，1层药室内壁，12层中层和1层绒毡层组成。花药壁的发育属双子叶类型，表皮细胞宿存，药室内壁在小孢子母细胞分裂成四分体后即开始纤维状加厚，到花药发育至成熟时期，药室内壁径向延长并由内切向壁向外和向上发生带状的加厚，但在同侧的两个小孢子囊的连接处并不发生纤维状加厚，以利于花药的开裂。中层细胞在小孢子母细胞分裂前即受到挤压，到发育后期被挤扁，．在成熟花药壁上只残留—些痕迹。有些种类中层细胞不退化，与药室内壁一样纤维状加厚。绒毡层初时为单核，在小孢子母细胞终变期分裂成双核，而当单核小孢子形成后，绒毡层细胞的两核可融合成单核，随后便解体。绒毡层为分泌型，在四分体分离成小孢子以后向药室内分泌乌氏体。在小孢子母细胞分裂前，细胞周围有大量的胼胝质出现。胞质纷裂为同时型。具四面体型的四分体。散粉时花粉具二细胞。 胚珠倒生，单珠被，薄珠心，珠被内无维管组织。珠心表皮下的—层细胞发育成为孢原细胞并直接起大孢子母细胞的功能，其胞质分裂伴随着减数分裂形成—直列式四分体。四分体珠孔端三个大孢子受挤压退化，合点端的功能大孢子进—步发育，经三次分裂形成蓼型胚囊。成熟胚囊的珠孔端部分圆形，合点端细长，如容量瓶状。胚囊内具—个由两个助细胞和—个卵细胞组成的卵器、两个极核和三个反足细胞。助细胞在花粉管通过珠孔进入胚囊后退化。极核在受精前不久融合，反足细胞形成后不久便退化。珠孔端的珠心细胞在功能大孢子发育后被挤压退化，也有的种类突出珠孔形成珠心喙，而合点端部分珠被最内的—层细胞则进—步发育，细胞质变浓，核体积增大，围绕胚囊的合点端细长部形成珠被绒毡层，此结构由胚囊形成到种子成熟—直存在，其中有丰富的内含物。 珠孔受精。胚乳发育为细胞型，种子成熟时几乎完全被胚吸收。合点端发育出具2核单胞的侵入性吸器，直达表皮。珠孔端吸器具2细胞。两种吸器的形态因种属不同而有很大差异。胚胎发生属柳叶菜型。 比较和分析表明，苦苣苔科的胚胎学特征与玄参科（Scrophujariaccae)、列当科（Orobanchaceae）和爵床科(Acanthaceae)较为相似，反映出这几个科在系统关系上比较接近。苦苣苔科族级分类群之间的胚胎学特征有一定的差异，但族内各属种的胚胎学特征差异较小，发育类型尤其是早期的形成过程非常相似。本文研究涉及的分类群在花药壁层的结构、反足细胞退化和极核融合韵时期、胚形成与胚乳发育的相对时间、吸器的有无及其形态等方面有所不同。 本文同时对苦苣苔科3族23属72种花粉，其中包括长蒴苣苔族(Trib. Didymocarpeae)16属56种、芒毛苣苔族(Trib. Trichosporeae)4属12种及尖舌苣苔族( Trib. Klugieae)3属4种，进行了扫描电镜观察。对族下各属种的形态特征作了详细的描述，每种花粉从极面观、赤道面观及局部放大三个侧面照相记录。以族为基本类群,对其中的各属的花粉形态结合系统学特征进行了讨论。 由此研究得出苦苣苔科植物花粉的基本特征是：所有研究属种的花粉均具三拟孔沟，拟孔极不明显。形状为近扁球形、圆球形、近长球形和长球形，极面观圆形、近圆形、近三角形和三裂圆形，赤道面观为圆形、近圆形、椭圆形和长圆形，不同材料各有差异，但在属内水平上基本—致。各属植物在花粉沟的形态和表面纹饰上有一定的区别。 在长蒴苣苔族中，本文对雇柱苣苔属(Chirita Buch．-Ham．ex D．Don)花粉进行了着重研究。结果表明：唇柱苣苔属在组内各种的花粉形态具有明显的相似性，但在组之间则有较大的差异。对本族其它各属的研究结果则充分表明各属花粉的形态特征有明显差别，可以从花粉形状、大小、沟的构造、沟膜的特点及表面纹饰等方面加以区分 在芒毛苣苔族中，紫花苣苔(Loxostigma griffithii)花粉沟膜表面残留着网状的覆盖层( tectum)，这种覆盖层可能代表—种较原始的性状。．在芒毛苣苔属’( Aeschynanthu8)中，花冠的檐部通常呈现不明显二唇形的显苞芒毛苣苔组(Sect．Haplotrichum)和大花芒毛苣苔组(Sect. Diplotrichum)的花粉粒较小，而花冠的檐部明显二属形的黄杨叶芒毛苣苔组(Sect. hlicrotrichium)、小齿芒毛苣苔组(Sect. Xanthanthos)以及全尊芒毛苣苔组(Sect．Aeschynanthus)的花粉粒较大。因此，花冠檐部的结构与花粉粒的大小表现出—定的相关性．在尖舌苣苔族中，异叶苣苔属( Whytokia)和尖舌苣苔属(Rhynchoglossum)的花粉沟较短，后者和十字苣苔属( Stauranthera)的沟膜表面具有密集或稀疏的颗粒状突起。河口异叶苣苔( Whytokia hekouensis)花粉沟的分化不明显，其沟膜上残留着网状的覆盖层可能代表着—种较原始的性状。具聚伞花序的盾座苣苔属( Epithema)和圆果苣苔属( Gyrogyne)，其花粉沟界极区及其沟间区呈皱波状(apocolpia and mesocolpia rugulate)，代表另一种演化方向。根据本文研究结果，并参考国内外有关报道，分别提出了芒毛苣苔族和尖舌苣苔族的以花粉特征为依据的分属检索表。

Floral Organogenesis and Development of two Taxa in Tribe Hyoscyameae (Solanaceae)-Przewalskia tanguitca and Hyoscyamus niger

Floral organogenesis and development of Przeivalskia langutica Maxim, endemic to China and Hyoscyamus niger L. , which belong to the tribe Hyoscyameae (Solanaceae), were studied using scanning electron microscope. They have three common characters of floral organ initiation and development: 1) initia-tion of the floral organs in the two species follows Hofmeister's rule; 2) the mode of corolla tube development belongs to the "late sympetaly" type; 3) primordia of the floral appendages initiated in a pentameroua pattern and acropetal order. But initiation of the calyx-lobe primordia showed different modes in these two species. The calyx-lobe primordia of H, niger have simultaneously whorled initiation, while those of P, tangulica have helical initiation, but the five calyx-lobe primordia form a ring after all five calyx-lobe primordia occur. The systematic significance of the present results in the genera Hyoscyamus and Przeivalskia is discussed in this paper.

Floral organogenesis and development of two taxa of the Solanaceae - Anisodus tanguticus and Atropa belladonna

Floral organogenesis and development of two Solanaceae species, Anisodus tanguticus and Atropa belladonna, were studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as part of a project on systematics and evolution in the tribe Hyoscyameae. These two species share the following common characters of floral organ initiation and development: (1) initiation of the floral organs in the two species follows Hofmeister's rule; (2) the mode of corolla tube development belongs to the "late sympetaly" type, namely, petals are initiated separately and later become joined by fusion of their basal meristem, then rise together and form a corolla tube; (3) primordia of the floral appendages are initiated in a pentamerous pattern and acropetal order: sepals are initiated first, followed by the petals and stamens, and finally the carpels. The whorl of five stamen primordia forms almost simultaneously and originates opposite the sepal primordia, but initiation of the sepal primordia shows different modes in the two species. The sepal primordia of Anisodus tanguticus have simultaneously whorled initiation, while those of Atropa belladonna have helical initiation. The systematic significance of the present results in the genera Anisodus and Atropa is discussed in this paper.

A macro- and micromorphological survey of floral and extrafloral nectaries in the epiphytic cactus Rhipsalis teres (Cactoideae: Rhipsalideae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology and development of anthers and ovules in Croton and Astraea (Euphorbiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Zur systematischen Relevanz von Juglandaceen-Blättern unter besonderer Berücksichtigung fossiler Funde aus der Grube Messel und dem Eckfelder Maar

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Blattmerkmale der Juglandaceen auf ihre systematische Verwertbarkeit hin untersucht. Ein Datensatz mit 62 Blattmerkmalen von 48 rezenten Juglandaceen-Arten wurde zusammengetragen. Zusätzlich wurden vier fossile Blattformen erfasst. Die fossilen Blätter stammen aus zwei Fundstätten des deutschen Eozäns. Der Datensatz wurde mit dem Computerprogramm MacClade® auf ein Phylogramm aus Manos und Stone (2001) übertragen (‚character mapping’). Zusätzlich wurde eine Hauptkomponentenanalyse mit dem Computerprogramm PAST® durchgeführt. Die meisten taxonomischen Einheiten der Juglandaceen konnten mithilfe des ‚character mapping’ wiedererkannt werden, die dafür verantwortlichen Blattmerkmale haben somit ihre systematische Signifikanz unter Beweis gestellt. Weiterhin konnte eine Evolutionstendenz des Induments belegt werden. Zwischen den ursprünglichen und den abgeleiteten Juglandaceen-Taxa ist eine zunehmende Differenzierung des Induments zu beobachten. Die fossilen Blattformen bildeten in der Hauptkomponentenanalyse eine eindeutig erkennbare Gruppierung, die von allen rezenten Taxa der Analyse separiert ist. Demnach lassen sie sich nicht durch einen Vergleich mit rezenten Blättern systematisch zuordnen. Die fossilen Blattformen der Juglandaceen bestätigen die hier belegte Evolutions-tendenz des Induments. Sie stehen mit ihren ursprünglichen Indumentstrukturen am Ausgangspunkt der Indumentevolution.

Pollen morphology and its in systematic and ecological significance in Rheum (Polygonaceae) from China

Pollen morphology of 40 species of Rheum, belonging to eight sections, was investigated under LM and SEM. Four new exine patterns were found in the species: a) microcchinate-foveolate, b) rugulate, c) verrucate-perforate, and d) verrucaterugulate ornamentation. In addition, two patterns, the Rheum-type pollens with microechinate-perforate and fine-reticulate, as previously described, were also confirmed in the present study. Based on above study the evolution trends of pollen morphology in the taxa involved were discussed phylogenetically as below. As microechinate-perforate exine pattern existed commonly, the pattern is, therefore, regarded as the most primitive among all the six types. The fine-reticulate type was thought as a derivative type, deriving from the basic micro echinate-foveolate-perforate pattern, and followed by the rugulate and verrucate-perforate ornamentation. The verrucate-rugulate ornamentation should be the most advanced. More than one pollen type often exist in most of the sections in Rheum. The pollen morphology of Rheum was strongly correlated with its geographical and ecological distribution. Three medicinally important species R. officinale, R. palmation and R. tanguticum can be palynologically distinguished by their ornamentations.

Karyomorphology of Biebersteinia Stephan (Geraniaceae) and its systematic and taxonomic significance

The systematic and taxonomic position of Biebersteinia Stephan has long been in dispute. The present paper describes for the first time the karyomorphology of two species in Biebersteinia Stephan. Both species commonly showed the interphase nuclei of the simple chromocenter type and the mitotic prophase chromosomes of the interstitial type. The karyotype formulae of both B. heterostemon and B. odora were 2n=10=2m(2sec)+8sm(2sec), belonging to the 3A type of Stebbins' classification. The karyotype of this genus is recorded for the first time. The basic chromosome numbers of four of the five known species of Biebersteinia have been recorded as x=5. The combination of resting nuclei of the simple chromocenter type, mitotic prophase chromosomes of the interstitial type, two pairs of chromosomes with four obvious secondary constrictions at the mitotic prophase and metaphase stages, and the peculiar 3A karyotype in Biebersteinia can be regarded as the karymorphological marker of this genus. The karyomorphological data presented here do not support the traditional grouping of this genus in Geraniaceae. The unique karyomorphology of Biebersteinia justifies its familiar or ordinal status, which is congruent with embryological, anatomical, chemical and molecular data. The systematic position of Biebersteinia needs further study.