Comparative and functional leaf anatomy of selected Alstroemeriaceae of mainly Chilean origin

The resupinate leaves of 16 species of Alstroemeriaceae were examined using light- and scanning electron microscopy. The leaf anatomy is described for all of the species, that of the petiole and stem for selected species. The mesophyll consists of chlorenchyma and includes idioblasts that contain raphides. Dorsiventral, isolateral or isobilateral leaf types were observed. Petioles are always isolateral. Two epidermal types are commonly observed: type I contains jigsaw puzzle-like intercostal cells and longitudinally elongated cells above the veins; type II contains only longitudinally elongated cells, usually longer, above the veins. Some species have an epidermis which differs from the main types. All species show adaptation to resupination by having an inverted anatomy. Due to the twist of the leaves, adaxial indicates the lower surface and abaxial the upper. Stomata are found on both surfaces. Palisade cells, when they occur, are always on the abaxial surface. Most species are mesomorphic in spite of the dry environments in which they grow; a few show xeromorphic features. The leaves are compared and discussed with relation to ecological conditions.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 261−272.     

Leaf structure and cytochemical investigation of secretory tissues in Inula viscosa

Leaves of Inula viscosa have been used in medicine from ancient times. Structures or cells with secreting activity were localized and a spectrum of products was histochemically identified within them. Leaf extracts were investigated with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Calluses produced from leaf-cell cultures were also subjected to histochemical reagents and tested with GC-MS and TLC to investigate their secreting ability compared with that in leaves. Little-differentiated callus cells are synthetically active and produce, as do its leaf cells, numerous polar compounds that could be of pharmaceutical interest.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 437–448.     

Leaf and stem anatomy of Vochysiaceae in relation to subfamilial and suprafamilial systematics

Several leaf anatomical features are potentially systematically informative within both the family Vochysiaceae and the order Myrtales, notably tracheoidal idioblasts, mucilage cells and secretory canals. Tracheoids with spiral wall thickenings are present in the mesophyll of most species of Vochysia , and also occur in several other families of Myrtales. Mucilage cells are common in the leaf epidermis in some Vochysiaceae. Secretory ducts are present in the midrib in Salvertia and Vochysia , which are apparently closely related, although Salvertia also shares some leaf anatomical characters with Qualea and Callisthene . Anatomical data do not support the segregation of Ruizterania from Qualea ; leaves of R. albiflora leaves are very similar to those of Q. paraensis in venation pattern, and leaf and stem anatomy. Different venation patterns are characteristic of sections within the genus Qualea , but within the large genus Vochysia , leaf anatomy is variable even within a subsection. Amongst other Myrtales, leaf anatomy of Vochysiaceae most closely resembles that of Combretaceae and Onagraceae. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 138 , 339–364.     

A new species of Ferula (Apiaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Ferula coskunii H. Duman & M. Sağıroğlu sp. nov. from the Amanos Mountains (C6: Hatay-Turkey) is described and illustrated. It is closely related to F. drudeana Korovin, from which it differs mainly in habit, basal leaves, stem and mericarp features.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 357–361.     

A new spineless species of Vella (Brassicaceae) from the high mountains of south-eastern Spain

Vella castrilensis sp. nov. is described from the high mountains of Granada and Jaén provinces (south-eastern Iberian Peninsula), where it grows on calcareous soils. It is a hexaploid (2 n  = 68) spineless dwarf shrub, woody at the base, with oblong-lanceolate, entire to shallowly dentate leaves and fruit with an acute tongue-shaped stylar segment and strongly reticulate-nerved valves. The characteristic unique combination of vegetative, karyological and reproductive features of V. castrilensis is not present in any described taxon of the genus, and warrants recognition at the species rank. Affinities and differences with other related taxa are discussed. Phylogenetic, biogeographical, bioclimatic, ecological data and conservation proposals are also reported.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 121–128.     

A new species of Achetaria (Plantaginaceae) from south-eastern Brazil

A new species, Achetaria latifolia V.C.Souza, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its broadly ovate leaves, indument of stems and leaves of noncapitate hairs, and pubescent capsule. Achetaria latifolia is known only in the coastal dune-area of Cabo Frio region, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 73–75.     

A new annual species of Bellium (Asteraceae) from the Balearic Islands

A new species, Bellium artrutxensis (Asteraceae: Astereae), is described from the therophytic pastures of southern Minorca (Balearic Islands). The analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences showed that the new taxon was closely related to Bellium bellidioides , but differed with regard to the annual lifespan, the absence of epigeal stolons, and the presence of a patent eglandular indumentum on the leaves. The new taxon shows morphological features that are well suited for the colonization of dry environments with a marked summer drought, and may be of adaptive significance. The new species is diploid (2 n  = 18) and shows up to two accessory chromosomes in root tissues. B chromosomes have not been reported previously in other species of Bellium .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 65–77.     

A new species of Viola L. (Violaceae) from Sichuan, China

Viola muliensis Y.S. Chen & Q.E. Yang, a new species of Viola L. (Violaceae) from Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. Viola muliensis is endemic to Muli County, south-western Sichuan. This new species has yellow flowers with very short spurs and belongs to subsection Brevicalcaratae W. Beck., section Dischidium Ging. It is distinguished from other related species by having pedatipartite leaves.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 365–368.     

A distinctive new species of Viola (Violaceae) from Yunnan, China

A new species of Viola (Violaceae) from north-western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Viola dimorphophylla Y. S. Chen & Q. E. Yang sp. nov. is endemic to Zhongdian County, north-western Yunnan, and is very easily distinguishable from all other Chinese species of the genus by having obviously dimorphic leaves, with the basal ones being long petiolate, undivided and widely cordate, and the cauline ones sessile, linear and verticillate.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 115–119.     

Bauhinia larsenii, a fossil legume from Guangxi, China

Fossil leaves and a branch with a leaf and a pod attached have been discovered from Ningming County, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, and are described as Bauhinia larsenii sp. nov. (Leguminosae: Cercideae). The strata from which the Bauhinia fossils were collected, namely the Ningming Formation, were dated as Late Eocene–Oligocene based on a combination of pollen, fauna and flora. The affinity of the new species to Bauhinia section Micralvesia subsection Viridescentes species is also discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 437–440.     

A new species of Acantholimon Boiss. sect. Glumaria Boiss. (Plumbaginaceae) from Elazığ, Turkey

A new species, Acantholimon evrenii sp. nov. is described and illustrated for the first time in sect. Glumaria from Turkey. The species is confined to B7 Elazığ in East Anatolia where it grows on rocky mountain steppes. The diagnostic morphological characters from closely related species are given, along with a discussion dealing with its taxonomic relationship. Its conservation status is indicated. A revised key is also provided for the Acantholimon species with heterophyllous leaves, two or more flowered and four or more bracteated spikelets.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 351–356.     

马缨丹抑菌试验研究

目的：研究马缨丹的体外抑菌效果。方法：制备马缨丹水煎煮液和乙醇提取液,测定其对枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌圈直径、最小抑菌浓度及灭菌前后提取液抑菌效果的变化。结果：当两种提取液生药含量大于0.4 g/mL时,它们对三种细菌的抑菌效果依次为：枯草芽孢杆菌〉金黄色葡萄球菌〉大肠杆菌。马缨丹乙醇提取液对三种细菌的最小抑菌浓度分别为1/64g/mL1、/16g/mL和1/32g/mL,都比水煎煮液的结果1/32g/mL、1/8g/mL和1/16g/mL低。两种提取液经121℃高压蒸汽灭菌处理后对枯草芽孢杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制作用有所增强。结论：两种提取液对三种细菌均有不同程度的抑制作用,因此,马缨丹可考虑用于食品、化妆品及饲料防腐等领域,以提高产品质量。     

The histology and affinities of sinacanthid fishes: primitive gnathostomes from the Silurian of China

On the basis of well preserved specimens from the Lower Silurian of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Shiqian County, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China we describe in detail the histological structure of sinacanthid spines, the only known remains of a group of fishes common in Silurian strata from China. The sinacanthids have previously been assigned either to the acanthodians or to the chondrichthyans. The spine structure is composed of an outer layer of atubular dentine and an inner layer of globular calcified cartilage, and the nature and distribution of these tissues indicates that the spines were formed as a result of interaction between the endoskeleton and dermoskeleton. The tissue distribution and style of growth described herein places the sinacanthids crownwards of the placoderms, and possibly within the total group Chondrichthyes. However, before they can be firmly placed within a phylogenetic scheme, further evidence is required both on the general anatomy of sinacanthids and on the nature of chondrichthyan apomorphies.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 144 , 379–386.     

Occurrence of secretory structures in underground systems of seven Asteraceae species

In contrast with the abundance of anatomical studies of secretory structures on aerial vegetative organs of Asteraceae species, the information about secretory structures on thickened subterranean organs is sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of secretory structures on thickened and nonthickened subterranean organs of seven Asteraceae species from three tribes: Eupatorieae (Chromolaena squalida and Gyptis lanigera), Vernonieae (Chresta sphaerocephala, Lessingianthus bardanoides, L. glabratus and Orthopappus angustifolius), and Plucheeae (Pterocaulon angustifolium). The specimens were collected in areas of cerrado from the State of São Paulo, Brazil. All species of the tribe Vernonieae studied exhibited endodermic cells, other than the epithelial cells of the canal, with secretory activity in the roots. In C. sphaerocephala roots, two types of endodermic cell were found, but only one had secretory activity. Secretory canals were found in the tuberous and nontuberous roots of all studied species. These data agree with the results from the literature for Asteraceae species. Here, we describe for the first time in Asteraceae the presence of secretory idioblasts in C. sphaerocephala. Secretory trichomes are present in the Orthopappus angustifolius rhizophore. Histochemical tests have shown that all types of secretory structure possess substances containing lipids. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 789–796.     

A new species of Saussurea (Asteraceae) from Tibet and its systematic position based on ITS sequence analysis

A new species of Saussurea , S. erecta S. W. Liu, J. T. Pan & J. Q. Liu sp. nov. , is described from Tibet. It resembles S. kingii but may be distinguished by having distinct stems and glabrous achenes. Saussurea kingii was placed in sect. Pseudoeriocoryne of subgen. Eriocoryne ; this section was circumscribed by acaulescence and an inflorescence with congested capitula surrounded by a rosette of leaves. The discovery of S. erecta with distinct stems, cauline leaves and corymbose capitula blurred the delimitation of sect. Pseudoeriocoryne and suggested that the section may be polyphyletic. Both the close relationship and the significant difference between S. erecta and S. kingii were confirmed by analyses of nrDNA ITS sequences. The resulting phylogenies based on ITS data further suggest that Saussurea sect. Pseudoeriocoryne , as traditionally defined, does not constitute a monophyletic group. The rapid radiation and speciation of Saussurea in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, as inferred from ITS phylogeny, are discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 349–356.     

Karyotype differentiation between Koelreuteria bipinnata and K. elegans ssp. formosana (Sapindaceae) based on chromosome banding patterns

Koelreuteria Laxm., a genus in the tribe Koelreuterieae (Sapindaceae), includes three tree species that are widely recognized as having horticultural merit. The two more closely related species, K. bipinnata Franch. and K. elegans (Seem.) A. C. Sm., are easily distinguished from K. paniculata Laxm. by their bipinnate leaves. In this study, both species were investigated cytogenetically and their karyotypes and heterochromatic patterns were compared. Koelreuteria bipinnata and K. elegans ssp. formosana (Hayata) F. G. Mey. both have 2 n  = 32 but their karyotypes present slight morphological differences when observed using conventional staining. Chromosome banding patterns are reported for the first time for this genus. Both species exhibit terminal heterochromatic blocks, as revealed by C-Giemsa and C-CMA₃, but the band size varies between the species. Koelreuteria bipinnata has larger heterochromatic blocks and more GC-rich segments, while in K. elegans ssp. formosana these bands are smaller. The relationship between the karyotype features in these closely related species is discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 451–455.     

Shoot anatomy and secretory structures in Hypericum species (Hypericaceae)

The anatomy and ultrastructure of internodes, leaves and petals were compared in Hypericum elegans, H. inodorum, H. olympicum, H. forrestii and two genotypes of H. perforatum. Internode anatomy was variable between species with respect to the structure of the cortical and pith parenchyma, including the presence of secretory reservoirs. Also, the secondary growth was more extensive in shrubs, i.e. H. inodorum and H. forrestii. In leaves, phloem secretory reservoirs were formed in all species, mesophyll secretory reservoirs were absent only in H. elegans and internal nodules were present only in H. elegans and H. perforatum. The petals differed between species in the mesophyll structure and the occurrence and location of secretory structures. The phloem secretory reservoirs lacked sheaths, whereas these were distinct in the mesophyll reservoirs. Other ultrastructural traits of the reservoirs were similar in all the species studied, with the exception of the leucoplast ultrastructure. In internal nodules, the inner cells vs. sheath cells differed in the number of vesicles and other membranous structures and plastid ultrastructure. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 163 , 70–86.     

A new species of Orycteropodidae (Mammalia, Tubulidentata) in the Mio-Pliocene of northern Chad

A new species of fossil Tubulidentata has been found by the Mission Paléoanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne in Northern Chad. It is the first fossil Orycteropodidae (aardvark) from the Mio-Pliocene of Central Africa. The new taxon, Orycteropus abundulafus sp. nov. , is considered in the framework of the available Orycteropodidae fossil record. The Chadian specimen is characterized by the highest dental robustness index among all Tubulidentata, the presence of crests on the pterygoid, the triangular-shaped olecranon fossa and the reduction of the deltoid crest. All of these characters are linked to a less fossorial animal that had a tougher diet. This new African species is closer to the Eurasian O. gaudryi than to any other Tubulidentata. Together they form a clade distinct from that which includes O. afer . This is the first evidence of a relationship for aardvarks between Africa and Eurasia. An initial step is made towards revision of the phylogeny of the order.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 109–131.     

Geographical pattern of genetic variation in the Robertsonian system of Mus musculus domesticus in central Italy

The Robertsonian (Rb) system of Mus musculus domesticus in central Italy consists of three Rb races (CD, 2 n  = 22; CB, 2 n  = 22; ACR, 2 n  = 24), and additional Rb populations with new metacentrics have recently been reported. The aim of the present paper is to provide insight into the process of house mouse raciation in this area. Here we present new data concerning the geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes (control region sequence) in the three Rb races and in the surrounding standard populations. The presence of exclusive clades in all the three Rb races supports the idea of a past fragmentation event and a subsequent period of isolation. However, comparison of mtDNA polymorphism between Rb and standard races, and the shape of the mismatch distribution within the races, does not reveal any clear sign of a strong reduction in population size, at this geographical scale, related to race formation.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 84 , 395–405.