THE PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF ANEMIA COLIMENSIS

The unique leaf structure of the genus Anemia with its upright fertile basal pinnae has been interpreted as derived from the typical fern leaf with unmodified basal pinnae. Reported herein for the first time is the leaf morphology of a species, Anemia colimensis Mickel, which shows the most primitive condition known in the genus and clearly confirms the course of evolution. The fertile pinnae are but little modified in size, lamination, and posture. Although A. colimensis has characters of two subgenera, it is shown to be a primitive element in subgen. Anemiorrhiza and not a member of subgen. Coptophyllum as previously reported.     

INVESTIGATIONS OF ANGIOSPERMS FROM THE EOCENE OF NORTH AMERICA: STIPULATE LEAVES OF THE RUBIACEAE INCLUDING A PROBABLE POLYPLOID POPULATION

A comparative study was made of the gross morphology, fine venation and cuticular features of Leitneria fioridana Chapman, the single living representative of the order Leitneriales and Leitneria eocenica (Berry) Brown, presumbaly a related fossil species. In addition to the type material, newly collected fossil specimens were investigated from clay pits in the Middle Eocene, Claiborne Formation, of western Tennessee and Kentucky. Foliate stipules attached to the petioles of several specimens suggest the assignment of this fossil leaf type to the genus Leitneria is incorrect. The nature of the gross morphology, fine venation and cuticular features confirms the misidentification. Previously, various specimens of this fossil leaf type have been placed in eight species of seven genera in seven families of six angiosperm orders, none of which are correct systematically. The gross morphology, venation and cuticular characters of the fossil leaf are distributed among a few extant South American genera of arborescent Rubiaceae. The fossil is an extinct rubiaceous leaf type which cannot be placed within a single modern subfamily, tribe or genus of the family. The organ genus, Paleorubiaceophyllum is proposed for these leaves. Three varieties of a single fossil species, P. eocenicum, are recognized. One variety with epidermal cells nearly twice the size of the others may represent a polyploid population.     

INVESTIGATIONS OF ANGIOSPERMS FROM THE EOCENE OF NORTH AMERICA: RHAMNUS MARGINATUS (RHAMNACEAE) REEXAMINED

Leaf compressions, previously assigned to Rhamnus marginatus Lesquereux, were collected from the Middle Eocene Claiborne Formation of western Kentucky and Tennessee. The leaf architecture and cuticular features of over 40 compressions were carefully examined and compared to those of many extant species of Rhamnaceae and related families as well as fossil specimens previously assigned to this taxon. This leaf type appears to belong to the Rhamnaceae, however, it conforms more closely to species of several genera in the tribe Zizypheae than to those of Rhamnus or other genera in the tribe Rhamneae. Confident assignment to any specific genus within this complex of genera cannot be made on the basis of leaf characteristics alone and would require discovery and analysis of additional vegetative and reproductive organs. Because this fossil leaf form cannot be confidently assigned to any modern genus and earlier classifications appear to be improper, this leaf type has been reassigned to the taxon Berhamniphyllum claibornense gen. et sp. nov. The transfer of this leaf form at the tribe level reaffirms the need for close examination of taxonomic determinations made by early workers.     

THE ANATOMY AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF ANNULARIA HOSKINSII SP. N.

Foliage attached to calamitean shoots is described from coal ball petrifactions of Middle and Late Pennsylvanian age. Leaves correspond to the compression-impression genus Annularia and thus represent the first attached members of this genus to be recognized as petrifactions. Individual leaves contain a single unbranched vascular bundle flanked by wide lateral laminar areas which occupy more than half the leaf cross sectional area. Stomata are confined to broad bands within concave furrows which parallel the vascular bundle on the abaxial leaf surface. Epidermal cells within these furrows are in rows aligned obliquely to the leaf axis, and the rows angle outward at a slight angle towards the leaf margin. Convolutions of the leaf-bearing axes result from nodal diaphragms which are oblique to the shoot axis. Whorled leaves apparently radiate outward in the plane of each obliquely positioned nodal diaphragm. This petrified material helps explain the apparent flattening of entire nodal diaphragms and leaf whorls within the same plane as seen in compression specimens. Annularia hoskinsii sp. n. is proposed, and the systematic position of structurally preserved Annularia foliage relative to the genus Dicalamophyllum is discussed.     

A BIOSYSTEMATIC STUDY OF TRIDENS (GRAMINEAE)

Tateoka , Tuguo . (U. Montréal, Montréal, Canada.) A biosystematic study of Tridens (Gramineae) . Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(7): 565–573. Illus. 1961.—The genus Tridens has been studied from cytological, morphological, anatomical and histological points of view. Species of Tridens can be divided into 2 groups according to the characters of caryopses, stigmas, lemmas, paleas and general habit. In accordance with the morphological disparities, the 2 groups have different appearances of the anatomy of leaf margins and midribs and also of the bicellular microhairs on the epidermis of the leaf blade. Further, the 2 groups have different basic chromosome numbers, x=8 and x=10, and some distinction in karyotype. Somatic chromosomes of 8 species have been examined. The evidence given by the combined studies indicates that Tridens should be regarded as a mixture of 2 phylogenetically distant groups. Based on this conclusion, the 5 species representing one of the 2 groups (T. pilosus, T. avenaceus, T. grandiflorus, T. nealleyi and T. pulchellus) are transferred to the genus Erioneuron which is hereby revived. Nomenclatural changes are made for the species of the revived genus.     

ANATOMICAL STUDIES OF CATHAYA (PINACEAE)

Cathaya Chun et Kuang is a monotypic genus and one of the gymnosperms endemic to China. We investigated Cathaya argyrophylla with both light and scanning electron microscopy to study the external and internal surfaces of leaf cuticle, leaf blade, petiole, shoot apex, young stem, bark, wood, young and old roots, and mycorrhizae. It is shown that Cathaya has unique characteristics as well as common features of the Pinaceae, there being a difference between Cathaya and Pinus and the rest of the family. So far as the vegetative organs are concerned, the genus is most closely related to Pseudotsuga and Larix. Data derived from the study of structures of vegetative organs of Cathaya are very different from those of reproductive organs, indicating the complexity of the problem of systematics and evolution in these plants. However, the present study supports the view that Cathaya should not be included in the genus Pseudotsuga as a new species.     

INVESTIGATIONS OF NORTH AMERICAN CYCADEOIDS: TRUNKS FROM WYOMING

Delevoryas , Theodore . (University of Illinois, Urbana.) Investigations of North American cycadeoids: trunks from Wyoming . Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(9): 778–786. Illus. 1960.—A study was undertaken of the cycadeoid trunks from Wyoming to more fully understand the morphology and evolutionary significance of these trunks and to determine the validity of the genus Cycadella. The stem named Cycadeoidea (or Cycadella) utopiensis is not the same morphologically as those from Carbon County, Wyoming, and because of its unknown source, it is not a reliable specimen for the study of cycadeoids from the Morrison formation. The Morrison, Carbon County specimens included in Ward's genus Cycadella were shown to have trunk structure, leaf bases, and cones like those in Cycadeoidea. The cone vascular bundle is derived from a fusion of 4 leaf traces. From the fused bundle complex, 4 leaf traces are separated farther out in the cortex, and 1 of these supplies the subtending leaf. In spite of the relatively complex pattern of cone trace formation, there does not seem to be any significant means of distinguishing specimens called Cycadella from the more common Cycadeoidea. Furthermore, it is evident that the genus Cycadeoidea represents a fairly homogeneous group with a wide geographic and geologic range. Pattern of formation of cone traces is interpreted as possible further evidence for regarding cycadeoid cones as portions of foliar systems.     

NOTES ON SOME GRASSES. XVI. EMBRYO STRUCTURE OF THE GENUS ORYZA IN RELATION TO THE SYSTEMATICS

Three distinct types of embryo have been found in 18 species of the genus Oryza. Type 1 is characterized by lateral fusion of the epiblast and the scutellum and also by the development of auricles. Type 2 has no auricle, and the epiblast is not laterally fused with the scutellum. Type 3 has a cleft between the lower part of the scutellum and the coleorhiza, a long epiblast which is free from the scutellum, and lacks auricles. Type 1 has been found in 13 species of section Sativae, Type 2 in 4 species of sections Granulatae and Coarctatae, and Type 3 in O. coarctata only. The results indicate that species of section Sativae are more or less closely related, while section Coarctatae is a heterogeneous group. A new section, Ridleyianae, has been described for Oryza ridleyi and some other species. Oryza coarctata has unique features in embryo structure, morphology and leaf anatomy, and this species has been moved from the genus Oryza to a separate genus, Sclerophyllum, which is here revived.     

THE ANATOMY OF BARBACENIOPSIS,A NEW GENUS RECENTLY DESCRIBED IN THE VELLOZIACEAE

Although the two species in Barbaceniopsis—B. boliviensis and B. vargasiana—have in common many features which support their inclusion in one genus, there are also obvious differences in the depth of leaf furrows, absence of hairs in B. vargasiana, and type of girder sclerenchyma in the leaf. The presence of vessels in the leaf has been demonstrated. The frequent observation that the roots cling tightly only to stems of Vellozia species is shown to be characteristic of the family. A comparison of the three genera clearly indicates that there are obvious anatomical characters which help to distinguish Barbaceniopsis and Barbacenia from Vellozia. Although it is not suggested that Barbaceniopsis be reduced to synonymy, there can be no doubt that it is very closely associated with Barbacenia.     

STUDY OF THE ESSENTIAL LEAF OILS OF THE GENUS MONARDA (LABIATAE)

Vapor-phase chromatographic patterns obtained from the distilled essential oils of 20 taxa in the genus Monarda (Labiatae) are discussed. The influence of leaf tissue maturity, plant habitat, and oil storage upon the composition of the essential oils was investigated, as well as similarities of leaf and flower oils in the same plant. The taxa of the subgenus Cheilyctis have very similar chromatographic “fingerprints” which confirm their homogeneity. On the other hand, the polyploid subgenus Monarda has heterogeneous patterns of essential oil composition among its species. A population of M. fistulosa gave evidence of being a chemical race.     

RESURRECTION OF THE GENUS ENDOLEPIS AND CLARIFICATION OF ATRIPLEX PHYLLOSTEGIA (CHENOPODIACEAE)

The genus Endolepis was first described by Torrey in 1860 with E. suckleyi (E. dioica [Nutt.] Standley) as the only species, noting that it differed from species of Atriplex by the presence of perianth parts in the female flowers. Later, Standley described two additional species: E. covillei and E. monilifera. H. M. Hall and Clements merged Endolepis with Atriplex because they thought that the presence of perianth parts in female flowers was variable in Atriplex phyllostegia. It is now clear that this observation was erroneous; A. phyllostegia never has perianth parts in its female flowers. The plants that they examined that had female flowers with perianth parts were specimens of Endolepis covillei; only those with female flowers devoid of perianth parts were specimens of Atriplex phyllostegia. These two taxa differ by several other major attributes including differences in leaf shape, leaf anatomy, fruiting-bract size and shape, fruiting-bract appendages, and flowering habit, and therefore justify taxonomic separation. Also, because the presence of perianth parts in bracteolate female flowers is a rare attribute in the tribe Atripliceae, consistently absent in Atriplex, but always present in Endolepis, the retention of the genus Endolepis, separate from Atriplex, is deemed warranted. We propose that the genus Endolepis comprise two species, E. dioica and E. covillei. The species named E. monilifera by Standley is based on a specimen of Atriplex serenana Nels.     

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS OF CIRCAEASTER,OF KINGDONIA,AND OF SARGENTODOXA TO THE RANUNCULALES

The pollen of three monotypic genera, Circaeaster, Kingdonia, and Sargentodoxa has been examined by light and scanning electron microscopy and in the case of the last genus, also by transmission electron microscopy. The type of tectum found in Circaeaster and Kingdonia, derivations of a compound layer of striae, has a restricted distribution in the Order Ranunculales. Of 64 genera examined in this order only six had species with a similar tectum. They include Achlys, Epimedium, Jeffersonia, and Vancouveria of the Berberidaceae s.l., the controversial Hydrastis, and Trollius of the Ranunculaceae. Circaeaster and Kingdonia have been considered as related since both have rare and primitive vegetative characteristics, the most notable being open dichotomous leaf venation. They are probably best treated as a ditypic family, Circaeasteraceae. The pollen of Sargentodoxa, especially the structure of the exine, closely resembles that of the Lardizabalaceae. However, the fruits of Sargentodoxa have been considered to be distinct from those of the Lardizabalaceae, suggesting that it be treated as a separate, but closely allied, family.     

DIVERSITY AND HOST SPECIFICITY OF AZOLLA CYANOBIONTS1

A unique, hereditary symbiosis exists between the water fern Azolla and cyanobacteria that reside within a cavity in the dorsal leaf‐lobe of the plant. This association has been studied extensively, and questions have frequently been raised regarding the number and diversity of cyanobionts (cyanobacterial symbionts) among the different Azolla strains and species. In this work, denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and a clone library based on the 16S rRNA gene were used to study the genetic diversity and host specificity of the cyanobionts in 35 Azolla strains covering a wide taxonomic and geographic range. DNA was extracted directly from the cyanobacterial packets, isolated after enzymatic digestion of the Azolla leaves. Our results indicated the existence of different cyanobiont strains among Azolla species, and diversity within a single Azolla species, independent of the geographic origin of the host. Furthermore, the cyanobiont exhibited host‐species specificity and showed most divergence between the two sections of genus Azolla, Azolla and Rhizosperma. These findings are in agreement with the recent redefinition of the taxon Azolla cristata within the section Azolla. With regard to the taxonomic status of the cyanobiont, the genus Anabaena of the Nostocaceae family was identified as the closest relative by this work.     

中国特有属藤山柳属(猕猴桃科)植物的叶表皮形态及其分类学意义

由于形态特征变异和地理分布区域存在重叠,中国特有属藤山柳属(猕猴桃科)的物种划分问题长期以来存在争议,曾被分为20种或修订为含1种4个亚种的单型属。该研究选取了在形态和地理分布上有代表性的29个居群的184份标本,利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察了叶表皮形态和微形态特征,以探讨它们的分类学意义。结果表明:(1)藤山柳属植物叶表皮毛被的形态和微形态特征有3类,即光滑-短柱状毛、刚毛-长柱状毛/长刺毛、绒毛-单列多细胞毛,且这些特征在居群间差异明显,并各具明显的地理分布格局,支持把藤山柳属分为3类,即光滑类、刚毛类和绒毛类。(2)3类藤山柳植物在个别居群表现出部分同域分布现象,在峨眉山不同海拔高度的3个居群存在垂直地带性分布特点。(3)藤山柳属植物叶表皮的其他形态特征,如不规则型表皮细胞、6类气孔器、叶表皮初级蜡质纹饰以网状隆起为主,伴随着2～4类次级纹饰,在居群间变化多样等均没有明显的分类学意义。(4)由于具有相同的叶表皮形态特征和地理分布,建议把繁花藤山柳合并到绒毛藤山柳,故支持藤山柳属是1个正处于分化进程中的单型属,包括1个种3个亚种。     

EVOLUTIONARY STUDIES OF ATRIPLEX: PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF ATRIPLEX PLEIANTHA

Atriplex pleiantha Weber differs from all other species of Atriplex in having 1) multiple female flowers subtended by two bracts, 2) female flowers with a perianth, and 3) embryos with radicles pointing downwards. Because of these significant differences it is proposed that Atriplex pleiantha be elevated to the level of a separate genus and be designated Proatriplex pleiantha (Weber) Stutz & Chu. The closest relatives of Proatriplex appear to be Archiatriplex, Endolepis, Exomis, and Microgynoecium. These are all diploid, monoecious annuals, have non-Kranz type leaf anatomy, and female flowers with a perianth.     

苹果蓟属,东南亚大陆菊科一新归化属

该文报道了在泰国北部和中国西南部的菊科一个新归化属——苹果蓟属(Centratherum Cass.)。依据所采集的标本,详细描述了该属在东南亚大陆的唯一代表亚种苹果蓟 [Centratherum punctatum Cass. Subsp. fruticosum(S. Vidal)K. Kirkman ex Shih H. Chen, M. J. Wu & S. M. Li],并配以插图。苹果蓟与其所在属的其他种的区别在于该亚种叶片菱形至椭圆形,叶缘具不规则锯齿,先端微尖,总苞片基部硬化,先端无芒。文中还提供了苹果蓟的分布图,并讨论了其可能的传播途径。     

PSEUDOFAGUS IDAHOENSIS,N. GEN. ET SP. (FAGACEAE) FROM THE MIOCENE CLARKIA FLORA OF IDAHO

A new genus and species of Fagaceae are established for compressed leaves and attached fruits which represent one of the dominant taxa in the rich Miocene Clarkia flora of northern Idaho. The leaf and fruit morphology, cuticular and pericarp anatomy, and leaf phytoliths fall within the range of variation of the subfamily Fagoideae. The unique fruit consists of a large, exposed, distinctly keeled, trigonous nut and a diminutive basal cupule. The cupule has an apical frill of free, petiolate, leaflike appendages but lacks other ornamentation, and there is no evidence of a distinct Valvation. As no other genus of the Fagaceae has fruits with this combination of characters, a new genus is established and is referred to the subfamily Fagoideae. The Miocene genus seems most closely related to the extant genus Fagus.     

贵州30种杜鹃属植物叶背表皮显微形态特征

杜鹃属植物的分类历来都十分重视叶片表皮特征的分类学价值,无论是在各亚属之间还是在种及种下等级的划分中都很强调此类特征的作用。贵州省位于世界现代杜鹃分布中心边缘及向东部散布的过渡地带,省内自然分布的杜鹃种类资源丰富而又独具特色,包括很多尚未深入研究的特有类群。为进一步研究贵州杜鹃属植物的属下系统分类关系,该文对自然分布于贵州的30种杜鹃进行了叶背显微形态特征研究,其中有28种的叶背表皮特征为首次报道。研究材料全部来自采于贵州西北部百里杜鹃自然保护区内的杜鹃属植物,包括杜鹃亚属4种、糙叶杜鹃亚属1种、常绿杜鹃亚属22种、马银花亚属1种及映山红亚属2种,共计30种。研究方法为取成熟叶片处理后在JSM-6490型扫描电镜下对叶背表皮进行观测。叶背鳞片类型的划分方法参照前人工作。结果表明:这30种杜鹃叶片叶背表皮形态特征在电子显微镜下表现出明显的多样性,如有鳞类杜鹃具有鳞片而其他类群则无,叶表面有或无表皮毛,表皮毛排列稀疏或密生,气孔器未见或偶见,散生于乳突状或非乳突状突起之间,或角质层增厚气孔器下陷,内、外拱盖表面粗糙或光滑,气孔器周围有或无间断的条形突起,突起呈环状或羽状等,但在同一亚属或亚组中又呈现出或多或少的一致性。研究讨论表明,叶背表皮显微形态特征在杜鹃属植物的属下系统分类中具有重要的研究价值。     

Chemical constituents from Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. Stems and leaves and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical investigation of Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. Led to the isolation of 28 known compounds: 4 alkaloids (1–4), 1 pyranoglucoside (5), 1 benzoic acid and 5 benzoic acid derivatives (6–11), 10 phenylpropanoids (12–21), 4 flavone glucoside derivatives (22–25), 1 neolignan (26) and 2 sesquiterpenes (27–28). The structures of these compounds were identified using spectroscopic methods; their nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were compared with those previously reported. This is the first report on compounds 2–4, 10, and 12 isolated from D. morbiferus. Compounds 5 and 26 from the genus Dendropanax and 1, 6–9, 11, 13, 14–25, 27 and 28 from the family Araliaceae were isolated for the first time. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive chemical investigation of D. morbiferus stems and leaf compounds. Chemotaxonomic relationship between D. morbiferus and other Dendropanax species is also discussed.