Flowering Phenology, Pollination, and Fruit Set of Cypripedium macranthos var. rebunense, a Threatened Lady's Slipper (Orchidaceae)

Cypripedium macranthos var. rebunense, was preliminarily studied on Rebun Island, Hokkaido, Japan, for conservation of this threatened orchid. The functional longevity of individual flowers varied from 0 to 18 days, a determining factor being the wind conditions at the growing sites. The flower was self-compatible but needed a pollen vector for fruit production. It lacked nectar and adopted a deceptive pollination system. Queens of a bumblebee, Bombus pseudo-baicalensis, were found to be pollinators but their visits were infrequent. Fruit set was 8.3% at one study site but only 1.2% at another, probably due to interference from the many visitors who came to see the flowers. Based on the results, conservation and management of lady's slipper were discussed. The need for less human interference and for preservation of the interactions between lady's slipper and its pollinator or other plant species with floral rewards is stressed. Received 1 November 2000/ Accepted in revised form 15 March 2001     

Spatial genetic structure and clonal diversity of island populations of lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) from the Biebrza National Park (northeast Poland)

Three populations of the rare and endangered plant species Cypripedium calceolus were included in a study of genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure in the Biebrza National Park, northeast Poland. Analysis of 11 allozyme loci indicate that the populations of this species contained high genetic variability (P = 45.5%, A= 1.73). On the other hand, the genetic differentiation (FST = 0.014, P < 0.05) among C. calceolus populations was very low when compared to other species with similar life history characteristics. The observed high rate of gene flow (Nm = 18) may suggest that the populations studied derived from each other in the recent past. Five polymorphic allozyme markers identified 109 multilocus genotypes in three populations and the majority of them (67%) were population-specific. One of the populations studied, characterized by particularly extensive vegetative reproduction, showed the lowest clonal diversity (G/N = 0.15) and heterozygosity (HO = 0.111) values and the highest FIS(0.380), when compared to other two populations (G/N = 0.26-0.27, HO= 0.166-178, FIS = 0.024-0.055). This may indicate that clonal reproduction has an important influence on the genetic structure of C. calceolus populations. The longevity of genets, the out-crossing breeding system and the presence of recruitment from seeds are factors maintaining genetic diversity in C. calceolus.     

Flexible and reversible responses to different irradiance levels during photosynthetic acclimation of Cypripedium guttatum

Cypripedium guttatum can be found both in open and shady habitats. Photosynthetic acclimation of C. guttatum to different light availabilities was detected using measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis and leaf traits. When growing under low light conditions, C. guttatum exhibited a greater efficiency in photochemical utilization of absorbed light energy, and a lower ability for non-photochemical dissipation of excess light energy, as compared to the plants growing under high light conditions. Under intermediate light conditions, C. guttatum exhibited higher photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) than those under both low light or high light conditions. The differences in A(max) among three light environments was linked to the differences in biochemical efficiency, leaf N content (LNC) and leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA), but not to the differences of chlorophyll content. However, there were no significant differences in the light compensation points (LCP) and light saturation points (LSP) for photosynthesis for the plants growing under the three light conditions. These results indicate that the photosynthetic capacity of C. guttatum leaves allows for flexible and reversible responses to different irradiance levels. Photosynthetic acclimation in C. guttatum was affected by biochemical changes, the changes in LMA and ratio of Chl a/b. Successful acclimation of C. guttatum to a broad range of light levels likely allows for its wide geographical distribution. A level of about 45% sunlight appears to be optimal for photosynthesis.     

Comparative pollination biology in two sympatric varieties of Cypripedium macranthos (Orchidaceae) on Rebun Island,Hokkaido, Japan

Cypripedium macranthos sensu lato typically has purple‐pink flowers with no nectar and harvestable pollen. On Rebun Island, Hokkaido, Japan, purple‐pink‐flowered C. macranthos var. macranthos individuals rarely grow among numerous pale‐cream‐flowered C. macranthos var. rebunense plants. In both varieties, flower size is similar, their flowering periods completely overlap, and they share the same pollinator (Bombus pseudobaicalensis). However, in only one of 12 years from 2001 to 2012 did var. macranthos attain an annual fruit‐set ratio (an estimate of pollination success) higher than that of sympatric var. rebunense plants. These findings strongly suggest that in C. macranthos on Rebun Island, flower color results in the differential pollination success, because the pollinator prefers pale‐cream Cypripedium flowers and/or avoids purple‐pink ones, thereby producing pollinator‐mediated selection favoring pale‐cream flowers.     

杓兰属植物的开花和结实动态

作为被子植物中最进化的类群,兰科植物的开花和结实动态对制定其保护策略具有重要意义。利用20032007年的数据,对分布于四川黄龙寺自然保护区的5种杓兰的种群开花和结实动态进行了分析。结果表明所研究的所有杓兰种类均是自交亲和物种,但在自然条件下都必须依赖传粉媒介才能成功结实。尽管不同种类的杓兰植物具有不同的开花时间,但统计分析表明杓兰属植物的开花早晚与其结实率之间相关性并不显著,这可能因为不同的杓兰具有不同的传粉系统而导致的。而杓兰属植物的花期长短与结实率之间却呈显著的负相关,这可能是与杓兰属植物具有典型的欺骗性传粉系统相关的。另外,除绿花杓兰外,其他4种杓兰2003年的结实率明显高于20042007年间的结实率。而2003年一个突出的事件即是发生了SARS导致游客人数显著减少,暗示了人为活动对杓兰属植物成功结实具有比较大的影响。     

珍稀植物扇脉杓兰营养器官的解剖学研究

采用石蜡切片技术对扇脉杓兰营养器官的解剖结构进行了研究。结果表明：根状茎的薄壁细胞中含丰富的淀粉粒,维管柱中分布着排列紧凑的周木维管束;根的皮层发达,有的皮层细胞中存在真菌菌丝团,木质部与韧皮部呈辐射状相间排列,根和根状茎的内皮层细胞都形成马蹄形加厚结构。茎的表面分布气孔,皮层面积较小,皮层内部的基本组织发达,外韧维管束散生分布其中,茎和叶上都附有非腺性毛;叶为等面叶,叶肉细胞排列疏松,气孔主要分布于远轴面,略外凸,保卫细胞中含有叶绿体,叶缘处的叶肉组织中含有气腔结构。扇脉杓兰营养器官的这些特征与其荫蔽湿润的生境是相适应的。     

基于ISSR分子标记的西藏杓兰种群遗传多样性分析

西藏杓兰(Cypripedium tibeticum)是具有很高观赏和药用价值的兰科植物,已被列为中国优先保护的濒危植物。该研究采用ISSR分子标记技术,对采自中国西部地区的7个西藏杓兰种群进行遗传结构及遗传多样性分析,为中国野生西藏杓兰种质资源的保护提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)从100条ISSR引物中共筛选出12条多态性高、重复性好的引物,共检测出136个位点,多态位点百分率(PPB)达100%,总体Nei's基因多样性指数(H_e)和Shannon信息指数(I)分别为0.318 6和0.484 3,种群间的Nei's遗传距离在0.033 3～0.170 1之间,Nei's遗传相似度在0.843 5～0.967 3之间,总体遗传分化系数(G_(st))和基因流(N_m)分别为0.222 9和1.743 0。(2)基于UPGMA法和邻接法的种群系统聚类结果均显示出四川种群与陕西种群之间存在遗传分化。总体上西藏杓兰种群间遗传分化与地理隔离之间相关性不显著。研究认为,西藏杓兰种群在分子水平上具有丰富的遗传多样性,且四川种群与陕西种群已产生了遗传分化;ISSR分子标记可用于西藏杓兰种群遗传多样性、遗传结构及种群间遗传分化等方面的研究。     

Deceptive pollination of the Lady's Slipper Cypripedium tibeticum (Orchidaceae)

To test whether the nectarless flowers of Cypripedium tibeticum attract pollinators through mimicry like the allied species C. macranthos var. rebunense, pollination biology of C. tibeticum was investigated in western China. Although C. tibeticum was also pollinated by bumble bee queens, i.e. Bombus lepidus , B. lucorum and B. hypnorum , no special, rewarding model plants were found in the habitat. Field experimentation confirmed that the flowers were self-compatible but insects were required to transfer orchid pollen to the stigma. Both Bombus queens and workers were visitors, but queens were much more frequent than workers and only queens were effective pollinators. Floral functional morphology analysis showed that it was large queens rather than small workers that fitted well with the flowers of C. tibeticum. With the faint sweet-fruity scent, the minor floral fragrance compound, ethyl acetate, probably plays a role in attracting bumble bees by food deception. The dark flowers with the inflated, trap-like labellum are hypothesized to mimic the nest site of queens. Therefore, bumble bee queens tend to be attracted by C. tibeticum through nest site mimic combined with food deception. Considering that the co-blooming flowers of C. flavum are pollinated by the Bombus workers, and C. smithii pollinated by a queen, we suggest that using the same bumblebees with different body sizes as the pollinators is the main reproductive isolation between interfertile C. tibeticum and C. flavum, while C. tibeticum and C. smithii tend to hybridize naturally.     

杓兰属(兰科)中一个国产种类的新等级

丽江杓兰大围山变种(Cypripedium lichiangense vat．daweishanense)被提升为种的等级：大围山杓兰(Cypripedium daweishanense)。此种的特征是：中萼片浅黄绿色,上面疏被栗色斑点;花瓣较短,近等长于或略长于唇瓣。而丽江杓兰(Cypripedium lichiangense)的中萼片为紫肝色;花瓣要长得多,大约为唇瓣长的2倍。它们均属于三棱组(Cypripedium sect．Trigonopedium)。该组共含11种,均为中国特有种。文中提供了一个该组的分种检索表。     

黄花杓兰根内的小型菌核

Most fungal species Chaetomhun aureum Chivers and Papulaspora byssina Hosson are associated with Cypripedium flavum Hunt et Sumrmnerh. They are confined to Xianggehla County of Yunnan alpine areas, 3 400 - 3 600 m. alt. Bubils of the genus Papulaspora (anamorph) are seem as produced by apothecial fungus as Chaetomium (teleomorph)for those fungi.It is interesting to speculate as to a possible perfact state for those fungi.