Light as a hazard for the desiccation-resistant 'resurrection' fern Polypodium polypodioides

Abstract. Using fluorescence measurements at 77 K, the susceptibility to photoinhibition was determined for variously dehydrated leaves of the desiccation–resistant fern Polypodium polypodioides. As expected, water loss increased the potential danger of light-induced damage. However, the long-term consequences of that damage differed depending on the hydration state of the leaves during the light treatment, suggesting that different targets were affected. This became evident when the rehydrated leaves were subjected to conditions conducive to recovery from typical photoinhibition. After an exposure to high photon flux densities, full restoration of normal photochemical efficiencies occurred only when the photoinhibitory treatment had occurred while the leaves were fully hydrated, or when the dehydration had reached a stage at which only the primary charge separation and storage were operative. On the other hand, lesions caused by high light intensities in slightly dehydrated leaves which had retained some electron transport activity between the two photosystems, or in desiccated leaves incapable of any measureable photosynthetic functions, were very inefficiently or not at all repaired. One unexpected hazard of high light intensities for dehydrated leaves turned out to be further desiccation which could reach a threshold at which extensive cellular damage began to ensue. In nature, P. polypodioides avoids light–induced damage by rolling its leaves during dehydration so that only the reflectant abaxial leaf surface is exposed to ambient light, and by occupying shaded habitats.     

Flavonoid patterns in the farina of goldenback and silverback ferns

Most species of the fern genus Pityrogramma show a farinose indument caused by a deposit of exuded flavonoid aglycones. Some 220 samples, comprising 14 species, have been studied for the chemical composition of their farinas. Flavones, flavonols and C-methylated flavonoid are rarely found. The presence of certain chalcones and dihydrochalcones, however, appears to be to some extent characteristic for the genus. In some cases the farina flavonoid pattern is species-specific; in one species also variety-specific patterns and even chemotypes are observed. In general, the flavonoid chemistry in Pityrogramma parallels frond morphology to a great extent. This supports the concept that around a core of generalized species a few variant species exist which are best treated as belonging to Pityrogramma.     

假瘤蕨属(水龙骨科)植物鳞片特征的分类学意义

光镜下比较研究了假瘤蕨属(水龙骨科)2系、5亚系36种植物鳞片的显微特征.结果表明:该属植物的鳞片具有3种形状:卵状盾形、卵状钻形和披针形;3种边缘:全缘、微缘毛及纤维状毛.鳞片特征在系间具有一定的区别:不裂系具有卵状钻形或卵状盾形、全缘或具微缘毛的鳞片;羽裂系具有卵状盾形和披针形的鳞片,边缘以具微缘毛及纤维状毛为主....     

Spore wall ultrastructure of Polypodiaceae from north-western Argentina

The spore wall ultrastructure of Campyloneurum, Microgramma, Pecluma, Phlebodium, Pleopeltis and Serpocaulum (Polypodiaceae) from north-western Argentina has been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The exospore is 0.4–3 μm thick, two-layered and variously ornamented in all taxa. The exospore surface is distinctive, but in general ultrastructure the exospore is similar in all species studied. The structural elements of the exospore consist of cavities in the inner part as well as channels with a radial orientation and channels at both sides of the laesura. Variation in the exospore surface was observed in spores at different stages of maturation. The perispore is darkly contrasted and 0.04–2 μm thick. Three different structure types were recognised, including fibrillar, multilamellar and lacunose. Scattered globules and spherules were always present on the perispore surface. The structural variability of the perispore was surveyed within complete sporangia. We concluded that the observed variability may be related to the stage in spore maturation and, consequently, to the stages in perispore differentiation. As the exospore ultrastructure is similar and interpreted as related to functional activity in the studied material, it cannot be used for systematic delimitations at this generic or specific level.     

云南水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物区系地理研究

对云南水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物的区系地理进行了研究。云南水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物的地理成分已进行了划分,与邻近地区的区系联系也进行了比较,其区系起源也作了探讨。结果表明(1)云南是中国水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物的现代地理分布中心;(2)云南至喜马拉雅地区是水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物区系的分化中心;(3)云南水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物区系与四川、喜马拉雅地区和西藏的区系联系最密切;(4)水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物的起源中心可能在亚洲热带地区,但其分化中心则可能在云南西北部至喜马拉雅地区。最后列出云南水龙骨科隐子蕨亚科植物的系统名录。     

Microhabitats and Water Relations of Epiphytic Cacti and Ferns in a Lowland Neotropical Forest1

The pattern of canopy distribution and some water relations characteristics of the epiphytic cacti Epiphyllum phyllanthus and Rhipsalis baccifera and the epiphytic ferns Polypodium crassifolium and Polypodium phyllitidis were examined in the tropical forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The epiphytic cacti were 6-fold more succulent than the epiphytic ferns, which had a 9-fold higher root: shoot ratio. The four species, especially the cacti, were more abundant on the deciduous trees Ceiba pentandra, Platypodium elegans. and Tabebuia guayacan than on the evergreen Anacardium excelsum. The water-holding capacity of the bark was 2-fold higher for A. excelsum and T. guayacan than for C. pentandra and P. elegans; the main crotches of the latter species intercepted 2-fold more rainfall than those of the former. Well-watered plants of all epiphytic species showed similar total daily transpiration. After 2 weeks of drought, daily transpiration decreased an average of 48 percent for the cacti and 73 percent for the ferns. After 4 weeks of drought, daily transpiration decreased 80 percent for the cacti and was eliminated for the ferns; succulence then decreased an average of 29 percent for the cacti and 98 percent for the ferns, but all species recovered fully within 2 d after rewetting. The epiphytic ferns had a low relative capacitance (0.16 M/Pa), causing these presumably C₃ plants often to be under water stress. A high relative capacitance (0.50 M/Pa) and crassulacean acid metabolism allowed the epiphytic cacti to occur most frequently on the driest sites of this tropical forest.     

水龙骨科植物的引种及种质资源保存

通过对５０种水龙骨科（Ｐｏｌｙｐｏｄｉａｃｅａｅ）植物的引种栽培,研究了水龙骨科植物的引种方法、栽培管理措施和繁殖技术,初步应用离体保存技术保存了１０种水龙骨科植物,并对主要类群做了应用及观赏性状评价。     

Ant protection of the nectaried fern Polypodium plebeium in central Mexico

Nectaries on fronds of Polypodium spp. have been studied previously only in cultivated specimens. We conducted field observations in middle-elevation forests in Mexico and found five ant species associated with nectaries of Polypodium plebeium and P. lepidotrichum. To investigate whether nectaries promote protection against herbivores, we performed ant-exclusion experiments with nectary-bearing ferns (P. plebeium) and other ferns without nectaries (Polypodium plesiosorum, P. furfuraceum, and Phlebodium pseudoaureum). When ants were excluded from the developing fronds of Polypodium plebeium, damage from foliage-feeding sawfly and lepidopteran caterpillars was significantly greater than in control fronds. Ferns without nectaries did not show a difference in damage between ant-excluded and control fronds. Our results demonstrate that fern nectaries can support ant defense of the plant body as do the extrafloral nectaries of many angiosperms.