Foliage terpenoids of Chinese Cupressus species

Foliage of trees from five Chinese Cupressus species was analysed for volatile monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids. Multivariate analysis of the terpenoid data indicated that C. gigantea is most distinct, but otherwise no obvious chemotaxonomic groupings were evident. Comparison of the Cupressus analytical data with that of specimens of five Chamaecyparis species indicated that Cupressus funebris should not be reclassified into Chamaecyparis.     

10-nonacosanol,sitosterol and nonacosanediols in Juniperus pinchotii

GC of juniper leaf non-saponifiables gave three peaks of sterol-triterpenes which were identified as 10-nonacosanol, sitosterol and a mixture of nonacosanediols.     

柏科4个属(Fokienia、Cupressus、Chamaecyparis和Juniperus)植物雌球果的发育(英文)

通过扫描电镜和常规石蜡切片技术,观察了柏科4个属(Fokienia、Cupressus、Chamaecyparis和Juniperus)植物雌球果中胚珠的发育及苞片的结构变化。在所有研究的种类中,可育苞片腋部最先观察到的结构是一扁平的突起,并在其上分化出发育为胚珠的胚珠原基。在雌球果的发育过程中,未观察到独立的珠鳞发育。不同的种中,胚珠的数量和发育顺序有所不同,但苞片的发育是相似的。传粉前,苞片的结构与叶相似。传粉后,由于剧烈的居间生长,苞片发育为盾形,形成球形的球果。另外,在发育后期,苞片内维管系统变得复杂,并且在近轴面有反向的维管束发育。我们还对柏科植物雌球果的形态学特性及其可能的演化趋势进行了讨论。     

A new species of the extinct genus Austrohamia (Cupressaceae s.l.) in the Daohugou Jurassic flora of China and its phytogeographical implications

Abstract A new conifer, Austrohamia acanthobractea, sp. nov., is described from the Jurassic Daohugou flora, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The material consists of impressions represented by well‐preserved leafy twigs and branches as well as ovulate cones. Leafy shoots with at least two orders of branching; ultimate branchlets alternate or sub‐opposite with helically arranged leaves, decurrent at base with distal rounded tip; dorsiventrally flattened and univeined. Ovuliferous cones elliptical, less than 1 cm long, terminally borne on ultimate and penultimate branches, composed of helically arranged bracts with ovules disposed on their adaxial surfaces. The presence of similar, if not identical taxa, on both sides of the Pacific indicates the cosmopolitan distribution of primitive Cupressaceae between East Asia (Eurasia) and South America in the Pangaea.     

柏科4个属(Fokienia、Cupressus、Chamaeyparis 和Juniperus)植物雌球果的发育

通过扫描电镜和常规石蜡切片技术,观察了柏科4个属(Fokienia、Cupressus、Chamaeyparis 和Juniperus)植物雌球果中胚珠的发育及苞片的结构变化.在所有研究的种类中,可育苞片腋部最先观察到的结构是一扁平的突起,并在其上分化出发育为胚珠的胚珠原基.在雌球果的发育过程中,未观察到独立的珠鳞发育.不同的种中,胚珠怕数量和发育顺序有所不同,但苞片的发育是相似的.传粉前,苞片的结构与叶相似.传粉后,由于剧烈的居间维管束发育.我们还对柏科植物雌球果的形态学特性及其可能的演化趋势进行了讨论.     

Isoenzyme diversity and cryptic speciation in Juniperus excelsa (Cupressaceae) complex in Iran

An isoenzyme analysis was performed on 109 individuals from 11 populations of Juniperus excelsa complex collected from Iran. A total of 61 allozymes from five enzyme systems were scored. The mean numbers of bands per presumed isoenzyme, ranged from 2.07 to 3.23. The value of Euclidean distance ranged from 1.920 to 4.411. The average value of Shannon diversity index (H′) estimated for each population ranged from 0.317 in the population sampled from ‘Fasa’ to 1.053 in the population of ‘Golestan’, and the average H′ value for each enzyme system ranged from 0.031 (SOD-3) to 1.670 (PPO-1). To reveal the relationships among these populations, a cluster analysis based on Euclidean distances was performed. The results of the analysis suggest recognizing three taxa in the complex in Iran: Juniperus polycarpos subsp. polycarpos, Juniperus polycarpos subsp. turcomanica, and one cryptic species not recorded from Iran until now. Moreover, the analysis presented, does not confirm the occurrence of J. excelsa in Iran.     

Orientation and withdrawal of pollination drops in Cupressaceae s. l. (Coniferales)

Pollination in the Cupressaceae is studied ex situ, focused on orientation and withdrawal of pollination drops. Orientation of pollination drops is a constant feature in most taxa studied and important for pollen capture. Conspecific pollen causes a withdrawal of pollination drops, varying in time among species from 8 to 24 min, but with little variation within species. Pollination drops of each tested Cupressaceae taxon are also withdrawn when pollinated with foreign, but Cupressaceous pollen. However, they remain unchanged and are not withdrawn immediately when pollinated with pollen of other seed plants. The results clearly indicate that the time for the total withdrawal of pollination drops is strongly influenced by the evolutionary distance of the taxa being involved in the pollination process. Among closely related taxa the withdrawal is much more rapid than in distantly related ones. This points to an effective recognition system regulating the withdrawal of pollination drops, probably controlled by the nucellus. This recognition system can be regarded as an important preadaption for the evolution of a self-incompatibility mechanism. The withdrawal of pollination drops is thus not exclusively a physically induced process as suggested in some earlier studies. Pollination drops of several ovules can fuse to form a large common one, perhaps increasing by this way successful pollen capture.     

Investigations on the spontaneous emitted and hydrodistilled volatiles of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco grown in four different biogeographic zones of Jordan

The essential oil of the fresh leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.), grown in four different biogeographic zones of Jordan,- (the Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and Sudanian penetration) -, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry (GC/MS). The actual composition of the spontaneous emitted volatiles was obtained using the solid-phase-micro-extraction (SPME) method and investigated using the same chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Hydrocarbon monoterpenes dominated the hydrodistilled oils and emissions of all regions. Bicyclic monoterpenes (sabinene, α-pinene, and α-thujene) and monocyclic α-terpinene were detected as the major constituents of the oils and emissions. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed that the clustering is based on the region of collection rather than the applied methodology. Differences were observed in the quantity of the obtained oils (P-values <0.01); the highest amount of volatile oil was obtained from samples grown in the Irano-Turanian biogeographic zone.