Tree killing by herbicide producing ants for the establishment of pureTococa occidentalis populations in the Peruvian Amazon

Populations ofTococa occidentalis (Melastomataceae) and the inhabiting ants (Myrmelachista sp.) were observed for more than eight months in the Peruvian Amazon (Sira mountains). They represent a complex coevolutionary system: the plants offer shelter (leaf domatia, hollow stems) and food (leaf glands), whereas the ants kill all surrounding plants, including large trees up to 10 m, by chemical weapons. Experiments with exposed plants revealed a highly specialized way to attack meristematic tissue and leaf nervature, which leads to a quick decay of the plant individuals. The clearing of the vegetation by the ants allows theTococa population to expand mostly by vegetative shoots to large monocultures (up to 30 m in diameter) free from any other plant species. Artificially introduced plant individuals, from differentT. occidentalis populations, are regarded as a foreign species by the ants.The succession of such aTococa-Myrmelachista system begins with one or a few founder plants on a light place in the midst of the vegetation.Myrmelachista soon inhabits their host plants which otherwise would not survive and begin to clear the place from all foreign plant species.Tococa expands quickly, forming circle shaped populations. Distantly situated canopy trees shade theTococa population after a number of years and cause their decay. The whole place appears contaminated for years and no other plant can establish itself. Some of the consequences of these open places are erosion and a severe influence on the regeneration of the forest.     

Tahiti's native flora endangered by the invasion of Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae)

Abstract. The native flora of tropical oceanic islands is known to be particularly susceptible both to displacement and extinction, following the invasion of alien organisms. Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae), first introduced to Tahiti (French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean) in 1937 as an ornamental plant, now covers over two-thirds of the Island. As it forms dense monotypic stands which have progressively overwhelmed the native forests, this plant pest is a direct threat to the rich Tahitian indigenous flora. Between 40 and 50 species of the 107 species endemic to Tahiti are thought to be on the verge of extinction. M. calvescens was finally declared a'noxious species in French Polynesia'in 1990. Without efficient control efforts and effective endangered plant conservation and protection legislation, M. calvescens could cause Tahiti and all the high islands of French Polynesia to become ecological deserts.     

Evidence of biotic resistance to exotic plant invasion in degraded Bornean forests

Intact tropical forests are generally considered to be resistant to invasions by exotic species, although the shrub Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) is highly invasive in tropical forests outside its native range. Release from natural enemies (e.g., herbivores and pathogens) contributes to C. hirta invasion success where native melastomes are absent, and here we examine the role of enemies when C. hirta co-occurs with native Melastomataceae species and associated herbivores and pathogens. We study 21 forest sites within agricultural landscapes in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, recording herbivory rates in C. hirta and related native Melastoma spp. plants along two 100-m transects per site that varied in canopy cover. Overall, we found evidence of enemy release; C. hirta had significantly lower herbivory (median occurrence of herbivory per plant = 79% of leaves per plant; median intensity of herbivory per leaf = 6% of leaf area) than native melastomes (93% and 20%, respectively). Herbivory on C. hirta increased when closer to native Melastoma plants with high herbivory damage, and in more shaded locations, and was associated with fewer reproductive organs on C. hirta. This suggests host-sharing by specialist Melastomataceae herbivores is occurring and may explain why invasion success of C. hirta is lower on Borneo than at locations without related native species present. Thus, natural enemy populations may provide a “biological control service” to suppress invasions of exotic species (i.e., biotic resistance). However, lower herbivory pressures in more open canopy locations may make highly degraded forests within these landscapes more susceptible to invasion.     

Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). VII. Miconia howardiana,a new speices from Hispaniola

Miconia howardiana, which is known only from a diverse moist montane forest in the vicinity of Loma Trocha de Pey (or “Monteada Nueva”), the easternmost peak of the Sierra de Baoruco, is described and illustrated. It is compared to phenetically similar (and probably phylogenetically related) species of theMiconia favosa complex, i.e.,M. favosa, M. xenotricha, M. campanensis M. Sintenisii, M. foveolata, andM. pycnoneura. The species of this complex are characterized by bullate leaves with frequently cordate bases and often six secondary veins. Most species also have large berries and flowers, 5-locular ovaries, large inflorescence bracts and bracteoles, and more or less dendritic multicellular hairs.     

广西野牡丹科一新种,大明山异药花

详细描述了广西产的异药花属一新种——大明山异药花。该种与产于福建、广西等地的异药花近似,但不同在于本种叶基出脉较多,7-9条;多歧聚伞花序长2.5-3cm,宽6-7cm;长雄蕊花药线形,基部伸长,略膨大成囊状,分离,药隔膨大,伸长成短距,短雄蕊花药线形,药隔膨大,伸长成短距。     

野牡丹科6种植物染色体数目及核型分析

研究了野牡丹科国产野牡丹属(Melastoma L.)4种植物和从国外引种的蒂牡花属(Tibouchina Aubl.)2种植物的染色体数目,并对4种野牡丹属植物的核型进行分析。结果表明, 野牡丹属植物的染色体数目为2n=24,为二倍体植物,蒂牡花属的蒂牡花(T. urvillean)和银毛野牡丹(T. heteromall)的染色体数目为2n=36。核型公式为：野牡丹(M. malabathricum) 2n=10m(2SAT)+14sm;毛稔(M. sanguineurn) 2n=10m+12sm+2st;地稔(M. dodecandrum) 2n=12m+12sm;细叶野牡丹(M. intermedium) 2n=12m＋10sm+2st。核型分析表明国产野牡丹属植物染色体为小染色体,绝对长度为0.43~1.79 µm;核型不对称系数为59.47~62.91,均属2B型。野牡丹属植物的核型为首次报道。     

华南野牡丹科野生花卉种质资源的收集和繁殖

野牡丹科植物主要分布于热带亚热带地区,其中不乏许多有观赏价值的野生花卉.为了发掘其观赏方面的价值,本项目在华南地区调查和引种的基础上,进行了初步地繁殖和示范栽培工作.并从中选出了几个有较大观赏价值的种类供今后开发利用.     

Ten new species of Tibouchina (Melastomataceae) from Mexico

Ten new species of Tibouchina (T. almedae, T. congestiflora, T. connata, T. hintonii, T. macvaughii, T. nanifolia, T. patens, T. roseotincta, T. sinaloensis, andT. thulia) are described from western Mexico. Distinguishing characteristics, phenology, distribution, and phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Illustrations of all these new species are provided.     

Distribution and Diversity of Pteridophytes and Melastomataceae along Edaphic Gradients in Yasuní National Park, Ecuadorian Amazonia1

We documented the floristic composition of pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies) and Melastomataceae in Yasuní National Park, Amazonian Ecuador. Our main questions were: (1) Are the density of individuals, species richness, and/or species diversity (measured with Shannon's H′) of the two plant groups related to edaphic differences? and (2) How many of the pteridophyte and Melastomataceae species are non–randomly distributed in relation to a soil base content gradient within terra firme (non–inundated forest). To answer these questions, we sampled 27 line transects of 500 × 5 m distributed in an area of ca 20 × 25 km. The study area included a permanent 50 ha plot established to monitor forest dynamics; thus, our results also provide information on landscape–scale floristic variability to which results from within the plot can be compared. A total of 45,608 individuals and 140 species of pteridophytes, and 4893 individuals and 89 species of the Melastomataceae, were counted in the transects. Both with pteridophytes and with Melastomataceae, a clear negative correlation was found between the amount of extractable bases in the soil and the number of plant individuals encountered in a transect. With Melastomataceae, species richness and species diversity also were negatively correlated with soil base content, but with pteridophytes they were not. More than 50 percent of the common species of both pteridophytes and Melastomataceae were nonrandomly distributed along the soil cation content gradient within terra firme. We conclude that while the species richness patterns observed in one plant group are not indicative of similar patterns in other plant groups, it seems likely that a substantial (but unknown) proportion of species belonging to other plant groups will be found to show distribution patterns that reflect edaphic preferences within terra firme forests.