9种日本当归属植物的果实形态特征研究

当归属是伞形科的代表性大属,日本列岛是其重要的分布地和多样性中心之一。该研究对产自日本的9种当归属植物(特有种8种)的果实形态结构和表面微形态特征进行了观察和比较,以明确它们的分类学特征,探讨潜在的种间关系,为进一步的分类修订和系统发育研究提供资料和依据。结果表明:(1)体式显微镜观察发现,产自日本的9种当归属植物的果实形状主要为倒卵形和长圆形,表面光滑或少毛,呈不同程度的背腹压扁,背棱大多呈线状突起或狭翅状,侧棱则呈或宽或窄的翅状,油管一般为每个棱槽1条、合生面2～4条。(2)扫描电镜观察发现,大多数材料的果实具有疏密不等的平行线形初级蜡质纹饰,次级纹饰呈现鳞状、束状、索状、丘状或不明显,个别可见珊瑚状或网格状基底,一般具有颗粒状附属物。(3)通过分析比较上述形态特征和鉴别要点,编制了分种检索表,并结合中国当归属系统发育的研究成果,进一步对日本特有当归属植物的系统位置及其与东亚大陆物种的亲缘关系进行了讨论。研究认为,日本特有当归属植物的果实形态特征较丰富,能为种间分类和亲缘关系研究提供有力支持。     

Missing plant macro remains as indicators of plant exploitation in Predynastic Egypt

Tubers, leaves and mericarps are underrepresented plant remains in most archaeological sites either due to their tissue softness or small size and fragility. The more resilient and hard cereal remains, drupes, seeds and grains are frequent at most archaeological sites. The remarkable preservation status of organic material retrieved from archaeological sites in arid regions across the world, such as Egypt, increases the possibility of observing such missing botanical material. The present study discusses results of analysing the contents of a basket recovered within an intact grave (Burial 333) of the Predynastic period (3600 B.C.) in cemetery HK 43 at Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt. The basket was found beside the elbows of the flexed burial of a woman, 40–50 years of age. The cemetery at HK 43 served the non-elite segment of society, as indicated by the overall paucity of grave goods. Children and older women appear to have been most favoured with gifts and among these better endowed graves, Burial 333 stands out for the variety of materials, suggesting that she was a woman of some standing within her community. Botanical contents of the basket include remains of Cyperus (sedge tubers), Anethum graveoloens L. (dill mericarps) and drupes of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (balanites) as well as narrow slivers of coniferous wood and other types of plant remains. In addition, objects found in and around the basket include a cosmetic palette, five awls of polished bone, an ivory comb, pendants and amulets, which may be part of a cosmetic kit. In terms of palaeoethnobotanical investigations, this basket is another source of plant macro remains to be added to previous sources recovered from the same cemetery, such as the contents of pottery vessels, matting and viscera contents. This evidence shows that the Predynastic inhabitants adopted a subsistence strategy based on the cultivation of cereals, emmer wheat as the likely staple, and the gathering of wild fruits and tubers as well as herding of livestock. The botanical assemblage identified from the basket suggests the exploitation of wet swamp habitats to collect wild tubers of Cyperus esculentus L., C. rotundus/laevigatus and culms of Juncus sp. On the other hand, the nearby desert habitat was a source of edible fruits like Balanites aegyptiaca, Cordia sinensis Lam. and Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. The outcome of this study is evidence for the existence of a mixed strategy of subsistence involving herding, gathering and farming in Predynastic Egypt. This revised version was published online February 2005 with corrections to the author’s name which was incorrect in the original version.