Denver Papillae Protocol for Objective Analysis of Fungiform Papillae

The goal of the Denver Papillae Protocol is to use a dichotomous key to define and prioritize the characteristics of fungiform papillae (FP) to ensure consistent scoring between scorers. This protocol builds off of a need that has arisen from the last two decades of taste research using FP as a proxy for taste pore density. FP density has historically been analyzed using Miller & Reedy’s 1990 characterizations of their morphology: round, stained lighter, large, and elevated. In this work, the authors forewarned that stricter definitions of FP morphology needed to be outlined. Despite this call to action, follow up literature has been scarce, with most studies continuing to cite Miller & Reedy’s original work. Consequently, FP density reports have been highly variable and, combined with small sample sizes, may contribute to the discrepant conclusions on the role of FP in taste sensitivity. The Genetics of Taste Lab explored this apparent inconsistency in counting and found that scorers were individually prioritizing the importance of these characteristics differently and had no guidance for when a papilla had some, but not all, of the reported qualities of FP. The result of this subjectivity is highly variable FP counts of the same tongue image. The Denver Papillae Protocol has been developed to remedy this consequence through use of a dichotomous key that further defines and prioritizes the importance of the characteristics put forth by Miller & Reedy. The proposed method could help create a standard way to quantify FP for researchers in the field of taste and nutritional studies.     

Oil secretion and the pollination of Colpias mollis (Scrophulariaceae)

 Colpias mollis is a perennial lithophyte that secretes non-volatile oil as a pollinator reward. Its white to yellow flowers bear two narrow pouches lined with glandular oil-secreting trichomes. The pollinating bee, Rediviva albifasciata (Melittidae), collects oil with its forelegs and midlegs by rubbing them against the gland patches within the flower. The presence of specialised hairs on these legs facilitates oil-collection. The strongly congruent geographic distributions of C. mollis and R. albifasciata and their close morphological fit suggest a long and close association between plant and pollinator. Although C. mollis appears dependent on R. albifasciata for pollination, R. albifasciata is not always dependent on C. mollis for oil. It can also obtain and utilise oil from flowers of the annual herb Hemimeris racemosa (Scrophulariaceae). At the main study site, fruit set of C. mollis was high (75.7%; N=202 flowers) in a dry year when H. racemosa was rare and relatively low (11.4%; N=184 flowers) in a wet year when H. racemosa was common. Received July 15, 2001; accepted June 17, 2002 Published online: November 20, 2002 Addresses of the authors: Kim E. Steiner (e-mail: ksteiner@calacademy.org), Compton Herbarium, National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch, South Africs; Current address: Department of Botany, Califormia Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. V. B. Whitehead, South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; Current address: 87 Bruke Street, Graaff-Reinet 6280, South Africa.     

Cortinarius sarcoflammeus sp. nov, a new species of subgenus Dermocybe (Agaricales) growing in Sphagnum bogs

 Cortinarius sarcoflammeus is proposed as a new species belonging to subgenus Dermocybe, on the basis of its morphological, chemical and ecological characters. The strong red-orange colour of the context and stipe base, large spores, sphagnicolous habitat and high dermorubin content are characteristic for the new species. Holotypes of C. huronensis and C. huronensis var. olivaceus have been examined for comparison, and their differences discussed. Photographs and line drawings of C. sarcoflammeus are added. Received February 13, 2001 Accepted March 23, 2001     

RECENT APPEARANCE OF CYLINDROSPEMOPSIS (CYANOBACTEIUA) IN FIVE HYPEREUTROPHIC FLORIDA LAKES1

Observations of historical and recent phytoplankton samples from five hypereutrophic Florida lakes indicate that nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in the genus Cylindrospermopsis Seenayya et Subba Raju have entered these water-bodies sometime in the last 30 years. Cylindrospermopsis forms a year-round bloom in one of the five lakes, dominates seasonally in another, and is at least at times an important component of the phytoplankton community in the remaining three. The increase in abundance of Cylindrospermopsis in Florida lakes could have implications for water management.     

Incorporation of Glycerol and Ethanolamine into Glycerophospholipid in Rat Brain Areas During Bicuculline-Induced Convulsive Seizures

The effect of bicuculline-induced convulsive seizures on lipid metabolism has been studied in four brain areas (cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem) using [2-3H]glycerol and [1,2-14C]ethanolamine as radioactive lipid precursors administered simultaneously with bicuculline. Twelve minutes after the administration, the uptake of radioactivity depended both on brain area and treatment, being generally higher in convulsing rats. The uptake of glycerol was influenced to a larger extent than that of ethanolamine and increased during convulsions, but its incorporation into lipids did not. In contrast, the amount of ethanolamine incorporated into lipids increased during bicuculline-induced seizures. The difference in behavior of glycerol and of ethanolamine is also indicated by the decrease of the 3H/14C ratio of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine in various brain areas during convulsions. It is, therefore, evident that the metabolism of the two precursors is affected differently by seizures.     

An illustrated key to the genera and subgenera of the Recent azooxanthellate Scleractinia (Cnidaria,Anthozoa), with an attached glossary

The 120 presently recognized genera and seven subgenera of the azooxanthellate Scleractinia are keyed using gross morphological characters of the corallum. All genera are illustrated with calicular and side views of coralla. All termes used in the key are defined in an illustrated glossary. A table of all species-level keys, both comprehensive and faunistic, is provided covering the last 40 years.     

Tonnacypris glacialis (Ostracoda, Cyprididae): taxonomic position, (palaeo-) ecology, and zoogeography

Abstract. The freshwater ostracod Tonnacypris glacialis (Sars, 1890) is reported from the European Pleistocene for the first time. The historical allocation of the species is discussed, and the species composition and characteristics of Tonnacypris Diebel & Pietrzeniuk (1975) and its phylozoogeography are considered. The significance of T. glacialis is reviewed, particularly from the viewpoint of the possible implications of parthenogenesis (and occasional-male production) for the Quaternary history of the genus, and for the use of the species in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. It is suggested that the Pleistocene fossil occurrence of T. glacialis in modern temperature latitudes is a robust indicator of mean summer temperatures of 6°C.     

Floral organogenesis of Chloranthus sessilifolius, with special emphasis on the morphological nature of the androecium of Chloranthus (Chloranthaceae)

 Floral organogenesis of Chloranthus sessilifolius K. F. Wu is described. The inflorescence primordium is dome-like in the beginning and then elongates, and bract primordia initiate almost decussately. Each floral primordium, arising from the axil of a bract, soon becomes a scale-like structure, with three primordia of androecial lobes originating from its abaxial part, and the gynoecial primordium in adaxial position. As the androecial lobes become more distinct, four thecae are already in differentiation, and the gynoecial primordium appears as a shallow disc. The androecial lobes do not extend their length until the thecae approach maturity and the stigma is differentiated. The androecial lobes are united at all the stages of development, and the entire androecium falls off as a unit at the end of anthesis. Based on these results, combined with published evidence from neobotany, palaeobotany and phylogenetic studies, the morphological nature of the androecium of Chloranthus is further discussed. Our studies support the viewpoint that the androecial structure of Chloranthus may have arisen by splitting of a single stamen with 2 marginal thecae. Received May 2, 2001 Accepted December 18, 2001