Does the local availability of woody Caatinga plants (Northeastern Brazil) explain their use value?

This study investigated the use of woody plants by a rural community in an area of dry land Caatinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil. Information was obtained concerning this woody species with a diameter that is equal to or greater than 3 centimeters (cm) at soil level surveyed in 100 sample plots totaling 1 hectare (ha). The following question is the hypothesis we tested. Is a plant’s relative importance (as measured by its use value) related to its “apparency,” as measured by its abundance and ecological dominance? “Apparency” explains the use value of plants in four categories: medicinal, construction, fuel, and technology. The most important uses of woody plants are related to harvesting for energy and construction purposes.     

Traditional usage of medicinal plants among the local communities of Peshawar valley,Pakistan

Peshawar has a miscellaneous range of population that consequently brought their traditional knowledge of plants to the valley. Aims of the study were to report and document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants resources of the Peshawar valley. The main objective of the study was to assess and document the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants in the study area. Data collection was carried out from March 2017 to December 2017. About 250 informants of different ages were interviewed; most of them were aged people between 60 and 70 years. The interviews were conducted using structured questioner composed of various questions about the ethnomedicinal uses of plants. The data was quantitatively analyzed using quantitative indices like frequency citation FC, use value (UV), use report (UR), relative frequency citation (RFC) Fidelity level (FL) and Jaccard index (JI). A comparison with previous ethnomedicinal studies in order to report some novel uses. A total of 71 plants species belonging to 59 genera and 31 families were being used for various ailment treatments. Out of 31 families, Asteraceae and Amaranthaceae (7 species each) were found the dominant families. Regarding plant habit, herbs 63% were the leading growth form. Leaves were the most frequently used part of the plant in the preparation of medicines. The most frequent mode of preparation was decoction while the oral route of administration was the preferred mode of administration. A review of the active compounds of the reported plants was also documented to authenticate the data. Medicinal plants for high ranked diseases to be to screen for further ethnopharmacological and phytochemical studies. The medicinal flora of the valley is facing improper collection, overgrazing, browsing, deforestation, industrialization, construction of roads and buildings. Therefore proper conservation strategies may be adapted to promote the sustainable use of medicinal plants.     

广东始兴南山木本植物群落特征研究

为了研究广东始兴南山自然保护区的木本植物群落结构特征，通过在不同海拔高度设置3个1 hm²的典型植物群落样地，并对其物种组成、多样性、径级结构、生物量等进行分析。结果表明：(1)研究区共有木本植物193种，隶属于60科115属，其中中海拔样地的物种数最多，为127种，隶属于44科80属，不同样地的优势树种存在差异，优势科主要是壳斗科、樟科。(2)木本植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)和Simpson多样性指数(D)在不同样地间有差异，均随海拔升高呈现降低趋势。(3)高、低海拔区域的群落径级结构主要为小径级(Ⅰ级)个体，而中海拔样地的木本植物群落径级结构以Ⅰ级为主，Ⅱ、Ⅲ 径级树木个体为辅，径级结构更加合理。(4)不同样地的木本植物根、主干、枝、叶生物量有明显变化，随海拔升高呈现升高趋势。该研究为始兴南山保护区的森林合理经营、生物多样性保护以及生产力预测提供了科学依据。     

浙江丽水木本植物区系的研究

丽水市位于浙江西南部,是浙江木本植物最丰富的地区之一,共有木本植物95科338属1128种。通过对科、属、种的统计分析,该地区木本植物区系基本特征为：（1）植物种类丰富;（2）起源古老、单型属和寡种属较多;（3）各类地理成分复杂,与世界各地有着不同程度的联系,以温带成分为主;（4）区系过渡性明显。     

Food-plant families of British insects and mites: the influence of life form and plant family

The dissimilarities between 107 British plant families with respect to the insect and mite species which feed on them were analysed using a principal co-ordinates analysis. The relationships between the plant families were strongly influenced by the plant life forms. Major groups were woody plants (trees and shrubs), aquatic plants and herbs. A wet to dry gradient was distinguished, as were evergreen plants, and early successional plant families with weeds and annuals. Taxonomically, plant families of the same order were closer together if they were predominantly of the same life form. Fagales and several orders of monocotyledons formed particularly clear groups. The three 'nearest neighbours' of each plant family based on the dissimilarities measures were listed. These provide some interesting, but conjectural, data on evolutionary aspects of plant families. This was illustrated briefly by the Cornaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The underlying progressive evolution of plants from woody species and wetter areas to herbs and annual plants of dry and cold places may be reflected by insect and mite food plant family associations.     

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wayu Tuka District,East Welega Zone of Oromia Regional State,West Ethiopia

Background

Himalayan forests are the most important source of medicinal plants and with useful species for the local people. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) is situated in the interior part of the Garhwal Himalayan region. The presented study was carried out in Madhmeshwar area of KWLS for the ecological status of medicinal plants and further focused on the ethnomedicinal uses of these plants in the study area.

Methods

Ecological information about ethnomedicinal plants were collected using random quadrats in a random sampling technique along an altitudinal gradient in the KWLS. Information on medicinal properties of plants encountered in the present study was generated by questionnaire survey and was also compared with relevant literature.

Results

A total of 152 medicinally important plant species were reported, in which 103 were found herbs, 32 shrubs and 17 were tree species which represented 123 genera of 61 families. A total of 18 plant species fell into the rare, endangered (critically endangered) and vulnerable status categories.

Conclusion

The present study documented the traditional uses of medicinal plants, their ecological status and importance of these plants in the largest protected area of Garhwal Himalaya. This study can serve as baseline information on medicinal plants and could be helpful to further strengthen the conservation of this important resource.     

Knowledge and valuation of Andean agroforestry species: the role of sex,age, and migration among members of a rural community in Bolivia

Background

Agroforestry is a sustainable land use method with a long tradition in the Bolivian Andes. A better understanding of people’s knowledge and valuation of woody species can help to adjust actor-oriented agroforestry systems. In this case study, carried out in a peasant community of the Bolivian Andes, we aimed at calculating the cultural importance of selected agroforestry species, and at analysing the intracultural variation in the cultural importance and knowledge of plants according to peasants’ sex, age, and migration.

Methods

Data collection was based on semi-structured interviews and freelisting exercises. Two ethnobotanical indices (Composite Salience, Cultural Importance) were used for calculating the cultural importance of plants. Intracultural variation in the cultural importance and knowledge of plants was detected by using linear and generalised linear (mixed) models.

Results and discussion

The culturally most important woody species were mainly trees and exotic species (e.g. Schinus molle, Prosopis laevigata, Eucalyptus globulus). We found that knowledge and valuation of plants increased with age but that they were lower for migrants; sex, by contrast, played a minor role. The age effects possibly result from decreasing ecological apparency of valuable native species, and their substitution by exotic marketable trees, loss of traditional plant uses or the use of other materials (e.g. plastic) instead of wood. Decreasing dedication to traditional farming may have led to successive abandonment of traditional tool uses, and the overall transformation of woody plant use is possibly related to diminishing medicinal knowledge.

Conclusions

Age and migration affect how people value woody species and what they know about their uses. For this reason, we recommend paying particular attention to the potential of native species, which could open promising perspectives especially for the young migrating peasant generation and draw their interest in agroforestry. These native species should be ecologically sound and selected on their potential to provide subsistence and promising commercial uses. In addition to offering socio-economic and environmental services, agroforestry initiatives using native trees and shrubs can play a crucial role in recovering elements of the lost ancient landscape that still forms part of local people’s collective identity.

     

Traditional knowledge of wild medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of Garam Chashma valley,district Chitral,Pakistan

Garam Chashma valley is a mountainous valley situated in the Hindukush mountain range in Pakistan. This area is blessed with rich and diverse medicinal flora extensively utilized by the local community to cure health issues. The present article aims to explore and document the indigenous traditional knowledge about wild plants and their curative properties. This survey was carried out during April 2018 to September 2019. Data was collected from 153 indigenous people through semi structure questionnaire, group discussion, field survey and formal talks with elder people. Quantitative analysis of recorded data was obtained by applying quantitative indices like Frequency of Citation (FC) Use Reports (UR), Family Use Value (FUV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). About 83 plant taxa belonging to 36 different families were recorded for the treatment of 95 different disorders grouped into sixteen disease categories. Herbs were the most leading plant habit (81.9%) and dried plant material (51.8%) usually preferred for therapeutics uses. Among families Asteraceae (16.86%) was recorded as major taxon with highest number of species followed by Lamiaceae (12.06%). Leaves 33% were recorded most abundantly used plant part followed by flowers (17%). Regarding to formulations, decoction (39.3%) and powder (17.1%) were recorded most frequent mode of preparation while oral intake (78%) was most preferred administration route. About (40%) plants species were utilized to treat Gastrointestinal diseases (GIT) disorders. Informant consensus revealed that Gastrointestinal disorders and Dermatological disorders were top ranked ailments categories with 0.94 consensus. The current study imparted that medicinal plants are still used by the indigenous communities of Garam Chashma valley, district lower Chitral, Pakistan. Thus, this investigation provides basis for the conservation of medicinal flora in the area. Medicinal plants (MPs) having high value of FC, RFC, UV, FUV, FL and ICF should be further study for phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology to evaluate novel active ingredients for new drugs discovery.     

茂兰喀斯特森林不同地形植物多样性与土壤理化特征研究

为探讨不同地形植物群落物种多样性与土壤理化特征之间的相互关系。该文以茂兰喀斯特森林为研究对象,分析了不同地形植物多样性与土壤理化特征以及两者之间的相互关系。结果表明:(1)不同地形木本植物的物种组成存在差异,坡地木本植物有35科65属78种,槽谷木本植物有38科64属89种,漏斗木本植物有35科61属84种。同时,丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数大小表现为槽谷漏斗坡地;优势度指数大小表现为坡地漏斗槽谷。(2)不同地形土壤物理性质差异性显著(P0.05),其中土壤容重和非毛管孔隙度表现为坡地槽谷漏斗,自然含水量、田间持水量、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度等指标均表现为漏斗槽谷坡地。(3)除全K外,大多数土壤养分指标表现为漏斗显著高于槽谷、坡地,即漏斗槽谷坡地。(4)冗余分析表明,植物多样性与土壤理化性质具有相关性,不同地形植物多样性指数受土壤理化性质的影响明显。以上结果旁证了茂兰喀斯特森林地形条件的复杂性和土壤理化性质的差异性是该区小生境多样、物种组成丰富的原因之一,为喀斯特森林物种多样性维持机制提供了科学依据。     

An ethnobotanical survey of the Agter–Hantam, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

The use of a rapid appraisal methodology, followed by a new approach that we refer to as the Matrix Method, has revealed a wealth of traditional knowledge on useful plants amongst people of Khoi–San decent in the Agter–Hantam, Calvinia district, Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The data include 14 new species records of useful plants; 20 new vernacular names and 99 new uses for 46 of the plant species, showing that Khoi–San ethnobotany is still incompletely recorded and that there is an urgent need to document this wealth of traditional knowledge before it is lost forever. This article also introduces two new terms — the Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index (EKI), a quantitative measure of a person's knowledge of local plant use (value between 0 and 1), and the Species Popularity Index (SPI), a quantitative measure of the importance or popularity of each species (value between 0 and 1). In the Agter–Hantam, the EKI varied from 0.20 to 0.93 in older people but even young children had EKI values of 0.27. The best known and most popular indigenous useful plants in the Agter–Hantam are Aloe microstigma (a new species record, with a SPI of 0.97), Hoodia gordonii (SPI = 0.94), Microloma sagittatum (0.94), Sutherlandia frutescens (0.92), Quaqua incarnata (0.92) and Galenia africana (0.85). The new quantitative method will allow for direct comparisons of the preservation of traditional plant knowledge and the importance of various plants species in different communities.     

安徽野生木本观赏植物资源及其利用的研究

列出了安徽具有代表性和较高观赏价值的野生木本观赏植物７１科２４６种,重点评价了部分植物的观赏特性和园林用途对资源的进一步开发和保护提出了自己的看法。     

中国木本植物幼苗生长对光照强度的响应

光照是影响植物幼苗生长的重要的环境因子,定量化研究光照对木本植物不同生活型幼苗生长的影响具有重要意义。系统收集了有关光照对我国木本植物幼苗生长影响的国内外文献,采用Meta分析的方法对幼苗的生长效应进行评估。研究结果表明:(1)与全光照下幼苗生长相比,由于遮阴处理对幼苗基径增长量的抑制作用强于对株高增长量的作用,幼苗出现株高基面积比增高的形态特征变化;(2)与灌木相比,乔木树种幼苗对不同光照强度的响应更加敏感;(3)在小于20%和20%—40%全光照条件下,落叶阔叶和常绿阔叶树种幼苗基径均受到显著抑制,而常绿针叶树种的基径并没有受到遮阴的明显抑制;(4)落叶阔叶和常绿阔叶树种的株高基面积比均显著高于全光照,而常绿针叶树种的株高基面积比与全光照相比差异较小。我们的这一研究将有助于更好的理解木本植物幼苗生长对光照的响应机理。     

Huron Smith's ethnobotany of the Hocąk (Winnebago)

The Hocak, commonly known as the Winnebago, are one of the original tribes in the present state of Wisconsin. The field notes of Huron Smith, compiled in the late 1920s and early 1930s, document the extensive use of plant materials by Hocak people. Smith's notes contain references to 199 vascular plant species in 74 families, with recorded uses for 153 of these species. Medicinal plants (with 117 species) comprise the largest category, followed by food (37 species), and fiber and material uses (22 species). Smith's work is unique for its time because he thoroughly explored the tribal uses of the plants in addition to collecting voucher specimens and photographic plates, and because it remains the most extensive Hocąk ethnobotanical study. Added to Smith's other works of tribes in Wisconsin (Menominee, Meskwaki, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi), the Hocak ethnobotany broadens the cultural base of his regional compilation of Native North American plant uses. In addition, this is an important body of information for the Hocąk people and those interested in their use of plants.     

Differential allocation of constitutive and induced chemical defenses in pine tree juveniles: a test of the optimal defense theory

Optimal defense theory (ODT) predicts that the within-plant quantitative allocation of defenses is not random, but driven by the potential relative contribution of particular plant tissues to overall fitness. These predictions have been poorly tested on long-lived woody plants. We explored the allocation of constitutive and methyl-jasmonate (MJ) inducible chemical defenses in six half-sib families of Pinus radiata juveniles. Specifically, we studied the quantitative allocation of resin and polyphenolics (the two major secondary chemicals in pine trees) to tissues with contrasting fitness value (stem phloem, stem xylem and needles) across three parts of the plants (basal, middle and apical upper part), using nitrogen concentration as a proxy of tissue value. Concentration of nitrogen in the phloem, xylem and needles was found to be greater higher up the plant. As predicted by the ODT, the same pattern was found for the concentration of non-volatile resin in the stem. However, in leaf tissues the concentrations of both resin and total phenolics were greater towards the base of the plant. Two weeks after MJ application, the concentrations of nitrogen in the phloem, resin in the stem and total phenolics in the needles increased by roughly 25% compared with the control plants, inducibility was similar across all plant parts, and families differed in the inducibility of resin compounds in the stem. In contrast, no significant changes were observed either for phenolics in the stems, or for resin in the needles after MJ application. Concentration of resin in the phloem was double that in the xylem and MJ-inducible, with inducibility being greater towards the base of the stem. In contrast, resin in the xylem was not MJ-inducible and increased in concentration higher up the plant. The pattern of inducibility by MJ-signaling in juvenile P. radiata is tissue, chemical-defense and plant-part specific, and is genetically variable.     

A taxonomic,biogeographical and ecological overview of invasive woody plants

Abstract. Invasive plants are considered to be a major threat to the earth's biodiversity, but have not been sufficiently investigated. To address this problem a relational database on invasive woody plants has been set up. It is based on 2045 bibliographical references and contains records on 653 species representing 110 families. The families with the largest number of invasive species are: Rosaceae, Mimosaceae, Papilionaceae and Pinaceae. Out of 1060 recorded invasive events an equal number are reported from continents and oceanic islands. The highest number of invasive woody species are recorded from Europe, followed by the Pacific islands, North America, New Zealand, Australia, Indian Ocean islands and southern Africa. Included in these regions are areas which have fewer highly invasive species, e.g. islands on continental shelves, such as the British Isles. Although most invasions occur in disturbed habitats, most natural communities are susceptible to woody plant invasions. Data on species attributes are only available for a minority of species but indicate that invasive woody plant species may be either insect or wind-pollinated, have a wide array of fruit types, fruit and seed sizes, number of seeds per fruit and dispersal agents. The relative frequency of several attributes varies with the degree of invasiveness. Thus it is not yet possible to determine which set of attributes favours invasiveness and therefore it is difficult to make predictions.     

Medicinal plants in the southern region of the State of Nuevo León,México

Background

Although the flora of the State of Nuevo León is well known, there are few records of ethnobotancial information. An ethnobotanical study was undertaken in order to know the medicinal plants used by people living at the scrublands and oak-pine forest areas in the southern Nuevo León. Collection of plants specimens and interviews were carried out among the people of the municipalities of Aramberri, Galeana, and Zaragoza. Since former studies in the region are scarce, the aim of this work was to record the medicinal species and their uses in the scrublands and oak-pine forest areas, of southern Nuevo León, Mexico, and also to know if there are differences in the number of species and number of uses knowledge by people.

Methods

Field work was carried out over a 2 years period; useful plants were collected and a total of 105 people from 46 different villages were interviewed. A database was compiled using data collected by means of semi structured interviews. The data were analyzed by means of non-parametric statistics, using goodness-of-fit test (Chi-squared) (number of species known by people of each municipality, number of uses known by people of each municipality), Chi-squared modified to incorporate the Yates Correction (number of species known by people living at scrublands and oak-pine forest); the Kruskall-Wallis test (number of species known by women and men of the three municipalities), and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (age and number of species known, and age and number of uses).

Results

A total of 163 medicinal plant species were recorded in the study area, comprising 108 wild and 55 cultivated plants. A total of 117 species were recorded in the oak-pine forest, and 111 in the scrublands area, a total of 68 were recorded in both areas; 68 medicinal species are used in all three municipalities, 40 wild and 28 cultivated. We documented 235 different medicinal uses. The most common plant parts used for medicinal purposes were found to be leaves (123 species), stems (55), fruits (28), roots (17), and bark (14). No differences were noted in the number of medicinal plant species identified among people, but differences were significant in their knowledge with respect to the number of uses among people of the three municipalities studied; people from both, scrublands and oak-pine forest know similar number of species and number of uses. Men and women of the three different municipalities knew statistically the same number of species and number of uses. There was no correlation between resident’s age and number of species known and resident’s age and number of uses either in Galeana or in Aramberri, but, there was high correlation among these variables in Zaragoza.

Conclusion

In southern Nuevo León people use at least 5% of the total State flora as medicinal plants, and most of these species are included in few plant families. Most of medicinal species are wild and indigenous to the region. The two most important major plant communities, scrublands and oak-pine forest provide almost the same number of medicinal species. A third of the medicinal flora recorded are used in all three municipalities, most of them are wild. Leaves, stems and fruits are the plant parts most commonly used for healing, and boiling is the most common method used for this purpose. Men and women from the three municipalities are familiar with nearly the same number of species; however, their knowledge of the number of uses varies significantly. In Galeana and Aramberri there was no correlation between a person’s age and number of species recognized, however, in Zaragoza, there existed a high correlation between these two factors.

     

Spatial patterns of woody plant and bird diversity: functional relationships or environmental effects?

Aim To understand cross‐taxon spatial congruence patterns of bird and woody plant species richness. In particular, to test the relative roles of functional relationships between birds and woody plants, and the direct and indirect environmental effects on broad‐scale species richness of both groups. Location Kenya. Methods Based on comprehensive range maps of all birds and woody plants (native species > 2.5 m in height) in Kenya, we mapped species richness of both groups. We distinguished species richness of four different avian frugivore guilds (obligate, partial, opportunistic and non‐frugivores) and fleshy‐fruited and non‐fleshy‐fruited woody plants. We used structural equation modelling and spatial regressions to test for effects of functional relationships (resource–consumer interactions and vegetation structural complexity) and environment (climate and habitat heterogeneity) on the richness patterns. Results Path analyses suggested that bird and woody plant species richness are linked via functional relationships, probably driven by vegetation structural complexity rather than trophic interactions. Bird species richness was determined in our models by both environmental variables and the functional relationships with woody plants. Direct environmental effects on woody plant richness differed from those on bird richness, and different avian consumer guilds showed distinct responses to climatic factors when woody plant species richness was included in path models. Main conclusions Our results imply that bird and woody plant diversity are linked at this scale via vegetation structural complexity, and that environmental factors differ in their direct effects on plants and avian trophic guilds. We conclude that climatic factors influence broad‐scale tropical bird species richness in large part indirectly, via effects on plants, rather than only directly as often assumed. This could have important implications for future predictions of animal species richness in response to climate change.     

井冈山种子植物区系的研究

井冈山有种子植物１８３１种,隶属于７２４属１５７科,其中裸子植物１３种１２属７科;木本植物９９０种３０４属９１科,草本植物８４１种４２０属６６科。本文主要分析了本区系种子植物的地理成分以及与其它区系的关系,同时对本区系的基本特点、性质,区系的历史及其在全国其它区系中的位置作了初步探讨,为合理利用植被资源、维护生产多样性提供参考。     

基于蜂蜜孢粉学鉴定秦岭中华蜜蜂的蜜源木本植物

蜜源木本植物的鉴定能为中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana保护和利用提供依据.本研究从在秦岭地区收集的4份中华蜜蜂蜂蜜中分离出植物花粉,然后在扫描电镜下观察花粉形态,根据花粉大小、赤道面观、极面观、表面纹饰对花粉所属植物的种类进行鉴定.共鉴定出中华蜜蜂利用的蜜源木本植物13科,19属,20种.其中以壳斗科Fagaceae、忍冬科Caprifoliaceae最多,卫矛科Celastraceae、桦木科Betulaceae、蔷薇科Rosaceae次之.这些蜜源木本植物中有13种是药用植物.秦岭地区丰富的蜜源木本植物为中华蜜蜂的生存提供了食物资源;同时中华蜜蜂作为传粉昆虫,对维持秦岭地区蜜源植物的生存和生态系统稳定起着重要的作用.     

Root Nitrogen Acquisition and Assimilation

Nitrogen (N) is the main mineral element in plant tissues and almost all of this nutrient is acquired from the soil by the roots. Nitrogen is available in many different forms in the soil, but the three most abundant forms are nitrate, ammonium and amino acids. The relative importance of these different soil N pools to a plant is difficult to measure and depends on many different environmental factors. Changes in the available amounts and imbalance in the supply of some N forms can even be toxic to plants and in extreme cases can lead to changes in the vegetation. However, the importance of this element for agriculture is reflected in the amounts of N-fertiliser applied to crops and this is a major cost (economic and environmental) for world agriculture. This review covers the molecular mechanisms that the plant uses for accessing these soil N pools and briefly includes consideration of the root N assimilatory pathways that exist in the plant. The soil forms of N that are used by plants depend on many factors, but a series of different transporter and assimilatory genes that can provide access to these pools have been identified. This information can now provide the molecular tools to identify the N sources accessed by a plant and the relative importance of these different pools.