独叶草属的胚胎学及其系统学意义

独叶草属的胚乳发育为五福花型,其早期分化属细胞型;胚胎发育为石竹型下的独叶草亚型;珠 被内层的部分细胞形成栅栏组织状,最后消失或近于消失;反足细胞宿存,部分不育大孢子宿存并和部 分珠心组织一起形成珠孔塞状结构。这些性状表明它与星叶草属间的相似性要大于与毛茛目其它成员 间的相似性。     

星叶草属的核形态及其系统位置

本文研究了星叶草属的核形态。其间期核和前期染色体分别为简单染色中心型和中间型;中期染色体较小,长度介于3.00μm到1.20μm之间;核型公式为2n=30=22m+8sm。其明显很高的染色体基数以及其它退化和特化的形态学性状,表明该属是一个孑遗的古多倍体类群。该属与独叶草属在间期核形态、前期染色体形态以及中期染色体的大小和形态方面极为相似。结合其它方面的资料,本文认为星叶草属和独叶草属有较近的亲缘关系,支持将它们一起置于星叶草科的观点。     

星叶草的形态学研究(1)——胚胎发育过程

本研究的目的在于揭示单型属——星叶草属有关种系发生的胚胎发育性状。胚胎学 研究表明,在分析该属性状演化时下列特征是十分重要的：星叶草具有横生的、单珠被、薄 珠心胚珠; 胚囊形成为蓼型; 初生胚乳核首次纵向分裂形成两个细胞,胚乳发育为细胞型; 胚胎 发育类型基本上属于石竹型; 在胚胎发育的早期阶段,珠被萎缩并且最后消失,因此在成熟果 实中不形成种皮。根据胚胎学和一些形态学证据,作者认为星叶草属同毛茛科及其近缘科之间似乎没有密切的关系。星叶草属的亲缘关系仍有待于进一步研究。     

星叶草科——湖北被子植物一新记录科

报道了湖北种子植物分布1新记录科———星叶草科Circaeasteraceae,含1新记录属———星叶草属Circaeaster,1新记录种———星叶草Circaeaster agrestis Maxim。通过查阅标本对星叶草的性状进行了描述并讨论了其形态变异幅度。本文重绘了星叶草的线条图并提供了野外原色图版。     

华西毛茛属五新种

描述了自我国西部发现的毛茛属五新种,大邑毛茛、铜仁毛茛、舟曲毛茛、崇州毛茛和共和毛茛,并分别给出其等与近缘种的区别特征。     

睡莲科叶比较解剖

本文报道了睡莲科6个种比较解剖学的研究结果。莼菜的叶柄具一对维管束,其它5个种为 有限的、星散排列维管束,它们与单子叶植物相似;叶柄基本组织中除萍蓬草无气道外,其它种均有。叶为两面叶页,毛茛型气孔局限分布于叶腹面,但莲叶背面亦发育有少量气孔。莲的气孔在发育时属单唇型,成熟时则呈毛茛型。排水器、厚壁异细胞只见于莲。腺毛及吸水器除莲外,供研究的其它种在叶背面均存在。除莼菜及莲外,其它种都有星状石细胞。 根据本文的观察结果,我们认为莼菜属是睡莲科中较简化的属,它和Cabomba属有密切的亲缘关系,它们可独立成莼菜科(Cabombaceae),包括于睡莲目内。睡莲属、 萍蓬草属、芡属和王莲属(Victoria)彼此亲缘关系密切,可留于睡莲科。莲属具独特的形态,与睡莲科的其它属亲缘关系不甚密切,因此,不但可分立为莲科,而且可独立成莲目。     

秦岭毛茛属植物(毛茛科)的分类学研究

记载了产于秦岭的毛茛属植物共11种,4变种,其中含秦岭分布新记录4种、3变种,它们是:美丽毛茛、丽江毛茛(变种)、毛果毛茛(变种)、丝叶毛茛(变种)、褐鞘毛茛、愚毛茛、匍枝毛茛;另外,收录了《秦岭植物志》遗漏的另外2种,即太白山毛茛和细长喙毛茛。经研究认为,《秦岭植物志》原记载的小毛茛Ranunculus ternatusThunb.在秦岭无分布。给出了秦岭毛茛属植物分种(变种)检索表;对每一种及种下等级的产地及分布进行了详细的论述。     

星叶草属2隙节及2裂叶及其系统学意义

报道了存在于星叶草属植物中与单隙节共存的２隙节及与不分裂叶共存的２裂叶。通过分析后认为,这两个现象在该属植物中的出现并不是异常的。     

芒苞草科———单子叶植物一个新科的确认兼论其系统位置

报道了芒苞草属（ＡｃａｎｔｈｏｃｈａｌｍｙｓＰ．Ｃ．Ｋａｏ）的综合研究结果。从多学科的研究材料表明,芒苞草属（ＡｃａｎｔｈｏｃｈｌａｍｙｓＰ．Ｃ．Ｋａｏ）在解剖、胚胎、细胞、孢粉等方面,都具有许多独特的性状和特征,即有原始的,也有进化的,同时还有一些过渡性的类型和特征。在营养器官和生殖器官方面,保留有与双子叶植物毛茛目（Ｒａｎｕｎｃｕｌａｌｅｓ）相联系的特征。芒苞草科所具有这些性状和特征,在我国种     

基于低拷贝核基因GBBSI的禺毛茛复合体系统进化研究

禺毛茛多倍体复合体及其近缘种系统进化关系复杂,杂交与多倍化现象同时存在。该复合体内高倍性植物的形成及扩散过程仍需进一步研究。首次克隆了毛茛属植物低拷贝核基因颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶 I (GBBSI )基因,并利用其构建禺毛茛多倍体复合体及其近缘种的系统进化树和网状进化关系,进而证明其适合于研究毛茛属植物种下系统发育研究。结果表明：匍枝毛茛与多倍体复合体关系密切,参与了该多倍体复合体的起源和进化;禺毛茛起源于茴茴蒜和卷喙毛茛,扬子毛茛起源于茴茴蒜和匍枝毛茛;在该类群中茴茴蒜是个关键种,它在多倍体复合体中可能起着枢纽基因组的重要作用。     

Kingdonia,Embryology and Its Systematic Significance

The embryological studies show that Kingdonia is similar to Circaeaster while different from other members of the Ranunculales (sensu Takhtajan, 1980) in development of endosperm and embryo. We consider that there is close systematic relationship between Kingdonia and Circaeaster.     

独叶草的根和节部及叶的解剖学研究

报道了独叶草根、节部和叶的剖解学特征。这些器官在解剖学上表现出的突出点是：根具２个以上的根毛区（与星叶草机相同）,中有少量的次生生长,皮层细胞中具内生真菌;变态叶的叶迹或为单迹单维管组织束,或为单迹２维管组织束,或２迹在向皮层外部延伸过程中合并为具２条维管组织束的单迹;叶柄维管束不存在厚壁的维管束鞘,且在由基部向顶部延伸的过程中常发生复杂的分枝及汇合;叶片具有同形的叶肉植物,叶脉维管束鞘具２层细胞     

Gynoecium diversity and systematics of the basal eudicots

Gynoecium and ovule structure was compared in representatives of the basal eudicots, including Ranunculales (Berberidaceae, Circaeasteraceae, Eupteleaceae, Lardizabalaceae, Menispermaceae, Papaveraceae, Ranunculaceae), Proteales (Nelumbonaceae, Platanaceae, Proteaceae), some families of the former ‘lower’ hamamelids that have been moved to Saxifragales (Altingiaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Daphniphyllaceae, Hamamelidaceae), and some families of uncertain position (Gunneraceae, Myrothamnaceae, Buxaceae, Sabiaceae, Trochodendraceae). In all representatives studied, the carpels (or syncarpous gynoecia) are closed at anthesis. This closure is attained in different ways: (1) by secretion without postgenital fusion (Berberidaceae, Papaveraceae, Nelumbonaceae, probably Circaeaster); (2) by a combination of postgenital fusion and secretion; (2a) with a complete secretory canal and partly postgenitally fused periphery (Lardizabalaceae, Menispermaceae, some Ranunculaceae, Sabiaceae); (2b) with an incomplete secretory canal and completely fused periphery (Tro-chodendron); (3) by complete postgenital fusion without a secretory canal (most Ranunculaceae, Eupteleaceae, Platanaceae, Proteaceae, all families of Saxifragales and incertae sedis studied here). Stigmas are double-crested and decurrent in most of the non-ranunculalian taxa; unicellular-papillate in most taxa, but with multicellular protuberances in Daphniphyllaceae and Hamamelidaceae. Carpels predominantly have three vascular bundles, but five in Proteales (without Nelumbonaceae), Myrothamnaceae and Trochodendraceae. The latter two also share ‘oil’ cells in the carpels. Stomata on the outer carpel surface are present in the majority of Ranunculales and Proteales, but tend to be lacking in the saxifragalian families. In basal eudicots, especially in the non-ranunculalian families there is a trend to form more than one ovule per carpel but to develop only one seed, likewise there is a trend to have immature ovules at anthesis. Ovule number per carpel is predominantly one or two. Proteales (without Nelumbonales) mainly have orthotropous ovules, the other groups have anatropous (or hemitropous or campylotropous) ovules. The outer integument is annular in the groups with orthotropous or hemitropous ovules, and also in a number of saxifragalian families with anatropous ovules. In Proteales the integuments are predominantly lobed but there is no distinct pattern in this feature among the other groups. Among Ranunculales two pairs of families (Lardizabalaceae/Menispermaceae and Bcrberidaceae/Papaveraceae) due to similarities in gynoecium structure can be recognized, which are not apparent in molecular analyses. The close relationship of Platanaceae and Proteaceae is supported by gynoecium structure but gynoecial features do not support their affinity to Nelumbonaceae. The alliance of Daphniphyllaceae with Hamamelidaceae s.l. is also supported.     

Morphological Studies on Circaeaster agrestis Maxim. (1) Process of Embryolo gical Development

The present paper aims at discovering the characters of embryological development of Circaeaster agrestis, which makes up a monotypic genus, Circaeaster, to establish the phylogenetic relationships of the genus. The different opinions on its systematic position among botanists are briefly explained. The embryological studies show that the most important advanced characters of the genus are as follows. The ovule is amphitropous, unitegmic and tenuinucelar; the embryo sac formation is in accordance with the Polygonum type; endosperm formation is of the cellular type, the primary endosperm nucleus dividing to form two cells and the first wall vertical; embryo formation follows the variation of the Caryophyllad type; at the early stage of development of embryo, the integument has been already atrophied and at last disappeared, so that the seed coat is absent in the mature fruit. On the basis of the embryological and some morphological evidence, the authors consider that a close relationship between the genus and Ranunculaceae and its related families seems to be unlikely. The affinities of the genus Circaeaster are still uncertain.     

Expression of floral MADS-box genes in Sinofranchetia chinensis (Lardizabalaceae): implications for the nature of the nectar leaves

Background and Aims

The perianths of the Lardizabalaceae are diverse. The second-whorl floral organs of Sinofranchetia chinensis (Lardizabalaceae) are nectar leaves. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of this type of floral organ, and to determine its relationship to nectar leaves in other Ranunculales species, and to other floral organs in Sinofranchetia chinensis.

Methods

Approaches of evolutionary developmental biology were used, including 3′ RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) for isolating floral MADS-box genes, phylogenetic analysis for reconstructing gene evolutionary history, in situ hybridization and tissue-specific RT-PCR for identifying gene expression patterns and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) for observing the epidermal cell morphology of floral organs.

Key Results

Fourteen new floral MADS-box genes were isolated from Sinofranchetia chinensis and from two other species of Lardizabalaceae, Holboellia grandiflora and Decaisnea insignis. The phylogenetic analysis of AP3-like genes in Ranunculales showed that three AP3 paralogues from Sinofranchetia chinensis belong to the AP3-I, -II and -III lineages. In situ hybridization results showed that SIchAP3-3 is significantly expressed only in nectar leaves at the late stages of floral development, and SIchAG, a C-class MADS-box gene, is expressed not only in stamens and carpels, but also in nectar leaves. SEM observation revealed that the adaxial surface of nectar leaves is covered with conical epidermal cells, a hallmark of petaloidy.

Conclusions

The gene expression data imply that the nectar leaves in S. chinensis might share a similar genetic regulatory code with other nectar leaves in Ranunculales species. Based on gene expression and morphological evidence, it is considered that the nectar leaves in S. chinensis could be referred to as petals. Furthermore, the study supports the hypothesis that the nectar leaves in some Ranunculales species might be derived from stamens.     

Phylogenetic relationships among early-diverging eudicots based on four genes: were the eudicots ancestrally woody?

Based on analyses of combined data sets of three genes (18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB), phylogenetic relationships among the early-diverging eudicot lineages (Ranunculales, Proteales, Trochodendraceae, Sabiaceae, and Buxaceae) remain unclear, as are relationships within Ranunculales, especially the placement of Eupteleaceae. To clarify relationships among these early-diverging eudicot lineages, we added entire sequences of 26S rDNA to the existing three-gene data set. In the combined analyses of four genes based on parsimony, ML, and Bayesian analysis, Ranunculales are strongly supported as a clade and are sister to other eudicots. Proteales appear as sister to the remaining eudicots, which are weakly (59%) supported as a clade. Relationships among Trochodendraceae, Buxaceae (including Didymeles), Sabiaceae, and Proteales remain unclear. Within Ranunculales, Eupteleaceae are sister to all other Ranunculales, with bootstrap support of 70% in parsimony analysis and with posterior probability of 1.00 in Bayesian analysis. Our character reconstructions indicate that the woody habit is ancestral, not only for the basal angiosperms, but also for the eudicots. Furthermore, Ranunculales may not be ancestrally herbaceous, as long maintained. The woody habit appears to have been ancestral for several major clades of eudicots, including Caryophyllales, and asterids.     

Floral morphogenesis in Euptelea (Eupteleaceae, Ranunculales)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Based on molecular phylogenetic studies, the unigeneric family Eupteleaceae has a prominent phylogenetic position at or near the base of Ranunculales, which, in turn, appear at the base of eudicots. The aim of the present paper is to reveal developmental features of the flowers and to put the genus in a morphological context with other basal eudicots. METHODS: Flowers in all developmental stages of Euptelea pleiosperma were collected in the wild at intervals of 7-10 d in the critical stages and studied with a scanning electron microscope. KEY RESULTS: Remnants of a perianth are lacking throughout flower development. Floral symmetry changes from monosymmetric to asymmetric to disymmetric during development. Asymmetry is expressed in that the sequence of stamen initiation is from the centre to both lateral sides on the adaxial side of the flower but starting from one lateral side and proceeding to the other on the abaxial side. Despite the pronounced floral disymmetry, a dimerous pattern of floral organs was not found. The carpel primordia arise between the already large stamens and alternate with them. Stamens and carpels each form a somewhat irregular whorl. The carpels are ascidiate from the beginning. The stigma differentiates as two crests along the ventral slit of the ovary. The few lateral ovules alternate with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Although the flowers have some unusual autapomorphies (wind pollination, lack of a perianth, pronounced disymmetry of the floral base, long connective protrusion, long temporal gap between androecium and gynoecium initiation, small space for carpel initiation), they show some plesiomorphies at the level of basal eudicots (free carpels, basifixed anthers, whorled phyllotaxis), and thus fit well in Ranunculales.