Development of the cymose inflorescence, cupulum and flower of Psoralea pinnata (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Psoraleeae)

The inflorescence of Psoralea pinnata sensu lato is composed of dichasial cymes of three to seven flowers in each bract axil. However, the main inflorescence terminal is indeterminate. Cymes are very unusual among legumes, occurring in perhaps six or seven genera. The 'cupulum' is a unique structure found only in Psoralea among legumes. While highly variable in form, it serves as a protective structure around the calyx during development. Developmentally the cupulum results from fusion by intercalary growth of three to four successive bracts on the pedicel. Paired bracteoles are also produced above the cupulum and below the calyx, but they are very reduced and easily overlooked. Their presence is evidence that the cupulum is not part of the flower proper. Organogeny in P. pinnata is unidirectional in each floral whorl, starting on the abaxia! side, except for a minor exception in precocity of the vexillary (adaxial) stamen arising with the two lateral stamens of the same inner whorl. There is no overlap between whorls. The carpel is initiated early, during or just after petal initiation and before stamen initiation.     

The pollen morphology of Vicia (Leguminosae)

The pollen morphology of 32 species of the genus Vicia was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscope (SEM and TEM). The interstitia of the pollen of the examined species were found to be either regular columellate, irregular columellate, or granular. The granular pattern was recognized to be apomorphy against the columellate patterns in the tribe Vicieae by comparison with the pollen in the tribes Vicieae, Cicereae, Galegeae, Hedysareae, and Trifolieae. The group of Vicia species having the apomorphy was congruent with that having a known apomorphy of the pistil character. This group with such synapomorphies may be monophyletic, though it is treated as polyphyletic in the present infrageneric system of Vicia.     

黄耆属簇毛黄耆亚属系统学研究

簇毛黄耆亚属以其柱头上具簇毛等形态特征与黄耆属其它类群相区别,约含49种（变种）。主要分布在青藏高原及其邻近地区,绝大多数种类分布于横断山区。本文基于形态特征和分支系统学方法分析亚属内种系发生关系。结果表明,49种（变种）可分为9组。其中双小苞组Sect.Bibracteolati含种类最多,是一个并系类群。借助于分支图,分析了6个较重要的鉴定特征的演化,习性,茎的着生方式,小苞片,果实形态,柱头具簇毛,果实膨胀状况等。最后作出了这个亚属的一个分类纲要。     

Stipule arrangement in the genus Caesalpinia (Leguminosae)

Stipular development in Caesalpinia displays two patterns. More commonly, stipules, throughout the development of the leaf, assume a subordinate position never keeping pace with the petiole-blade portion. In two out of eight species the stipules showed strong proleptic development exceeding in size their own leaf within a plastochron of initiation and soon thereafter covering that leaf. Information on stipule development, as well as other features of the embryonic leaf may be of use to the taxonomist and such data can now be obtained relatively easily using SEM.     

Seedling morphology ofLespedeza (Leguminosae)

Seedling morphology was studied in 22 species ofLespedeza, of which six belong to subgenusMacroles-pedeza and 16 to subgenusLespedeza. Two seedling types were recognized: 1) those with opposite leaves at the first node; 2) those having the first and subsequent leaves alternate. The two types are distinguished in the number of leaf primordia in the plumule of the seed: the opposite type has two leaf primordia, but the alternate type has only one primordium. Most species exhibited one of the two types, but rarely both types were observed in several species. In species having two types, one type always far outnumbers the other. The opposite type was common in Asian species, while the alternate type was common in North American ones. Because seedlings are of the opposite type inKummerowia which is the most closely related genus withLespdeza, the alternate type is considered to be apomorphic inLespedeza. The apomorphic seedling morphology is, there-fore, dominantly occurred in North American species ofLespedeza. This fact may be an evidence which suggests a monophyletic origin for North American species from an Asian ancesfor.     

黄耆属簇毛黄耆亚属生物地理学研究

簇毛黄耆亚属的种类主要沿亚洲的“山链”分布,即横断山,喜马拉雅,查谟和克什米尔,帕米尔—阿赖,兴都库什和苏莱曼山脉,表达了东亚、西亚和中亚的植物区系地理关系。本文基于亚属的分布式样,对其8个分布区进行了分析生物地理学中的成分分析。结果表明,这8个分布区可划分为4类,即1)华北—东北;2)横断山和西藏;3)西喜马拉雅,西巴基斯坦,塔吉克斯坦;4)内蒙古—新疆。在本亚属的分布式样中,有两个地理“结点”,即横断山和西喜马拉雅,后者主要指克什米尔。推断地理上的衍进方向是由东向西发展,喜马拉雅是连接东西分布的通道。     

Ontogeny and structure of the acervulate partial inflorescence in Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Arecaceae; Arecoideae)

Background and Aims

The palm tribe Chamaedoreeae displays flowers arranged in a complex partial inflorescence called an acervulus. This type of partial inflorescence has so far not been reported elsewhere in the largest palm subfamily Arecoideae, which is traditionally characterized by flowers predominantly arranged in triads of one central female and two lateral male flowers. The ontogenetic basis of the acervulus is as yet unknown and its structural diversity throughout the genera of the Chamaedoreeae poorly recorded. This study aims to provide critical information on these aspects.

Methods

Developmental series and mature inflorescences were sampled from plants cultivated in international botanical gardens and wild populations. The main techniques employed included scanning electronic microscopy and serial anatomical sectioning of resin-embedded fragments of rachillae.

Key Results

Inflorescence ontogeny in Hyophorbe lagenicaulis demonstrates that the acervulus and the inflorescence rachilla form a condensed and cymose branching system resembling a coenosome. Syndesmy results from a combined process of rapid development and adnation, without or with reduced axis elongation. Acervulus diversity in the ten taxa of the Chamaedoreeae studied is displayed at the level of their positioning within the inflorescence, their arrangement, the number of floral buds and their sexual expression.

Conclusions

The results show that a more general definition of the type of partial inflorescence observed within the large subfamily Arecoideae would correspond to a cyme rather than to a floral triad. In spite of their common cymose architecture, the floral triad and the acervulus present differences with respect to the number and arrangement of floral buds, the superficial pattern of development and sexual expression.     

黄檀属模式指定及新异名

指定了黄檀属Dalbergia黄檀D．hupeana Hance、滇黔黄檀D．yunnanensis Franch．、D．collettii Prain和多裂黄檀D．rimosa Roxb．四个名称的后选模式。分别将上海黄檀D．sacerdotum Prain、高原黄檀D.yunnanensis var.collettii（Prain）Thoth．和勐梭黄檀D．mengsuoensis Y.Y.Qian处理为黄檀D.hupeana、滇黔黄檀D．yunnanensis和多裂黄檀D．rimosa的异名。     

Evidence for the hybrid origin of Lathyrus plitmannii (Leguminosae)

ABSTRACT

The hypothesis that Lathyrus plitmannii may be of hybrid origin was tested on a morphological data set, derived from measurements of 50 herbarium specimens, by employing the computer program HYWIN. Results showed that all the specimens of L. plitmannii were putative hybrids and that the highest ranked pair of specimens that best matches the morphologies of its parents was L. gorgonei and L. pseudocicera. Examination of the distribution patterns of the three species shows that L. plitmannii is confined to regions common to both putative parents and that hybrids could be formed, assuming that genetic barriers were overcome. Additional supporting evidence includes overlaps in the edaphic requirements and the habitats of the three species. Lathyrus plitmannii is recognised as a distinct species that should be regarded as derivative of hybridisation between L. gorgonei and L. pseudocicera.     

狗牙根花序发育过程的形态学观察

对狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon‘C299’)花序发育过程中的形态学变化进行了观察。结果表明,‘C299’花序的整个发育过程可分为8个阶段,即营养生长期、穗轴发生期、苞叶原基分化期、小穗原基分化期、小穗分化期、小花分化期、颖片和内外稃发育期及花药和柱头形成期。其中,穗轴发生期(直立茎上有6~9片叶)是抑制花序形成和决定种子产量的关键时期。     

The phylogeny of Lens (Leguminosae): new insight from ITS sequence analysis

 Lens includes L. culinaris subsp. culinaris (the cultivated lentil) and several wild species distributed from the Mediterranean region to western Asia. We compared sequence variation in the ITS region among species of Lens in an effort to end persisting uncertainty regarding the phylogeny of the genus. The parsimony analysis revealed a single minimum-length tree with a topology congruent with patterns derived by previous studies of nuclear and chloroplast DNA RFLPs. The basal and highly divergent status of the L. nigricans clade is depicted, and the progenitor-derivative relationship between L. culinaris subsp. orientalis and L. culinaris subsp. culinaris is reaffirmed. Resolution in the tree was improved by combining the ITS data set with a pre-existing set of chloroplast DNA restriction site data obtained from the same group of samples. Received May 8, 2000 Accepted October 26, 2001     

The branching of the inflorescence and vegetative shoot and taxonomy of the genusKummerowia (Leguminosae)

A study of the branching of the inflorescence and the vegetative shoot of the genusKummerowia, consisting ofK. stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino andK. striata (Thunb.) Schindler, has led to the following conclusions: (1) the inflorescences of both species are reduced compound cymes, (2) the branching system of the inflorescence ofKummerowia is not clearly different from that of the vegetative shoot and there are some transitional forms between both systems, and (3) the inflorescence ofKummerowia is different from the racemose inflorescences ofLespedeza andCampylotropis. Based on the differences found in the branching system of the inflorescence,Kummerowia is distinctly separated fromLespedeza andCampylotropis and is more correctly treated as a distinct genus from the latter two.     

Seed-coat anatomy of the non-pleurogrammic seeds in the tribe Ingeae (Leguminosae,Mimosoideae)

An anatomically complex structure of the seed-coat is a general characteristic of all members of the Leguminosae. Nonetheless, certain genera exhibit a particular type of seed, the “overgrown” seen that has been defined by a developmental criterion and by more simple anatomical features of the seed-coat. Only the last criterion seems suitable for unambiguously distinguishing this type of seed, which is here referred to as “overgrown-like.” This type appears to be apomorphic in the Ingeae (and probably in all the Leguminosae) and likely results from a heterochronic loss of tissue differentiation. Variations in this character may be useful at the generic level, and detailed anatomical observations reveal the occurrence of three distinct patterns. The high degree of correlation with other characters suggests that overgrown-like seeds have evolved separately at least three times in the Ingeae and thatPithecellobium s.s. may be polyphyletic. The overgrown-like seeds are likely to be an adaptive response to wet tropical climates.     

紫荆属的系统发育和生物地理学研究

紫荆属（Cercis L.）约含8种,间断分布于亚洲东、西部、欧洲南部和北美。应用核糖体DNA的ITS基因序列研究紫荆属的系统发育关系。在最简约性分析,北美的两个种和南欧、西亚的一个种构成一单系群而隐藏于东亚的种类中。这表明紫荆属北美的种类和南欧、西亚的种类之间的关系比它们的各自与东亚的种类的关系要密切。研究还发现北美洲东、西部的种类可能具较近亲缘。紫荆属以白令陆桥或北大西洋陆桥为迁移途径的可能性似乎都不能排除;北半球的生物地理分布式样可具有复杂的起源。     

Evolution and homology of bird pollination syndromes in Erythrina (Leguminosae)

Erythrina L. (Leguminosae: Phaseoleae) is a pantropical genus of over 100 species, all of which are either hummingbird or passerine pollinated. Phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphological and chloroplast DNA restriction site characters suggest that shifts from passerine to hummingbird pollination have occurred a minimum of four times in the genus. In hummingbird-pollinated species the inflorescences are held upright, the flowers are arranged radially along the axis, and the narrow standard petal is conduplicately folded to form a pseudotube. In most of the passerine-pollinated species, the inflorescences are held horizontally, the flowers are secund, and the standard petal is open so that the nectar and androecium are easily visible and accessible. Nectar amino acid concentrations and sucrose to hexose ratios are closely associated with pollination mode. Despite the general resemblance in flower and inflorescence morphology among species with the same pollination type, homology assessment reveals that petal morphology and size, and calyx and pollen morphology differ. Morphological characters, even if comprising modifications associated with adaptive pollination systems, therefore provide useful phylogenetic information.     

Monophyletic subgroups of the tribe Millettieae (Leguminosae) as revealed by phytochrome nucleotide sequence data

Phylogenetic analysis of phytochrome (PHY) genes reveals the identity and relationships of four PHY loci among papilionoid Leguminosae. A phylogenetic analysis of loci combined according to species suggests that most of the tribe Millettieae belongs to one of two monophyletic clades: the Derris–Lonchocarpus or the Tephrosia clade. Together these two form a monophyletic group that is sister to a lineage represented by Millettia grandis of Millettia sect. Compresso-gemmatae. Collectively, this large monophyletic group is referred to as the Millettieae-core group, which based on our sampling, includes species of Millettieae that do not accumulate the nonprotein amino acid canavanine and that mostly have pseudoracemose or pseudopaniculate inflorescences. This new phylogenetic framework assists in targeting additional taxa for future sampling. For example, the “American Derris” (Deguelia), which accumulate canavanine, might not be members of the Millettieae core group. Afgekia is also predicted not to be a member because it accumulates canavanine and has an inflorescence of terminal racemes. PHY gene analysis specifically reveals that certain genera traditionally classified in Millettieae are actually distantly related to the Millettieae core group, such as Austrosteensia, Callerya, Craibia, Cyclolobium, Fordia, Platycyamus, Poecilanthe, and Wisteria.     

土圞儿属和旋花豆属(豆科)的叶表皮特征及其系统学意义

应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了豆科Leguminosae土圞儿属Apios和旋花豆属Cochlianthus植物的叶表皮特征。在光学显微镜下,大多数种类的叶表皮细胞形状（表面观）为不规则型,垂周壁式样为浅波状或波状,只有一个种——和Apios gracillima Dunn叶表皮细胞为多边形,垂周壁式样为较平直。在扫描电子显微镜下,多数种类的叶片蜡质纹饰通常为片状或颗粒状,一些种叶表皮未见蜡质纹饰;气孔器外拱盖内缘通常为浅波状或近平滑。在这两个属内,上述叶表皮特征在物种内较稳定,因此对于解决属内种间和属间关系有一定的系统学意义。本研究得出以下结论：（1）A．gracillima叶的上表皮细胞为多边形,垂周壁平直或弧形,A．delavayi Franch．叶的上表皮细胞为不规则形,垂周壁波状,二者存在明显差异,因此A．gracillima应处理为一独立的种,而不是A．delavayi下的一个变种;（2）A．priceana B．L．Rob．在叶表皮细胞形状、垂周壁式样、气孔器类型和蜡质纹饰形态等方面与土圞儿属中其他种不存在显著区别,因此土圞儿属内两个亚属的划分是不合理的;（3）土圞儿属多为5或7小叶,无毛或近无毛,叶表皮细胞垂周壁波状或近平直,而旋花豆属3小叶,密被柔毛,叶表皮细胞垂周壁浅波状,本文支持它们为两个独立的属的分类处理。     

Early inflorescence and floral development in Zea mays land race Chapalote (Poaceae)

Tassel and ear primordia were collected from greenhouse-grown specimens of the Mexican maize landrace Chapalote and prepared for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination. Measurements of inflorescence apices and spikelet pair primordia (spp) were made from SEM micrographs. Correlation of inflorescence apex diameter with number of spikelet ranks showed no significant difference between tassels and ears, except at the two-rank level where the ear apical meristem had a significantly smaller diameter than corresponding two-ranked tassels. Within individual inflorescences, spp in different ranks enlarged at comparable rates, although the rates from one ear to the next along the stem differed. In both tassels and ears, spp divide to form paired sessile and pedicellate spikelet primordia when the spp is 150 μm wide; ear axes are significantly thicker than tassel axes at the time of bifurcation. The similarities in growth between ear and tassel primordia lend further support to the hypothesis that both the maize tassel and ear are derived from a common inflorescence pattern, a pattern shared with teosinte. Inflorescence primordial growth also suggests that a key character difference between teosinte and maize, distichous vs. polystichous arrangement of spikelets, may be related to size of the apical dome and/or rate of primordium production by the apical meristem. There appears to be more than a single morphological event in the shift from vegetative to reproductive growth. The evocation of axillary buds (ears) is independent of, and temporally separated from, the transition to flowering at the primary shoot apex (tassel).