Two new species of myrmecophytic Tococa (Melastomataceae) with unusually large floral bracts

Two new species ofTococa with large bracts and ant domatia are described.Tococa leticiana has caducous acuminate floral bracts that enclose the young inflorescence and is known only from Leticia, Colombia.Tococa costoides has persistent broadly ovate floral bracts and is known from Amazonas State in Brazil.     

New species of Hypolytrum Rich. (Cyperaceae) from the Neotropics

Five new species ofHypolytrum Rich. from South America are described and illustrated.Hypolytrum amorimii andH. jardimii, both of sect.Bullata T. Koyama, are species with pseudopetioles and colored leaves, and endemic to the rain forest of southeastern Brazil.Hypolytrum bahiense (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with a lax synflorescence and two, free and lightly scabridulous floral bracts, is endemic to the rain forest of southeastern Bahia, Brazil.Hypolytrum leptocalamum (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with lax synflorescence and spike ellipsoid to cylindrical, is restricted to area of tepuis in the Guayana Highland (Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela).Hypolytrum paraense (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with three, partly connate and densely scabridulous floral bracts, is restricted to the rain forest of the Amazon Basin, in the state of Pará, Brazil.     

MORE EVIDENCE FOR CONIFER DIVERSITY IN THE UPPER TRIASSIC OF NORTH CAROLINA

An ovulate strobilus from the Upper Triassic Deep River Basin, North Carolina, has helically arranged, loosely aggregated, elongated, spatulate bracts with axillary ovule-bearing appendages with about 8–10 ovules attached in two lateral rows, with outwardly directed micropyles. The axillary ovuliferous appendage is homologous with the voltzialean fertile dwarf shoot, but probably not directly evolved from it. More credible is a suggested origin from a completely fertile axillary appendage such as that of the Lower Permian Trichopitys. The occurrence of this cone, Metridiostrobus palissyaeoides, gen. and sp. nov., along with Compsostrobus neotericus and Voltzia andrewsii, reflects considerable diversity among conifer ovulate cones during the Upper Triassic.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptolobium</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae) from Brazil

Two new species of Leptolobium from Brazil are described and illustrated. Leptolobium araguaiense, restricted to northern Brazil, is similar to L. panamense, but differs in raceme length, ovary pubescence, flower and bract length, hilum shape, habit, geographical distribution, and preferential habitat. Leptolobium multijugum, from midwestern Brazil, is perhaps most closely related to L. glaziovianum, but it has more numerous leaflets and smaller bracts and bracteoles than any other species in the genus.     

Two new species of Lejeunea Lib. (Hepaticae: Lejeuneaceae) from Sikkim,India

Abstract

Two new species of Lejeunea Lib., L. kashyapii sp. nov. and L. mehrana sp. nov. are described from Sikkim, India. The former is characterized by sub-orbicular leaves; first tooth of leaf lobule, 1–3 cells long 1–2 cells wide at base; reniform underleaves slightly wider than long; monoicous sexuality; 2–3-paired male bracts; obcordate perianth with 4–5 smooth keels (2 lateral, auriculate; 2 ventral; 0–1 dorsal, indistinct). Whereas, the latter is characterized by oblong – ovate leaves; lobule 1/6–1/5 as long as lobe; distant – contiguous underleaves with 1–3 teeth on each lobe; dioicous (?) sexuality; 2–4-paired male bracts and 1–2 male bracteoles present near the base of androecia. A key to the Indian species of the genus are provided.     

Eriogonum soliceps (Polygonaceae: Eriogonoideae), a new species from east-central Idaho and southwestern Montana

Eriogonum soliceps, a new species of subg.Eucycla sect.Capitata, is described. It may be readily distinguished from all other taxa of the subgenus by its reduced inflorescence. From its presumed nearest relative,E. mancum, this new species differs in its solitary (vs. 2–5) involucre, presence of a peduncle but no scape, lack of bracts at the base of the involucre, and distinctly pustulose midribs of the mature flowers.     

Species delimitation in Lippia section Goniostachyum (Verbenaceae) using the phylogenetic species concept

Lippia section Goniostachyum comprises plants distinguished by their numerous axillary florescences (three to six, sometimes up to nine) and tetrastichous floral bracts. Species of section Goniostachyum occur in the Neotropics, from Mexico to northern Argentina. Delimitation of the species grouped under Goniostachyum has remained unclear. Forty‐one names exist under this section, but only c. eight to ten names have been used frequently. To resolve the taxonomy of this group, a modified population aggregation analysis, based on the phylogenetic species concept, was employed. As a result, Goniostachyum is here circumscribed to only four species: L. grata, L. origanoides, L. sericea and L. stachyoides. These species are supported by different combinations of three characters of the 13 qualitative attributes analysed: canescent sericeous pubescence, frondose or frondose‐bracteose inflorescences and free or fused florescence apical bracts. Two varieties based on significant differences among quantitative characters are recognized: L. stachyoides var. stachyoides and L. stachyoides var. martiana comb. nov. Fifteen lectotypifications and four neotypifications are proposed. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 170 , 197–219.     

Two new endemic species of Ophiorrhiza L. (Rubiaceae: Ophiorrhizeae) from Davao Oriental,Philippines

Two new species of Ophiorrhiza collected from Mt Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Philippines, are herein described and illustrated. Ophiorrhiza erythropilosa is the third Philippine species possessing involucral bracts and is further characterized by its predominantly villose stems that appear red due to strikingly red-violet trichomes, subpersistent bifid stipules, linear involucral bracts without prominent midrib, and 4 mm long urceolate corolla that is villose outside and lightly puberulous inside. Ophiorrhiza hamiguitanensis is characterized by its coriaceous, lanceolate leaves with attenuate apex and base, brochidodromous venation, subpersistent bilobed stipules with slightly recurved acute tips, presence of 1.5–2.5 mm long linear ensiform bracts, heterostylous flowers, clavate calyces and broadly obcordate capsules.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symplocos</Emphasis> (Symplocaceae) from the Itatiaia Plateau of Brazil

Symplocos minima, a new species of Symplocos section Hopea from the Itatiaia Plateau in the Atlantic Rain Forest biome of southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. This species is distinguished by its densely compact shrubby habit, ascending leaves, fasciculate inflorescences with several persistent bracts, corolla with five to six erect lobes, pistillate flowers with the disc not thickened along the margin, fruiting calyx lobes obscuring the disc, and seeds sub-orbicular in cross section. The new species is morphologically related to S. itatiaiae and S. pentandra, but can be differenciated from them mainly due to the tree habit and fruiting calyx lobes not obscuring the disc in S. itatiaiae and the pistillate flowers with a disc that is thickened along the margin in S. pentandra.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leandra</Emphasis> from Espírito Santo,Brazil

Two species of Leandra that occur in low montane and montane rain forests in the state of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil, are described and illustrated here. Leandra magnipetala can be recognized by the pedicellate flowers, costate hypanthia, and large, broadly lanceolate petals. Leandra triantha can be recognized by the apical, short-peduncled triads, diads or solitary flowers and by the granulose-glandulose, strigose and glandulose-strigose bracts, bracteoles, and hypanthia.     

On Dark-Germination and Antheridium Formation in Anemia phyllitidis

Schraudolf's finding is confirmed that gibberellic acid induces antheridia in Anemia phyllitidis and Lygodium japonicum. The activity spectra of gibberellic acid and the native antheridiogen of Anemia phyllitidis are similar: Both induce antheridia in the tested species of the family Schizaeaceae but are inactive towards the tested representatives of other fern families. However, the native antheridiogens of two schizaeaceous species are more species-specific in their action than is gibberellic acid. Anemia medium cancels the light requirement for spore germination as is the case with gibberellic acid. Chromatographic studies indicate that the dark-germination-inducing factor is identical with, or very similar to, the earlier demonstrated antheridiogen. The specificities of the active factors towards dark-germination in A. phyllitidis and L. japonicum are similar to those encountered with antheridium formation. Anemia medium induces dark-germination and induces antheridia on the dark-grown protonemata to a concentration ca. 30 times lower than it induces antheridia on light-grown prothalli. The studies indicate that this differential activity results from a differential competence of the prothalli to react to the active substance in light and darkness.     

A new species of physophora (siphonophora: Physonectae: Physophoridae) from the North Atlantic,with comments on related species

A new species of Physophora, belonging to the physonect family of siphonophores Physophoridae is described. It can easily be distinguished from the only other recognised species in that family, P. hydrostatica, by the presence of two types of bracts. The arrangement of the palpons and bracts throws new light on the cormidial organisation of the physophorids, and comparisons are made between both species. The validity of an enigmatic physophorid species, Discolabe quadrigata, is discussed.     

Hormonal interaction in sexual reproduction of Desmarestia aculeata (Phaeophyceae)

Male and female gametophytes of Desmarestia aculeata have been grown as clonal cultures. Red light permits vegetative growth only. Differentiation of oogonia and antheridia takes place under illumination with blue light as has been previously reported for several species of Laminaria. Morphological details for differentiation of oogonia and antheridia are presented, stressing the strong resemblance with the respective processes in Laminaria. Experimental evidence indicates the presence of a hormonal factor secreted by the eggs, which is responsible for discharge and subsequent attraction of spermatozoids to the egg.     

How do sexual expression,reproductive phenology and reproductive success relate to sexual systems in Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae)? A case study comparing two different sexual systems in mosses

• Reproductive performance is known to differ between co‐sexual and non‐co‐sexual species. Thus, our aim was to determine whether: (i) the distance between sex structures is negatively associated with sex expression; (ii) male gametangia take longer to mature in rhizautoicous species than in gonioautoicous species; and (iii) the gonioautoicous sexual system has greater reproductive success (i.e. percentage of ramets with sporophyte) than the rhizautoicous sexual system.
• One population each of the mosses Fissidens scariosus and F. submarginatus, rhizautoicous and gonioautoicous, respectively, in a remnant of Atlantic Forest in Brazil were sampled monthly from September 2016 until August 2017. The number and phenophases of antheridia, archegonia and sporophytes were analysed for each species. Sexual expression and reproductive success were calculated, and reproductive phenology compared across environmental variables.
• As expected, sexual expression was significantly higher for the gonioautoicous species, which produced antheridia throughout the year and archegonia over many months, while gametangia production by the rhizautoicous species occurred only during the rainy season. Mean number of gametangia per perigonium and perichaetium were slightly higher for the rhizautoicous species (6.84 antheridia; 11.38 archegonia) than for the gonioautoicous species (4.39; 7.62). Gametangia and sporophyte production in the rhizautoicous species were markedly seasonal compared to that of the gonioautoicous species, although reproductive success did not differ.
• Therefore, we infer that the rhizautoicy (i.e. a functional dioicy) promotes lower expression of gametangia compared to gonioautoicy but is more efficient and so obtains the same reproductive success.

     

Characterization of sexual reproductive processes in Chara braunii (Charales,Charophyceae)

Chara braunii is distributed worldwide and is the most common charalean species in Japan. This species is monoecious and produces numerous sets of sex organs, each of which consists of one antheridium and one oogonium, under laboratory culture conditions. In this study, we report that light intensity strongly affected the vegetative phase and sexual reproductive phase of this species. Under high‐light conditions (70.0 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1), thalli grew but did not form reproductive organs. Under a low‐light intensity (10.0 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1), algal bodies formed many reproductive organs. In addition, antheridia without the corresponding oogonia (lone antheridia) were observed under low‐light conditions. The absence of oogonium primordia adjacent to the lone antheridium was confirmed by several microscopic approaches. The addition of liquid fertilizer increased the total number of sex organs and growth; however, the number of lone antheridia decreased with increasing fertilizer concentrations. Exogenously applied gibberellin did not affect the number of lone antheridia. These results suggest that regulatory mechanisms for the appropriate allocation of resources exist in this alga, similar to those reported in some land plants.     

Comparative floral biology of Rhynchospora ciliata (Vahl) Kukenth and R. pubera (Vahl) Boeckeler (Cyperaceae): the role of white involucral bracts in attracting pollinating insects

Although Cyperaceae are considered anemophilous, some species exhibit features that are attractive to pollinators, such as the white UV‐reflecting involucral bracts of Rhynchospora ciliata. But how effective are these conspicuous adaptations? To address this question, we tested the hypothesis that species such as R. ciliata are visited by greater numbers of pollinating insects than similar species with green involucral bracts, such as R. pubera. We compared the floral biology of both species and the number of visits to sympatric populations of each species, associating them with the availability of pollen and the pollination system. We verified that species with white involucral bracts are preferred, because there were more visits to R. ciliata in the first 2 h the flowers were open. The peak visitation in R. pubera was 2 h after the flowers opened, when the pollen of R. ciliata was exhausted. Although the involucral bracts of R. pubera are green, the spikelet scales and anthers are white and reflect ultraviolet light. Overall, flowers of R. pubera exhibit fewer white or reflective surfaces and are probably less conspicuous to a bee than those of R. ciliata. It is possible that R. pubera is a second option for visitors after the first 2 h of anthesis. The two different peaks in visitation minimize interspecific competition for pollinators, suggesting that R. ciliata and R. pubera together could attract more generalist pollinators and, instead of competing, facilitate the pollination of both species. Although R. pubera is autogamous and self‐compatible, both wind and insects are important to its reproductive success.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dalea</Emphasis> ser. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Versicolores</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Amorpheae) from Durango,Mexico

Dalea conetensis, a new species from the central part of the State of Durango, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is referred to Dalea subgenus Parosela sect. Parosela series Versicolores. It is morphologically similar to D. pinetorum var. pinetorum but can be distinguished by its shorter stipules, leaves, bracts, calyx teeth, petals, androecium, fewer and shorter leaflets, and the calyx pubescence.     

Squash Techniques in the Cytological Investigation of Mosses

Abstract

Photosynthetic activity of attached sporophytes is very low (a few per cent or less) compared with that of associated gametophyte structures (perianth, bracts and uppermost leaves) in Cephalozia bicuspidata and Lophocolea heterophylla, or with even small areas of thallus in Pellia epiphylla. Photosynthetic uptake of ¹⁴CO₂ by developing sporophytes of P. epiphylla, C. bicuspidata and L. heterophylla is at most a few per cent of the ¹⁴C translocated subsequently from the gametophyte, and could be negligible. In L. heterophylla, the perianth, bracts and uppermost leaves appear to play only a limited role in nutrition of the sporophyte, the leafy shoots making a major contribution. In C. bicuspidata the perianth and leaves of the short archegonial shoot may provide a substantial part of the nutrition of the sporophyte. There is some indication in all three species that translocation from the gametophyte is most active when the sporophyte reaches full size but is still green, declining in the final stages of maturation of the capsule.     

ANATOMY AND ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE STAMINATE INFLORESCENCES AND FLORETS OF SEVEN SPECIES OF ALLOCASUARINA (CASUARINACEAE)

The morphology, ontogeny, and vascular anatomy of the staminate inflorescences and florets of seven species of Allocasuarina are described. The generally terminal but open-ended inflorescences occur on monoecious or staminate dioecious trees and consist of whorls of bracts, each subtending a sessile axillary floret. Each floret consists of one terminal stamen with a bilobed, tetrasporangiate anther enclosed typically by cuculliform appendages, commonly considered bracteoles, an inner median pair and an outer lateral pair. The mature stamen is exerted, the anther is basifixed and is extrorsely dehiscent. In early development of a male inflorescence very little internodal elongation occurs and enclosing cataphylls appear. The inflorescence apex is a low dome with a uniseriate tunica and a small group of central corpus cells. Bract primordia are initiated by periclinal divisions of C₁ followed by further divisions of the corpus and anticlinal divisions in the tunica. The bracts are epinastic and become gamophyllous except apically by cell divisions in both sides of each primordium. Stomata are restricted to the axis furrows and the abaxial tips of the bracts. The axillary florets arise in acropetal succession initiated by periclinal divisions in C₁ accompanied by anticlinal divisions in the tunica. The lateral floral appendages are also initiated by C₁ followed by anticlinal divisions in the tunica. They become adnate basally later with the subtending bract. The median sterile appendages are initiated in a manner similar to the initiation of the outer appendages. The stamen is initiated by divisions in the outer layers of the corpus and in the tunica, and then develops first by apical growth followed by intercalary growth. The vascular system of the inflorescence is identical to that of the vegetative stem. Each floret is supplied by a single bundle that has its source in a branch from each of the two traces supplying a bract. Six bundles arise from the floral bundle; four of these terminate in the base of the stamen and two form an amphicribal bundle that supplies the anther. Pollen is binucleate, 3- to 7-porate. The exine is tegillate.     

Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). VII. Miconia howardiana,a new speices from Hispaniola

Miconia howardiana, which is known only from a diverse moist montane forest in the vicinity of Loma Trocha de Pey (or “Monteada Nueva”), the easternmost peak of the Sierra de Baoruco, is described and illustrated. It is compared to phenetically similar (and probably phylogenetically related) species of theMiconia favosa complex, i.e.,M. favosa, M. xenotricha, M. campanensis M. Sintenisii, M. foveolata, andM. pycnoneura. The species of this complex are characterized by bullate leaves with frequently cordate bases and often six secondary veins. Most species also have large berries and flowers, 5-locular ovaries, large inflorescence bracts and bracteoles, and more or less dendritic multicellular hairs.