Pohlia muyldermansii Wilcz. & Dem. var. pseudomuyldermansii var. nov., a new name for P. muyldermansii Wilcz. & Dem. sensu Lewis & Smith

Abstract

The results of a comparative study of Pohlia muyldermansii from Continental Europe and the British Isles are presented. Two varieties are recognized, var. muyldermansii from Belgium and the Netherlands and var. pseudomuyldermansii var. nov. from Great Britain, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland. P. camptotrachela is reported from Belgium and differences between this species and P. muyldermansii discussed.     

Taxonomy of the Poa laxa group,including two new taxa from Arctic Canada and Greenland,and Oregon,and a re‐examination of P. sect. Oreinos (Poaceae)

The Poa laxa Haenke species group, comprising four alpine–arctic taxa in P. sect. Oreinos, has a complicated and confusing taxonomic history. Here we re‐examine the taxonomy of the group and section based on sequences of three plastid and two nuclear ribosomal DNA markers. Poa laxa s.l. resolved in a clade with species of sections Abbreviatae, Oreinos, Stenopoa, and Tichopoa. In the plastid analyses, Poa laxa s.s. (type of sect. Oreinos) was placed in a subclade with P. glauca and other sect. Stenopoa species, while all other P. laxa s.l. taxa were placed in a subclade with species of sect. Abbreviatae. We maintain P. laxa s.s. (mainly 2n = 28) of west–central Europe in sect. Oreinos, while the other P. laxa s.l. taxa from northern Europe and North America (all 2n = 42 or higher ploid) are referred to P. sect. Abbreviatae. In North America only one collection of the northern European P. flexuosa subsp. flexuosa is accepted (Greenland, Jensen's Nunatakker), and P. flexuosa subsp. fernaldiana is accepted based on populations in eastern Canada and northeast USA. A new subspecies, P. flexuosa subsp. consauliae, is described from eastern Arctic Canada and Greenland; its variable morphological characteristics suggest introgression with P. glauca and it is predicted to be apomictic. Rocky Mountain P. laxa subsp. banffiana is treated as P. banffiana. Oregon material formerly considered to belong to P. laxa s.l. is named P. wallowensis. Poa sect. Oreinos is thus found to be polyphyletic, and is here emended to comprise only three continental European species, including P. laxa. Lectotypes are designated for P. aspera var. laxiuscula, P. fernaldiana, P. flexuosa, and P. laxa var. debilior. New chromosome numbers are reported for P. flexuosa subsp. consauliae (ca 2n = 42), and P. glauca (2n = 63) from Baffin Island. A key to the species and subspecies found in North America is given.     

Plagiochila killarniensis Pears. in the British Isles

Abstract

Plagioehila killarniensis Pears. is reinstated as a species. It differs from P. spinulosa in many characters including its more patent leaves with a sharply defmed vitta, and the dentate antical margin of its female bracts. P. spinulosa var. inermis Carr. is shown to be a synonym of P. killarniensis, and P. punetata var. owenii (Steph.) Macv. of var. punctata. Both sexes of P. killarniensis occur in the British Isles, but male plants of P. spinulosa have not been detected, and those of P. punctata have been seen only once. P. killarniensis tolerates more exposure than P. spinulosa, but does not extend so far north.     

Three propaguliferous species of Pohlia (Mielichhoferiaceae,Musci) in China

Abstract

As a result of a literature survey and examination of specimens, we believe that the identification of three species of propaguliferous Pohlia in China, Pohlia flexuosa, Pohlia proligera, and Pohlia leucostoma needs to be clarified. Pohlia flexuosa has two differing types of propagule: one short and oblong and the other long and thread-like; both propagules have inconspicuous leaf primordia, and can occur on the same stem. Propagules of P. proligera are shortly clavate to long vermicular, with one to three unicellular or multicellular prong-like leaf primordia arising at the apex of the propagule, and the leaf primordia are approximately one-fourth of the total length of the propagules. Pohlia leucostoma has long filiform propagules, with two or three short peg-like leaf primordia about one-tenth of total propagule length.     

Mechanisms affecting the fate of Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae,Mimosoideae) seeds during early secondary dispersal in the Monte Desert,Argentina

Abstract The fate of seeds during secondary dispersal is largely unknown for most species in most ecosystems. This paper deals with sources of seed output of Prosopis flexuosa D.C. (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) from the surface soil seed‐bank. Prosopis flexuosa is the main tree species in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. In spite of occasional high fruit production, P. flexuosa seeds are not usually found in the soil, suggesting that this species does not form a persistent soil seed‐bank. The magnitude of removal by animals and germination of P. flexuosa seeds was experimentally analysed during the first stage of secondary dispersal (early autumn). The proportion of seeds removed by granivores was assessed by offering different types of diaspores: free seeds, seeds inside intact endocarps, pod segments consisting of 2–3 seeds, and seeds from faeces of one herbivorous hystricognath rodent, the mara (Dolichotis patagonum). The proportion of seeds lost through germination was measured for seeds inside intact endocarps, seeds inside artificially broken endocarps, and free seeds. Removal by ants and mammals is the main factor limiting the formation of a persistent soil seed‐bank of P. flexuosa: >90% of the offered seeds were removed within 24 h of exposure to granivores in three of four treatments. Seeds from the faeces of maras, on the other hand, were less vulnerable to granivory than were other types of diaspores. These results suggest that herbivory might be an indirect mechanism promoting seed longevity in the soil (and likely germination) by discouraging granivore attack. On the other hand, germination did not seem to have an important postdispersal impact on the persistence of P. flexuosa seeds in the soil. Both direct and indirect interactions between vertebrate herbivores and plants may foster P. flexuosa's seed germination in some South American arid zones.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Erysiphe wadae: a new species of Erysiphe sect. Uncinula on Japanese beech

 A new species of Erysiphe sect. Uncinula is described and illustrated from Japan. Erysiphe wadae sp. nov., found on Japanese beech (Fagus crenata, Fagaceae), is characterized by having two types of appendages, i.e., a long (true) appendage arising from the equatorial zone of the ascomata, and a short appendage arising from the upper part of the ascomata. This characteristic is shared by E. simulans, E. australiana, E. flexuosa, E. liquidambaris, E. prunastri, and E. togashiana. Erysiphe wadae differs from the latter five species in its brown-colored appendage. Erysiphe simulans is most similar to E. wadae, but differs in its loosely uncinate appendage and smaller number of ascospores. Identity of the nucleotide sequences of the rDNA ITS region is 92.3% between the two species. The significance of the two types of appendage in taxonomy and phylogeny of powdery mildews is discussed based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. Received: November 8, 2002 / Accepted: January 29, 2003 Acknowledgments We are grateful to Drs. Yukio Harada and Hideki Naito for help in collecting powdery mildew specimens; Dr. Uwe Braun for providing the specimen of E. flexuosa; and Mr. Tetsuya Hirata and Miss Sanae Matsuda for nucleotide sequences of E. togashiana and E. flexuosa. This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 13660047) from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.     

西畴重楼生物学特征补述及其系统位置

西畴重楼(Paris cronquistii var.xichouensis)为云南省特有物种,野外调查发现了广西(田林、那坡)的省级新分布,针对该新分布居群,观测并描述西畴重楼植物形态学特征,记录物候学特征,野外观测其地理分布特征,综上对其生物学特性进行补述,并结合前人基于细胞核ITS、叶绿体psbA-trnH和trnL-trnF等序列的分子系统学研究结果探讨其系统关系。结果表明:西畴重楼叶背面无紫色斑块,花瓣较宽而显著区别于凌云重楼(P.cromquistii var.cromquistii),但西畴重楼部分植株沿叶脉有紫色斑纹,表明与凌云重楼存在形态过渡,二者雄蕊数量均以3轮为主,而且变化范围一致;西畴重楼的物候期与同域分布的凌云重楼相近,同南重楼(P.vietnamensis)差异显著;西畴重楼多条序列的分子系统学研究显示西畴重楼和凌云重楼始终聚为一支,证实二者高度的亲缘关系。该研究结果完善了西畴重楼的生物学特性描述,首次报道了西畴重楼与凌云重楼形态特征存在过渡类型,物候学特征较一致,地理分布中心重叠,分子系统学位置相邻,仍支持李恒系统将西畴重楼作为凌云重楼的一变种。     

The taxonomy of some Swartzieae (Leguminosae, subfam. Papilionoideae) from southeastern brazil

Three new species of Swartzieae are described and illustrated:Swartzia alternifoliolata, S. capixabensis, andZollernia cowanii. Swartzia apetala var.blanchetii and var.subcordata are considered to be synonyms ofS. apetala var.apetala, andS. grazielana a synonym ofS. macrostachya var.macrostachya. Keys to southeastern Brazil members ofSwartzia andZollernia are provided.     

Spring and winter flowering bulbs of the Cape By Barbara Jeppe, with additional text by Graham Duncan Oxford University Press, Capetown. Available from Oxford University Press, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. ISBN 0-19-570535-1. 1989. 143 pp., 62 full page color-plates. $65 (cloth)

Dalea acracarpica, from Chiapas, Mexico is described, illustrated, and referred to sect. Parosela ser. Lasiostomae: the var. chilensis is a yellow-flowered Chilean counterpart of purple Peruvian D. pennellii var. pennellii.     

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis flexuosa and cross‐species amplification

Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae) are closely related hardwood arboreal species that are widely distributed in the arid regions of Argentina. The development of highly polymorphic markers, such as microsatellites, is desirable for genetic studies of these species. Here, we present the development and characterization of six polymorphic microsatellite markers in P. chilensis and P. flexuosa. These markers showed a polymorphism information content between 0.14 and 0.85 and the number of alleles varied from two to 13 considering both species. All markers revealed a broad cross‐species affinity when tested in seven other Prosopis species. All primers amplified in at least five species.     

Taxonomic position of a Chinese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus</Emphasis> “Bai-Ling-Gu”: it belongs to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis> (DC.: Fr.) Quél. and evolved independently in China

The Chinese Bai-Ling-Gu is a mushroom named Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis C.J. Mou. This species has been identified as P. nebrodensis or P. eryngii var. nebrodensis. We examined its taxonomic position by analysis of mating, cultivation, and rDNA sequences, and concluded as follows. (1) Bai-Ling-Gu mated with P. eryngii var. eryngii, and the F₁ and F₂ formed fruit bodies. (2) Bai-Ling-Gu mated with P. eryngii var. ferulae, and the F₁ formed fruit bodies. (3) In the di-mon mating test, P. eryngii var. nebrodensis from Sicily mated with monokaryons of P. eryngii var. eryngii but mated hardly at all with those of Bai-Ling-Gu and P. eryngii var. ferulae. The di-mon mating pattern of Bai-Ling-Gu resembled those of P. eryngii var. ferulae. (4) The partial sequences of rDNA ITS1 and IGS1 from the epitype of P. nebrodensis were identical with those from P. eryngii var. nebrodensis from Sicily but differed from those from Bai-Ling-Gu. (5) The strains of P. eryngii var. eryngii and P. eryngii var. ferulae were in a group, the strains of P. eryngii var. nebrodensis from Sicily were in another group, and the strains of Bai-Ling-Gu were in the other group in both the phylogenetic trees based on the ITS1 and the IGS1 sequences. These results led to the conclusion that Bai-Ling-Gu is a variety of P. eryngii and evolved independently in China. It is satisfactory to identify Bai-Ling-Gu with P. eryngii var. tuoliensis C.J. Mou.     

Effects of Prosopis flexuosa on soil properties and the spatial pattern of understorey species in arid Argentina

Abstract. In arid zones dominant woody plants are capable of causing changes in microclimate and soil properties likely to affect species composition, as well as the establishment and spatial distribution of plant species. In North American and European deserts species richness appears to be higher under the canopy of shrubs and trees, in contrast with Chilean deserts where it seems to be lower. Since Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) is the most conspicuous tree in the central Monte desert, Argentina, we analysed the effect of this species on the composition and abundance of the shrub and herbaceous layers and on soil properties. We considered two mesohabitats: ‘under P. flexuosa canopy’ and ‘intercanopy areas’. In addition, we analysed the differences between two microhabitats under canopies: ‘northern part of the canopy’ and ‘southern part of the canopy’. Results indicate that species composition and soil properties are affected by both mesohabitats and microhabitats. We found a higher number of shrubs under canopies, whereas that of grasses and perennial forbs increased in intercanopy areas. Concentrations of organic matter, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, factors limiting biological productivity in Monte desert soils, were significantly higher under than outside P. flexuosa canopies. Electrical conductivity and concentrations of Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ were higher in the northern than in the southern microhabitats. No differences in species richness, evenness or diversity were found between mesohabitats or between microhabitats. We conclude that P. flexuosa modifies the spatial pattern of plant species in the shrub and herbaceous layers and the chemical conditions of the soil, generating spatial heterogeneity on different scales.     

A revision of the moss genus Gymnostomiella Fleisch.

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of the moss genus Gymnostomiella Fleisch. recognizes five species and one variety, viz. G. burmensis Bartr., G. erosulum (C. Müll. ex Dus.) Arts, G. longinervis Broth., G. monodii P. Yarde, G. vernicosa (Harv.) Fleisch. var. vernicosa and G. vernicosa var. tenerum (C. Müll. ex Dus.) Arts. Gymnostomiella tenerum (C. Müll. ex Dus.) Arts is reduced to a variety of G. vernicosa and G. tanganyikae De Sloover is reduced to synonomy with G. erosulum.     

中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究

采用经典分类学研究方法,对河北师范大学植物标本馆(HBNU)等国内多个标本馆保存的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组(Pohlia Hedw.section Cacodon Lindb.ex Broth.)及其近缘类群植物标本共计130余号进行了分类学分析鉴定,并对所确定的中国产直蒴组物种的芽胞大小、形状及叶原基数量和长度等形态学特征进行比较分析,以期为中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)经鉴定中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物共有8种——夭命丝瓜藓[Pohlia annotina(Hedw.)Lindb.]、糙枝丝瓜藓[P.camptotrachela(Ren.Card.)Broth.]、林地丝瓜藓[P.drummondii(Müll.Hal.)Andr.]、疣齿丝瓜藓[P.flexuosa Harv.]、纤毛丝瓜藓[P.hisae T.J.Kop.et J.X.Luo]、异芽丝瓜藓[P.leucostoma(BoschSande Lac.)M.Fleisch.]、念珠丝瓜藓[P.lutescens(Limpr.)H.Lindb.]和卵蒴丝瓜藓[P.proligera(Kindb.ex Breidl.)Lindb.ex Arnell]。(2)中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物的重要鉴别特征是在假根或叶腋处生有芽胞,而且芽胞形状以及叶原基形状和数量在直蒴组中存在差异,如念珠丝瓜藓具有假根生芽胞,而疣齿丝瓜藓具有两型芽胞。(3)对所鉴定的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组8种植物的识别特征、生境及其与相近种的关系进行了详细描述,并绘制了形态特征墨线图。     

Role of small rodents in the seed dispersal process: Microcavia australis consuming Prosopis flexuosa fruits

Understanding the functional role of animal species in seed dispersal is central to determining how biotic interactions could be affected by anthropogenic drivers. In the Monte Desert, mammals play different functional roles in Prosopis flexuosa seed dispersal, acting as opportunistic frugivores (endozoochorous medium‐sized and large mammals) or seed hoarders (some small sigmodontine rodents). Our objective was assessing the functional role of Microcavia australis, a small hystricognathi rodent, in the fruit removal and seed deposition stages of P. flexuosa seed dispersal, compared to sympatric sigmodontine rodents. In situ, we quantified fruit removal by small rodents during non‐fruiting and fruiting periods, and determined the distance seeds were transported, particularly by M. australis. In laboratory experiments, we analysed how M. australis stores seeds (through scatter‐ or larder‐hoarding) and how many seeds are left in caches as living seeds, relative to previous data on sigmodontine rodents. To conduct field studies, we established sampling stations under randomly chosen P. flexuosa trees at the Ñacuñán Man and Biosphere Reserve. We analysed fruit removal by small rodents and seed dispersal distance by M. australis using camera traps focused on P. flexuosa fruits covered with wire screen, which only allowed entry of small animals. In laboratory trials, we provided animals with a known number of fruits and assessed seed conditions after removal. Small rodents removed 75.7% of fruit supplied during the non‐fruiting period and 53.2% during the fruiting period. Microcavia australis and Graomys griseoflavus were the main fruit removers. Microcavia australis transported seeds to a mean distance of 462 cm and cached seeds mainly in scatter‐hoards, similarly as Eligmodontia typus. All transported seeds were left in fruit segments or covered only by the endocarp, never as predated seeds. Microcavia australis disperses P. flexuosa seeds by carrying fruits away from a source to consume them and then by scatter‐hoarding fruits and seeds.     

Hedwigia stellata and H. ciliata in the British Isles

Abstract

Hedwigia stellata Hedenäs, here reported for the first time from the British Isles, is common and widely distributed. H. ciliata var. ciliata is rare, var. leucophaea very rare.     

Evaluation of morphological and molecular variation in Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula, with special reference to the systematic treatment of Plantago asiatica var. yakusimensis

Morphological and molecular variations in Plantago asiatica L. var. densiuscula Pilg. were analyzed to evaluate the genetic basis for recognizing the dwarf variety P. asiatica var. yakusimensis (Masam.) Ohwi. Considerable variation in the leaf size of P. asiatica var. densiuscula was observed, and no morphological discontinuities were found between the dwarf types of P. asiatica var. densiuscula and P. asiatica var. yakusimensis. Morphological analysis of plants grown under standardized conditions revealed that both environmental plasticity and genetic differentiation contributed to the dwarfisms. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the SUC1 locus encoding a sucrose transporter revealed that P. asiatica var. yakusimensis was genetically unique although the differentiation level was low. From the above results, we concluded that P. asiatica var. yakusimensis should be reduced to a form of P. asiatica var. densiuscula. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of the SUC1 genotype suggested multiple origins of dwarves, and possible hypotheses for the origins of dwarves are discussed.