Structural homology and developmental transformations associated with ovary diversification in Lithophragma (Saxifragaceae)

Lithophragma, comprising only ten species, encompasses a remarkable diversity of ovary positions, reported to range from inferior to superior. The structural homology of the gynoecium and developmental transformations associated with ovary diversification are investigated for Lithophragma. Scanning electron and light microscopy indicate that all species of Lithophragma have epigynous flowers. Lithophragma campanulatum, L. glabrum, and L. heterophyllum have ovaries that externally appear nearly superior, but are actually shallowly inferior or "pseudosuperior." The inferior ovaries of Lithophragma species can be conceptually divided into superior and inferior regions that meet at the point of perianth and androecial insertion. Static and ontogenetic allometry reveal that across the species of Lithophragma the lengths of these two ovary regions are coordinated. Ovary regions in mature flowers display an approximately linear relationship that can be expressed through the allometric equation SL = -0.5314 IL + 2.0348 (where SL and IL are the lengths of the superior and inferior regions of the ovary, respectively; r = 0.7683, df = 35, P = 2.45 × 10). Mapping ontogenetic allometries onto a recent phylogeny for Lithophragma shows that ovary position evolution is bidirectional and has shifted toward greater superiority in some species and greater inferiority in others.     

Floral development and morphology of Vochysiaceae. I. The structure of the gynoecium

Vochysiaceae are divided into two tribes on the basis of ovary structure (superior trilocular or inferior unilocular). The superior trilocular ovary has been considered basal in the family, and the term "pseudomonomerous" was used to indicate the presumed evolutionary derivation of the unilocular condition from the trilocular. However, recent evidence that Vochysiaceae are Myrtalean suggests that the superior ovary may be secondarily derived. In addition, published figures cast doubt on the interpretation of the putatively unilocular ovaries. To understand these features, floral ontogeny and anatomy were examined using scanning electron microscopy and serial sectioning. In all taxa examined, the ovary develops in an epigynous fashion, on a concave floral apex, supporting the hypothesis that the superior ovary is secondarily derived. Subsequent to initiation of the ovary, differential growth results in ovaries that are superior, inferior, or partly inferior in different genera. Sections of floral buds of the two unilocular genera, Erisma and Erismadelphus, show aborted locules in the latter but not in the former. The application of the term "pseudomonomerous" to both genera obscures this significant difference. The position of the placenta in the truly unilocular genus varies among species, suggesting a character transformation series from multilocular through intermediates to truly unilocular.     

光果舟果荠分类地位的修订

从形态和细胞学角度,对舟果荠和光果舟果荠的果实与种子形态、花粉形态以及染色体数目进行了比较研究,并对光果舟果荠的分类地位进行了重新探讨.结果表明,舟果荠和光果舟果荠的种子大小及形态和微形态基本相似,但前者的果实密被柔毛,花粉粒体积比后者的大,染色体数目为2n=14,而后者的果实光滑无毛,染色体数目为2n=12.二者在果实与花粉粒形态以及染色体基数上存在明显的差异.建议将光果舟果荠独立成种,恢复原有的分类位置.     

Floral ontogeny of the Afro-Madagascan genus Mitrasacmopsis with comments on the development of superior ovaries in Rubiaceae

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Members of Rubiaceae are generally characterized by an inferior ovary. However, Mitrasacmopsis is cited in the literature as having a semi-inferior to superior ovary. It has previously been hypothesized that the gynoecial development of Rubiaceae with semi-inferior to superior ovaries takes place in the same way as in Gaertnera, one of the most commonly cited rubiaceous genera with a superior ovary. To test this hypothesis, a floral ontogenetic study of Mitrasacmopsis was carried out with special attention paid to the gynoecial development. METHODS: Floral ontogeny and anatomy of Mitrasacmopsis were examined using scanning electron and light microscopy. KEY RESULTS: At an early developmental stage, a concavity becomes visible in the centre of the floral apex simultaneously with the perianth initiation. A ring primordium surrounding this concavity expands vertically forming the corolla tube (early sympetaly). Stamen primordia develop inside the corolla. From the bicarpellate gynoecium only two carpel tips are visible because the ovary is formed by a gynoecial hypanthium. In the basal part of each carpel, a placenta primordium is initiated. Two septa divide the ovary into two locules. In each locule, the placenta becomes mushroom shaped and distinctly stalked. Eventually, the inferior ovary of Mitrasacmopsis develops into a beaked capsule. Only very late in the fruiting stage, the continuously expanding ovary is raised above the insertion point of the persistent calyx, changing the ovary position of Mitrasacmopsis from basically inferior to secondarily semi-inferior. CONCLUSIONS: Mitrasacmopsis follows an epigynous pattern of floral development. However, the presence of a prominent beak in the fruiting stage gives the whole ovary a semi-inferior appearance. This kind of secondarily semi-inferior ovary is shown to be different from the secondarily superior ovary observed in Gaertnera.     

FLORAL DEVELOPMENT IN MANGROVE RHIZOPHORACEAE

The flowers of mangrove Rhizophoraceae (tribe Rhizophoreae) are adapted to three different pollination mechanisms. Floral development of representative species of all four genera suggests that the ancestral flower of the tribe was unspecialized, with successively initiated whorls of separate sepals, petals, antisepalous stamens, and antipetalous stamens; at its inception, the gynoecium had a united, half-inferior ovary and separate stigmatic lobes. This developmental pattern is found in Rhizophora mangle (wind-pollinated) and Ceriops decandra (insect-pollinated). In Kandelia, all floral organs distal to the sepals are initiated simultaneously, and there has apparently been an evolutionary amplification in the number of stamens to about six times the number of petals. Explosive pollen release evolved independently in C. tagal and in Bruguiera. In the former, all stamens belong to one whorl and arise simultaneously upon a very weakly differentiated androecial ring primordium. In Bruguiera, the androecial ring is pronounced, and two whorls of stamens arise upon it; the primordia of the antisepalous whorl arise first but are closer to the center of the apex than the antipetalous stamen primordia. The antisepalous stamens bend toward and are enclosed by the petals early in development. In all genera, the inferior ovary develops by zonal growth of receptacular tissue; additional intercalary growth above the placenta occurs in Bruguiera. In general, floral specialization is accompanied by an increase in the width of the floral apex compared to the size of the primordia, increasing fusion of the stylar primordia, and decreasing prominence of the superior portion of the ovary. Apparent specializations of petal appendages for water storage, including the presence of sub-terminal hydathodes (previously unreported in any angiosperm), were found in two species in which flowers remain open during the day but were absent from two species normally pollinated at night or at dawn. Distinctive tribal characteristics that may aid in phylogenetic analysis include the mode of development of the inferior ovary; the aristate, bifid, usually fringed petals that individually enclose one or more stamens; the intrastaminal floral disc; and the initially subepidermal laticiferous cell layer in the sepals and ovary.     

REASSESSMENT OF THE LITTLE‐KNOWN CRUSTOSE RED ALGAL GENUS POLYSTRATA (GIGARTINALES), BASED ON MORPHOLOGY AND SSU rDNA SEQUENCES1

The taxonomic distinctiveness of the crustose red algal genus Polystrata Heydrich (Peyssonneliaceae) is confirmed on the basis of morphological and molecular data. The vegetative and reproductive morphology of the type species Polystrata dura Heydrich is newly described. Polystrata thalli are thick multi‐layered crusts, each crust of which is composed of a mesothallus, a superior perithallus, and an inferior perithallus. P. dura is characterized by a poorly developed inferior perithallus consisting of single‐celled perithallial filaments and each layer of multi‐layered crusts being closely adherent to the parental layer. This Polystrata species is identical to Peyssonnelia species, the type genus of the Peyssonneliaceae in the morphology of sexual reproductive organs: a carpogonial branch and an auxiliary cell branch are formed laterally on respective nemathecial filaments; the gonimoblasts are developed from connecting filaments and auxiliary cells; the spermatangia are produced in male and female nemathecia; and the spermatangial filament produces a series of one to four paired spermatangia that form a whorl surrounding each central cell (the Peyssonnelia dubyi‐type development). Polystrata fosliei (Weber‐van Bosse) Denizot is clearly distinguished from P. dura by an inferior perithallus as well‐developed as the superior perithallus, and each layer of multi‐layered crusts being loosely adherent to the parental layer. In our small subunit rDNA trees of the Peyssonneliaceae, these Polystrata species formed a clade with low to medium supports, although the phylogenetic position of Polystrata was unresolved in this family. Therefore, the thallus structure of Polystrata may be regarded as an important taxonomic character at the genus rank.     

南瓜两性花的形态与结构研究

对南瓜的两性花进行外部形态及结构的研究,结果表明：南瓜的两性花可有子房上位花、子房半下位花和子房下位花三种类型：花萼、花冠均为５,合瓣;雄蕊３,其中有两枚各由两个雄蕊合生而成,分离和部分联合,花药结构特殊,花粉发育正常;雌蕊具有单个或两个柱头及花柱。子房壁结构正常。上方的子房壁表皮发育完好,具气孔器。胚珠在外形上也发育正常。两性花与单性花同生长在一个植株上,可以连续多代稳定地遗传,萌生当代植株的种子来源于上一代雌花。这对探讨被子植物的系统进化关系有着重要的意义     

Amensalism via webs causes unidirectional shifts of dominance in spider mite communities

Competitive displacement is considered the most severe consequence of interspecific competition; if a superior competitor invades the habitat of an inferior species, the inferior species will be displaced. Most displacements previously reported among arthropods were caused by exotic species. The lack of investigation of displacement among native species may be due to their apparently harmonious coexistence, even if it is equivalent to an outcome of interspecific association. A seasonal change in the species composition of spider mites, from Panonychus ulmi to Tetranychus urticae, is observed in apple trees worldwide. Previous laboratory experiments have revealed amensal effects of T. urticae on P. ulmi via their webs. Using manipulation experiments in an orchard, we tested whether this seasonal change in species composition occurred as the result of interspecific competition between these spider mites. Invasion by T. urticae prevented an increase in P. ulmi densities throughout the experimental periods. Degree of overlap relative to the independent distribution on a leaf-surface basis (ω _S) changed from positive to negative with increasing density of T. urticae. T. urticae invasion drove P. ulmi toward upper leaf surfaces (competitor-free space). The niche adjustment by P. ulmi occurred between leaf surfaces but not among leaves. Our findings show that asymmetrical competition between T. urticae and P. ulmi plays an important role in this unidirectional displacement and that the existence of refuges within a leaf produces the apparently harmonious coexistence of the mites and obscures their negative association.     

A Study on the Genus Chrysosplenium L. from China (Cont.)

This paper deals with the taxonomy and geographic distribution of the genus Chrysosplenium L. in China. Based on the characters and evolution of the seed, capsule, disk, ovary and leaf, the species of this genus can be grouped into 2 subgenera, 5 sections and 16 series. There are 2 subgenera, 5 sections and 11 series in China. They are as follows: I. Subgen. Gamosplenium Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Leaves alternate. Lectotype: Chrysosplenium carnosum Hook. f. et Thoms. 1. Sect. Alternifolia Franch. emend. J. T. Pan Seeds smooth and glabrous. Type: Chrysosplenium alternifolium L. (1) Ser. Nudicaulia Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk obscure or absent; ovary nearly half-inferior, sometimes mostly inferior; capsule generally subtruncate and emarginate at top and bilobed with equal and horizontally divaricate or suberect lobes; seeds smooth and glabrous. Type: Chrysosplenium nudicaule Maxim. (2) Ser. Alternifolia Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk 8-lobed; ovary nearly half-inferior; capsule generally subtruncate and emarginate at top, and bilobed with equal and horizontally divaricate lobes; seeds smooth and glabrous. Type: Chrysosplenium alternifolia L. 2. Sect. Nephrophylloides Turcz. Seeds minutely papillose or pilose. Type: Chrysosplenium sedakowii Turcz. (1) Ser. Macrophylla Franch. emend. J. T. Pan Disk obscure or absent; ovary nearly half-inferior; capsule nearly truncate and emarginate at top, and bilobed with equal lobes; seeds minutely papillose. Type: Chrysosplenium macrophyllum Oliv. (2) Ser. Ovalifolia Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk generally 8-, rarely 4-, lobed, papillae absent around disk; ovary mostly inferior; capsule subtruncate and emarginate at top; seeds minutely papillose or pilose. Type: Chrysosplenium ovalifolium M. Bieb. ex Bunge (3) Ser. Lanuginosa Hara, emend. J. T. Pan Papillae numerous, brown around reduced disk; ovary mostly inferior; capsule nearly truncate and emarginate at top; seeds minutely papillose. Type: Chrysosplenium lanuginosum Hook. f. et Thoms. II. Subgen. Chrysosplenium Leaves opposite. Type: Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. 1. Sect. Trichosperma J. T. Pan, sect. nov. Capsule not truncate at top, and bilobed with subequal, suberect or divergent lobes. Type: Chrysosplenium trichospermum Edgew. ex Hook. f. et Thoms. This section is divided into 4 series in the world, with only 1 in China. (1) Ser. Nepalensia Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk obscure or absent; ovary generally mostly inferior; cassule not truncate at top, and bilobed with subequal and suberect or divergent lobes; seeds smooth and glabrous. Type: Chrysosplenium nepalense D. Don 2. Sect. Grayana J. T. Pan, sect. nov. Capsule bilobed with distinctly unequal and ascending lobes. Type: Chrysosplenium grayanum Maxim. This section consists of 4 series in the world, with 3 series in China. (1) Ser. Sinica Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk obscure or absent; ovary nearly half-superior; capsule bilobed with distinctly unequal and ascending lobes; seeds minutely papillose. Type: Chrysosplenium sinicum Maxim. (2) Ser. Esulcata Franch. emend. J. T. Pan Disk (4)-8-lobed; ovary generally half-inferior; capsule bilobed with unequal and ascending lobes; seeds minutely papillose or pilose. Lectotype: Chrysosplenium dubium J. Gayex DC. (3) Ser. pilosa maxim. emend. J. T. Pan Disk obscure or absent; ovary nearly half-inferior; capsule bilobed with distinctly unequal and ascending lobes; seeds distinctly longitudinally ll-18-costate and minutely papillose or tuberculate on the ridge. Type: Chrysosplenium pilosum Maxim. 3. Sect. Chrysosplenium Capsule nearly truncate and emarginate at top, and bilobed with equal and horizontally divaricate lobes. Type: Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. (1) Ser. Romosa J. T. Pan, ser. nov. Disk distinctly 8-lobed, papillae sparse, brown around disk; ovary mostly inferior; capsule nearly truncate and emarginate at top, and bilobed with equal and horizontally divaricate lobes; seeds smooth and glabrous. Type: Chrysosplenium ramosum Maxim. This series is monospecific one, also occurring in China, namely C. ramosum Maxim. (2) Ser. Delavayi Hara Disk distinctly 8-lobed, Papillae sparse, brown around the disk; ovary mostly inferior; capsule nearly truncate and emarginate at top, and bilobed with equal and horizontally divaricate lobes; seeds distinctly longitudinally 10-16-costate and transversely striate on the ridge. Type: Chrysosplenium delavayi Franch. This series can be considered as the most advanced one in the Chrysaspleninm L. So far, the Chrysosplenium L. comprises 64 species in the world, among which 1 species is found in North Africa, 2 in South America, 4 in Europe, 5 in North America, 56 in Asia, of which 3 occur in Sikkim, 5 Bhutan, 5 Mongolia, 6 north Burma, 6 Korea, 7 north India, 8 Nepal, 12 Japan, 17 U.S.S.R. (of which 3 also in Europe), 34 China (including 22 endemic species and 3 new species). In China, Fujian and Guangdong Provinces and Zhuang Autonomous Region of Guangxi each has only 1 species, Taiwan, Zhejiang, Shanxi and Hebei Provinces and Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang each has 2, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces each has 3, Qinghai Province 4, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Guizhou Provinces each has 5, Jilin and Hubei Provinces each has 6, Gausu Province 8, Shaanxi Province and Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region each has 10, Yunnan Province has 11, Sichuan Province has 14. Thus the distribution centre of this genus should be in the north temperate zone of Asia, and the region covering Shaanxi Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan and Xizang may be regarded as an important part of this centre. The 7 species of Ser. Nudicaula Maxim. emend. J. T. Pan can be considered as the most primitive ones in this genus. They are mostly distributed in Shaanxi (Qin Ling), south Gansu, southeast Qinghai, southwest Sichuan and nothwest Yunnan of China. This region may be considered as the centre of the origin (or at least differentiation) of this genus. The new species and the new varieties described in this paper are as follows: C. hydrocotylifolium Levl. et Vant. var. emeiense J. T. Pan, C. taibaishanense J. T. Pan, C. lixianense Jien ex J. T. Pan, C. qinlingense Jien ex J. T. Pan.     

Predator selectivity alters the effect of dispersal on coexistence among apparent competitors

While the majority of studies on dispersal effects on patterns of coexistence among species in a metacommunity have focused on resource competitors, dispersal in systems with predator–prey interactions may provide very different results. Here, we use an analytical model to study the effect of dispersal rates on coexistence of two prey species sharing a predator (apparent competition), when the traits of that predator vary. Specifically, we explore the range in immigration rates where apparent competitors are able to coexist, and how that range changes with predator selectivity and efficiency. We find that if the inferior apparent competitor has a higher probability of being consumed, it will require less immigration to invade and to exclude the superior prey as the predator becomes more opportunistic. However, if the inferior apparent competitor has a lower probability of being consumed (and lower growth rates), higher immigration is required for the inferior prey to invade and exclude the superior prey as the predator becomes more opportunistic. We further find that the largest range of immigration rates where prey coexist occurs when predator selectivity is intermediate (i.e. they do not show much bias towards consuming one species or the other). Increasing predator efficiency generally reduces the immigration rates necessary for the inferior apparent competitor to invade and exclude the superior apparent competitor, but also reduces the range of immigration rates where the two apparent competitors can coexist. However, when the superior apparent competitor has a higher probability of being consumed, increased predator efficiency can increase the range of parameters where the species can coexist. Our results are consistent with some of the variation observed in the effect of dispersal on prey species richness in empirical systems with top predators.     

Competition and coexistence in regional habitats

Habitat heterogeneity plays a key role in the dynamics and structures of communities. In this article, a two-species metapopulation model that includes local competitive dynamics is analyzed to study the population dynamics of two competing species in spatially structured habitats. When local stochastic extinction can be ignored, there are, as in Lotka-Volterra equations, four outcomes of interspecific competition in this model. The outcomes of competition depend on the competitive intensity between the competing pairs. An inferior competitor and a superior competitor, or two strongly competing species, can never stably coexist, whereas two weak competitors (even if they are very similar species) may coexist over the long term in such environments. Local stochastic extinction may greatly affect the outcomes of interspecific competition. Two competing species can or cannot stably coexist depending not only on the competitive intensity between the competing pairs but also on their precompetitive distributions. Two weak competitors that have similar precompetitive distributions can always regionally coexist. Two strongly competing species that competitively exclude each other in more stable habitats may be able to stably coexist in highly heterogenous environments if they have similar precompetitive distributions. There is also a chance for an inferior competitor to coexist regionally or even to exclude a superior competitor when the superior competitor has a narrow precompetitive distribution and the inferior competitor has a wide precompetitive distribution.     

Evolution of the maturation rate collapses competitive coexistence

Most theoretical studies on character displacement and the coexistence of competing species have focused attention on the evolution of competitive traits driven by inter-specific competition. We investigated the evolution of the maturation rate which is not directly related to competition and trades off with the birth rate and how it influences competitive outcomes. Evolution may result in the superior competitor becoming extinct if, initially, the inferior competitor has a lower, and the superior one a higher, maturation rate at the coexistence equilibrium. This counterintuitive result is explained by an explosive increase in the adult population of the inferior competitor as a result of the more rapid evolution of its maturation rate, which is caused by differences in the intensity and direction of selection on the maturation rates of the two species and in their adult densities, which are related to differences in their life histories. Thus, a life history trait trade-off with a competitive trait may cause a competitive ecological coexistence to collapse.     

Floral structure and development and systematic aspects of some 'lower' Asparagales

 Floral structure and development of representatives of Asteliaceae, Blandfordiaceae, Boryaceae, Doryanthaceae, and Hypoxidaceae, all members of the `lower' Asparagales, were studied comparatively. The results are discussed in the light of new molecular systematic studies, but also with regard to established morphological characters in related groups. Stamen shape varies considerably within and between taxa: the shape of anthers is from X-shaped, sagittate to non-sagittate, they are either latrorse or introrse, basifixed, centrifixed or dorsifixed. Gynoecia are syncarpous up to the stigmatic region in all taxa. Ovaries of Doryanthaceae and Hypoxidaceae are inferior, but they are superior in Asteliaceae, Blandfordiaceae and Boryaceae. All ovaries have at least a short synascidiate zone. With the exception of Astelia alpina (Asteliaceae), the ovaries are trilocular. Ovaries of Asteliaceae contain mucilage, which is secreted from trichomes on the funicle and on the placenta. Although flowers are polysymmetric at anthesis, they are monosymmetric in earliest stages with a developmental gradient from adaxial to abaxial. Perianth organs arise individually from either a concave (taxa with inferior ovary) or convex (taxa with superior ovary) apex. Hypoxidaceae have pollen flowers with free stamens. One species, Curculigo capitulata, has Solanum-type flowers with postgenitally united stamens. It is most probably pollinated by buzzing bees. All other taxa have nectariferous flowers with internal or external septal nectaries. Received February 5, 2001 Accepted June 20, 2001     

不同生境毁坏速度下的物种灭绝机制

已有似Levins的多物种模型,在研究生境毁坏的影响时,一方面主要集中在对瞬间毁坏影响的研究,另一方面主要研究生境毁坏对强物种影响的研究。在Tilman的多物种竞争共存模型的基础上,同时考虑了生境毁坏直接效应和生境毁坏时间异质性,提出了全新的普适的多物种竞争共存的非自治动力模式。通过模拟物种灭绝对不同速度的生境毁坏时间异质性的响应发现：（1）物种灭绝既存在强物种由强到弱的灭绝,也存在弱物种由弱到强的灭绝。同时,弱物种灭绝机制进一步分为弱物种瞬间集体灭绝,以及较长时间由弱到强的灭绝。（2）生境毁坏速度越快,物种灭绝的时间越短,弱物种灭绝的越多,因此,生境毁坏速度越慢,越有利于弱物种的长期续存。（3）最强物种的多度越大,强-强物种抵御生境毁坏的能力越强,而弱-弱物种抵御生境毁坏的能力越弱,集体灭绝的弱-弱物种就越多。最强物种的多度大的群落（如温带森林）,主要发生的是弱-弱物种灭绝,而最强物种多度小的群落（如热带雨林）同时发生强-强和弱-弱物种的灭绝。因此,争对不同结构的集合种群,不同的保护对象,应采取不同的管理策略。     

中国特有植物喜树的雌性不育形态解剖学研究

为阐明雌性不育与喜树（Camptotheca acuminata Decne.）开花期花序大量掉落的关系,本文采用数码体视显微镜及石蜡切片技术,对各个发育时期的喜树的花进行解剖学观察。喜树花均为两性花,雄蕊发育正常,雌蕊柱头有三种不同形态,即上位、中位和下位;柱头上位的小花,花柱伸长正常,柱头三裂,外翻,子房膨大,胚珠饱满,胚囊发育正常;柱头中位的小花,雌蕊选择性败育,柱头和花柱伸长缓慢,柱头外翻异常,局部子房细胞液泡化,胚珠退化,胚囊发育异常;柱头下位的小花,花柱退化,柱头不露,珠被细胞发育异常,大孢子母细胞未能减数分裂,胚珠萎缩,子房外形瘦长,室内中空。喜树雌性器官的发育与其柱头在子房上的表现形态有着严格的对应关系,雌性不育发生于大孢子母细胞减数分裂前后,而且雌性不育是喜树花序掉落的内部原因之一。     

MORPHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLOWERS OF BOOTTIA CORDATA,OTTELIA ALISMOIDES,AND THEIR SYNTHETIC HYBRID (HYDROCHARITACEAE)

The inferior ovary of Boottia cordata, Ottelia alismoides, and their hybrid is appendicular in nature, the carpels are congenitally only slightly connate, and they are unsealed. All floral organs except the sepals originate from common primordia in the female and bisexual flowers. A flat residual floral apex is pressnt. There is a vestigial superior ovary of three ontogenetically fused carpels in the male flower of Boottia cordata. The hybrid is intermediate in many characteristics and has partially fertile stamens and staminodia. The sequence of development in all flowers is acropetal. These plants appear to be related to the Butomaceae and they show evolutionary tendencies parallel to those in the Nymphaeaceae.     

Floral structure and development in Nartheciaceae (Dioscoreales), with special reference to ovary position and septal nectaries

We present a comparative study of the floral structure and development of Nartheciaceae, a small dioscorealean family consisting of five genera (Aletris, Lophiola, Metanarthecium, Narthecium, and Nietneria). A noticeable diversity existed in nine floral characters. Analyses of their respective character states in the light of a phylogenetic context revealed that the flowers of Nartheciaceae, whose plesiomorphies occur in Aletris and Metanarthecium, have evolved toward in all or part of Lophiola, Narthecium, and Nietneria: (1) loss of a perianth tube; (2) stamen insertion at the perianth base; (3) congenital carpel fusion; (4) loss of the septal nectaries; (5) unilocular style; (6) unfused lateral carpellary margins in the style; (7) flower with the median outer tepal on the abaxial side; (8) flower with moniliform hairs; and (9) flower with weak monosymmetry. We further found that, as the flowers developed, the ovary shifted its position from inferior to superior. As a whole, their structure changes suggest that the Nartheciaceae flowers have evolved in close association with pollination and seed dispersal. By considering inferior ovaries and the presence of septal nectaries as plesiomorphies of Nartheciaceae, we discussed evolution of the ovary position and septal nectaries in all the monocots.     

Morphogenesis of the Genital Ducts and Spermathecae in Clitellio arenarius, Heterochaeta costata, Tubificoides benedii (Tubificidae) and Stylaria lacustris (Naididae) (Annelida, Oligochaeta)

The development of the male genital ducts in Clitellio arenarius, Tubificoides benedii, Heterochaeta costata (Tubificidae) and Stylaria lacustris (Naididae) is studied with the purpose of investigating the homologies between different parts of the ducts. In both Tubificidae and Naididae, the male duct comprises a funnel, a vas deferens and an atrium. There may also be a prostate gland (diffuse or compact) in association with the duct. The funnel and vas deferens, in all four species, originate from the peritoneal (mesodermal) cells in the posterior septa in the testes segment, whereas the atrium develops from an epidermal (ectodermal) invagination. The prostate glands have different origins in different taxa; in S. lacustris it differentiates from the peritoneal (mesodermal) cells surrounding the atrium, but in H. costata and T. benedii it develops by a multiplication of the atrial (ectodermal) cells; C. arenarius lacks a prostate gland. The development of the spermathecae and the female duct is also studied. The spermatheca is an epidermal invagination. The female duct is of mesodermal origin. However, the position of the duct differs; in S. lacustris the female duct is lateral and the pore is in the ovarian segment, while in the tubificids studied the duct is ventral with the pore in the segment behind the one containing the ovary.     

A new pronocephalid, Pleurogonius tortugueroi n. sp. (Digenea), from the intestine of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Costa Rica

A new species of trematode, Pleurogonius tortugueroi n. sp. (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) is described from the lower intestine of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The new species differs from all other species of Pleurogonius by having a short oesophagus and oval testes close to lateral posterior limit of the body. It differs from all other species, except P. malaclemys Hunter 1961, by having an ovary between the testes; moreover the latter species is a parasite of freshwater turtles. All others members of the genus have a long oesophagus, testes placed to some distance from the posterior end, and the ovary is pretesticular. The new species appears most closely related to P. linearis Looss, 1901 but differs from it by having a different body shape, lappets of the head collar close at the cecal bifurcation level, a longer vitellarian field, different testis shape and position, ovary intertesticular, and different egg size.     

Three new species of Centella series Montanae

Three new species of Centella are described: C. cryptocarpa, C. gymnocarpa and C. longifolia . These species are similar to C. montana and in order to clarify species limits, the latter is also described and illustrated. The concept of the series Montanae is broadened to include all species with transversely oblong fruit of which the commissure is narrower than the rest of the fruit.