The systematic anatomy of south Indian Cyperaceae: Cyperus L. subgen. Juncellus, Cyperus subgen. Mariscus and Lipocarpha R. Br.

The three investigated species of Cyperus L. subgen. Juncellus (Griseb.) C. B. Clarke show anatomical differences in the leaf pertaining to the number of vascular bundles and bundle sheaths, size of silica-cells and their wall thickness, while those of subgen. Mariscus (Gaertner) C. B. Clarke segregate into two primary groups depending on the presence or absence of a distinct hypodermis; and the species within each group are further differentiated on the basis of the presence or absence of air-cavities, the number of vascular bundles and their pattern of arrangement in the leaf. The interspecific differences observed within the genus Lipocarpha R. Br. concern the size of the interstomatal cells and the number of vascular bundles and bundle sheaths of the leaf. Keys for the identification of the species in each genus and subgenus are given separately.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 33. A new species of Fuirena from Somalia

A new very rare species, Fuirena somaliensis, is described from the lowlands of South Somalia below 150 m. The new species belongs to the F. ciliaris complex and has bulliform inner perianth‐segments and thus a similar adaptation to buoyancy and dispersal by water as four other African species.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 21. New taxa and combinations in Kyllinga Rottb.

Eight new species, one new subspecies and one new variety of Kyllinga are described from tropical Africa, viz. Kyllinga brunneoalba Lye, K. afropumila Lye, K, albogracilis Lye, K. aureovillosa Lye, K. alba–purpurea Lye, K. rhizomafragilis Lye, K. microbracleata Lye, K. afro–occidentalis Lye, K. erecta Schumacher ssp. albescens Lye, and K. melanosperma Nees var. hexalata Lye. In addition nine new combinations are made, viz. Kyllinga peteri (Kükenthal) Lye, K. bigibbosa (Fosberg) Lye, K. odorata Vahl ssp. appendiculata (K. Schum.) Lye, K. alba Nees ssp. ascolepidioides (H. Cherm.) Lye, K. nervosa Steudel ssp.flava (C.B.C1.) Lye, K. melanosperma Nees ssp. elata (Steudel) Lye, K. brevifolia Rottb. ssp. lurida (Kükenthal) Lye, K. bre–vifolia Rottb. ssp. intricata (H. Cherm.) Lye, and K. comosipes (Mattf. & Kükenthal) Agnew & Hanid ssp. decolorans (Kükenthal) Lye.     

Fuirena simpsonii (Cyperaceae)—a new species of sedge from Kerala, India

A new species of Fuirena, F. simpsonii is described from Kerala, India. The new species is allied to F. umbellata Rottb.     

Mutagenic activity of south Indian food items.

Dietary components and food dishes commonly consumed in South India were screened for their mutagenic activity. Kesari powder, calamus oil, palm drink, toddy and Kewra essence were found to be strongly mutagenic; garlic, palm oil, arrack, onion and pyrolysed portions of bread toast, chicory powder were weakly mutagenic, while tamarind and turmeric were not. Certain salted, sundried and oil fried food items were also mutagenic. Cissus quadrangularis was mutagenic, while 'decoctions' of cumin seeds, aniseeds and ginger were not. Several perfumes, essential oils and colouring agents, which are commonly used were also screened and many of them exhibited their mutagenic potential by inducing the 'reverse mutation' in Salmonella typhimurium tester strains.     

国产嵩草属(莎草科)植物秆的解剖学研究

对嵩草属27种(亚种)植物秆的解剖学研究证明,嵩草属植物秆的解剖学性状具有系统学意义.在该属中,秆的横切面外形为三角形、圆三角形、圆形或扁圆形.在横切面上分为2个区域;外部区域包括绿色组织、外韧维管束和气腔,内部区域为薄壁组织或其碎裂形成空腔.秆表皮的横切面观和表面观均与叶的下表皮相似.以上特征与莎草科其它类群植物秆的解剖特征一致,不支持将嵩草属和其近缘属另立为嵩草科.同时,秆的解剖学特征可以做为某些在外部形态上难于区分的种之间的分类依据.     

The past,present and future of thermophilous Cyperus polystachyos Rottb. (Cyperaceae) on the island of Ischia (southern Italy)

Cyperus polystachyos is a hygrophilous, thermophilous and heliophilous plant with a punctiform distribution in southern Italy, where it is almost exclusively found on Ischia, an island in the Bay of Naples characterized by widespread volcanic hydrothermal activity. This species is a native of tropical and subtropical areas and there is evidence for ancient isolation events in the creation of its current distribution pattern. We have studied the historical literature available for this plant since 1800 and collected temporal and spatial presence data of this species in order to develop a habitat suitability map based on a GIS approach and using a multiple linear regression model. Moreover, we have used univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. The results show the importance of the environmental mosaic around fumaroles to preserve the species; urbanization and geothermal energy use of fumaroles in the past and the combination of abandonment of the typical agricultural system and the natural occurrence of reforestation in the present are the main causes of the decline in the number of populations.     

The systematic significance of achene micromorphology in Carex retrorsa (Cyperaceae)

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine achene epidermal features of nine Carex species within sections Vesicariae and Lupulinae. Two major epidermal features are recognized in this study: the epidermal layers with one or two primary silicon bodies in each cell and the absence of any primary silicon body. Comparative data of achene morphology using SEM, and evidence compiled from previous investigations, support the placement of Carex retrorsa within section Vesicariae.     

Characterization of superoxide dismutase from south Indian scorpion venom.

A manganese containing superoxide dismutase was purified to homogeneity from the venom of scorpion Heterometrus fulvipes by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 100,000. Optimum pH for enzyme activity was 8.5 and optimum temperature was 45 degrees C. The enzyme was not sensitive to either cyanide or hydrogen peroxide but was inhibited by chloroform-ethanol mixture and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Metal chelators, EDTA, o-phenanthroline and diethyldithiocarbamate inhibited the enzyme activity in decreasing order. The effect of 6 M urea, sodium dodecylsulfate, guanidinium chloride and nitroprusside on enzyme activity has been studied. An antiserum raised against H. fulvipes venom inhibited the superoxide dismutase activity.     

Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome complicating shigella dystentery in south Indian children.

Shigella dysentery caused 65% of all cases of acute renal failure (ARF) seen in children treated at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, during the 33 months ending September 1977. In the 40 children with ARF secondary to shigella dysentery, haematological findings suggested that they were suffering from the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, and glomerular hypercellularity and fibrin deposition were present in all 12 patients whose renal histology could be studied. Peritoneal dialysis was the main element of treatment: 43% of children who underwent dialysis improved, compared with only 25% of those who did not undergo dialysis. The haemolytic-uraemic syndrome precipitated by bacillary dystentery is therefore the most important cause of ARF in children aged under 5 years in Tamil Nadu and the adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh.     

Pattern of menstrual cycle length in south Indian women: a prospective study.

Data on 8,308 menstrual cycles from 1,740 South Indian women prospectively recorded were analyzed to identify the effect of age on menstrual cycle length. The distribution was skewed to the right with the mean (SD) cycle length of 31.8 (6.7) days. The range of 25-40 days constituted 10-82 per cent of menstrual cycle lengths. In no age group did 28-day cycles occur in more than 9 per cent of women. Variability as measured by the standard deviation was high among those below 19 years of age, stabilized during 25-39 years, and then increased in women aged 40 years or more. The findings are discussed in the light of other studies and possible implications in fertility control programs.     

Cranial anatomy of some Indian cynoglossids: A study in adaptation. Part III. Ligaments

Ligaments associated with the jaws. and suspensorium are relatively well developed on the blind side. Maxilla-ethmoid, maxilla-mandible, autopalatine-maxilla, pterygoid-lateral ethmoid and pterygoid-prevomer ligaments are present only on the blind side. The asymmetrical nature and disposition of ligaments enable the jaws of the blind side to feed effectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fuirena bidgoodae</Emphasis>, a new species of Cyperaceae from East Africa

Fuirena bidgoodae Hoenselaar & Muasya, a new species of Fuirena Rottb. from eastern Africa, is described and illustrated.     

我国南部5种冷杉植物木材的比较解剖学研究

应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对分布于我国南部的5种冷杉属(Abies)植物,即资源冷杉(A．ziyuanensis)、大院冷杉(A.dayuanensis)、梵净山冷杉(A.fanjingshanensis)、元宝山冷杉(A.yuanbaoshanensis)和台湾冷杉(Akawakamii)的木材结构进行了研究。从管胞分子长度、管胞分子直径、射线高度、射线频率、纹孔类型、交叉场纹孔类型、交又场纹孔数目等方面,比较了它们木材解剖特征的差异。结果表明：大院冷杉和资源冷杉在射线频率、管胞直径、管胞长度、交叉场纹孔数目方面都很类似;元宝山冷杉在管胞直径与射线长度方面与其它冷杉有显著差异。在纹孔类型、交叉场纹孔类型方面,几种冷杉都是一致的。在交叉场纹孔数目方面,大院冷杉、资源冷杉较少,而梵净山冷杉、元宝山冷杉和台湾冷杉较多。我国南部这5种冷杉的木材解剖特征与分布在华北、东北及青藏高原上冷杉的木材非常类似。为了便于区别这5种木材,根据木材解剖特征编制了检索表。     

Restionaceae seedlings: Morphology,anatomy and systematic implications

Restionaceae differ from most monocot families in having both epigeal and hypogeal germination. The green cotyledons associated with epigeal germination have a central vascular strand as found in most epigeal monocotyledons. In some genera the cotyledon may have a hairpin‐like structure, also described for Anthericaceae. The cotyledon of the hypogeal seedlings is short, without green pigment and largely remains embedded in the seed coat. Hypogeal germination is correlated with large, woody, indehiscent, frequently myrmecochorous nuts, while epigeal germination is found in species with smaller indehiscent nutlets or seeds, dispersed in a variety of ways. The primitive condition is most likely epigeal germination. In hypogeal seedlings of some African and Australian taxa an epicotyledonary rhizome is found between the primary root and the first leaves. Seedlings of African Restionaceae frequently have elongated culm internodes, whereas in the Australian species studied, internodes are very short, resulting in a cluster of seedling leaves. The leaf blades, which in most species are only found on the seedlings, are very simple anatomically. However, they appear to be unifacial, similar to the leaf blades of Anarthria (Anarthriaceae). The anatomical specialisations in the blades mirror those recorded for the culm anatomy. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that Centrolepidaceae may be neotonous Restionaceae. They also corroborate the morphology of the African Restionaceae, and the presently accepted phylogeny of the African genera of Restionaceae.     

Leaf anatomy of Bruniaceae: ecological, systematic and phylogenetic aspects

CARLQUIST, S., 1991. Leaf anatomy of Bruniaceae: ecological, systematic and phylogenetic aspects. Quantitative and qualitative data are given for 60 species of the 12 genera of Bruniaceae; most data are based on liquid-preserved material. Leaves of Bruniaceae are basically linear (broader forms are probably derived) with an apicula that contains phellogen activity. Most bruniaceous leaves have some degree of isolateral construction, with transition to normal bifacial construction in a few species, but more commonly transition to 'inverse' bifacial structure (stomata on adaxial face, palisade on abaxial face). The latter type is correlated with the tendency for leaves to be appressed to stems. Tannins and very likely other dark-staining materials are very characteristic of mesophyll cells. Six genera have a large strand of fibres on the midvein and rhomboidal crystals in bundle sheath cells. The other six genera have few or no fibres on veins and have druses in mesophyll cells (but not in bundle sheath cells). These distinctions may relate to intrafamilial taxonomy, but they also support the primitive position usually accorded to Audouinia, Thamnea and Tittmannia. A key to genera based on leaf antomy is offered. Details of epidermal cell shape, cuticular relief and trichome form and structure based on scanning electron microscopy are given. Leaf anatomy, combined with other features, favours a relationship between Bruniaceae and Grubbiaceae in particular and in broader contexts allies Bruniaceae to rosalean and possibly hamamelidalean families.