Saxifraga Berica (Béguinot) D. A. Webb E Asplenium Lepidum Presl Sui Colli Berici

Abstract

«Saxifraga berica» (Béguinot) D. A. Webb and «Asplenium lepidum» Presl on the «Colli Berici». – We have identified a new association in the small caverns of the calcareous rocks in the hills of the north-eastern zone of the «Colli Berici», rising from the Italian plain near Vicenza. We have adopted for this association the name: ADIANTO-SAXIFRAGETUM BERICAE. This phytocoenose is characterized by the endemic «Saxifraga berica». We have found new stations of this remarkable plant and reported some features of this species to complete the diagnosis of D. A. Webb. In two station of this association we have found also the rare «Asplenium lepidum», new for this region.     

Sulla Presenza di Ificellarioli e di Conidi in Mieobionti Lichenici Coltivati in « Vitro ». Riassunto

Abstract

On the presence of « hyphycellariola » (swollen celles) and conidia in three lichenized fungi cultivated « in vitro ». — The Authors refer to the presence of « cellariola » (and « hyphycellariola ») found in pure cultures « in vitro » of the mycobiont of Xanthoria parietina and describe the morphology of conidia in the fungus isolated from Sarcogyne similis and Acarospora fuscata.

As far as the « cellariola » and « hyphycellariola » are concerned, it is the first note relative to the mycobionts of Lichens.

The Authors report the data of the utilized medium and the morphological observations.

This previous studies will be intensified by further research.     

Primi Dati Sulle Alghe Della Scogliera « I Travi » di Portonovo (Ancona)

Abstract

First data on the seaweeds of the reef « I Travi » of Portonovo (Ancona). — The reef « I Travi » is formed by a series of nearly vertical rock strata which from Mount « I Corvi » dip into the sea with a general direction WNW-ESE. The rock face looking towards the open sea (that is roughly to the North) is exposed to the action of the waves. The sea is particulary rough when the wind blows from the North (« Bora »), and the East (« Levante »).

The temperature of the water throughout the year varies from 9.5[ddot] C in February to 27 [ddot]C in September, that is over a range of 17.5 [ddot]C. In June the salinity of the water was of 33.6%, and the pH had a value of 8.1. Ascending and descending currents and water movements seem to mix efficiently the upper and lower waters.

The seaweed population of the rock face varies longitudinally. In the Wetsern part Acetabularia is dominant; there is a central part with prevalence of Cystoseira, and an eastern part with prevalence of Ceramium and Cladophora. Vertically one can distinguish: a Littoral Zone of 40–45 cm (maximum amplitude of the tides) with Cladophora, Enteromorpha, and other Chlorophyceae; an Infralittoral Zone with predominance of Cystoseira, Gracilaria, and, lower down of various Rhodophyceae. The Eulittoral Zone is missing.     

Sulla Terminologia dei Processi Apomittici

Summary

The Author observing the great disagreement of the terminology usually adopted for the apomictic phenomena, examines the whole series of the phenomena noted both in regards of the formation of the gametophyte and of the embryo. The forming of the gametophyte is fixed on the base of nature of its original cell, normally a haploid spore or »haplospore« (phenomenon of the »haplospory« following the regular meiosis), rarely a diploid spore or »diplospore« (phenomenon of the »diplospory« following the irregular meiosis, as for instance in the case of restitution nucleus, etc.). The original cell can be at least represented by the same cell that usually is the spore mother cell, whether for the outward causes, or for inward causes is lacking the usual reductional process. For the failure of the meiotic process, such a cell cannot be called »spore«.

A cell of the somatic tissue of the sporophyte can even become the original cell of the gametophyte always in case of the absence of the meiosis. These two last cases of apospory are respectively called: »somatic apospory« and »gonial apospory« (= germinal apospory) (Chiarugi 1926).

The formation of the embryo is fixed on the base of the nature of the fecundation. The principal phenomena of the fecundation are represented by the following cases: »amphigamy« (or eugamy, or gamy), »semigamy, »pseudogamy«, »apogamy« »parthenogenesis«. The A. uses the term »apogamy« both for the diploid eggs and for the haploid eggs in which the stimulation of the division is produced by the pollen-tube or by male nuclei, in absence of the gamy.

The term »parthenogenesis« is restricted to the division of the haploid or diploid eggs in which the stimulation is not caused by pollen-tube nor even for the great reason, by the male nuclei existing in it.     

Ricerche Sulla Vegetazione dei Dintorni di Firenze

Summary

It is related on some phytocenoses of the southerly Florence hills, lying on the boundary of the two basal biochores of peninsular vegetation. Although the proximity and the chorographical analogy at the south-westerly ones and at Ceceri Mount, which are included yet in the » Quercetum Ilicis « ambit, these hills are whereas sensible displaced in the » Quercetum pubescentis «. They have microtherme elements of higher planes, but they have in yet the marks of littoral biochore, for instance Smilax aspera, abundantly penetrating in hedges and in a pine-grove but non in coppices of Quercus Cerris.     

Ulteriore contributo alle conoscenze sul « Denti de cani » (X Haynaldoticum sardoum Meletti e Onnis)

Abstract

Further data on « Denti de cani » (X Haynaldoticum sardoum Meletti e Onnis). – The authors defin the taxonomic position of « Denti de cani » (X Haynaldoticum sardoum Meletti e Onnis). It is characterized by the presence of two forms differentiated for morphological features and behaviour.     

Phagnalon Metlesicsii Nova Sp. Aus Westsizilien,Mit Einem Überblick Über Die Gruppe Von Phagnalon Rupestre Im Mittelmeerraum

Abstract

«Phagnalon metlesicsii», a new species from Western Sicily, with a survey of the «Ph. rupestre» — group in the Mediterranean Region. — Phagnalon metlesicsii, a new species of the complex Ph. rupestre — Ph. graecum, is described. It is entirely glabrous and occurs in Western Sicily (M. Cofano) on vertical limestone rocks, nearly 200 mts. above the sea, in community with a flora particularly rich on endemics. The variability of the whole complex is discussed and some infraspecific taxa are proposed.     

Crepis Bursifolia L., Nuova Stabile Inquilina della Flora Ligustica della Riviera di Ponente

Abstract

«Crepis bursifolia » L., new permanent tenant of the flora in west ligurian coast. — The author declares the permanent presence of « Crepis bursifolia » L. in Liguria, and informs about new stations of this species along the western riviera. The relates, furthermore, the unfavourable results of his close investigation to verify the eventual presence of further station of « C. bursifolia » L. found by former researcher.     

Effets de l'iode sur la croissance des frondes d'Asparagopsis armata (Rhodophycées,Bonnemaisoniales) obtenues en culture à partir de rameaux à harpons

Abstract

Effects of iodine on the growth of the « fronds » of Asparagopsis armata (Rhodophyceae, Bonnemaisoniales) in culture from spear bearing branches. – By adding doses of 5 μ moles per litre of iodide or iodate to a medium changed every six days, maximum growth for the « fronds » of Asparagopsis armata is obtained. Initial doses of iodide and iodate higher than 15 μ mole per litre inhibit the growth of this alga.     

Ricerche Sulla Vegetazione Della Valsesia. VII. Notholaena Marantae (L.) Desv. in Valsesia

Abstract

Researches on the vegetation of Valsesia. VII. «Notholaena marantae» (L.) Desv. in the Sesia Valley. — It's hereby described a station of Notholaena marantae (L.) Desv. near «Giavina Rossa» (Valsesia-Piedmont, Italy). This is probably the only place in the whole valley. The fern grows in a kind of ground formed by peridotitic rocks and on a little dry wall supporting the debris. The fern presence in a wooden valley, and under an oceanic climate could be a very interesting subject for hystorical geobotanic researches.     

Ricerche Cariologiche e Embriologiche Sul Genere Rudbeckia (Asteraceae)

Summary

The author describes the different modalities of the cellularisation of the adult gametophyte of Rudbeckia laciniata L. The several cases are arranged according to the number and the type of differentiation of the cells of the gametopyte. Of each type it is stated the frequency, calculated in about 500 cases.

The author remarks that the differentiation of the single cells is owing to »an effect of the position«, which exists in the displacement of the nuclei of the gametophyte regarding the proendospermatic cell, to which cell, however, one can attribute a pre-eminent »power of organization«. The displacement of the nuclei is after all the consequente of the stage of the » polarisation «.     

The cryptopolyploidy (Jaretzky 1928: «verkappte Polyploidie»; Chiarugi 1933: «criptopoliploidia»; Melinossi 1935, 1937: «duplicazione endocromosomica»). A terminological criticism.

Abstract

In the cytological literature and text-books, the term cryptopolyploidy is mainly ignored and sometimes re-interpreted and often wrongly quoted from the point of view of historical accuracy. The paternity over this term should be ascribed to Chiarugi (1933), although Jaretzky (1928a, b), while investigating karyologically two species of the genus Bunias, B. orientalis and B. erucago, first advanced a concept of «verkappte Polyploidie» to indicate the occurrence of chromosomes of enlarged size hypothetically due to fusion of homologous members (Jaretzky's «Sammelchromosomen»). By such homologous chromosome fusion a polyploid karyotype could appear as a diploid karyotype. A pupil of Chiarugi, Roma Melinossi, reinvestigating the two species quoted by Jaretzky, Bunias orientalis and B. erucago, documented a quite different karyological state for these species, cf. Melinossi (1935, 1937), that is the presence of the same karyotype (2n=14) in both species and the occurrence of chromosome of doubled size in B. erucago. Melinossi recognized B. erucago to be the cryptopolyploid species (obviously crypto-tetraploid) and not B. orientalis as assumed by Jaretzky and reinterpreted the chromosomes of doubled size as the result of a «duplicazione endocromosomica» (MELINOSSI, 1937).

Almost contemporaneously a second pupil of Chiarugi, Fernanda Pannocchia-Laj, in a karyo-embryological investigation of some species of the genus Vinca, described the occurrence of another case of cryptopolyploidy (sense Melinossi, that is by «duplicazione endocromosomica»). Besides the minor fact that this latter author spelled the term «criptopoliploidia» also as «criptopoliploidismo», her paper is very remarkable because suggested the probable occurrence of a degree of cryptopolyploidy higher than that of Bunias (crypto-tetraploid), namely the occurrence of «… una entità criptopoliploide con valore superiore al tetraploide, probabilmente ottoploide» (cf. PANNOCCHIA-LAJ, 1938 p. 177, p. 178, Fig. 36: criptottoploide).

On the basis of the results of a comparative karyological study between Vinca minor, V. major and V. difformis, PANNOCCHIA-LAJ ascribed to V. minor the diploid karyotype «2n=46», to V. major the tetraploid karyotype «2n=92», and to V. difformis the cryptopolyploid karyotype «2n=46 (x4?)». Since PANNOCCHIA-LAJ (1938, pp. 184–185), following MELINOSSI (1937), interpreted the origin of cryptopolyploidy as a phenomenon due to «duplicazione endocromosomica», the formula «2n=46 (x4?)» clearly means occurrence of «doppia duplicazione endocromosomica» or «quadruplicazione cromosomica».

The author is personally aware that PANNOCCHIA-LAJ intentionally, for scientific prudence, avoided to include such a terms in her account.

The papers of CHIARUGI, MELINOSSI and PANNOCCHIA-LAJ have been largely ignored by the subsequent cytological literature and the term cryptopolyploidy has been variably quoted or interpreted and also reinvented (cf. HOLT in SPARROW & NAUMAN, 1974)!

From a terminological point of view, there are two sound considerations which suggest a refusal of the term cryptopolyploidy, namely:

- the prefix crypto does not qualify, it only means that such a polyploidy is «not visible» (hidden) by the methods of the observer;

- the choice of the prefix crypto is injustifiable because, the cases of cryptopolyploidy show the general morphology of the relative known polyploid species, that is they are phenotypically polyploids!

Both considerations, together, suggest the refusal of the prefix crypto and the proposal of the neoterm phenopolyploidy (phenotypic polyploidy). Necessarily, the indication of phenopolyploidy is nothing else but a provisional term waiting for a modern reinvestigation of both the crypto-tetraploid Bunias erucago and the crypto-octoploid Vinca difformis.     

Insediamento e Diffusione di Buddleia Davidii Franch

Abstract

«Buddleya davidii» in «Valtellina» (North Italy), its settling and diffusion. — Vegetational areas where «Buddleya davidii» is naturalised in Valtellina are described and the subsequent phases are followed through 18 years.     

Contributo all'embriologia delle Asteraceae: VI

Riassunto

Il gametofito fetaminile di Anthemis arvensis L. mostra uno sviluppo quanto mai interessante, perchè insieme al tipo « Crucianella » con oangio emisporiale (ca. 75%) si trova pure un altro tipo di sviluppo, il già noto tipo « Pyrethrum parthenifolium » con oangio monosporiale (25% ca.). Il gametofito 16-nucleato tipico tuttavia non è mai stato riscontrato; invece l'Autore ba osservato la presenza del sottotipo 10-nucleato, che è stato recentemente scoperto e che ha preso il nome di sottotipo « Ulmus ». I due tipi sopraddetti sono collegati dalla possibilità di uno sviluppo secondo il tipo « Vittadinia » con oangio monosporiale, che si deve considerare come un tipo intermedio fra i due.

Nella presenza di questi tipi di sviluppo in una stessa specie l'Autore trova una conferma della assoluta dipendenza del tipo « Crucianella » dai tipi tetramegasporiali facenti capo al tipo « Pyrethrum parthenifolium ».     

“Eumeiosi” e “Meiosi Apoomeotipica” Seguita da “Mitosi a Diplounivalenti” Nel Tessuto Somatico di Sambucus

Summary

The Authors describe in Sambucus nigra L the occurrence of the » apohomeotypic teiosis « followed by a »mitosis with diplounivalents « (Battaglia 1945, 1947) in ae somatic tissue of the style. The AA. observed also the occasional formation f four haploid nuclei and then the occurence of the »eumeiosis« (Battaglia 1945).     

Microbiocenosi fotosintetiche delle Terme « Selinuntine » di Sciacca (Sicilia)

Abstract

Photosynthetic microbiocenose of the « Selinuntine » Hot Springs in Sciacca, Sicily. - Cyanobacteria belonging to the genus Oscillatoria, typical of thiobiotic habitats, were predominant in the photosynthetic microbiocenose of the « Selinuntine » Hot Springs in Sciacca. Oscillatoria animalis was prevalent in the thermal microbial community having the highest temperature and sulfide values suggesting a particular physiology requiring the presence of low redox compounds for its growth. Anoxigenic photosynthetic bacteria constitued a minor component of the biocenose.     

Contributo alla Conoscenza dell'idratazione e della Pressione Osmotica Nelle Specie di Tre Associazioni Forestali delle Marche: I° - L'idratazione

Abstract

Researches on the water content and osmotic pressure in plants of three forest associations in the Marche. I° - The water content. — The main forest associations of the Umbro-Marchigiani Appennines are the Orneto-Quercetum ilicis, the Quercetum pubescentis (s. l.) and the Fagetum. In each of these associations a typical station has been chosen where the most important species have been followed from March to November 1963 in order to determine the seasonal variations of their water content (« T.I. »)expressed as percentage of fresh weight.

The annual curves show that the water content reaches very high levels in the early stages of plant development while it falls to lower levels later in the season when the leaves are full grown. The water content of each species follows a different course and can be considered a specific character. Taking into account the maximum and minimum levels of water content of the three groups of species a « hydric spectrum » has been worked out for the three associations.

The water content of each species has also been calculated as percentage of dry weight (imbibition percentage: « G.I. »).     

Nuovi Dati Sulla Distribuzione Di Isoétes Malinvernianum in Lomellina

Abstract

New data on the distribution of « Isoëtes malinvernianum » in Lomellina. — The Author relates the discovery of many new stations of Isoëtes malinvernianum in Lomellina (Province of Pavia). Many observations carried out in these new localities and in the most part of the already recorded localities near Novara and Vercelli have allowed him to modify some convincements on the habitat of this well known endemism. So he reports that Isoëtes malinvernianum vegetates not only in the waters of « fontanile » but also in waters of the most different sources, that this species is not solitary but accompanied by many species as Callitriche palustris, Fontinalis antipyretica, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Vallisneria spiralis, Potamogeton crispa and few other species more. Isoëtes malinvernianum, besides, is not damaged by dredge works in the canals and is present not only in morainic soils and in the diluvial soils transformated in ferreto but also in the terraced flood named with old terms as « Terrazziano » or « Diluvium recente » and in the diluvial soils of the « Alluvium ». Now at least it is not possible to ascribe plant communities of which Isoëtes malinvernianum makes part to a well defined association.     

Le « Pedicularis » della serie « Foliosae » Maxim. della Flora italiana

Abstract

The « Pedicularis » of the series « Foliosae » Maxim, in the Italian Flora. – The paper deals with the badly known distribution of Pedicularis foliosa L., P. hoermanniana K. Maly and P. hacquetii Graf (ser. Foliosae Maxim.) both in Europe and in Italy. The illyrian P. hoermanniana occurs also in central Italy, being therefore a typical periadriatic entity. It completely substitutes the two others species in the Italian peninsula.