Barbafera carnica Senowbari-Daryan, 1980: A Triassic worm-tube

Summary Barbafera carnica Senowbari-Daryan (1980), a Carnian reef fossil of uncertain systematic position, is redescribed based on extraordinarily preserved material from Carnian reef boulders of the Cassian Formation of the Southern Alps (Dolomites/Italy).Barbafera is interpreted as a worm tube characterized by a complicated wall structure.Barbafera may belong to the family SerpulidaeRafinesque.     

Trinia Dalechampii Janch. et W. Nel Componente Illirico della Flora Apuana di Altitudine

Abstract

TRINIA DALECHAMPII in the Illyric component of the Flora of the Apuan Alps. — On a mountaintop in the Apuan Alps, the author found Trinia dalechampii, an Illyric entity known until now in Ytaly only in the central and southern Apennines. He also indicates that a Greco-Apennine Oligo-Miocene bridge was the probable migration-route of this species and likewise of the Illyric entities of the Apennines.     

Cambrian Acritarchs from the Col di Foglia (Agordo) southalpine metamorphic basement, Italian Eastern Alps: the oldest biostratigraphic record in the alps

Abstract  The Lower Palaeozoic biostratigraphic records in the Alps are briefly reviewed and the result of a new study of the acritarch assemblage found by Sassi et al. (1984) in the greenschist facies black metapelites of the Southalpine metamorphic basement at Col di Foglia, and studied by Kalvacheva et al. (1986), is presented. The new  taxonomic and biostratigraphic study indicates a late Cambrian age, which is the oldest unquestionable, recently assessed, biostratigraphic dating of the entire Alps, as well as of the Italian peninsular. Keywords Alps, Southalpine metamorphic basement, Eastern Alps, Agordo, Acritarchs, Cambrian Subject codes: G17002     

Facies and biota of Anisian to Carnian carbonate platforms in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Tyrol and Bavaria)

Summary During the Middle and early Late Triassic carbonate ramps and rimmed platforms developed at the northwestern margin of the Tethys ocean. In the Northern Calcareous Alps, Anisian stacked homoclinal ramps evolved through a transitional stage with distally steepened ramps to huge rimmed platforms of Late Ladinian to Early Carnian age. Middle Triassic to early Late Triassic facies and biota of basin, slope and platform depositional systems are described. Special emphasis is given to foraminifers, sponges, microproblematic organisms and algae. The Ladinian to early Carnian reef associations are characterized by the abundance of segmented sponges, microproblematica, biogenic crusts and synsedimentary cements. Among the foraminifers, recifal forms likeHydrania dulloi andCucurbita infundibuliformis (Carnian in age) are reported from the Northern Calcareous Alps for the first time. Some sphinctozoid sponges likeParavesicocaulis concentricus were known until now only from the Hungarian and Russian Triassic.     

Il Contributo di Maria Selebam de Cattani Agli Studi Delle Alghe Marine e di Certe Sue Raccolte Conservate a Venezia

Abstract

Phytosociology, ecology and chorology of snowbed vegetation in Croatia were researched. Snowbed stands, found only in freezing ravines and dolines of the Liburnian karst and Velebit Mountains (NW Dinaric Alps, NW Croatia), were classified into the association Drepanoclado-Heliospermetum (Salicion retusae, Arabidetalia caeruleae, Thlaspietea rotundifolii). Those stands, exposed mostly to the north and shaded for the majority of the growing season, were developed on more or less settled periglaciar screes and boulders in the coldest parts (bottoms, smaller ditches) of the dolines with long-lasting snow cover. Due to lower altitude of Croatian mountains, snowbed vegetation could be found only azonally, in freezing ravines surrounded by altimontane and subalpine (fir-)beech and spruce forests, where these stands manage to thrive due to specific microclimatic conditions. Snowbeds host some rare, endangered and/or protected plant species in Croatia. Vulnerability of the flora and vegetation of snowbeds in Croatia is briefly discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Noriphyllia</Emphasis>, a new Tethyan Late Triassic coral genus (Scleractinia)

Noriphyllia gen. n. is a distinctive coral representing the Coryphylliidae, a group of Late Triassic scleractinian corals. Coral faunas of this age are poorly known. The new coral is distinguished from related corals belonging to the reimaniphylliids by key features of septal microstructure as discerned in thin sections. This microstructure consists of a straight/wavy midseptal zone and lateral septal stereome organized into thin fascicles of fibres, producing a fine and sharp micromorphology of the septal sides. The solitary genus Noriphyllia gen. n. contains two Early Norian species: N. anatoliensis sp. n. chosen as the type species and N. dachsteinae sp. n., and a Carnian species referred to as N. monotutoensis sp. n. The new genus is widely distributed in the Late Triassic, Early Norian reef facies of the Tethys region (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria; Taurus Mountains, Turkey) and it also occurs in the Carnian of Timor. Noriphyllia gen. n. is unique and details of its microstructural features add new understanding to the composition of both Late Carnian and Early Norian corals.     

New Late Triassic gastropods from the wallowa Terrane (Idaho) and their biogeographic significance

Summary Two characteristic new species and one new genus are described from the Late Triassic of Idaho (Wallowa Terrane):Brochidiella idahoensis n. gen., n. sp. andPtychostoma ornata n. sp.Brochidiella is only known from western North America.Ptychostoma is present in the Carnian of the European Alps (Tethys) and is widespread in the western part of the North American continent (Panthalassa). Late Triassic gastropod faunas from the accreted terranes of North America are poorly known but hold a great potential for future palaeobiogeographic reconstructions.     

Infraspecific diversity of Cytisus emeriflorus Reichenb. (Leguminosae), an endemic plant with disjunct distribution: Evidence from isozyme data

ABSTRACT

C. emeriflorus is an endemic species occurring in two disjunct areas some 200 km apart: the Pre-Alps of Lombardia and the Pre-Alps of Friuli. Four populations from the western area and five populations from the eastern area were sampled in order to ascertain the amount and the distribution of variation throughout the range of the species. Phenetic measures of isozyme polymorphism were used. Diversity values showed that the species is polymorphic, despite its restricted distribution and the small population size; phenetic distances revealed that partitioning of diversity was largely within rather than among populations. Moreover, little differentiation was found between the two disjunct areas, although the western populations exhibited a slightly higher diversity compared with the eastern ones. The high level of polymorphism and the overall similarity between populations from the two areas may be ascribed to past contacts, and indicate that, despite the present widespread disjunction, the two areas have not evolved independently long enough for divergence to have occurred. There is no evidence that C. emeriflorus is at present genetically depauperated, although its range of distribution must have been much broader in the past; its present reduced distribution area and the small population size may be mainly due to ecological factors.     

Un antico relitto atlantico ai piedi delle Alpi Apuane: Trichomanes speciosum Willd., entità nuova per la flora italiana

Abstract

An Atlantic relict on the Apuan Alps: Trichomanes speciosum Willd., new to Italy.—In Versilia, at the foot of the Apuan Alps, has been found the fern Trichomanes speciosum Willd., new genus for the Italian flora and old relict witness, like Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (L.) Smith, of an Atlantic climate which still persists in deep valleys, dug on paleozoic quartz schists, on the tirrenic coast of the Apuan Alps.     

Assunzione di Fosforo32 da Parte di Cuscuta Epithymum Parassita di Trifolium Repens

Abstract

Uptake of Phosporus-P³² by CUSCUTA EPITHYMUM parasitic of TRIFOLIUM REPENS. — Filaments of C. epithymum, parasitic on T. repens, partially immersed in a solution containing KH₂P³²O₄, uptake from the host solely, or mainly, radioactive ortophosphate. Radioactive hexose phosphates and radioactive nucleotides present in the extracts prepared from C. epithymum, appear to be the result of the metabolization by the dodder of the orthophosphate uptaken from the host.     

A surface microrelief on the leaves of Glossophyllum florinii (?Ginkgoales) from the Upper Triassic of Lunz,Austria

The cuticles of many extant seed plants display distinct surface microreliefs, which represent adaptations to certain habitat conditions or mechanical defences against herbivores and phytopathogenic microorganisms. Although microreliefs have variously been noted in fossil cuticles, hypotheses relating to the effectiveness of these structures in fossil plants have not been advanced to date. A surface microrelief composed of longitudinally orientated idiocuticular striae occurs on the leaves of the enigmatic Carnian (Late Triassic) gymnosperm (?ginkgophyte) Glossophyllum florinii Kräusel from the Northern Calcareous Alps of lower Austria. Most striae originate from the tips of the papillae on the stomatal subsidiary cells. The G. florinii surface microrelief may have (1) reduced leaf wettability, (2) produced or enhanced the self‐cleaning effect of the leaf, (3) prevented the formation of a water film on the leaf surface, and/or (4) mechanically stabilized the leaf. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 153 , 87–95.     

Nuove Stazioni di Festuca Laxa Host in Territorio Italiano e Considerazioni Sistematiche Sulla Sua Indipendenza Da Festuca Dimorpha Guss

Abstract

New localities of «Festuca laxa» Host in the Italian territory and systematic considerations about its indipendence from «F. dimorpha» Guss. Some new localities of Festuca laxa are given for the Alps of Friuli (Northeastern Italy), which show that this species takes part also of Italian Flora. Until now it was known only for Austria and Jugoslavia. The paper furthermore deals with some anatomical differences in the leaf — structure of the two fescues, as to see in transections. F. laxa has normally 3 larger vascular bundles, which are wholly enclosed by T-shaped sclerenchyma and 4(8–9) smaller veins, where the sclerenchyma occurs only in the abaxial face of the blade. F. dimorpha on the contrary has 5 larger bundles and usually 6 smaller ones. The number of the secondary veins depends in both cases on the various sizes of the leaves. Also the cenotic and ecological behaviour of F. laxa is shortly illustrated on the basis of two phytosociological records.     

Sulla variabilità cromatica dei fiori nelle specie di Crocus L. delle Alpi sudorientali italiane

Abstract

Chromatic variability of tepals in species of Crocus L. of South-eastern Alps.—The anthocyanidins causing the color of tepals of some species of Crocus L. in the Italian South-eastern Alps were determined and characterized. The genus Crocus of this region is represented by four entities: C. napolitanus Mord. & Loisel., C. albiflorus Kit. ex Schult., C. reticulatus Stev. ex Adam. and C. weldenii Hoppe ex Baker.

The distribution of anthocyanidins in the four entities confirms the existence of a systematic distance among the species belonging to Reticulati and the species belonging to Anulati. Two anthocyanidins, i.e. delphynidin and petunidin, which are always present in other entities, have not been found in C. weldenii; this species is characterized by the only presence of malvidine.

The anthocyanidins assume therefore in this case a chemotaxonomic meaning.     

Festuca alpestris R. et S. nelle Prealpi bellunesi

Abstract

Festuca alpestris R. et S. in the Alps near Belluno.—Some populations of Festuca from the F. varia aggr. occurring in the south-eastern Alps near Belluno have been recognized as belonging to F. alpestris R. et S. The relationships between this species and F. calva (Hackel) Richter from the Julian Alps are discussed and the diacritic characters are newly defined.     

Tecniche di Coltura di Semi di Grano Sottoposti ad Operazioni di Trapianto Embrionale

Abstract

Cultural techniques for wheat seeds submitted to embryo transplantation. — The author, on the basis of his experience coming from the work carried out on the embryo transplantation for several years, takes in consideration some aspects, at technical level, regarding the best way to cultivate wheat seeds submitted to embryo transplantation operations.

In particular, the author refers on the possibility to sow the transplants just made (while the traditional method foresees the drying of transplants for 48–96 hours under laboratory conditions) and he illustrates the results of the transplant culture in jiffypots, which allow to improve survival of materials intended for the growth in field.     

Polline fossile di Aesculus aff. hippocastanum L. nel Bacino di Leffe (Pleistocene inferiore). Posizione sistematica e significato paleoecologico

Abstract

Fossil pollen of Aesculus aff. hippocastanum L. in the Leffe Basin (Early Pleistocene). Systematic position and palaeocology. A new pollen analysis has been undertaken in the lacustrine and palustrine deposits of Leffe (Northern Italy), in order to re-evaluate the flora, the vegetation dynamics and the climatic change at the southern margin of the Alps during the lowermost Pleistocene.

The present paper deals with the systematic position and the ecology of a fossil taxon of Aesculus discovered in the Leffe sediments. The taxonomical approach is based on a comparative investigation on the pollen morphology of all the present-living species and the fossil taxon from Leffe. Some diagnostic features of the apertures and the exine ornamentation allowed to distinguish some groups, almost coincident with the sections in which the genus is presently subdivided.

The pollen morphology of the taxa which belong to the sections living in temperate regions and in the subtropical-tropical SE-Asia (section Calothyrsus Koch) notably differ.

Among temperate groups, the Section Aesculus can be characterized by having the biggest projections on the colpus membrane. The fossil pollen from Leffe sediments can be related with this Section. Moreover, a comparison of the Japanese living species (A. turbinata Bl.), with the European one (A. hippocastanum L.), indicates that the fossil pollen grains from Leffe may be related to A. hippocastanum. This supports the hypothesis of a Neogene divergence of a pontic-european group inside the Section Aesculus in agreement with the macrofloral record of the Neogene in Europe. Afterwards the palaecology of the Leffe horse-chestnut is discussed. A comparison between fossil pollen spectra and the analogues in the modern vegetation (Colchide, Mesia, Caucasian region and Allegheny Mountains, U.S.A.) shows good relationships in the floral composition.

Finally, the extinction time of some elements of the Colchic-Hyrcanian flora in Italy during the Quaternary is discussed.     

Effetto Dell'attinomicina Sulla Crescita di Alcune Specie di Alghe

Abstract

Action of Actinomycin on the growth of Algae. — Actinomycin C inhibits the growth of two strains of Euglena gracilis, of Chlorella vulgaris, of Prototheca zopfii and of Scenedesmus sp. The growth inhibitory effect is evident on both autotrophically and heterotrophically grown cultures. DNA extracted from C. vulgaris appears to form a complex with Actinomycin C similar to that observed in the case of other organisms.     

La presenza di Euphorbia hyberna L. subsp. insularis (Boiss.) Briq. sull'Appennino ligure

Abstract

The presence of Euphorbia hyberna L. subsp. insularis (Boiss.) Briq. in the Ligurian Apennines. — The author studies the geographical distribution and the ecology of Euphorbia hyberna L. subsp. insularis (Boiss.) Briq. in the Ligurian Apennines, where the plant occurs in several stations which are localized in two distinct areas: in the group of Mt. Dente (province of Genoa) and near the Capanne di Marcarolo (province of Alessandria). Euphorbia insularis is recorded only in Liguria, the Apuane Alps (Tuscany), Corsica and Sardinia. The climatic, edaphic, topographic and biotic characteristics of the stations in which the plant is found in Liguria are pointed out. It grows in different environmental conditions, but occurs only in localities with northerly or north easterly exposure, at altitudes between 700 and 950 m; it attains the best development in open places, like grassland and glades, where it grows profusely. On the whole, Euphorbia insularis requires a climate characterized by a strong oceanicity, i.e. by moderate temperatures, a high amount of rainfall, and a notable atmospheric humidity throughout the year. However, the plant shows no particular edaphic requirements, and its occurrence on the serpentine soils is only due to the low competition in the plant-communities of these stations. The author emphasizes the remarkable phytogeographic interest of Euphorbia insularis, which probably represents a tertiary atlantic relict and has survived in the Ligurian Apennines owing to peculiar geo-climatic conditions.     

Ricerche Sull'ultrastruttura dei Tubi Cribrosi di Piccioli di Foglie di Edera

Abstract

The ultrastructure of sieve tubes in leaf petioles of HEDERA HELIX. — The structural organization of the sieve elements in Hedera leaf petiole at the beginning of the second year of life has been studied. At this stage of life the sieve tubes are completely developed, but still in full activity.

Their plasmatic structures, though altered, show that they are still alive. The cytoplasm forms a parietal layer; mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and plastids are present although very peculiar in aspect. The cytoplasm is bounded externally by a plasmalemma; on the contrary no tonoplast is detectable.

The data reported in this paper are favourable to the idea of an active partecipation of the sieve tubes in the translocation of organic solutes, in agreement with the findings concerning the oat coleoptile.