An ultrastructural study of the spermatozoa ofEulalia sp. (Phyllodocidae),Lepidonotus sp. (Polynoidae),Lumbrineris sp. (Lumbrineridae) andOwenia fusiformis (Oweniidae)

The ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoa of four polychaetes is described:Eulalia sp. (Phyllodocidae),Lepidonotus sp. (Polynoidae),Lumbrineris sp. (Lumbrineridae) andOwenia fusiformis (Oweniidae). All the sperm show features typical of externally fertilizing sperm in having a rounded nucleus, a short unmodified midpiece, and a simple flagellum with a 9+2 axoneme.Owenia fusiformis andLepidonotus sp. have a nuclear cone extending into the subacrosomal space that may act to present the inner acrosomal membrane to the egg during fertilization. The acrosome ofLumbrineris sp. is flattened and crenulated. The sperm ofEulalia sp. is unusual in having the four mitochondria of the midpiece ensheathed by a membrane. Comparisons are made with other polychaete sperm, and the use of sperm ultrastructure as a taxonomic tool within the Polychaeta is discussed.     

Sporophyte and gametophyte development of Platycerium coronarium (Koenig) Desv. and P. grande (Fee) C. Presl. (Polypodiaceae) through in vitro propagation

The sporophyte and gametophyte development of Platycerium coronarium and P. grande were compared through ex situ propagation using in vitro culture technique and under greenhouse and field conditions.The morphology of the sporophyte and gametophyte, type of spore germination and prothallial development of P. coronarium and P. grande were documented. Gametophytes of P. coronarium and P. grande were cultured in vitro using different media. The gametophytes were then transferred and potted in sterile chopped Cyathea spp. (anonotong) roots and garden soil for sporophyte formation. Sporophytes (plantlets) of the two Platycerium species were attached on the slabs of anonotong and on branches and trunks of Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) under greenhouse and field conditions.Sporophyte morphology of P. coronarium and P. grande varies but not their gametophyte morphology. P. coronarium and P. grande exhibited rapid spore germination and gametophyte development in both spore culture medium and Knudson C culture medium containing 2% glucose. Gametophytes of P. coronarium and P. grande transferred to potting medium produced more number of sporophytes while the gametophytes inside the culture media did not produce sporophytes. Sporophytes of P. grande attached on mahogany branches produced more number of leaves with bigger leaf area than those attached on anonotong slabs. Likewise, sporophytes of P. coronarium attached on mahogany branches and anonotong slabs did not develop new leaves during two weeks monitoring and are still in a period of adjustment to its environment. Sporophytes of P. grande grown or attached on the trunk of mahogany trees in the field and under shaded environment favored their growth.     

Morphology and anatomy of male cones of Pseudotaxus chienii (W.C. Cheng) W.C. Cheng (Taxaceae)

Results of the present study indicate that male cones of Pseudotaxus chienii are representing inflorescences with strongly reduced flowers. The results fit quite well with investigations showing that sporangiophores of Taxus and also of Pseudotaxus comply with reduced flowers. The only difference between male cones in Taxus and Pseudotaxus is the absence of pherophylls in Taxus. Furthermore our results complete a transition series beginning with Cephalotaxus going on to Pseudotaxus and ending with Taxus and Torreya. In this progression Pseudotaxus can be regarded as an intermediate link between the inflorescences of Cephalotaxus and the simple, unbranched cones of Taxus. The entire transition series shows that sporophyll-like sporangiophores can be derived by reduction of lateral cones. There is however no sign that a similar process has occurred in other conifer groups.     

Notes on Stictocardia campanulata (L.) Merrill and S. Jucunda (Thw.) C. R. Gunn (Convolvulaceae)

The generic concept ofStictocardia is evaluated and accepted. Two species, whose nomenclature is interwoven withIpomoea alba andI. macrantha, are described, discussed, and illustrated.     

Chromosome studies on some Turkish species of Grimmia Hedw.: G. laevigata (Brid.) Brid., G. ovalis (Hedw.) Lindb., G. pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm., G. trichophylla Grev.

In this research, mitotic chromosome numbers in four species of Grimmia Hedw. from Turkey were reported. Mitotic chromosome numbers of three species : Grimmia laevigata (Brid.) Brid. (n = 26), Grimmia ovalis (Hedw.) Lindb. (n = 10), Grimmia pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm. (n = 26) were reported for the first time. Grimmia trichophylla Grev. (n = 13) showed the same chromosome number as in a previous study.     

Rhabditis (Oscheius) pheropsophi n. sp. (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae)

Rhabditis (Oscheius) pheropsophi n. sp., associated with cadavers of the bombardier beetle, Pheropsophus aequinoctialis, is described from material collected in Brazil. Mean body length of the female is 1,217 μm, of the male 872 μm, and of the dauer juvenile 568 μm. The female has six lips with one papilla on each lateral lip and two on each sublateral lip; stoma wall thickened dorsally, metarhabdions with warts, excretory pore near base of esophagus, tail long (c = 8), and phasmids prominent, protruding on scanning electron microscope preparations. The male has 10 pairs of bursal ribs, with the terminal pair considerably smaller than the others; spicules fused distally two-thirds of their length. The new species can be distinguished from other members of the Dolichura-group by its fused spicules.     

Lethrus (Lethrus) schneideri sp. n. (Coleoptera,Geotrupidae) from Greece

Lethrus (Lethrus) schneideri Král & Hillert, sp. n. from Thrace, Greece, is described. The new species is morphologically most similar and probably closely related to Lethrus (Lethrus) apterus (Laxmann, 1770) and Lethrus (Lethrus) ares Král, Rejsek & Schneider, 2001. Diagnostic characters (shape of mandibles, ventral mandible processes, pronotum and parameres) are illustrated. Character matrix for separation of males of the Lethrus species closely related to Lethrus schneideri Král & Hillert, sp. n. and geographic ranges for all species studied are mapped.     

Constituents of the leaves of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (Seem.) Guill. var. atropurpureum (Bull.) Fosb.

A new iridoid, 5β,6β-dihydroxyantirrhide (1) was isolated from the dried leaves of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (Seem.) Guill. var. atropurpureum (Bull.) Fosb. (Acanthaceae), together with 13 known compounds, including two iridoids, linarioside and antirrhinoside; five phenylethanoids, echipuroside A, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, isomartynoside and osmanthuside B; and six flavonoids, luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, luteolin 7-O-rutinoside, apigenin 7-O-rutinoside, apigenin 6-C-α-l-arabinopyranosyl–8-C-β-l-arabinopyranoside, apigenin 6,8-di-C-α-l-arabinopyranoside and apigenin 6-C-β-d-xylopyranosyl–8-C-α-l-arabinopyranoside. Their chemical structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic analysis. Some purified compounds were evaluated the acetylcholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxic activities against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line and the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. Luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside exhibited cytotoxic activities against both the HeLa cervical cancer cell line and the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Verbascoside and isoverbascoside showed strong cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The tested compounds showed the AChE inhibitory activity fairly weak.     

Chemical constituents of Medinilla septentrionalis (W. W. Sm.) H. L. Li (Melastomataceae)

Our phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Medinilla septentrionalis (W. W. Sm.) H. L. Li led to the isolation of five tannins (1–5), five phenolic acids and phenolic acid derivatives (6–10), four flavonoids (11–14), two triterpenes (15 and 16), and one hydantoin derivative (17). The structures of the obtained compounds were identified using spectrometric methods (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS). This is the first study reporting on the chemical constituent of M. septentrionalis and the chemotaxonomic relationships between Medinilla and other genera of Melastomataceae.     

Floral scent of Eleocharis elegans (Kunth) Roem. & Schult. (Cyperaceae)

The inflorescences of Eleocharis elegans and Eleocharis sellowiana were investigated by dynamic headspace/GC–MS for the presence of volatiles. No floral volatile was detected in the inconspicuous inflorescences of E. sellowiana but various floral volatiles were produced by the showy inflorescences of E. elegans. The results are discussed in their ecological and evolutionary context.     

Pseudangularia gonzalezi n. sp. and Gibsonilepis swifti (Singh, 1952) n. g., n. comb. (Cestoda, Dilepididae) from the House Swift, Apus affinis (J.E. Gray) (Aves, Apodiformes) from Franceville, Republic of Gabon

Nine specimens of Apus affinis (J.E. Gray) were studied at Franceville, Haut-Ogooué Province, Republic of Gabon, for the presence of helminth parasites. Two cestode species of the family Dilepididae were recorded. Pseudangularia gonzalezi n. sp. is distinguished from the most similar species P. europaea Georgiev & Murai, 1993 by having elliptical cirrus-sac, longer vagina, longer rostellar sheath and greater diameter of suckers. An identification key to the species of the genus Pseudangularia Burt, 1938 is proposed. The present study is the first record of the genus Pseudangularia in the Afrotropical Region. Our study confirms that, in dilepidids with vaginal sclerites from swifts, breaking off the cirrus after copulation is a frequent phenomenon. The genus Gibsonilepis n. g. is erected as monotypic for Vitta swifti Singh, 1952 (originally described from the same host species in India) and Gibsonilepis swifti n. comb. is proposed. Gibsonilepis n. g. is distinguished from Vitta Burt, 1938 by its highly elongate rostellum, rostellar sheath much bigger than rostellum, relatively small rostellar hooks possessing strongly developed guard, disc-shaped suckers with weak peripheral musculature and flat or convex central part, long and well-expressed neck, highly lobed two-winged ovary (lobes rounded) and presence of a band consisting of rows of spine-like microtriches along posterior margin of each proglottis. This is the first record of G. swifti in the Afrotropical Region. The separation of G. swifti from the genus Vitta (parasites of swallows) suggests that, contrary to previous opinions, no dilepidid genera are shared by Apodidae (swifts) and Hirundinidae (swallows).     

Composition of the essential oils of Tanacetum argyrophyllum (C. Koch) Tvzel. var. argyrophyllum and Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip. (Asteraceae) from Turkey

The aerial parts of Tanacetum argyrophyllum (C. Koch) Tvzel. var. argyrophyllum and T. parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip. were hydro-distilled to produce the oils in the yields of 0.78% (v/w) and 0.43% (v/w), respectively. The oils were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-two and twenty-three components were identified representing 94.2% and 90.1% of the oils, respectively. The main compounds of T. argyrophyllum were cis-thujone (69.9%), trans-thujone (5.6%) and 1,8-cineole (3.2%), whereas camphor (56.9%), camphene (12.7%) and p-cymene (5.2%) were the major constituents of T. parthenium.     

Dryinid (Hym.: Dryinidae) parasitoids ofDalbulus leafhopper (Hom.: Cicadellidae) in Mexico

Little is known about the natural enemies of the leafhopperDalbulus spp. (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Searches for its dryinid (wasps) parasitoids were made in Jalisco, Mexico. Jalisco contains the greatest number ofDalbulus species, and is considered to be near to the center of origin of this leafhopper genus and its host plants: maize, teosintes (Zea spp.) and gamagrasses (Tripsacum spp.). The dryinidGonatopus bartletti was found parasitizingD. maidis on maize and on annual teosinteZea mays spp.parviglumis. G. flavipes was found parasitizingD. elimatus on perennial teosinteZ. perennis; and a new speciesG. moyaraygozai andAnteon ciudadi parasitizingD. quinquenotatus onTripsacum pilosum andT. dactyloides. Parasitism by dryinids was found at altitudes of 680–2,000 m.Dalbulus maidis, the leafhopper species which causes the greatest losses in maize in Latin America, was found to be parasitized from 680–1,760 m. TheDalbulus species associated with annual host plants (maize andZ. mays spp.parviglumis) were parasitized by dryinids during the rainy season, while theDalbulus species associated with perennial host plants (Z. perennis andTripsacum) were parasitized by dryinids during both the rainy and dry season. The greatest diversity of dryinid parasitoids ofDalbulus spp. and the highest levels of parasitism were recorded from perennial plants, indicating that such species are reservoirs of natural enemies ofDalbulus spp.     

Reevaluation of the sections of Rhus L. subgenus lobadium (Raf.) T. & G. (Anacardiaceae)

Species ofRhus subgen.Lobadium have in the past been grouped into five sections:Pseudosumac, Stypkonia,Pseudoschmaltzia, Rhoeidium andLobadium. Reexamination of the morphological criteria used to delimit the sections, as well as consideration of data from flavonoid chemistry and wood anatomy, suggest that the affinities of this group of taxa are best reflected by recognizing three sections and three subsections. The namesPseudosumac andPseudoschmaltzia are rejected as beingnomina nuda.     

Studies in the eupatorieae (Compositae). XVII. The genus erythradenia (B. L. Robinson) R. M. King and H. Robinson

Piqueria (Erythradenia) pyramidalis B. L. Robinson is placed in a separate genus with the new combinationErythradenia pyramidalis (B. L. Robinson) R. M. King & H. Robinson. It is considered a close relative of the genusDecackaeta DC     

Acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucosides from the purple-violet flowers of Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis (Sm) P. W. Ball. (Brassicaceae)

A novel acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucoside was isolated from the purple-violet flowers of Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis (Sm) P. W. Ball. (family: Brassicaceae), and determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(trans-feruloyl)-β-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-feruloyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside] by chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, two known acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucosides, cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(trans-sinapoyl)-β-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-feruloyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside] and cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(β-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-feruloyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside] were identified in the flowers.     

Chemical constituents from roots of Duguetia furfuracea (A. St.-Hil.) Saff. (Annonaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of roots of Duguetia furfuracea (A. St.-Hil.) Saff. (Annonaceae) led to the isolation of α-asarone (1), asaraldehyde (2), staudine (3) and a mixture of β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) and stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5). Structure elucidation of these compounds was performed on the basis of NMR spectral data and MS. Chemotaxonomic significance of (3) was explained.     

Rediscovery of Multifurca stenophylla (Berk.) T.Lebel, C.W.Dunk & T.W.May comb. nov. (Russulaceae) from Australia

The genus Multifurca is recorded for the first time from Australia. Multifurca stenophylla (Berk.) T.Lebel, C.W.Dunk & T.W.May comb. nov. is described and illustrated, and a lectotype and epitype designated. The species is characterized by the association with Nothofagus and Eucalyptus, the pale yellow, concentrically zoned pileus, abundant acrid white latex which becomes pale yellow then eventually greenish, and the small basidiospores.