勾儿茶属和小勾儿茶属(鼠李科)的果实及种子形态研究及其系统学意义

在扫描电镜和解剖镜下研究鼠李科(Rhamnaceae)勾儿茶属(Berchemia)和小勾儿茶属(Berchemiella)共17种植物的果实和种子形态.结果表明：小勾儿茶属的核果1室,具1枚种子,勾儿茶属大多数种的核果2室,每室具1枚种子,但多叶勾儿茶(B．polyphylla)的核果1室较大,具1枚种子,另一室较小而没有种子,该种可能是连接勾儿茶属和小勾儿茶属的中间类群.这两个属的种子形状通常为不规则长椭圆形,种皮纹饰可划分为光滑或几乎光滑、具不明显或稀疏的条纹以及具明显的条纹或沟这三种类型.种皮纹饰的差异对这两个属属下种类的划分具有一定的意义.讨论了与前人研究结果不同之处和可能的原因.     

福建荸荠属果皮微形态学研究

本文报道了在立体显微镜和扫描电子显微镜下对福建荸荠属8种、1变种植物果实表皮微形态特征的观察结果。根据果皮纹饰的不同,可分为两种类型:网状纹饰、拟网状纹饰;荸荠属植物果实表皮微形态特征具有丰富的多样性,表型可塑性小,不同类群之间具有明显的种间差异。观察结果表明:荸荠属果实表皮微形态特征是该属分类与系统研究中不可忽视的性状。     

沙棘属植物种子微形态特征研究

应用解剖镜和扫描电镜对沙棘属(Hippophae Linn.)6种6亚种植物种子形态、种皮微形态特征进行了观察.结果表明:沙棘属植物种子形态、种皮微形态等性状具有一定程度的稳定性,同时种间存在明显的差异,对于种及种下类群的分类、鉴定有重要参考价值.其中种皮微形态可分为4种类型:拟脑纹状纹饰、线纹-穴状纹饰、近平滑-细疣状纹饰、浅穴-疣状纹饰.从内果皮和种皮结合程度及种皮表面光泽一致性等方面可明显地将沙棘属植物划分为二者紧密结合与分离两种情况,基本支持将沙棘属植物划分为有皮组和无皮组两大类群的观点,但观察结果存在一些差异.     

中国秋海棠属 (秋海棠科) 植物的DNA条形码评价

秋海棠属植物种类繁多,形态变异多样,导致种类的系统放置混乱,近缘种类鉴定困难。利用DNA条形码实现物种快速准确的鉴定技术具有不受形态特征约束的优势,为秋海棠属植物的分类鉴定提供了新的方法。本研究选择4个DNA条形码候选片段（rbcL,matK,trnH psbA,ITS）对中国秋海棠属26种136个个体进行了分析。结果显示：叶绿体基因rbcL,matK和trnH psbA种内和种间变异小,对秋海棠属植物的鉴别能力有限;ITS/ITS2种内和种间变异大,在本研究中物种正确鉴定率达到100%/96%,可考虑作为秋海棠属DNA条形码鉴定的候选片段。研究结果支持中国植物条形码研究组建议将核基因ITS/ITS2纳入种子植物DNA条形码核心片段中的观点。     

Cracking the case: Seed traits and phylogeny predict time to germination in prairie restoration species

Traits are important for understanding how plant communities assemble and function, providing a common currency for studying ecological processes across species, locations, and habitat types. However, the majority of studies relating species traits to community assembly rely upon vegetative traits of mature plants. Seed traits, which are understudied relative to whole‐plant traits, are key to understanding assembly of plant communities. This is particularly true for restored communities, which are typically started de novo from seed, making seed germination a critical first step in community assembly and an early filter for plant establishment. We experimentally tested the effects of seed traits (mass, shape, and embryo to seed size ratio) and phylogeny on germination response in 32 species commonly used in prairie grassland restoration in the Midwestern USA, analyzing data using time‐to‐event (survival) analysis. As germination is also influenced by seed dormancy, and dormancy break treatments are commonly employed in restoration, we also tested the effects of two pretreatments (cold stratification and gibberellic acid application) on time to germination. Seed traits, phylogeny, and seed pretreatments all affected time to germination. Of all traits tested, variables related to seed shape (height and shape variance) best predicted germination response, with high‐variance (i.e., pointier and narrower) seeds germinating faster. Phylogenetic position (the location of species on the phylogenetic tree relative to other tested species) was also an important predictor of germination response, that is, closely related species showed similar patterns in time to germination. This was true despite the fact that all measured seed traits showed phylogenetic signal, therefore phylogeny provided residual information that was not already captured by measured seed traits. Seed traits, phylogenetic position, and germination pretreatments were important predictors of germination response for a suite of species commonly used in grassland restoration. Shape traits were especially important, while mass, often the only seed trait used in studies of community assembly, was not a strong predictor of germination timing. These findings illustrate the ecological importance of seed traits that are rarely incorporated into functional studies of plant communities. This information can also be used to advance restoration practice by guiding restoration planning and seed mix design.     

Seed size, shape and vertical distribution in the soil: indicators of seed longevity

1. We investigated the vertical distribution of seeds in the soil, using data from nine studies in five European countries. We discovered significant correlations between seed shape and distribution in the soil.
2. The classification of the longevity of seeds of plant species has been improved by the introduction of a 'longevity index', expressing on a continuous scale the most recent information on seed longevity represented as the proportion of non-transient seed bank records in the database of Thompson et al. (1997 ). Remarkably, no difference in seed longevity was found if the index was based on direct observations only when compared with the index based on the complete data set where indirect, 'depth-derived' observations were included.
3. Seed longevity was best estimated using a multiple regression model with an integrated measure of seed size and shape and depth distribution of seeds.
4. The shape of seeds, known to be a consistent character of species, was shown to be constant within species, whereas depth distribution of seeds was highly variable among sites. This is consistent with the variability of seed longevity found in published seed bank data.     

Ultra-sculpturing of seed morphotypes in selected species of genus Salvia L. and their taxonomic significance

• The taxonomic importance of macromorphological and micromorphological seed characteristics was investigated using SEM of ten species of the Salvia genus from Pakistan. The aim was to identify diagnostic seed ultrastructural features that could aid in species delimitation, correct identification and phylogenetic position. The ultrastructure of Salvia varies greatly, and a wide range of unique micromorphological features have been observed.
• Seed micromorphological features were explored by SEM, including seed shape, colour, texture, cell outline, surface sculpturing, epidermal cell arrangement, anticlinal, and periclinal wall pattern.
• Seed shapes were categorized as obovate, spherical, spheroid, broadly elliptic, elliptic and oblong, mostly with a terminal hilum. Seed colours were black, light brown, dark brown, brown and yellow. Exo-morphological characters, i.e. epidermal cell arrangements, included irregular, wavy pentagonal-hexagonal, regular pentagonal-hexagonal. Cluster analysis was used to assess similar and distinct species within Salvia with a feasible explanation. Taxonomic keys were made based on micromorphological qualitative features that help to delimit species and identify them quickly within the Salvia genus.
• Seed morphology of ten Salvia species was described and investigated, and the diagnostic significance of features evaluated using SEM. This study analysed seed features, especially at the species level, which might provide much new taxonomic information. The results revealed that, in seed morphology, using SEM can help with taxon identification, especially at the genus and species levels.

     

国产藜科14种植物种皮微形态特征比较研究

应用扫描电子显微镜和光学显微镜观察了中国产藜科(Chenopodiaceae)5族10属14种植物的种子形态和种皮微形态结构。观察结果表明:供试的14种藜科植物的种子多为卵形和圆形,少数为双凸镜形;种皮表面都具有网状纹饰,包括浅网纹、负网纹和穴状网纹。种皮可分为膜质和壳质2类,其中,膜质型种皮表面不光滑,除网状纹饰外,还有瘤状或褶皱状等纹饰,网眼无规则,纹饰排列无序,猪毛菜族(Salsoleae C.A.Mey.)的松叶猪毛菜(Salsola laricifolia Turcz.ex Litv.)及樟味藜族(Camphorosmeae Moq.)的地肤〔Kochia scoparia(L.)Schrad.〕、全翅地肤(K.krylovii Litv.)、黑翅地肤(K.melanoptera Bunge)、雾冰藜〔Bassia dasyphylla(Fisch.et Mey.)O.Kuntze〕、钩刺雾冰藜〔B.hyssopifolia(Pall.)O.Kuntze〕、樟味藜(Camphorosma monspeliaca L.)、兜藜(Panderia turkestanica Iljin.)和棉藜(Kirilowia eriantha Bunge)均属此类;壳质型种皮表面近光滑,网眼规则,排列整齐有序,少数为不规则浅穴,网脊平而不明显或凹陷,滨藜族(Atripliceae C.A.Mey.)的滨藜〔Atriplex patens(Litv.)Iljin.〕、碱蓬族(Suaedeae Reich.)的角果碱蓬〔Suaeda corniculata(C.A.Mey.)Bunge〕、纵翅碱蓬〔S.pterantha(Kar.et Kir.)Bunge〕和异子蓬(Borszczowia aralocaspica Bunge)以及藜族(Chenopodieae C.A.Mey.)的刺藜(Chenopodium aristatum L.)均属此类。各族之间种皮微形态结构也有一定的区别。根据种皮微形态,地肤属(Kochia Roth)与雾冰藜属(Bassia All.)的关系较近,属的界限和部分种类的亲缘关系需要进一步界定。藜科植物种皮表面大部分凹凸不平,这种结构可能与荒漠干旱生境下吸收和保留水分有关。     

Alpine species seed longevity in the soil in relation to seed size and shape – A 5-year burial experiment in the Central Alps

Long-term persistent seeds are generally expected to be small and spherically shaped. In contrast, transient seeds are often large, flattened and elongated. We hypothesized that alpine species follow these trends, and that most species of unstable alpine habitats have the potential to form long-term persistent seed banks. The latter would enable them to delay germination until favourable conditions are present in their environment thereby increasing the likelihood for establishment of seedlings. We selected nine alpine species of more or less unstable habitats (i.e. Achillea moschata, Artemisia genipi, Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. alpicola, Geum reptans, Linaria alpina, Oxyria digyna, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, and Trifolium pallescens) for this study. Seed longevity was estimated by a 5-year burial experiment in the field with seed excavations after 1 winter, 2 years and 5 years. Germination experiments in the growth chamber and viability tests were performed after each excavation. We detected longevity patterns ranging from transient to long-term persistent. Two species were classified as transient. All other species have the potential to form persistent seed banks, with almost half of the investigated species showing a trend for long-term persistence. Despite contradictory reports, long-term persistent seed banks are an important life history trait of species of unstable alpine habitats. We found that seed shape and hard-seededness are good predictors of seed persistence of alpine species. Seed size seems to be less important. The data from this study support the general hypotheses describing the relationship among seed size, seed shape and seed persistence in the soil.     

中国秋海棠属（秋海棠科）植物的DNA条形码评价

秋海棠属植物种类繁多,形态变异多样,导致种类的系统放置混乱,近缘种类鉴定困难。利用DNA条形码实现物种快速准确的鉴定技术具有不受形态特征约束的优势,为秋海棠属植物的分类鉴定提供了新的方法。本研究选择4个DNA条形码候选片段（rbcL,matK,trnH-psbA,ITS）对中国秋海棠属26种136个个体进行了分析。结果显示：叶绿体基因rbcL,matK和trnH-psbA种内和种间变异小,对秋海棠属植物的鉴别能力有限：ITS／ITS2种内和种间变异大,在本研究中物种正确鉴定率达到100％／96％,可考虑作为秋海棠属DNA条形码鉴定的候选片段。研究结果支持中国植物条形码研究组建议将核基因ITS／ITS2纳人种子植物DNA条形码核心片段中的观点。     

Seed morphology in the tribe Chloraeeae (Orchidaceae): combining traditional and geometric morphometrics

Previous work on orchid seeds has shown that characters associated with the seed coat may be useful for classification and phylogeny at a suprageneric level. The seed morphology of several species of the tribe Chloraeeae was analysed using traditional morphometrics, and the seed shape was studied, for the first time, using tools of geometric morphometrics. Seed characters were evaluated by their discriminative power and the information they may provide in a phylogenetic context. By contrast with previous findings, seed shape resulted in a continuum among the taxa studied, and in only a few cases could genera or groups of species be discriminated on the basis of shape. However, seed size, expressed as centroid size, was a variable character and informative at a phylogenetic level. Traditional measures of seed coat, mainly those of seed coat cells, were also helpful for the discrimination of genera and species, agreeing with previous statements about their utility in taxonomy and phylogeny. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 171–183.     

中国绣线菊属植物种子形态及其分类学意义

利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对中国25种4变种绣线菊属(Spiraea L.)植物的种子形态特征进行了研究。结果显示,绣线菊属植物种子外观上呈窄线形至椭圆形,表面有光泽和条纹,种子颜色为红棕色至深褐色;种皮纹饰可分为网纹、复网纹、负网纹和链状网纹4种类型。种子按长宽比的划分方法在一定程度上支持该属传统的组下系的划分;种皮纹饰在种间具有明显的差异,可作为中国绣线菊属植物种的分类依据。本研究为绣线菊属的分类及系统学研究提供了种子形态及种皮微观形态方面的新资料,对进一步完善该属属下分类具有借鉴意义。     

Seed and gland morphology in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) with focus on their systematic and phylogenetic importance, a case study in Iranian highlands

A comprehensive study based on gland and seed micromorphology in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) for species distributed in Iranian highlands is presented. A total of 86 species were studied. The gland structure was examined by direct field observations. Taxonomically important characters of glands were observed and measured: size, texture, shape, color, and horns. For species out of Iran herbarium materials were studied. Seed characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as dissecting light microscopy. Significant features are: seed size, seed shape, presence of caruncle, shape of caruncle, and seed surface ornamentation. A phylogenetic study using Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI) was performed based on sequences of nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) for selected species representing the main clades known in Euphorbia and with special focus on the species distributed in Iranian highlands. ITS sequences for 20 accessions representing 19 species are provided for the first time, and 48 accessions of 47 species were used from GenBank. The topologies of both analyses were congruent. The results indicate: (1) four main clades with high supports in subgen. Esula which are appropriate to be recognized at sectional rank. (2) E. larica is nested within clade A including few members of subgen. Rhizanthium and is closely related to sect. Balsamis, which is suggested here to be transferred from subgen. Esula into subgen. Rhizanthium. (3) E. osyridea of the monotypic subsect. Osyrideae is closely related to E. buhsei and to the members of sect. Esula. Tracing morphological characters on the phylogenetic tree shows that several morphological characters, such as seed ornamentation applied in previous subgeneric classification of the subgen. Esula, are homoplasious, but the gland structure and capsule surface characters are more reliable for classification purposes.     

八角属（八角科）植物的种子形态

在光学显微镜和扫描电镜下对八角属(Illicium Linn.) 15种植物（33个样品）的种子形态进行了观察和描述。八角属植物种子形态多为倒卵球形,少椭球形或卵球形,侧向压扁;外种皮石质,中种皮革质,内种皮膜质;外种皮淡黄色、卵黄色至橙褐色,具蜡被,极光滑,有光泽,无纹饰,腹部有一凸起的纵棱（种脊）,由种脐延伸至顶端;种脐位于基端偏向腹部一侧或位于基端,卵形或椭圆形,下凹;胚微小,胚乳丰富,含油。该属植物种子的形态特征非常相似,表明该属是一个自然的单系类群。     

Re-creating Semi-natural Communities: Vacuum Harvesting and Hand Collection of Seed on Calcareous Grassland

Agricultural set-aside and compensation land provide restoration ecologists with opportunities to re-create semi-natural habitats. Restoration sites often have high soil fertility and inadequate seed banks of desirable species. Sowing additional seed is a proven method for establishing chalk grassland vegetation. If seed of local provenance is required, it may be collected by hand or by using specialized machines. Ultimately, the mix collected must provide seed suitable for recreating vegetation similar to that of the donor site. We examine the ability of a vacuum machine to meet this requirement by comparison with hand collection, and we discuss possible effects on invertebrates. Microscope analysis and glasshouse and field trials were used to compare the abundance of seed of different species in harvested mixes with the vegetation composition of the donor site. Seed heads of individual species were examined to determine the number of viable seeds per head and attack rates by phytophagous insects. The mix contained seed of over half the species recorded on the donor site. The seed of taller, more common species was overrepresented in the mix, at the expense of some smaller, mat-forming plants. After one season, however, the vegetation of the field trial plots was of the same type as that of the donor site, although the proportions of the constituent species differed slightly and certain species were absent. Mechanical collection is more efficient than hand collection. Endophagous invertebrates are unlikely to be affected by the machine. Seed collection requires a combination of methods, precise timing, and careful planning to provide a full range of species and to minimize impacts on plant and invertebrate populations.     

Seed morphological diversity of Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae) and its taxonomic significance

Mature seeds of 109 species of Pedicularis representing 13 groups according to Tsoong’s infra-generic classification were investigated using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The largest seeds occurred in P. superba (4.82 ± 0.32 mm × 2.18 ± 0.18 mm) and the smallest in P. crenata (0.95 ± 0.16 mm × 0.72 ± 0.08 mm). The individual seed weight ranged from 0.20 to 9.52 mg. There were two types of primary ornamentation, i.e. reticulate and undulate. Reticulate seeds were found in all examined species except for P. pantlingii and P. confluens. The reticulate seeds were divided into three subtypes, i.e. cristate-reticulate, regular-reticulate and membranous-reticulate. Among them, the cristate-reticulate and the undulate primary ornamentation are firstly reported. The inner tangential wall ornamentation was categorized into granulate, ruminate or striate. Seed characters seem to support the transfer of Pedicularis to Orobanchaceae from traditional Scrophulariaceae. Seed length, individual seed weight, primary ornamentation and inner tangential wall ornamentation were considered as potentially useful characters for infra-generic classification. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyses indicated a clustering of some species in group 1 (Sceptrum) and all species in group 6 (Cyathophora), respectively. However, seed data were not highly congruent with Tsoong’s classification for delimitation of existing groups. Some characters, such as seed shape, primary ornamentation, inner tangential wall ornamentation and epidermal cell shape could be applied to identification of some species in this genus.     

Comparison of Seed Weed dispersed Characteristics between Pinus yunnanensis and Keteleeria evelyniana

Seed morphological and wind dispersed characteristics of Pinus yunnanensis and Keteleeria evelyniana were compared in this study to clarify the relationship among seed morphological, dispersal characteristics and wind dispersal ability. The results showed that: 1)Seed wing loading had the greatest effect on the seed settlement velocity, but the effect of seed shape(the ratio of seed wing length to width) on it was unobvious. Seed morphological and dispersal characteristics of two species slightly influenced the horizontal dispersal distance. 2)Seed morphological characteristics(weight, length, width and seed wing area) of Pyunnanensis were significantly lower than Kevelyniana’s. 3) The ratio of seed wing length to width of Pyunnanensis was greater, and had less seed wing loading than Kevelyniana, the seed settlement velocity of Pyunnanensis (773cm·s-1) was lower than Kevelyniana’s (1169cm·s-1). Meanwhile, the seed horizontal dispersal distance(075m) under same wind speed was further than Kevelyniana’s (071m). The present study indicated that wind dispersal ability of Pyunnanensis’ seed was stronger. The research results provided more knowledge to understand seed wind dispersal mechanism and seed adaptation strategies in term of evolution and ecology.     

Long‐term seed bank dynamics in a temperate forest under conversion from coppice‐with‐standards to high forest management

Questions: How do changes in forest management, i.e. in disturbance type and frequency, influence species diversity, abundance and composition of the seed bank? How does the relationship between seed bank and vegetation change? What are the implications for seed bank dynamics? Location: An ancient Quercus petraea — Carpinus betulus forest in conversion from coppice‐with‐standards to regular Quercus high forest near Montargis, France. Methods: Seed bank and vegetation were sampled in six replicated stand types, forming a chronosequence along the conversion pathway. The stand types represented mid‐successional stages of stands in transition from coppice‐with‐standards (to high forest (16 plots) and early‐ and mid‐successional high forest stands (32 plots). Results: Seed bank density and species richness decreased with time since last disturbance. Adjusting for seed density effects obscured species richness differences between stand types, but species of later seres were nested subsets of earlier seres, implying concomitant shifts in species richness and composition with time since disturbance. Later seres were characterized by species with low seed weight and high seed longevity. Seed banks of early seres were more similar to vegetation than to later seres. Conclusions: Abandonment of the coppice‐with‐standards regime altered the seed bank characteristics, as well as its relationship with vegetation. Longer management cycles under high forest yield impoverished seed banks. For their persistence, seed bank species will increasingly rely on management of permanently open areas in the forest landscape. Thus, revegetation at the beginning of new high‐forest cycles may increasingly depend on inflow from seed sources.     

Effects of Selective Vegetation Thinning on Seed Removal in Secondary Forest Succession1

Seed removal was assessed for two tree species in three forest types: (1) secondary forest with and (2) without selective vegetation thinning, and (3) mature forest. Selective vegetation thinning meant the removal of all stems ≤3 cm in diameter of secondary‐forest species and was intended as a management technique to accelerate succession toward mature forest. Thinning did not have an effect on seed removal. One of the species showed lower seed removal in mature forest compared to secondary forest.