A new species of Illicium subsection Parviflora (Illiciaceae) from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti

Illicium hottense, a new species, is here described from the floristically diverse Massif de la Hotte of southern Haiti. It is compared to related species, especiallyI. ekmanii, with which it has previously been confused.Illicium hottense andI. ekmanii are members ofIllicium subsectionParviflora, a group that comprises four species, all endemic to peninsular Florida (I. parviflorum) or the Greater Antilles: Cuba (I. cubense) and Hispaniola (I. ekmanii, andI. hottense). The subsection is characterized by its distinctive laminar-carnose, ovoid stamens; all have trisyncolpate pollen.Illicium hottense is similar toI. ekmanii andI. parviflorum in having flowers with ten to thirteen carpels and six to less commonly eight stamens, but differs from both in its strongly papillose outer tepals and consistently acute leaves. In addition, its leaves lack the strong anise fragrance ofI. parviflorum. Finally, molecular data provide support for recognizingI. hottense as a species distinct fromI. ekmanii.     

THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF A RELICT–ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM ELLIS

The flowers of Illicium floridanum are pollinated by a wide variety of insects, particularly Diptera that emerge from the litter and stream in early spring. Coleoptera rarely visit the flowers. It is suggested that the mode of pollination is ancient and may also exist in species of primitive angiosperms in the South Pacific. Illicium floridanum is self-incompatible and possesses features of a gametophytically controlled incompatibility system. As a result of asexual reproduction, a lack of long-distance dispersal of pollen and self-incompatibility, fruit production is very low. This pattern of reproduction is found in other species of primitive angiosperms; incompatibility mechanisms which undoubtedly aided the angiosperms to become dominant may now be one of the major factors responsible for their extinction.     

水分条件变化对哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林林下幼苗死亡率的影响

为探讨环境水分条件变化对亚热带森林林下乔木幼苗动态的影响,以及木材密度和幼苗在干旱中死亡率的关系,研究了哀牢山常绿阔叶林2005—2011年的总体和主要树种幼苗(黄心树、多果新木姜子、多花山矾、鸭公树和大花八角)的死亡率,并分析了幼苗死亡率和旱季幼苗根系所在土层土壤质量含水量、旱季降水量、旱季降水日数以及木材密度的关系。结果表明:1)幼苗死亡率与旱季降水日数、旱季浅层土壤平均质量含水量有显著的负相关关系,和旱季降水量无显著相关性;2)总幼苗及5种乔木幼苗的死亡率均在2010年(西南干旱)达到有观测以来最高,是2009年的2—10倍,其中多花山矾、黄心树幼苗的死亡率最高,大花八角幼苗的死亡率最低;3)在种间,幼苗2010年干旱中的死亡率和木材密度显著正相关,即木材密度较大的物种幼苗死亡率更高。研究表明林下幼苗由于根系较浅,对降雨变化较为敏感,因而受到了这次干旱的较大影响。由于木材密度较低的树种在干旱中有较低的死亡率,干旱频度和强度的增加可能使低木材密度幼苗的丰富度增加,森林的组成也将受到影响。     

Screening of Korean Forest Plants for Rat Lens Aldose Reductase Inhibition

Naturally occurring substances which can prevent and treat diabetic complications were sought by examining ethanol extracts prepared from Korean forest plants for their inhibitory effects on rat lens aldose reductase activity in vitro. Among the plants examined, Acer ginnala, Illicium religiosum and Cornus macrophylla exerted the most strong inhibitory activity on aldose reductase.     

Symbiotic Fungal Flora in Leaf Galls Induced by <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Illiciomyia yukawai</Emphasis> (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and in Its Mycangia

We investigated the association between a gall midge, Illiciomyia yukawai, and its symbiotic fungi on Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum. The number of fungal species isolated from the galls increased with development of the galls, whereas those from the leaves showed a different trend. Botryosphaeria dothidea was dominant in the galls from June to October, and after that Phomopsis sp. 1, Colletotrichum sp., and Pestalotiopsis sp. became dominant. Although B. dothidea was not isolated from the leaves, it was detected from mycangia (abdominal sternite VII) of egg-laying adults at a high isolation frequency (>90%). However, B. dothidea was not isolated from mycangia of adults emerging from galls that were enclosed by plastic bags. This indicates that I. yukawai is closely associated with B. dothidea and that its newly emerged adults do not take the fungus into mycangia directly from the galls where they had developed. Also, the fungus from the fungal layers of ambrosia galls has less ability to propagate on artificial media despite the presence of its mycelial mass in mature galls.     

FLORA OF THE BRANDON LIGNITE. IV. ILLICIACEAE

Illicium avitum is described from the Early Oligocene Brandon Lignite of Vermont. The remains consist of immature fruiting axes, preserved shortly after fertilization. The short pedicel terminates in a torus bearing 13 conduplicate carpels in a single whorl. These are surrounded by two whorls of approximately 20 to 30 staminal scars each, which are in turn surrounded by 24–40 perianth scars. The immature seeds within the carpels possess developing embryos and seed coats. Although comparisons with certain modern species are possible, the available characters are not sufficient to permit its association with any one modern species or group of species. The fossil material provides limited evidence for a reduction in the numbers of floral parts through time in Illicium.     

23种中草药的体外抗菌活性筛选研究

为考察中草药抗菌物质基础筛选出活性提取物,该研究通过80%乙醇冷浸和95%乙醇回流提取制备23种中草药的提取物,采用琼脂扩散法测量抑菌圈直径,用微量液体培养基倍比稀释法测定最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration,MBC/MFC),并测定了提取物对临床4种常见病原菌体外抗菌活性。结果表明:紫珠草、千斤拔、黄龙尾等9种中草药对金黄色葡萄球菌有较强的抑菌活性,其MIC/MBC值除个别菌是12.5 mg·mL~(-1)外,其他都在0.09～3.12 mg·mL~(-1)之间;千斤拔、大红袍、过江龙等5种中草药对铜绿假单胞菌有较强抑菌活性,其MIC/MBC值在3.12～12.5 mg·mL~(-1)之间;紫珠草、千里光、石楠等13种中草药对大肠埃希菌有较强的抑菌活性,其MIC/MBC值在0.09～6.25 mg·mL~(-1)之间;八角对白色念珠菌有较强抑菌活性,其MIC/MFC值在0.78～12.5 mg·mL~(-1)之间。23种中草药的抗细菌活性较好,尤其是千斤拔、大红袍、过江龙、八角、黄药子对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌都具有较好的抑菌活性,具有广谱抗菌活性;但对真菌抑菌效果不明显,仅有八角对白色念珠菌有抑菌活性。此外,提取溶剂浓度、提取温度和提取时间对中草药的提取率和活性均有影响,冷提稍优于热提。     

Nuclear DNA contents in four primitive angiosperms

The basic (2 C) nuclear DNA content has been determined for the first time in four primitive angiosperms by means of scanning densitometry of Feulgen-stained nuclei. The mean values obtained are the following:Liriodendron tulipifera L. (2n = 38): 1.58 pg;Magnolia soulangiana Soul-bod. (2n = 76): 11.95 pg;Cinnamomum camphora T. Nees (2n = 24): 1.18 pg;Illicium anisatum L. (2n = 28): 6.72 pg. These values do not represent extremes, but rank among low DNA amounts. All species display at least low degress of endopolyploidy.     

The molecular structure of 2α-hydroxyneoanisatin and structure–activity relationships among convulsant sesquiterpenes of the seco-prezizaane and picrotoxane types

The molecular structure of 2α-hydroxyneoanisatin, a positional isomer of the potent neurotoxin anisatin, was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. This compound and four further seco-prezizaane type sesquiterpene lactones previously isolated from Illicium floridanum, which represent different structural types with respect to the mode of cyclisation, did not induce anisatin/picrotoxinin-like convulsions in mice. Based on these results and literature data for other seco-prezizaanes, structural requirements for convulsant activity are discussed. Comparison of the three dimensional molecular shape and electrostatic properties of active and inactive seco-prezizaane type lactones with compounds of the picrotoxane type resulted in the identification of a common pharmacophore structure for these different skeletal classes of convulsant natural products.     

Two new lignans and anti-HBV constituents from Illicium henryi

Two new lignans, dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9‐O‐β‐D ‐(3″‐O‐acetyl)‐xylopyranoside ( 1 ) and threo‐4,9,9′‐trihydroxy‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐8‐O‐4′‐neolignan 7‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranoside ( 2 ) were isolated from Illicium henryi, together with ten known compounds, 3 – 12 . Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The anti‐hepatitis B virus (anti‐HBV) activity of compounds 1 – 12 inhibiting HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) secretion on Hep G2.2.15 cell line was evaluated. (−)‐Dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol ( 4 ) showed moderate inhibitory activity on both HBsAg and HBeAg secretion with IC₅₀ values of 0.06 and 0.53 mM , respectively.     

FUNCTIONAL SYNCARPY BY INTERCARPELLARY GROWTH OF POLLEN TUBES IN A PRIMITIVE APOCARPOUS ANGIOSPERM,ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM (ILLICIACEAE)

Fluorescence microscopy and histological studies have been used to show that in Illicium floridanum Ellis (Illiciaceae), a primitive apocarpous angiosperm, functional syncarpy is achieved by intercarpellary growth of pollen tubes. After pollen germinates on the separate stigmatic crests of the carpellary whorl, tubes grow within the carpels obliquely down and inward toward the central floral axis which is modified as a stigmalike “apical residuum.” In a restricted shallow region around the base of the apical residuum, some pollen tubes grow out between the unfused margins of the carpels and circumferentially around the surface of the apical residuum from where they may enter neighboring carpels. Some pollen germination and tube growth also occur on the apical residuum itself. The apical residuum with its associated unfused carpel margins acts as an extragynoecial compitum for pollen tube transfer between carpels, and, as such, is believed to represent a mechanism for increasing the efficiency of seed set. The pollen tube pathway of Illicium appears to be a primitive expression of a line of evolutionary development leading to syncarpous gynoecia through stages possibly exemplified by certain members of the Trochodendraceae (lower Hamamelididae).     

Invasion dynamics and potential spread of the invasive alien plant species Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae) in China

Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) R. King & H. Robinson (=Eupatorium adenophorum Sprengel) is one of the worst invasive alien species in China. Since A. adenophora was first noticed in Yunnan Province of China in the 1940s, its rapid spread has caused an ecological problem in south‐western China. Understanding its historical invasion pattern and its potential for further spread is needed to plan the management of the species. We reconstructed the historical process of its invasion and analysed its ecological preferences in the invaded region. After a lag phase of 20 years (1940–60), A. adenophora spread rapidly throughout the south and middle subtropical zones in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Guangxi, China, with an average expansion rate of 20 km per year. It spread relatively slowly in north subtropical areas, with an average expansion rate of 6.8 km per year. It has not established in warm temperate areas within the invaded regions. Although range expansion in Yunnan stopped after 1990, the expansion of its range into neighbouring provinces indicates that A. adenophora has not reached the full potential of its distribution and its range is still rapidly expanding within China. We applied ecological niche modelling (GARP — Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐set Prediction) to predict potential invasion areas in mainland China on the basis of occurrence points within colonized areas where A. adenophora has reached equilibrium. The predictions, confirmed by the range of values of four key environmental parameters, generally match the parameters of the geography and ecology in the invaded region. Southern and south‐central China have climatic conditions suggestive of a high potential for invasion by A. adenophora. Climatic conditions in northern and western China appear unsuitable for A. adenophora. Urgent measures should be taken to prevent this species from further spreading into the vast areas of potential habitat in southern and south‐central China.     

八角属植物分类

根据对18个国家和地区121个标本馆收藏的万余份八角属植物标本研究,结合在国内8个省区野外调查、采集、引种和对生长发育与物侯的观察,本文对世界性八角属植物做了分类学修订。根据花蕾和花被片形态特征的变异,将八角属分为2组:八角组-含9种1亚种,其花蕾卵球形,花被片长圆形、椭圆形、披针形至狭舌状,扁平;八角茴香组-含25种2亚种1变种,其花蕾球形,花被片宽卵形至圆形,下凹。将凹脉组作为八角组的新异名,圆被亚属作为八角茴香组的新异名;指定了红茴香和柬埔寨八角的后选模式。本文还分析了八角属植物的分类学性状,作出有分类检索表,提供有各种植物的地理分布资料,列举出查阅的主要标本,并对各分类单元均作了分类学注释。     

八角属植物分类

根据对18 个国家和地区121 个标本馆收藏的万余份八角属植物标本研究, 结合在国内8 个省区野外调查、采集、引种和对生长发育与物侯的观察, 本文对世界性八角属植物做了分类学修订。根据花蕾和花被片形态特征的变异, 将八角属分为2 组:八角组-含9 种1 亚种, 其花蕾卵球形, 花被片长圆形、椭圆形、披针形至狭舌状, 扁平;八角茴香组-含25 种2 亚种1 变种, 其花蕾球形, 花被片宽卵形至圆形, 下凹。将凹脉组作为八角组的新异名, 圆被亚属作为八角茴香组的新异名;指定了红茴香和柬埔寨八角的后选模式。本文还分析了八角属植物的分类学性状, 作出有分类检索表, 提供有各种植物的地理分布资料, 列举出查阅的主要标本, 并对各分类单元均作了分类学注释。     

Magnoliid reproductive organs from the Cenomanian-Turonian of north-western Kazakhstan:Magnoliaceae andIlliciaceae

Cenomanian-Turonian sediments from the Sarbay locality in north-western Kazakhstan have yielded a rich assemblage of plant fossils including well preserved flowers, fruits, and seeds of angiosperms. This work describes fossil seeds assigned to theMagnoliaceae and theIlliciaceae. Three new species of the extinct magnoliaceous genusLiriodendroidea, L. asiatica, L. costata, andL. tenuitesta, are established and new information on the previously described species,L. alata, is provided. TheLiriodendroidea seeds are closely similar to seeds of extantLiriodendron, but are distinguished in being much smaller and winged. A new genus and species,Illiciospermum pusillum, is established based on seeds with close similarity to those of the extant genusIllicium. The seeds are small, anatropous and exotestal with outer epidermis of testa forming a palisade layer. The facets of the palisade cells have deeply undulate anticlinal walls. The micropyle area is seen on the outer integument as a transverse slit placed on a raised strophiole-like structure close to the hilum. TheIlliciospermum seeds represent the first unequivocal record of theIlliciaceae in the Cretaceous. Another seed of possible illiciaceous affinity is described as aff.Illiciospermum sp.     

Bioactivity of natural O‐prenylated phenylpropenes from Illicium anisatum leaves and their derivatives against spider mites and fungal pathogens

A variety of volatile phenylpropenes, C₆‐C₃ compounds are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, whereas prenylated phenylpropenes are limited to a few plant species. In this study, we analysed the volatile profiles from Illicium anisatum leaves and identified two O‐prenylated phenylpropenes, 4‐allyl‐2‐methoxy‐1‐[(3‐methylbut‐2‐en‐1‐yl)oxy]benzene [O‐dimethylallyleugenol ( 9 )] and 5‐allyl‐1,3‐dimethoxy‐2‐(3‐methylbut‐2‐en‐1‐yl)oxy]benzene [O‐dimethylallyl‐6‐methoxyeugenol ( 11 )] as major constituents. The structure–activity relationship of a series of eugenol derivatives showed that specific phenylpropenes, including eugenol ( 1 ), isoeugenol ( 2 ) and 6‐methoxyeugenol ( 6 ), with a phenolic hydroxy group had antifungal activity for a fungal pathogen, whereas guaiacol, a simple phenolic compound, and allylbenzene had no such activity. The eugenol derivatives that exhibited antifungal activity, in turn, had no significant toxicant property for mite oviposition. Interestingly, O‐dimethylallyleugenol ( 9 ) in which the phenolic oxygen was masked with a dimethylallyl group exhibited a specific, potent oviposition deterrent activity for mites. The sharp contrast in structural requirements of phenylpropenes suggested distinct mechanisms underlying the two biological activities and the importance of a phenolic hydroxy group and its dimethylallylation for the structure‐based design of new functional properties of phenylpropenes.     

Trichaptum (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from China with a description of three new species

Trichaptum imbricatum, T. perenne and T. podocarpi are three new species from China. They are described, illustrated and compared in this paper with similar species. Trichaptum imbricatum is unique in its imbricate basidiocarps, white to cream hymenophores, small and regular pores, and scattered and thin-walled cystidia. Trichaptum perenne differs from other species in the genus in its perennial and pileate habit, its large pores and entire dissepiments, and oblong, ellipsoid basidiospores. Trichaptum podocarpi is distinguished in having totally resupinate basidiocarps, distinctly long cystidia, and in its habitat on Podocarpus. A key to species of Trichaptum occurring in China is provided; statistical variations of spore dimensions for each species are included in the key.     

基于CLIMEX预测黑角负泥虫在中国的潜在地理分布

【目的】研究黑角负泥虫在我国的潜在地理分布及其入侵风险程度。【方法】运用适生性分析软件CLIMEX 4. 0对黑角负泥虫在我国的潜在地理分布进行模拟,将模拟结果在地理信息系统软件Arc GIS10.2下进行插值分析,并绘制黑角负泥虫的潜在地理分布示意图。【结果】黑角负泥虫高度适生区主要集中在我国的华北平原、黄土高原南部及云贵高原北部;中度适生区主要集中在华北平原北部、黄土高原北部及东北平原地区;低度适生区则多分布在中高度适生区的过渡区域及我国新疆天山南北两侧地区。限制黑角负泥虫在我国分布的主要胁迫因素为干胁迫和冷胁迫,且其影响的区域主要分布在我国的西北和东北地区。【结论】黑角负泥虫在我国潜在地理分布范围广,适生程度高。目前,黑角负泥虫已经传播到我国的新疆和内蒙古等省(自治区),但由于地理隔离的存在和自身较弱的扩散条件,并没有传入气候适宜度较高的东部地区。随着东西部经济交流的不断增多,黑角负泥虫随人为因素进一步扩散的可能性将不断增加。因此,建议检疫部门做好检疫工作,严防黑角负泥虫的传播扩散。     

Known and two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhytisma</Emphasis> (Rhytismatales,Ascomycota) from China

Three species of Rhytisma are described based on recently collected specimens from the Anhui province, China. Rhytisma anhuiense is a new species causing a serious tar spot disease on Rhododendron simsii. Rhytisma yuexiense is a new species, which develops its stromata only on fallen leaves of Rhododendron ovatum. Rhytisma himalense on Ilex fargesii is a known species and probably widely distributed in China. Including the two new species, 11 species of Rhytisma are known from China which are presented in a key.     

中国纤细蛇根草(茜草科)的订正

通过标本考证和野外研究,证实中国文献记载的纤细蛇根草（Ophiorrhiza gracilis Kurz）实为尾瓣蛇根草（O. caudipetala Deb & Monda）错误鉴定,而后者之前仅被报道分布于印度,因此为中国新记录。尾瓣蛇根草具有明显不等大的对生叶片, 花冠裂片背部具长0.6~1 mm的角状突起,易与中国蛇根草属其它种类区分。