Reproductive morphology ofMegaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi (Ranunculaceae) and its systematic implications

To confirm the taxonomic treatment ofMegaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi, an endemic genus and species in Korea, we compared its reproductive morphological characteristics with those ofTrollius and other genera within the Ranunculaceae. Although its external morphology might suggest thatMegaleranthis differs fromTrollius, Calathodes, and etc., we found no distinctly different features in this genus. Likewise, previous studies of their pollen structures, chromosome data, and petal morphology have indicated no differences betweenMegaleranthis andTrollius. In fact, related genera share similar characteristics, such as a tetrasporangia anther, glandular tapetum, simultaneous cytokinesis, an anatropous and bitegmic ovule, embryo sac formation of thePolygonum type, exarillate and copious albuminous seed, and several apocarps. Although the unique feature of having both tenuinucellate and crassinucellate ovules simultaneously may initially seem particular toMegaleranthis, it is present in other genera of the same family. Therefore, based on this evidence of reproductive morphology and other information, we suggest thatM. saniculifolia is closely related toTrollius, and should be included within that genus, i.e., asT. chosenensis Ohwi. Nevertheless, we have tentatively placedMegaleranthis within its own monotypic and endemic genus until definitive data become available.     

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. III. DUMONTIACEAE,WEEKSIACEAE, KALLYMENIACEAE1

The female reproductive structures and their development, and the vegetative structure are studied in 17 species of red algae in the Cryptonemiales (Rhodophyceae). Three genera, Weeksia, Constantinea, and the type species of Leptocladia, are removed from the Dumontiaceae to a newly created family, the Weeksiaceae, because of differing postfertilization events leading to the development of the gonimoblast from a cell of the carpogonial branch. Three genera of Dumontiaceae are studied: Pikea, including P. californica, the type species, and Pikea robusta a newly described species; Dilsea californica, and a newly described species of Neodilsea, a genus heretofore known only from the northwestern Pacific. Two transfers are made from the genus Leptocladia, 1 to Farlowia, as F. conferta, and 1 to Rhodophyllis (Gigartinales) as R. peruviana. Three species in the Kallymeniaceae are redescribed: Kallymenia pacifica, a rare and nearly unknown species from southern California and adjacent Pacific Mexico; K. norrisii from central California; and K. oblongifructa from Washington, Oregon, and northern California.     

Vier neue Arten der GattungJacaranda (Bignoniaceae) aus dem Südosten Brasiliens

Four new species ofJacaranda have been found in the coastal mountain-ranges of SE-Brazil where they occupy characteristic ecological positions.J. montana andJ. subalpina are related toJ. puberula agg.,J. pulcherrima shows affinities toJ. ulei but also toJ. subalpina. J. crassifolia is very distinct and possibly related toJ. obovata.

     

Tlirolian and Ruscinian porcupines (genus<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hystrix</Emphasis>, Rodentia) from Europe,Asia and North Africa

Specimens of the larger Neogene porcupines, generally allocated toHystrix primigenia (Wagner, 1848), from 17 localities are studied, and their taxonomic status is recon-sidered. Material from one of these localities has recently been described asHystrix depereti Sen, 2001. The diagnoses of both species are revised. Tooth size and crown height are considered diagnostic characters at the species level. As a resuit, specimens from eight localities are allocated toH. primigenia, from eight other localities toH. depereti, and from one locality toHystrix sp. indet. The level of specialisation of the cranial morphology of these fossil species is compared withH. refossa Gervais, 1852 and with extant species. Diagnostic characters ofH. aryanensis SEN, 2001 and ofH. zhengi van Weers & Zhang, 1999, are discussed.     

Atherurus karnuliensis Lydekker, 1886, a Pleistocene brush-tailed porcupine from India, China and Vietnam

Pleistocene porcupine remains from China allocated toAtherurus sp.,Atherurus cf.macrourus andTrichys cf.fasciculata, and from Vietnam toAtherurus macrourus have been studied. These fossils have been compared with the type material of the PleistoceneA. karnuliensis Lydekker, 1886 from India and with the extant speciesA. macrourus (Linnaeus, 1758) andTrichys fasciculata (Shaw, 1801). As a result, all fossil specimens studied are allocated toA. karnuliensis.     

Female reproductive organization and systematic position ofPlumariella yoshikawae Okamura (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta)

A detailed account of female reproductive features ofPlumariella yoshikawae is presented.Plumariella yoshikawae is recognized as morphologically similar toDelesseriopsis elegans in several features, particularly in the sequence of branch initiation, the presence of gland cells on the abaxial sides of the basal segments of the lateral branches, having carpogonial branches on the basal segments of unmodified lateral branches, and the maturation of the carposporophyte at well below the thallus apices. These features indicate thatPlumariella yoshikawae is best removed from the Ptiloteae and is correctly placed in the tribe Delesseriopsideae. The generaPlumariella andBalliella are retained along withDelesseriopsis within the tribe Delesseriopsideae.     

A review of recent immunochemical studies ofBlomia tropicalis andEuroglyphus maynei allergens

Exposure to mites other thanDermatophagoides spp., particularlyBlomia tropicalis andEuroglyphus maynei, has been increasingly recognized as a cause of asthma. Positive skin tests and serum IgE antibodies toB. tropicalis have been reported in asthmatic patients from several areas of the world, including São Paulo (Brazil), Hong Kong and Tampa (Florida, USA). Analysis ofB. tropicalis extracts showed undetectable levels of the major Group I and Group IIDermatophagoides spp. allergens. Immunoabsorption experiments showed that most of the IgE antibodies toB. tropicalis ( 70%) reacted with species-specific allergens. Murine monoclonal antibodies toB. tropicalis could present antigens that were recognized by human IgG antibodies. Sensitization toE. maynei has been reported in Europe, North and South America and Australia. Analysis of four differentE. maynei extracts by ELISA and RIA showed thatE. maynei produces an allergen that is antigenically related toDermatophagoides Group I allergens. The amino acid sequence of this allergen (Eur m I) has recently been reported. Further identification and purification ofB. tropicalis andE. maynei allergens is required to develop specific assays for measuring these allergens in dust samples. This will make it possible to investigate the relationship between exposure toB. tropicalis orE. maynei and the development of sensitization and allergic disease.     

THE “HYSTRICHOSPHAERID” RESTING SPORE OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE PYRODINIUM BAHAMENSE,PLATF, 19062

Germination experiments demonstrate that the “hystrichosphere” called Hemicystodinium zoharyi, which previously has been found only as a microfossil organism, is the resting spore stage in the life history of Pyrodinium bahamense, a modern bioluminescent, thecate dinoflagellate. The morphology of this spore, together with new details of the thecal structure and ontogeny of P. bahamense, is described, and it is concluded that Pyrodinium is closely related to Gonyaulax but worthy of retention as a discrete genus. The geological history of P. bahamense is traceable to the Eocene through fossil occurrences of its spore, and it is suggested that additional pyrodinioid dinoflagellates which now are extinct were represented in Lower Tertiary seas by another hystrichosphere genus, called Homotryblium. Selected aspects of the physiology and ecology of modern dinoflagellate resting spores are discussed briefly with special reference to Pyrodinium.     

Ovule and seed anatomy ofCistaceae and relatedMalvanae

Ovule and especially seed anatomy of eight species ofCochlospermaceae, Bixaceae, Cistaceae, Monotoideae, Pakaraimaeoideae (two subfamilies ofDipterocarpaceae), andSarcolaenaceae were investigated. All representatives show a bixoid chalazal region in the seed as probable exclusive synapomorphy among angiosperms. The palisade layer of the exotegmen is curved inwards at its proximal end and forms a dome-shaped structure. A plug of hypostase tissue with an annulus/core structure fits into this dome. Moreover, two additional tissue types in the hypostase can be found in some representatives of the group. These and other micromorphological, wood anatomical, and floral morphological characters, indicate that the taxa form a monophyletic group close toMalvales s. str. The form of the starch grains in the endosperm is compared and is described for the first time forPakaraimaea (Dipterocarpaceae) andLeptolaena (Sarcolaenaceae). The position ofDiegodendron close toBixa and the presumably more distant positions ofMuntingia andNeuradaceae are discussed.     

Female genitalia and taxonomic relationships ofMacaca assamensis

Study of ten females ofMacaca assamensis provides information concerning reproductive anatomy, postnatal development and systematic relationships of this species. The sexual skin is conspicuously inflated in adolescentM. assamensis; during pregnancy smaller sexual swellings are present; during lactation the sexual skin is uninflated and marked by a sharply defined dark blue circumanal triangle. In the vulva of infant and adolescentM. assamensis a ventral vestibular fold protrudes between the vaginal orifice and the recessed urethral orifice; in postadolescent specimens the ventral vestibular fold is absent and a urethral papilla is present. The lining of the vagina is spiny in prepregnantM. assamensis and rugose to papillate in other phases of the cycle. The cervix is greatly enlarged and secretory in adolescentM. assamensis; it remains large before and during pregnancy and becomes constricted during lactation. The cervix inM. assamensis is similar to that inM. sinica andM. radiata. This supports previously reported penial evidence of close relationship between these species. Penial structure inM. thibetana indicates that this species also belongs to thesinica-radiata-assamensis group. In these four species latitudinal variation of body size and tail length apparently conforms toBergmann's rule andAllen's rule.     

VARIATION IN OCHLOCHAETE HYSTRIX (CHAETOPHORALES. CHLOROPHYYCEAE) STUDIED IN CULTURE1

Six different isolates of Ochlochaete Thwaites ex Harvey have been studied under identical culture conditions. All the isolates show open branching, a character previously ascribed specifically to O. hystrix Thwaites ex Harv. sensu stricto, and all form hairs on rounded cells in the central part of the thallus, a character hitherto attributed only to O. ferox Huber. Consequently, separation of these two entities on the species level is untenable. The plant described by Huber is referred to O. hystrix var. ferox (Huber) var. nov. The type material of Chaetobolus gibbus Rosenvinger is similar to one of the isolates studied and is included in O. hystrix. Quadriflagellate zoospores have been observed in all the isolates, and in one of them also biflagellate swarmers.     

Disproportionate allocation of mineral nutrients and carbon between vegetative and reproductive structures in Banksia hookeriana

We compared above-ground allocation patterns in mature shrubs of Banksia hookeriana from three 13-year-old populations, growing on nutrient-impoverished sands to determine whether C (dry mass) could be a substitute for mineral nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and NA). The percentage of reproductive structures to total above-ground growth (reproductive effort; RE) was integrated over nine successive reproductive cycles. Only 0.5% of above-ground dry mass was allocated to seeds compared with 31% to total RE. Allocations of N (24%) and P (48%) to seeds, and N (44%) and P (65%) to RE were much higher. Allocations of K, Ca, Mg and Na to seeds (<1–3%), and RE (21–35%) were closer to that of dry mass. Relative allocation (RA) is defined as the proportion of a nutrient element allocated to a structure relative to its dry mass. RA of P to seeds was 91 and N was 44, but for K, Ca, Mg and Na ranged from only 6 for K to<1 for Na. Thus P, and to a lesser extent N, provide a much more sensitive measure of the relative cost of reproduction than C in this nutrient-limited system.     

Two new fossil woods ofAcer and a new combination ofPrunus from the Tertiary of Japan

Two new species ofAcer fossil woods,A. momijiyamense andA. Watarianum, are described and a short review of fossil wood of this genus from the Tertiary of Japan is given. In the course of a study on three fossil wood species which have been described asAcer andAcernium from Japan, it is noticed thatAcernium iwatense Watari does not belong toAcer but toPrunus of the Rosaceae, and is therafore transferred intoPrunus asPrunus iwatense comb. nov.     

Genetic polymorphism of serum complement components in the chimpanzee

Significant polymorphism of serum complement components Bf, C2, C3, C6, and C8 in the chimpanzee has been demonstrated. The data are consistent with the hypothesis thatC2 andBf are closely linked toChLA and argue against close linkage ofChLA toC3 or toC8, as in man. In addition, a blank allele for C6 and C6 deficiency was detected in several chimps.     

The FI gene product of bacterial virus Lambda is related to theE. coli chromosomal protein NS2 and is involved in intracellular DNA organization

A likely function of the Lambda FI gene product (gpFI) is condensation of developmental forms of the bacteriophage DNA in the host cell. Several characteristics of gpFI support this hypothesis: it is similar in its structure and properties toE. coli NS proteins whose involvement in the bacterial DNA condensation has been established and it comigrates with DNA during fractionation of host cell lysate through a sucrose gradient.     

System connectivity and matrix properties

To every square matrix may be associated a graph or network, the cyclic structure of which yields information on the roots of the matrix. The cofactor of the elementa _ij may be expanded in terms of paths fromj toi. It is shown that certain types of connectivity lead to reciprocity relations. The importance of cutpoints in simplifying reciprocity relations is demonstrated.     

Systematics ofNama (Hydrophyllaceae): Flavonoids and phyletic position of sect.Arachnoidea and sect.Cinerascentia

Eight flavonoids, four 6-oxygenated flavones, two methyl ethers of luteolin, apigenin 6,8-C-diglucoside and quercetin 3-O-glucoside, were isolated fromNama lobbii andN. rothrockii, sole members of sects.Arachnoidea andCinerascentia, respectively. Both taxa diverge markedly from other namas in morphology and chromosome number and their placement inNama has been questioned. The occurrence of 6-oxygenated flavones in these taxa adds to their already distinctive nature. Flavonoid evidence argues that both are more closely allied toEriodictyon than either is toNama.     

Archeterokrohnia casanova, 1986, a junior synonym ofHeterokrohnia Ritter-Záhony, 1911 (chaetognatha), with a review of the species ofHeterokrohnia

The characters which have been advanced to separateArcheterokrohnia Casanova, 1986, fromHeterokrohnia Ritter-Záhony, 1911, are discussed; they are considered to be insufficient to warrant the erection of a separate genus. A further argument against the separate status ofArcheterokrohnia is the greater similarity ofArcheterokrohnia rubra Casanova, 1986, toHeterokrohnia longicaudata Hagen & Kapp, 1986, than toA. palpifera Casanova, 1986. Various reasons are given for the retention ofH. longicaudata inHeterokrohnia and against its transfer toArcheterokrohnia. The 13 species recognized and assigned toHeterokrohnia are reviewed; all characters used are tabulated and all species figured. Member of the Taxonomy Group at the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland     

The karyotype of Axarus festivus (Say) and a comparison with species of Lipiniella (Chironomidae: Diptera)

Larvae of Axarus andLipiniella share several apparantly apomorphic features of the mouth-part structure, however adults ofLipiniella show possible relationships toDemeijerea andChironomus. In order to assist in refining the relationships ofAxarus toLipiniella the karyotype ofAxarus festivus was determined and compared to the karyotypes ofLipiniella arenicola andL. moderata. Larvae ofA. festivus from a population in Kansas were monomorphous, with 2n=8, the Ist, IInd and IIIrd chromosomes metacentric, and IVth acrocentric.Axarus festivus therefore differs fromL. arenicola in chromosome number (2n=6), however homologous sections of all chromosomes were identified. Inversions were detected in the Ist, IInd and IIIrd chromosomes ofA. festivus relative toL. arenicola. It was determined that both species have high functional activity, as indicated by the presence of three Balbiani rings, and more than one nucleolus per genome. Differing degrees of polyteny, a feature previously described forL. arenicola, were observed in the salivary glands, with highest degrees of polyteny in cells near the salivary duct. These similarities of chromosome structure indicate close genetic relationships betweenA. festivus andL. arenicola. However, we did not find evidence for similarity ofA. festivus toL. moderata, which supports the previous conclusions byKiknadze et al. (1989) regardingL. arenicola andL. moderata.