Comparative vegetative anatomy and classification of Diseae (Orchidaceae)

The leaf, stem, root, tuber and dropper anatomy of the orchid tribe Diseae (including the subtribes Satyriinae, Disinae, Brownlecinac, Huttonaeinae and Coryciinae) is reviewed. The study is largely based on investigations of 123 species, and data from several previous publications have also been incorporated. Two characters were identified as being taxonomically valuable: (1) the presence of sclerenchyma caps associated with leaf vascular bundles, and (2) the degree of dissection of the siphonostele of the tuber (‘polystelic’ or ‘monostelic’). The phylogenetic analysis shows that anatomical characters do not change the basic structure of a cladogram that is based on morphological characters. The taxa of Diseae are discussed on the basis of anatomical data. Subtribes Satyriinae (excluding the anatomically unusual genus Pachites), Brownleeinae, Huttonaeinae, and Coryciinae are uniform in. critical anatomical characters. However, subtribe Disinae is rather diverse in vegetative anatomy. Disa sect. Micranthae differs from the rest of the genus in its leaf anatomy. The occurrence of foliar sclerenchyma bundle caps and ‘polystelic’ tubers supports the incorporation of Herschelianthe in Disa sect. Stenocarpa.     

Comparative vegetative anatomy and classification of Diseae (Orchidaceae)

The leaf, stem, root, tuber and dropper anatomy of the orchid tribe Diseae (including the subtribes Satyriinae, Disinae, Brownlecinac, Huttonaeinae and Coryciinae) is reviewed. The study is largely based on investigations of 123 species, and data from several previous publications have also been incorporated. Two characters were identified as being taxonomically valuable: (1) the presence of sclerenchyma caps associated with leaf vascular bundles, and (2) the degree of dissection of the siphonostele of the tuber ('polystelic' or 'monostelic'). The phylogenetic analysis shows that anatomical characters do not change the basic structure of a cladogram that is based on morphological characters. The taxa of Diseae are discussed on the basis of anatomical data. Subtribes Satyriinae (excluding the anatomically unusual genus Pachites), Brownleeinae, Huttonaeinae, and Coryciinae are uniform in. critical anatomical characters. However, subtribe Disinae is rather diverse in vegetative anatomy. Disa sect. Micranthae differs from the rest of the genus in its leaf anatomy. The occurrence of foliar sclerenchyma bundle caps and 'polystelic' tubers supports the incorporation of Herschelianthe in Disa sect. Stenocarpa.     

The diversity and evolution of recruitment behaviour in ants,with a discussion of the usefulness of parsimony criteria in the reconstruction of evolutionary histories

Summary Three alternative hypotheses about the evolution of recruitment behaviour in ants, based on accounts in the literature, are compared by means of a cladistic analysis. The three hypotheses are the following:Hypothesis 1. Increasingly efficient recruitment behaviours exhibited by different ant species have been shaped by or are correlated with ant phylogeny.Hypothesis 2. Increasingly efficient recruitment behaviours represent necessary evolutionary steps independently followed during the evolution of different ant clades.Hypothesis 3. Differently efficient recruitment behaviours have been selected in a convergent way among different species by similar population/environmental constraints.In a first stage of the analysis, these hypotheses have been compared in terms of parsimony (i.e. in terms of tree length = TL) of alternative cladograms based on recruitment behaviour only. The analysis gave the following results: Hypothesis 1, TL = 4; Hypothesis 2, TL = 18; Hypothesis 3, TL = 11. At least in terms of parsimony, hence, Hypothesis 1 appears to be the best. This hypothesis, however, cannot be retained for its total lack of congruence with current views on ant phylogeny. Among the remaining two hypotheses, Hypothesis 3 is again much (ca. 40%) more parsimonious than Hypothesis 2, but the retention index for recruitment behaviour on the relative cladogram is 0.2 as compared with 0.7 for Hypothesis 2. Practically, this implies biologically very implausible behavioural evolution indicated by very improbable ancestors for the species included in the analysis. In the case of recruitment evolution the biological credibility of each hypothesis is inversely proportional to its parsimony.The three hypotheses on the evolution of recruitment behaviour are compared again taking into account the morphological and behavioural correlates of recruitment. The results confirm those obtained by simple cladistic analysis of behaviour alone, namely that an obligatory (i. e. neither reversible nor random) increase in recruitment efficiency has been repeatedly selected within different ant clades. Inclusion of the recruitment correlates allows, in addition, a more precise formulation of the implications of each hypothesis and a tentative test of two other alternatives deduced from the literature. Most papers dealing with recruitment assume this behaviour to be controlled by a single gland, while at least two experimental analyses show that more than one gland is likely to be involved as behavioural releaser. A cladistic approach allowed testing of the following two adaptational hypotheses: A) Synergic behavioural control by several glands, allowing shift of the dominant role from one gland to another. B) Single gland control, making improbable the replacement of one gland by another that performs the same function. The results of the analysis appear to favour alternative A slightly, though neither alternative results in implausible evolutionary paths.It is stressed that parsimony remains the sole decisional criterion when no other criteria are available but it can by no way be preferred to the slightest trace of biological common sense.     

Biogeographic patterns and the evolution of eureptantic nemerteans

The origin and evolution of the eureptantic nemerteans is discussed from a biogeographic point of view. It is most likely that East Indian Ocean was part of the ancestral distribution of the Eureptantia. The area cladogram estimated by Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA) is to a high degree congruent with a vicariance explanation of the evolution of the Eureptantia and suggests an ancestral distribution concordant with the Tethys Sea. A general area cladogram based on a combined BPA analysis of eureptantic nemerteans and acanthuroid fishes is reconstructed and suggested as a hypothesis of the relationships between east Indian Ocean, west Indian Ocean, west Pacific Ocean, east Adantic Ocean, west Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean. This tree is compared with cladograms from the same areas based on other taxa.     

裸藻类植物的分支系统学研究

本文选取了裸藻类的33个属级分类单位,以及它们的35个性状,利用分支系统学的原理和方法,对性状的演化极性进行了分析,同时对性状间的极性关系进行了和谐性分析,使性状间极性关系处在较为合理的状态,然后建立了分支分析的数据矩阵。应用徐克学建立的“演化极端结合法”进行微机运算．得简约系数远小于1(o．2159)的分支谱系图。根据分支诺系图对裸藻类的系统发育关系进行了探讨,井与已有的关于裸藻类分类系统和演化假设进行了比较。在此基础上按照裸藻类的亲缘关系及单系原则,对裸藻类的分类等级进行了划分,初步提出了建立1门1纲5目的分类系统。按照在分支谱系中的演化地位,认为裸藻属的5个亚属,明显地都应是独立的属。同时对裸藻类的共生起源与演化的关系也进行了讨论。     

Identification of ga36 in psilotum nudum

GA₃₆ was identified by GC/MS analysis from the sporangia-bearing fronds of Psilotum nudum. This is the first chemical identification of a free gibberellin in a pteridophyte.     

Psilotic acid,a c6c4-acid from Psilotum nudum

Psilotic acid has been isolated from Psilotum nudum snd its structure determined as 5-(p-hydroxy)phenyl-2,4-diene-pent-1-oic acid on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence.     

Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Stapeliads

The stapeliads (Apocynaceae — Asclepiadoideae — Ceropegieae) form a group of highly succulent, practically leafless plants with a very diverse floral morphology. They are found in the drier parts of the Old World from southern Africa eastwards to Burma. 55 characters are selected on which a cladistic analysis is based and these are discussed in detail where necessary. From this a phylogeny is produced for the stapeliads. It is shown that they are monophyletic and that they are nested within a larger group among the tribe Ceropegieae of the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. Several of the important innovations that have led to the diversification of the stapeliads in semidesertic regions are discussed. The stapeliads appear to be mainly fly-pollinated. The methods of attraction of flies are mentioned and it is suggested that there are four basic floral types among the stapeliads.     

天南星属的系统发育分析

运用分支分类学方法对天南星属进行了系统发育分析,以天南星属13个组为13个分支分类单位,选择菖蒲属作为外类群,从天南星属植物特征中选取13个性状作为建立数据矩阵的基本资料,并以外类群比较和通行的形态演化规律为依据这些性状进行极化,采用改进后的最大同步法和最小平行进化法进行分类运算,按照最简约的原则,选出演化长度较短的最大同步法谱分支图,作为本文讨论的基础,并在此基础上,探讨了天南星属各组的系统关系。     

斑龙芋属植物的系统发育分析

运用分支分类分析方法对斑龙芋属及其近缘属进行系统发育分析,以4个属的15个种作为15个分支分类单位,选择菖蒲科的菖蒲作为外类群,从斑龙芋属植物特征中选取了14个性状作为建立数据矩阵的基本资料,并以外类群比较和通行的形态演化规律,及核型演化规律为依据对这些性状进行极化,采用改进的最大同步法和最小平行法进行分类运算,按照最简约的原则,运用演化长度较短的最大同步法谱系分支图,作为讨论的基础,讨论了斑龙芋属及其近缘属的系统关系。     

Early diversification of plant aquaporins

New data indicate that the main radiation of plant aquaporins was already established when land plant evolution began.