Phylogenetic relationships of Cyrillaceae and Clethraceae (Ericales) with special emphasis on the genus Purdiaea Planch

The phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of the three genera of Cyrillaceae (Ericales), Cyrilla, Cliftonia, and Purdiaea, were investigated by jackknife analysis of a combination of DNA sequences from the plastid genes atpB, ndhF, and rbcL. The results show that Cyrilla and Cliftonia together are the sister group of Ericaceae, whereas Purdiaea groups with Clethra of Clethraceae. Together, Clethra and Purdiaea form the sister group of (Cyrilla+Cliftonia)+Ericaceae. It is concluded that Purdiaea should be moved to Clethraceae. A cladistic analysis based on morphological data was performed to investigate relationships among the species of Purdiaea. The results indicate that Purdiaea belizensis from Central America is sister to all other species of the genus, and that Purdiaea nutans from northern South America is sister to the remaining group of species which are all Cuban endemics, among which P. cubensis from Pinar del Rio in western Cuba is sister to the eight species occurring in the Oriente province in eastern Cuba.     

Vestigial pit membrane remnants in perforation plates and helical thickenings in vessels of Ericaceae

Perforation plates from 15 species of 10 genera with scalarifom perforation plates, representing three subfamilies of woody Ericaceae (Rhododendroideae, Arbutoideae, Vaccinioideae) were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In most of them, pit membrane remnants were present, but these remnants were less extensive than in the ericalean families Clethraceae, Cyrillaceae, and Sarraceniaceae. Pit membrane remnants in perforations of vessels of Ericaceae are characteristically found at lateral ends of the perforations and in perforations (which may alternatively be called pits) transitional to lateral wall pitting. Pit membrane remnants were most extensive in Enkianthus. Phylogenetic and physiological factors for vestigial membrane presence in the perforations are discussed. Helical thickenings on vessel walls as seen with SEM are figured and described for Leucothoe and Pieris, and their significance is assessed.     

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY IN THE GENUS MIMULUS (SCROPHULARIACEAE) AND ITS TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The pollen morphology of 117 species and varieties of Mimulus was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Five major and 8 more tentative, minor types were found based on the differential correlation of aperture type, exine morphology, pollen grain diameter and other characters: type 1—synaperturate, usually ±spiraperturate, exine perforate to microreticulate with supratectal processes; type II—trocolporate, exine microreticulate (IIa and IIb, supratectal processes absent; IIa, mean polar axis 16–19 μm; IIb, mean polar axis 25–35 μrn; IIc, supratectal processes present); type III—tricolpate, colpus membrane ±psilate. exine with supratectal processes (IIIa, exine microreticulate and 1.4–2.0 μm thick, polar axis ≥ 30 μm; 111b, exine densely perforate and 2.2–2.8 μm thick, polar axis ≤ 23 μm); type IV—tricolpate, colpus covered with spinulose granules (operculate), exine microreticulate with supratectal processes; type V—5–7 stephanocolpate (Va and Vb, colpus margins ±straight and nongranular; Va, exine microreticulate with supratectal spinules; Vb, exine perforate with supratectal spinules or spinulose verrucae; Vc, colpus margins ragged and granular, exine microreticulate with supratectal processes). The pollen data correlate well with geographical and macromorphological data and, where the latter are ambiguous, often provide important clues toward the resolution of conflicting interpretations of infrageneric classification and generic delimitation.     

油菜和玉米花粉粒中元素分布的研究

以油菜和玉米花粉为材料,应用扫描电镜及能谱仪技术对花粉中内外元素分布进行了初步研究。结果表明：花粉粒萌发沟区与非萌发沟区,花粉壁与原生质内外的不同部位,Fe、Zn、Si、Al、Ca、P、S、Mg、K、Cl、Cu、Mn、Co及Ni 14种元素组成有很大差异;两种花粉的萌发沟区都未检测出Fe元素,而非萌发沟区的Fe元素相对含量为1.12%～368%;花粉壁中比花粉原生质中更富含Si,Ca,K,Cl等元素。本项研究为蜜源植物花粉的开发和利用提供了有价值的资料。     

Study on the Pollen Morphology of the Family Berberidaceae

The pollen grains of 33 species representing 11 genera of the family Berberidaceae, mostly from China, were examined with the light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Their characteritic details can be used for generic diagnosis. A pollen key to the genera based on these observations is presented. Based on the morphology, the pollen grains can be grouped into the following three types: 1. The tetrad pollen type found only in the genus Sinopodophyllum. 2. The spiraperturate pollen type found in the genera Berberis and Mahonia. 3. The tricolpate pollen type found in the genera Diphylleia, Jeffersonia, Nandina, Dysosma, Caulophyllum, Leontice and Epimedium. A diagnostic key to the pollen grains of genera in the Berberidaceae. 1. Pollen grains single 2. Pollen grains spiraperturate .................... Berberis L., Mahonia L. 2. Pollen grains tricolpate 3. Exine with spinose sculpture ........................ Diphylleia Michx. 3. Exine with non-spinose sculpture 4. Exine with striate or striate-reticulate sculpture ...... Jeffersonia Barton 4. Exine with reticulate sculpture 5. Exine around colpus with distinct thickening ........ Nandina Thunb. 5. Exine around colpus without thickening 6. Pollen grains larger (45—50)×(32.5—37.5)μ 7. Colpus with membrane ................ Dysosma R. E. Woodson 7. Colpus without membrane ................ Caulophyllum Michx. 6. Pollen grains smaller (25—550)×(20—527.5) μ 7. Pollen grains prolate-perprolate .................... Leontice L. 7. Pollen grains spheroidal-prolate...Epimedium L., Podophyllum L. 1. Pollen grains tetrad ............................ Sinopodophyllum Ying     

Palynological variation in balsaminoid ericales. I. Marcgraviaceae

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Marcgraviaceae are a rather small family of seven genera and approx. 130 neotropical species. This study aims to present a detailed palynological survey of the family in order to comment on the intrafamily relationships and possible correlations with pollinators. METHODS: In total, 119 specimens representing 67 species and all genera are observed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, eight species from five genera are studied with transmission electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: Our results show that pollen grains of Marcgraviaceae are small (20-35 microm), have three equatorial apertures, granules on the colpus membrane, oblate spheroidal to prolate spheroidal shapes, mainly psilate to perforate ornamentations, and lalongate colpus-shaped thinnings at the inner layer of the exine, and show the presence of orbicules. Based on our fragmentary knowledge of the pollination biology of the family, there are no clear correlations between pollinators and pollen features. CONCLUSIONS: The genus Marcgravia has a high percentage of reticulate sexine patterns and a relatively thin nexine. Sarcopera can be defined by the presence of an oblate spheroidal to even suboblate shape, while Ruyschia and Souroubea typically show prolate spheroidal to subprolate pollen grains. The presence of a thick foot layer in the pollen wall is characteristic of the genera Norantea, Sarcopera and Schwartzia. Pollen features that are taxonomically useful within the family are the shape, sexine sculpturing, and ultrastructure of the pollen wall.     

Phylogenetic relationships in the order Ericales s.l.: analyses of molecular data from five genes from the plastid and mitochondrial genomes

Phylogenetic interrelationships in the enlarged order Ericales were investigated by jackknife analysis of a combination of DNA sequences from the plastid genes rbcL, ndhF, atpB, and the mitochondrial genes atp1 and matR. Several well-supported groups were identified, but neither a combination of all gene sequences nor any one alone fully resolved the relationships between all major clades in Ericales. All investigated families except Theaceae were found to be monophyletic. Four families, Marcgraviaceae, Balsaminaceae, Pellicieraceae, and Tetrameristaceae form a monophyletic group that is the sister of the remaining families. On the next higher level, Fouquieriaceae and Polemoniaceae form a clade that is sister to the majority of families that form a group with eight supported clades between which the interrelationships are unresolved: Theaceae-Ternstroemioideae with Ficalhoa, Sladenia, and Pentaphylacaceae; Theaceae-Theoideae; Ebenaceae and Lissocarpaceae; Symplocaceae; Maesaceae, Theophrastaceae, Primulaceae, and Myrsinaceae; Styracaceae and Diapensiaceae; Lecythidaceae and Sapotaceae; Actinidiaceae, Roridulaceae, Sarraceniaceae, Clethraceae, Cyrillaceae, and Ericaceae.     

A palynological study of the genus Mentha L. (Lamiaceae)

The pollen morphology and exine structure of 10 Mentha L . species were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of all 11 species were hexazonocolpate with granular membranes and a circular amb, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to suboblate. Different colpus shapes were recognized in M . ×  dumetorum . The exine was bireticulate in section Pulegium , and reticulate in section Menthae . A correlation was found between pollen size and chromosome number. The results indicate that the pollen characters of the genus Mentha are valuable for taxonomic applications and may be useful for classification.  © 2008 Uludag University. Journal compilation © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 141–154.     

Amorphophallus: New insights into pollen morphology and the chemical nature of the pollen wall

In pollen characters, Amorphophallus is one of the most diverse genera in the Araceae. The present work is a critical survey of contradicting reports on the impact of acetolysis treatment on Amorphophallus pollen, on the chemical nature of the outer pollen wall layer and of electron-dense (dark) granules found within it. Furthermore, we wanted to clarify the pollen polarity and to test conclusions based on different preparation techniques. Pollen morphology of 25 species is investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Our results show that Amorphophallus pollen is not resistant to acetolysis treatment. The use of different transmission electron microscopy staining methods proved the polysaccharide nature of the outer pollen wall layer and of the granules within it. Moreover, an additional thin surface layer was found in all investigated species. Microspores in early and late tetrad stages show that the less convex side of the microspore is the proximal face and the more convex side the distal face. The extrusion of pollen in strands is illustrated for the first time by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, observations of pollen in water showed that in some of the investigated species the pollen wall is shed immediately before pollen tube formation.     

木通科、大血藤科花粉壁的超微结构研究

应用透射电子显微镜(TEM)观察了木通科Decaisnea,Sinofr-anchetia,Holboellia,Stauntonia属以及大血藤科Sargentodoxa属共18种植物花粉壁的超微结构。所观察的木通科和大血藤科植物具较发达的覆盖层和柱状层;外壁内层以及内壁均在萌发沟处明显增厚;基层通常不甚发达。与扫描特征相对应的覆盖层结构特征,显示出类群的特异性。在Stauntonia属,覆盖层富于形态变化,反映出该属在木通科中较进化的地位;大血藤(Sarg-entodoxa cuneata)花粉壁结构隶属木通型花粉结构,表明大血藤科与木通科的密切关系。     

A Study on Pollen Morphology of the Genus Viburnum from China

The present study on pollen grains of the genus Viburnum Linn. Shows that: 1. The pollen characteristics are of no significance in division of sections, but each species has its own pollen characteristics. 2. The exine can be divided into three types: I. Exine semitectate, reticulate, muri psilate; II. Exine semitectate, reticulate, muri verrucate; III. Exine intectate, retipilate or pilate, the heads of pila verrucate. The evolutionary trend of the exine is III→II→I. 3. Four types of colpus margin are recognized: I. intectate; II. The colpus margin semitectate, reticulate; III. The colpus margin tectate; IV. Syncolpate at one pole, the margin tectate (only in V. farreri). 4. The ora can be divided into five types according to its membrane shape under SEM: I. The membrane of ora indistinct; II. The membrane of ora semispherical, discontinuous with colpus margin; III. The membrane of ora semispherical, continuous with colpus margin; IV. The membrane of ora semi-ellipsoidat, lolongate; V. The membrane of ora semi-ellipsoidal, lalongate, across the colpus like a bridge. 5. According to both pollen characters and inflorescence, the authors suggest that Sect. Pseudotinus be divided into two subsections, one including V. sympodiale, V. furcatum and V. latanoides, which have large sterile marginal flowers with the exine belonging to the Type I, and the other including only V. nervosum, which has no large sterr-ile marginal flowers with the exine belonging to the Type III.     

A Contribution to the Pollen Morphology of Camellia (Theaceae)

The pollen morphology and ultrastructure of 20 species of Camellia (Theaceae) representing the four subgenera were examined. The pollen is tricolporate, spherical to slightly oblate or prolate, with scabrate to rugulate exine sculpturing. The tectum is traversed by perforations that vary in diameter. Pollen wall structure is tectate-columellate, the columellae fused to a footlayer. Endexine is present in all of the taxa examined. The greatest variation was observed in pollen size.     

中国东北牻牛儿苗科（Geraniaceae）花粉形态与系统分类学研究

本文对中国东北牛儿苗科Ｇｅｒａｎｉａｃｅａｅ老鹳草属Ｇｅｒａｎｉｕｍ和牛儿苗属Ｅｒｎｄｉｕｍ植物计２属,１４种,２变种及１变型的花粉形态进行了较系统的研究。并对本科花粉形态进行了分类处理,编制了花粉形态科种检索表。结果表明,本科花粉如按萌发孔类型、外壁雕纹式样可以分为二大类：即三孔沟,外壁雕纹瘤状（Ｇｅｒａｎｉｕｍ）三沟,外壁雕纹网状（Ｅｒｏｄｉｕｍ）。在老鹳草属种及种下等级的分类处理中,花粉粒大小、萌发沟长度、外壁覆盖层网眼均匀性、直径大小、网脊上纹饰及外壁雕纹瘤纹突起均匀性、大小及瘤上纹饰都具有较大的分类学意义。花粉形态分类与经典分类对本科分类群的处理意见相吻合。大大丰富了本科分类微形态的证据。     

Differentiating pollen of Betula species from Iceland

Subfossil pollen from two co‐existing Betula species in Iceland, B. nana and B. pubescens, is frequently found in sediments and peat. Interpretation of the findings often depends on the ability to differentiate between the two species according to pollen size and structure. Fresh pollen samples were prepared from 70 individual trees/shrubs which had been identified to species by chromosome number. Grain diameters and pore depths were measured and ratios of grain diameter to pore depth (D/P ratios) were calculated. The mean grain diameters of pollen from diploid B. nana and tetraploid B. pubescens were 20.42 and 24.20?µm, whereas mean pore depths were 2.20 and 2.81?µm respectively. Mean D/P ratios were therefore 9.55 for B. nana and 8.85 for B. pubescens. The difference between species was statistically significant for all three pollen parameters. Grain diameter appeared to be the most useful parameter, as only about 20% of the samples were in the overlapping region of the species distributions. Pollen size (grain diameter) was also positively correlated to tree morphology, which was evaluated using species‐specific botanical characters. Pollen samples from different locations/populations in Iceland varied slightly in mean size and ratio. The size difference between pollen of B. nana and B. pubescens in this study is less than other papers have reported, which may be due to the effect of introgressive hybridisation between the two birch species in Iceland.     

山柳科和堇菜科八个种的花粉形--兼谈第伦桃亚纲六个科及省沽油科的系统关系

通过光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对山柳科(Clethraceae)和堇菜科(Violaceae)8个种的花粉形态进行了观察。综合前人对第伦桃亚纲(Dillenidae)4个科即猕猴桃科(Actinidi-aceae)、山茶科(Theaceae)、旌节花科(Stachyuraceae)和大风子科(Flacourtiaceae)以及蔷薇亚纲(Rosidae)的省沽油科(Staphyleaceae)共22属36个种的孢粉学和已有的胚胎学资料,讨论了上述7个科的系统学关系。通过对大风子科(Flacourtiaceae)和杨柳科(Salicaceae)的花粉形态特征比较,支持APGII系统中将大风子科的大部分种归入杨柳科的处理。     

Cytochemical localization of some hydrolases in the pollen and pollen tubes of Amaryllis vittata Ait

Some hydrolases are localized cytochemically in the pollen and pollen tubes of Amaryllis vittata Ait. The function of different enzymes is discussed in relation to pollen tubes morphogenesis. Activity of most of the enzymes was confined to colpus region, pollen wall and general cytoplasm of pollen and pollen tube. The activity of hydrolytic enzymes like acid monophosphoesterase and lipase and was nil in the exine of both germinated and ungerminated pollen, whereas intense reaction for esterase was observed in exine. Enzyme activity increased after germination which suggest the hydrolysis of stored metabolites and synthesis of proteins and other metabolites for the active growth of pollen tube. Intense reaction for enzymes like alkaline phosphomonoesterase, ATP-ase, 5-nucleotidase etc. at the tip region of pollen tube suggest their role in physiological processes associated with exchange of materials through intercellular transport during tube wall polysaccharide biogenesis.     

HALF PSEUDOCOLPI,A UNIQUE FEATURE OF OLINIA (OLINIACEAE) POLLEN

We examined pollen of all five species of Olinia, the only genus of Oliniaceae (Myrtales), an endemic African family. Olinia pollen is heteropolar with one pole colpate and the other heterocolpate. Restriction of pseudocolpi to one polar face, hence, half pseudocolpi, the inequality of the two polar faces, and the unequal distribution of the colpus segments across the modal plane, are features that distinguish Olinia from all other Myrtales.     

西域旌节花的雌雄配子体发育及其系统学启示

研究西域旌节花（Stachyurus himalaicus Hook.f.et Thoms.ex Benth)雌雄配子体的形成和发育过程,并与“近缘”类群（山茶科,猕猴桃科,山柳科,省沽油科,堇菜科,金缕梅科和Crossomataceae等）的胚胎学特征进行了比较,西域旌节花主要胚胎学特征可概括为：四囊型花药,药壁形成方式为基础型,花药壁由表皮,药室内壁,2-3层中层和绒毡层组成,药室内壁纤维质加厚,腺质绒毡层,小孢子母细胞减数分裂为同时型,小孢子四分体呈四面体形排列,花粉散发时为二细胞,胚珠倒生,双珠被,厚珠心,珠孔由内,外珠被构成,具珠心冠和承珠盘,蓼型胚囊,从目前可资利用的雌雄配子体形成和发育的资料来看,旌节花科与堇菜科最为接近,与金缕梅科的关系值得注意,而与山柳科和猕猴桃科以及山茶科的关系相对疏远,胚胎学证据不支持Nandi等（1998）揭示的旌节花科与Crossosomataceae的姐妹群关系,但他们的分析结果在某种程度上仍然得到了胚胎学证据的支持。