The gynostemium of Bulbophyllum ecornutum (J. J. Smith) J. J. Smith (Orchidaceae)

RASMUSSEN, F. N., 1985. The gynostemium of Bulbophyllum ecornutum (J. J. Smith) J.J. Smith (Orchidaceae) . Stages in the development of the gynostemium of Bulbophyllum ecornutum demonstrate that the pollinium stalk is a hamulus in this and in a closely related species, B. gibbolabium . A hamulus arises by apical growth and reflexion of the median carpel. Hamuli have recently been discovered in several orchid genera, and a transverse fold of the rostellar apex is already known from a large group of orchids. The closely related B. cornutum has a quite different gynostemium structure.     

Metabolic and cellular alterations induced by diesel oil in Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) J. V. Lamour. (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta)

Understanding the mechanisms by which marine organisms cope to environmental stressful conditions is a fundamental question for ecotoxicology. We examined biochemical and cellular responses of Hypnea musciformis exposed in vitro to four concentrations of diesel oil (0 (control), 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 % v/v) for 0, 30 min, 1, 12, and 24 h. Chl a content decreased after exposure for 1, 12, and 24 h. Carotenoids increased after 30 min and 12 h and decreased after 1 and 24 h. Phenolic content was lower in samples exposed to 0.1 and 1 % of diesel oil. After treatment, samples showed a decrease in floridean starch grains, cell volume and autofluorescence intensity, changes in chloroplast morphology, and on the surface topography of the cell wall. These findings provide preliminary but important results on biochemical and cellular responses of H. musciformis when exposed to diesel oil and could be considered as tools for monitoring oil spills.     

Taxonomic revision of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 (Cestoda: Amabiliidae): redescriptions of J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943), J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991

Two species of Joyeuxilepis Spassky, 1947 are redescribed from Tachybaptus ruficollis in Bulgaria: J. biuncinata (Joyeux & Baer, 1943) and J. pilatus Borgarenko & Gulyaev, 1991. The syntypes of J. decacantha (Fuhrmann, 1913) from Podiceps cristatus in Sweden and voucher specimens of J. pilatus (identified as 'Tatria decacantha') from T. ruficollis in England (new geographical record) from the British Museum (Natural History) Collection are also re-described. The voucher specimens and cysticercoids of Tatria spp. from dragonfly nymphs in Wales recorded by Rees (1973) were re-examined. Previous records of J. biuncinata, J. decacantha and J. pilatus are critically analysed in view of the present results. The major reliable diagnostic characters for species of Joyeuxilepis are presented and the distinguishing criteria for the three species studied are re-evaluated.     

Type studies of Polyporaceae (Aphyllophorales) described by J. Rick

The type species of Polyporaceae (Aphyllophorales) and of other related genera, i.e. Irpex, Grammothele and Theleporus , described by J. Rick were studied. Of the 93 names of species or varieties 34 are invalidly published and 21 are synonyms. Nineteen type specimens were not found and 4 were sterile. Four species were respectively assigned to Datronia, Steccherinum, Trechispora and a cyphellaceous fungus, and were left without specific determination. The following new combinations are proposed: Aporpium substuppeus, Ceriporiopsis latemarginata, Inonotus micantissimus, Junghuhnia polycystidifera, Perenniporia piperis, Phanerochaete furfuraceo-velutinus, Skeletocutis roseolus and Tyromyces atro-albus. Two new species are described: Ceriporiopsis lowei and Gloeodontia americana.     

Isozyme uniformity in a wild extinct insular plant, Lysimachia minoricensis J.J. Rodr. (Primulaceae)

Isozyme analyses were conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity of seed accessions of Lysimachia minoricensis (a Balearic endemic plant that became extinct in the wild) provided by 10 European botanical gardens. No isozyme variation was detected after examination of the electrophoretic patterns of 22 putative loci in more than 150 plants. The lack of genetic variation in L. minoricensis is probably due to the shortage of sample propagules originally recovered in the field before its extinction. Extant plants of L. minoricensis are believed to have originated from a single source, therefore limiting their use as seed stocks for restoration projects.