SYMMETRY AND DEVELOPMENT OF BUTOMUS UMBELLATUS (BUTOMACEAE) AND LIMNOCHARIS FLAVA (LIMNOCHARITACEAE)

The prostrate rhizome of Butomus umbellatus produces branch primordia of two sorts, inflorescence primordia and nonprecocious vegetative lateral buds. The inflorescence primordia form precociously by the bifurcation of the apical meristem of the rhizome, whereas the non-precocious vegetative buds are formed away from the apical meristem. The rhizome normally produces a branch in the axial of each foliage leaf. However, it is unclear whether the rhizome is a monopodial or a sympodial structure. Lateral buds are produced on the inflorescence of B. umbellatus either by the bifurcation or trifurcation of apical meristems. The inflorescence consists of monochasial units as well as units of greater complexity, and certain of the flower buds lack subtending bracts. The upright vegetative axis of Limnocharis flava has sympodial growth and produces evicted branch primordia solely by meristematic bifurcation. Only certain leaves of the axis are associated with evicted branch primordia and each such primordium gives rise to an inflorescence. The flowers of L. flava are borne in a cincinnus and, although the inflorescence is simpler than that of Butomus umbellatus, the two inflorescences appear to conform to a fundamental body plan. The ultimate bud on the inflorescence of Limnocharis flava always forms a vegetative shoot, and the inflorescence may also produce supernumerary vegetative buds. Butomus umbellatus and Limnocharis flava exhibit a high degree of mirror image symmetry.     

AXILLARY AND DICHOTOMOUS BRANCHING IN THE PALM CHAMAEDOREA

In both Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret and C. cataractarum Martius each adult foliage leaf subtends one axillary bud. The proximal buds in C. seifrizii are always vegetative, producing branches (= new shoots or suckers); and the distal buds on a shoot are always reproductive, producing inflorescences. The prophyll and first few scale leaves of a vegetative branch lack buds. Transitional leaves subtend vegetative buds and adult leaves subtend reproductive buds. Both types of buds are first initiated in the axil of the second or third leaf primordia from the apex, P2 or P3. Later development of both types of bud tends to be more on the adaxial surface of the subtending leaf base than on the shoot axis. Axillary buds of C. cataractarum are similarly initiated in the axil of P2 or P3 and also have an insertion that is more foliar than cauline. However, all buds develop as inflorescences. Vegetative branches arise irregularly by a division of the apex within an enclosing leaf (= P1). A typical inflorescence bud is initiated in the axil of the enclosing leaf when it is in the position of P2 and when each new branch has initiated its own P1. No scale leaves are produced by either branch and the morphological relationship among branches and the enclosing leaf varies. Often the branches are unequal and the enclosing leaf is fasciated. The vegetative branching in C. cataractarum is considered to be developmentally a true dichotomy and is compared with other examples of dichotomous (= terminal) branching in the Angiospermae.     

The Structure,Elongation and Thickening of Rhizome in Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn

The seedling of Nelurnbo nucifera is erect and its internodes are very short with four Alternately arranged floating leaves. During the juvenile stage, the shoot elongates remarkably and forms the horizontal rhizome. Each leaf grows out from the dorsal side of the node of the rhizome. There are two kinds of terminal buds in the juvenile shoot. (1) vegetative bud and (2) mixed bud. The axillary scale is the derivative part of the leaf. It forms an ochrea around the terminal bud. The winter buds on the annual shoot are all mixed buds. The vessels are absent in the rhizome and no cambium exists. During tile early growth of the rhizome, the rib meristems contribute mainly to the internode elongation. Later however, divisions are seen to commence in the parenchymatous tissue of the internode. As a result of these divisions the internode becomes elongated. The tuberization of the rhizome is built up from cell divisions of three kinds of tissues: (1) primary thickening meristems, (2) cells of the vascular bundles and (3) parenchyma of cortex. But, the growth in thickness of the rhizome seems to be chiefly due to the enlargement of parenchymatous cells.     

莲的根茎构造,伸长与增粗

莲 (Nelumbo nucifera)种苗的茎短而直立,叶互生。幼苗期茎延伸成横卧根茎,其上生有营养芽及混合芽。腋生鳞片为叶的衍生部分,形如叶鞘状,包着预芽。年苗上的冬芽内全为混合芽。根茎内的维管束分散排列,无导管及形成层存在。节间延长通过肋状分生组织及节间内的薄壁组织细胞分裂与增长来完成。根茎可由初生加厚分生组织,维管束细胞,皮层薄壁细胞等的细胞分裂,使层次增加,但增粗主要是由皮层薄壁细胞体积显著增大而引起的。     

Morphology and development of the reproductive shoots of Lilaea scilloides (Poir.) Hauman (Alismatidae)

Shoots of adult plants of Lilaea scilloides have a sympodial form. Each unit of the sympodium bears a single sheathing prophyll (which is the only kind of foliage leaf produced in the adult) and terminates in an inflorescence. The prophyll subtends the next unit of the sympodium. A further accessory bud can form in association with each unit. This bud repeats the pattern of the main sympodium, giving the plant a tufted habit. Five different kinds of flower can be identified in the inflorescence: a unisexual male flower with a single perianth member and adnate stamen; a bisexual flower, with a single perianth member and adnate stamen, and a single carpel with an anatropous bitegmic ovule; a unisexual female flower with a single perianth member and carpel; a unisexual female flower comprising only a single carpel; and a female flower comprising only a single carpel with a very long filamentous style. The first four kinds occur in the upper part of the inflorescence which is normally elevated on a scape, while the last kind is restricted to the base of the inflorescence. In the position of the basal flowers several variations have been observed in cultivated material. These include branching associated with the basal flowers, which results in the development of additional basal flowers or inflorescences, and even total replacement of a basal flower by an inflorescence or a branching structure bearing flowers. A review of past literature includes a clarification of some persistent errors which have confused the taxonomic position of the plant and the morphological interpretation of the reproductive appendages.     

Control of bud inhibition in Cyperus

Summary The axillary buds in the leaf crown of Cyperus alternifolius seedlings remain completely inhibited although the shoot is determinate and has no active apex. Buds can be released by detachment of the crown from the plant or by direct application of aqueous enzyladenine (BA), and grow out as inflorescences or vegetative shoots. These arise from activated growth centers of the primordial reproductive branch system which is enclosed within the prophyll of the inhibited bud. Buds are also released by the growth retardant, (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC). Gibberellic acid maintains bud inhibition in detached crowns and inhibits bud release caused by CCC or BA. Naphthaleneacetic acid somewhat reduces BA-induced bud release and causes abnormal root proliferation in CCC-treated crowns. It is suggested that a high level of gibberellin within the crown, possibly in relation to a low level of cytokinin, maintains bud inhibition.     

Microsatellite loci transferability and genetic diversity of the aquatic plant Nymphoides fallax Ornduff (Menyanthaceae), endemic to the Mexican and Guatemalan highlands

Limnology - Nymphoides species are cosmopolitan aquatics with floating leaves and frequent in freshwater wetlands. Nymphoides fallax is restricted to highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. We tested...     

SYLLEPTIC BRANCHING IN MYRSINE FLORIDANA (MYRSINACEAE)

Myrsine floridana produces all of its vegetative branches, other than those resulting from pruning or damage, by syllepsis, i.e. by the continuous development of an axillary meristem into a branch without an intervening stage of rest. These sylleptic branches, produced in series, have long and conspicuous hypopodia, broad pith connections with the parent axis, and expanded prophylls. Bud dormancy may be imposed when an axillary meristem is in the axil of the sixth or seventh youngest leaf of the parent shoot. Such axillary meristems may remain at the bud stage with only two pairs of scalelike leaves but these may later give rise to inflorescences or proleptic branches. Proleptic branches lack hypopodia, have narrow piths at their bases, and a series of leaves transitional from the original prophylls to normal foliage leaves within about ten leaves. Myrsine floridana has cortical bundles in the stem, related to the formation of minor lateral leaf traces. The hypopodia of sylleptic branches, since they are leafless, do not have cortical bundles.     

Calcium-Dependent Lamina Production of Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae): Implications for Distribution

Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze, a nymphaeid macrophyte,occurs commonly in polder and fluviatile areas in large partsof Europe and Asia. In contrast to the nymphaeid macrophytesNymphaea alba L. and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm., Nymphoides peltatais almost completely absent from poorly-buffered waters andis never found in acid water bodies. Transplantation experimentsin water bodies of varying alkalinity demonstrated that, irrespectiveof the sediment type, leaf production of Nymphoides did occurin poorly-buffered waters, but not in acid waters. Cultivation experiments showed that floating leaf developmentof Nymphoides peltata could only take place if sufficient calciumwas available in the water layer or in twice-demineralized water.Addition of calcium to an acid cultivation medium or to watercollected from an acid moorland pool resulted in leaf production.Growth of Nymphoides in acid waters is impossible due to insufficientcalcium concentrations in the water layer of such waters. Itis suggested that the absence of Nymphoides peltata in somepoorly-buffered water bodies is partly due to the spatial isolationfrom rivers and canals and the high frequence of desiccation.The restricted occurrence of Nymphoides peltata to well-bufferedalkaline waters is functionally more related to the calciumavailability than to the bicarbonate content. Key words: Aquatic macrophytes, distribution, Nymphoides peltata, leaf production, calcium, acid, poorly-buffered and alkaline water     

Initiation of the Vascular System and the Transition to Flowering in Early Tassels of Zea mays Land Race Chapalote (Poaceae)

Serial transections of young tassels of (Zea mays land race) chapalote revealed relationships between the vascular system in its procambial state and the lateral primordia along the axis. A lateral tassel primordium usually consists of an indefinite rim with a prolongation that will become a tassel branch or spikelet pair. A lateral tassel primordium usually develops via modifications of the vegetative leaf primordium in which the leaf apex is enhanced but the leaf base and the bud it produces are suppressed. The clearest sign of the transition from the vegetative state to the tassel is the scale leaf, which is intermediate in form between a vegetative leaf and a lateral tassel primordium. Procambial traces differentiate in isolation in the tassel axis in response to the lateral tassel primordia. Adjacent procambial traces then link axially into sympodia to initiate the three-dimensional vascular system of the tassel axis. Older sympodia occur near the center of the axis interior to more recently initiated procambial traces. Procambial continuity does not occur between the tassel axis and the lateral primordia until isolated traces in the lateral primordia link with the sympodia in the tassel axis. The transition from distichy to polystichy by the lateral tassel primordia occurs as the narrowing of the leaf base makes space available on the tassel axis for lateral primordia out of the vegetative distichous plane.     

The ramification of Apinagia riedelii: A key to the understanding of the plant architecture of Podostemaceae,subfamily Podostemoideae

The study of the ramification pattern of Apinagia riedelii results in a new concept of the architecture of this species, with general implications to members of subfamily Podostemoideae with dithecous leaves. The presence of a subtending leaf below the floriferous shoot proves axillary branching also for species with dithecous leaves. Previous opinions of an unusual ramification mode by subfoliar or non-axillary branching or stem bifurcation in combination with dithecous leaves hitherto pleaded for Podostemoideae is refuted. Moreover, the view of the so-called dithecous leaves with one sheath (theca) at the ventral and one at the dorsal side of the leaf, previously regarded as initially connected with branching, has to be changed. The dithecous leaf arises from the branch and not from the mother shoot axis – as previously believed – and represents the addorsed hypsophyll, i.e., the first leaf (prophyll) of the floriferous branch. This finding leads to the conclusion that the lower sheath of the dithecous leaf is the ventral (not dorsal) sheath pointing to the branch and surrounding its flower bud with a ligule or an ochrea and a hood upon the bud. In this way, the branch and its flower bud become seemingly sunk in the leaf base. At the fusion of leaf basis and shoot results this enigmatic common tissue. The wings of the dorsal (upper) sheath of the dithecous leaf point to the mother shoot axis of the branch. Successive floriferous branches along the main stem disclose the shoot axis of A. riedelii as a monopodium (not sympodium) that develops an anthocladial (foliated) inflorescence in the form of a botrys or a compound botrys, respectively. Since it is generally difficult to define cymose or racemose inflorescences if subtending leaves are absent – which occur in most other species of subfamily Podostemoideae with dithecous leaves – the nature of these inflorescences is discussed anew. The findings on A. riedelii have consequences on our comprehension of the shoot architecture of Podostemoideae.     

Shoot development ofAucuba japonica I. Morphological study

The shoot development ofAucuba japonica was studied morphologically. The shoot shows dichasial branching in connection with the formation of a terminal inflorescence and shows a decussate phyllotaxis even in the reproductive phase. The sequence of initiation of successive foliar appendages is very precise, hence the foliage leaf, scale leaf and bract can be compared with each other even at their stages of initiation. In the stage of proximal foliage leaf formation the shoot apex is flat, while in the stage of formation of distal foliage leaves, bud scales and proximal bracts, it becomes concave. In the stage of formation of distal bracts the apex becomes domed. Plastochron durations are relatively long in the vegetative phase in comparison with other plants, and the duration from initiation of the first pair of appendages to that of the second is about one and a half months. Both male and female inflorescences exhibit basically a thyrsoid type of monotelic synflorescence.     

LEAF TYPES IN THE ARACEAE

Leaf types in the Araceae are described and classified on the basis of their morphology and functional role. Four classes are recognized on the basis of their association with the initiation of new shoot axes, the continuation of axes, the resting of axes, or the termination and renewal of axes. The basic types are described with the terms leaf, prophyll, mesophyll, bracteole, mesobracteole, cataphyll, and blastophyll. These terms are modified with the terms monopodial, sympodial, proleptic, sylleptic, resting, flagellar, stolon, reduced, and foliage. This represents an unconventional terminology because some of the modifiers refer to the structure of the stem to which the leaves are attached, rather than to the form of the leaf itself. The intent is to draw attention to the impact of shoot organization on leaf form, and to develop a leaf terminology that will aid in describing shoot organization.     

Reproduction strategies in introduced Nymphoides peltata populations revealed by genetic markers

To determine whether introduced Nymphoides peltata populations reproduced vegetatively or sexually, microsatellites were used to study the genetic structure of the species in Sweden. Leaves from 156 plants and seeds from 4 plants were sampled from 7 water-systems and analysed. A total of 10 genotypes were found among the 156 leaves. Seeds accounted for one additional genotype per seed. Lack of genetic variation and entirely vegetative reproduction dominated in the introduced N. peltata populations although sexual reproduction was found in one water-system. However, even where the species reproduced sexually, vegetative reproduction constituted an important part of the total reproduction.     

Heteroblasty and preformation in mayapple, Podophyllum Peltatum (Berberidaceae): developmental flexibility and morphological constraint

Developmental preformation can constrain growth responses of shoots to current conditions, but there is potential for flexibility in development preceding formation of the preformed organs. Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is strongly heteroblastic, producing rhizome scales, bud scales, and either a single vegetative foliage leaf or two foliage leaves on a sexual shoot. To understand how and when preformation constrains growth responses, we compare (1) how leaf homologs of the renewal shoot differ in development, (2) whether there are differences in shoot development that occur in advance of morphological determination of shoot type, and (3) whether there are points of developmental flexibility in renewal shoot growth prior to preformation of the foliage and floral organs. We use scanning electron microscopy and histology to show that the three vegetative leaves (both types of scale leaves and the vegetative foliage leaf) are similar in the initial establishment of an encircling and overarching leaf base. Differences among them are found in the timing of differentiation of the leaf base and in the relative timing and degree of growth of the lamina and petiole. In contrast, foliage leaves on sexual shoots show less expression of the leaf base and precocious growth of the lamina and petiole. Prior to shoot type determination, there are no morphological differences in the sequence or position of leaf homologs that predict final shoot type. In this colony, leaves at positions 12 and 13, on average, appear to be identical in development until they are between 700 and 800 μm in length, when it becomes possible to distinguish leaves that will become vegetative foliage leaves from additional bud scale leaves on vegetative or sexual shoots. We suggest that late developmental determination of leaves at positions 12 and 13 reflects ontogenetic sensitivity to a transition to flowering. Thus, in mayapple, heteroblasty appears to facilitate developmental flexibility prior to the point where shoot growth becomes constrained by preformation of determined aerial structures.     

Sympodial construction of Fibonacci-type leaf rosettes in Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The leaf rosettes of the carnivorous Pinguicula moranensis follow a spiral phyllotaxis approaching a Fibonacci pattern while the stalked flowers arise from extra-axillary sites between the leaves. The organization of this rosette has been discussed by various authors, with various results. The aim of the present study was to clarify the development of the flowering rosettes of this species. METHODS: The formation of the rosettes is shown with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The scanning electron micrographs show that each flower terminates an article (sympodial unit). The leaves of consecutive articles of such sympodially constructed rosettes are arranged along a spiral Fibonacci pattern (with divergence angles around 137 degrees). This results from homodromy of leaf initiation in consecutive articles with the first leaf (prophyll) of a new article inserted in an obliquely transverse position next to the floral scape that terminates the former article. Sympodial construction of flowering shoots and leaf rosettes is also known from Aloe, Gunnera and Philodendron. As a by-product of this study, the unidirectional development of the Pinguicula flower is confirmed and discussed.     

AXILLARY BUD DEVELOPMENT IN POPULUS DELTOIDES. I. ORIGIN AND EARLY ONTOGENY

Origin and early development of axillary buds on the apical shoot of a young Populus deltoides plant were investigated. The ontogenetic sequence of axillary buds extended from LPI –1 (Leaf Plastochron Index) near the apical bud base to LPI –11, the fifth primordium below the bud apex. Two original bud traces diverged from the central (C) trace of the axillant leaf and developed acropetally. During their acropetal traverse the original bud traces gave rise to three pairs of scale traces. All subsequent scale traces, and later the foliar traces, were derived by divergencies from the first two pairs of scale traces. Just before the bud vascular system separated from that of the main axis, a third pair of traces diverged from the original bud traces to vascularize the adaxial scale. Concomitantly, the original bud traces were inflected toward the main vascular cylinder where they developed acropetally and eventually merged with the left lateral trace of the leaf primordium situated three nodes above the axillant leaf; they did not participate in further vascularization of the bud. During early ontogeny a shell zone formed concurrent with initiation of the original bud traces and lay interjacent to them. The shell zone defined the position of the cleavage plane that formed between the axillary bud and the main axis. The axillary bud apex first appeared in the region bounded laterally by the original bud traces and adaxially by the shell zone. Following divergence of the main prophyll traces from the original bud traces, the apex assumed a new position intermediate to the prophyll traces. Ontogenetic development suggested that the axillary bud apex may have been initiated by the acropetally developing original bud traces under the influence of stimuli arising in more mature vegetative organs below.     

Tillering Potential and Relationship Between Leaf and Tiller Production in Perennial Ryegrass

A detailed morphological examination of the tillering characteristicsof perennial ryegrass (Loltum perenne L.) is presented. It isshown that the tillering potential of perennial ryegrass interms of site filling is 0–693 tillers/tiller/leaf appearanceinterval. This is higher than earlier presented values and isdue to the tillering ability of the prophyll bud which has notpreviously been taken into account. In a controlled climateroom experiment with spaced plants of perennial ryegrass, meanvalues of site filling were found to be close to this theoreticalmaximum Due to growth-limiting factors, tiller formation from leaf axillarybuds can be delayed or suppressed entirely. A set of equationsis presented from which site filling and the ratio of new leavesto new tillers can be calculated for all situations of axillarybud activity. It is stressed that leaf appearance rate can onlybe determined by marking and counting leaves on single tillersat consecutive dates Loltum perenne (L.), perennial ryegrass, tillering, axillary bud, leaf appearance rate, prophyll, site filling     

DEVELOPMENT AND PHYLLOTAXIS OF THE VEGETATIVE AXILLARY BUD OF MICHELIA FUSCATA

Tucker, Shirley C. (Northwestern U., Evanston, III.) Development and phyllotaxis of the vegetative axillary bud of Michelia fuscata . Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(7): 661–668. Illus. 1963.—The vegetative axillary buds of Michelia fuscala are dorsiventrally symmetrical with 2 ranks of alternately produced leaves. The direction of the ontogenetic spiral in each of these buds is related both to the symmetry of the supporting branch and to the position of the bud along the branch. On a radially symmetrical branch, all the axillary buds are alike—all clockwise, for example. But in a dorsiventrally organized branch the symmetry alternates from clockwise in 1 axillary bud to counterclockwise in the next bud along the axis. Leaf initiation and ontogeny of the axillary apical meristem conform with those of the terminal vegetative bud. The axillary bud arises as a shell zone in the second leaf axil from the terminal meristem. During this process the axillary apex develops a zonate appearance. The acropetally developing procambial supply of the axillary bud consists wholly of leaf traces. At the nodal level the bud traces diverge from the same gap as the median bundle trace of the subtending leaf. Only the basal 1–2 axillary buds which form immediately after the flowers elongate each year, while the majority remains dormant with 3 leaves or fewer.     

附生植物石斛的株丛生长及营养繁殖特征

石斛(Dendrobium nobile Lindl.)为兰科多年生附生性草本植物,特化的假鳞茎是其营养贮藏器官,通过假鳞茎可实现克隆生长。该研究以野外调查发现的石斛株丛为研究材料,比较不同等级株丛假鳞茎合轴生长和高位腋芽的差异,分析高位株丛的定植方式,探讨石斛株丛生长及营养繁殖对附生环境的适应策略。结果显示:(1)石斛株丛的生长和扩大通过合轴生长的营养繁殖方式进行,假鳞茎基部具有2~3个储备芽,每年萌发1~2个新芽,随着生长年限的增加,形成大小不一的株丛。(2)株丛具有典型的高位腋芽营养繁殖特性,且主要形成于假鳞茎密集和老根密布的大株丛。(3)高位株丛母茎一端附着于附主树种上,在母茎软化和高位株丛的重力作用下,缩短了高位株丛与附主的距离,使其根系能够触及附主,完成高位株丛的定植。研究表明,附生植物石斛通过假鳞茎合轴生长的营养繁殖方式来增强并延续株丛寿命,高位腋芽的频发是株丛假鳞茎对拥挤等逆境的响应,高位株丛的定植依赖于母茎,这也是石斛对附生环境的一种生态适应策略。