Spore morphology and ultrastructure of Cyathea (Cyatheaceae,Pteridophyta) species from southern South America

Spore sculpture and wall structure of eight Cyathea (Cyatheaceae) species from southern South America were studied using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Two layers, i.e. an inner and an outer layer, were observed in the perispore. The inner layer has two strata: the inner stratum is attached to the exospore and composed of rodlets tangentially oriented to the spore surface and randomly intermixed; the outer stratum consists of a three-dimensional network of rodlets with either free or fused distal edges forming spinules. The outer layer is thin, darkly contrasted and covers the rodlets. In most cases, the exospore has two layers and a pitted surface. In Cyathea atrovirens, the exospore surface is smooth, while in C. delgadii and C. myriotricha it is verrucate. The homogeneity of perispore features within the genus Cyathea is evident, while exospore features are heterogeneous. The exospore has different kinds of surface-structures that are of potential interest for assessing evolutionary trends within the group.     

New species and records of tree ferns (Cyatheaceae, Pteridophyta) from the northern Andes

Four new species of Cyatheaceae from Ecuador are described: Alsophila conantiana Lehnert, Cyathea brucei Lehnert, C. moranii Lehnert, and C. sylvatica Lehnert. Range extensions are documented for Alsophila esmeraldensis R.C. Moran and Cyathea macrocarpa (C. Presl) Domin.

For full article, see Electronic Supplement at: http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/06-13.htm     

Nineteen new species of Elaphoglossum (Elaphoglossaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia

We describe and illustrate 19 new species ofElaphoglossum from Bolivia:E. ayopayaense, E. carrascoense, E. choquetangae, E. cotapatense, E. crispipalea, E. cruzense, E. elkeae, E. ellenbergianum, E. gonzalesiae, E. inquisitivum, E. madidiense, E. murinum, E. neei, E. palmarum, E. pannosum, E. paucinervium, E. puberulentum, E. pulchrum, andE. sunduei.     

The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.     

Diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthetic and morphological traits of the tree ferns Dicksonia antarctica (Dicksoniaceae) and Cyathea australis (Cyatheaceae) in wet sclerophyll forests of Australia

Steady state and dynamic responses of two tree fern species of contrasting origins, Dicksonia antarctica (of Gondwanan origin) and Cyathea australis (Pan-tropical), were studied over two consecutive years under field conditions in a wet sclerophyll forest of south-east Australia. Irrespective of their different origins, there were no significant differences in photosynthetic performance between the two species. Growth irradiance and leaf temperature, but not plant water status, was significantly related to photosynthetic and morphological traits. At a common leaf temperature, maximum light-use efficiency of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) was significantly lower in winter than in summer, suggesting some limitation to PSII efficiency potentially associated with cold winter mornings. Both species displayed seasonal acclimation in a number of measured photosynthetic parameters and frond traits (i.e. F_v/F_m, A_sat, g_s, N_A, total chlorophyll, SLA). Acclimation of stomatal density to spatial variation in growth irradiance seemed limited in both species, although stomatal pattern differed between species. Because there were no significant differences between the two species in photosynthetic parameters, both species can be described by common carbon gain and water use models at the leaf scale.     

Gametophytic phase of Alsophila odonelliana (Cyatheaceae)

The gametophytic morphology and development of Alsophila odonelliana (Alston) Lehnert, have been studied through in vitro cultures. This species grows in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. The spores are uniform in structure, but not in size; a certain percentage being smaller than the average. 16 spores per sporangium were found. The germination is of the Cyathea type. It was found that spores stored at 4°C can maintain their viability for over two years. The maximum value of germination depends on spore age. The filamentous gametophytes are 4–16 cells long. Young gametophytes have 1–2 branches that give rise to new gametophytes. Male, female, bisexual and neuter gametophytes were found. Propagules were frequently found in neuter gametophytes, and female and bisexual gametophytes were found to have chlorophyll containing scales. The antheridia are made up of five cells and produce non‐viable spermatozoids. The archegonia have necks formed by four columns with four cells each. Most of the gametophytic phase is documented with photomicrographs.     

The genus Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae) in Bolivia and Argentina

Recent field work in Bolivia has resulted in the recognition of new species ofDyschoriste (Acanthaceae). These novelties are introduced here for the convenience of other taxonomists prior to the publication of a treatment of the Acanthaceae of Bolivia. Three new Bolivian and one new Argentinean species ofDyschoriste,D. axillaris, D. boliviana, D. ceciliae, andD. prostrata are described, illustrated, and compared to their closest relatives.     

A molecular phylogeny of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae)

Tree ferns recently were identified as the closest sister group to the hyperdiverse clade of ferns, the polypods. Although most of the 600 species of tree ferns are arborescent, the group encompasses a wide range of morphological variability, from diminutive members to the giant scaly tree ferns, Cyatheaceae. This well-known family comprises most of the tree fern diversity (～500 species) and is widespread in tropical, subtropical, and south temperate regions of the world. Here we investigate the phylogenetic relationships of scaly tree ferns based on DNA sequence data from five plastid regions (rbcL, rbcL-accD IGS, rbcL-atpB IGS, trnG-trnR, and trnL-trnF). A basal dichotomy resolves Sphaeropteris as sister to all other taxa and scale features support these two clades: Sphaeropteris has conform scales, whereas all other taxa have marginate scales. The marginate-scaled clade consists of a basal trichotomy, with the three groups here termed (1) Cyathea (including Cnemidaria, Hymenophyllopsis, Trichipteris), (2) Alsophila sensu stricto, and (3) Gymnosphaera (previously recognized as a section within Alsophila) + A. capensis. Scaly tree ferns display a wide range of indusial structures, and although indusium shape is homoplastic it does contain useful phylogenetic information that supports some of the larger clades recognised.     

Two new tree ferns (Cyatheaceae) from southern Ecuador

Two new species ofCyathea are described,C. obnoxia andC. plicata, from the vicinity of Podocarpus National Park in the Provinces Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador.     

On the stomata ofSalvinia herzogii (Salviniaceae,Pteridophyta)

The structure of the stomata of the floating leaves ofSalvinia herzogii has been analyzed with light and scanning electron microscopy. Peculiar extensions (cuticle?) of the outer and inner tangential sides of the walls of the guard-cells are described. Both extensions, partially joined at their ends, are encircling a pore. This structure is used to propose an alternative explanation for the risk of the occlusion of the ostioles, different from that given byHaberlandt. The conductivity of these stomata was checked with a porometer and the ostioles proved to be permanently open. Their type of stomatogenesis is discussed. The stomata ofSalvinia are considered to be vestigial structures and their sunken position is taken as evidence in support of a xeric hypothetic ancestor of the genus.     

薄鳞蕨属（中国蕨科）——新组合

承认中国蕨科薄鳞蕨属的独立性,把喜马拉雅地区分布的Cheilanthes duthiei新组合到了该属.     

Triploidy in Equisetum subgenus Hippochaete (Equisetaceae, Pteridophyta)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Equisetum is cytologically uniform, having a base chromosome number of x = 108. All previously known species and hybrids that have been counted represent diploids with a sporophytic chromosome number of 2n = 216. Biosystematic studies on Equisetum subgenus Hippochaete revealed evidence that triploids occur in nature. The objective of this study was to confirm that triploid plants exist in the natural environment. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to establish nuclear DNA values and cytological investigations of meiosis were carried out to obtain information on chromosome number and pairing behaviour. KEY RESULTS: Triploidy exists in three morphologically different hybrid taxa. Two of these are morphologically intermediate between a primary diploid hybrid and a parent, while the third apparently combines genomes from all three Central European Hippochaete species. Nuclear 1C DNA values for the four European Hippochaete species range from 21.4-31.6 pg. For the hybrids, the 1C DNA values not only occupy the same range as the species, but their total DNA amounts agree closely with values predicted by adding the 1C DNA values of each parental genome. Chromosome counts confirm diploidy in the species E. hyemale and E. variegatum and in the hybrid E. xtrachyodon (= E. hyemale x E. variegatum). For the triploids (2n approximately 324), cytological information is presented for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Triploid taxa may have originated by backcrossing or by crossing of a diploid hybrid with an unrelated diploid species. As tetraploid plants are unknown, these crossings probably involve diploid gametophytes that developed from unreduced diplospores. By repeated crossing events or backcrossing, reticulate evolution patterns arise that are similar to those known for a number of ferns and fern allies.     

四种培养条件下白桫椤配子体的形态发育

对四种不同培养条件下白桫椤(Sphaeropteris brunoniana)配子体的形态发育进行了观察,发现培养于腐殖质土和赤红土两种基质上的配子体,原叶体形态和有性繁殖均存在差异;培养于改良的knop's琼脂培养基上,不同的光照条件下的配子体在丝状体和原叶体阶段形态也差异很大.     

珍珠贝母体中牛磺酸的提取

以珍珠贝母为原料 ,通过细胞自溶破壁 ,使牛黄酸溶出 ,以离子交换树脂法提取纯化溶液中牛磺酸。实验结果表明 :细胞自溶破壁的最佳条件为温度 4 0℃ ,p H5.5,自溶时间 4 0 h;纯化可使牛磺酸量占氨基酸总量的 80 .6%,回收率为 87.5%。     

Cytogenetic and phytochemical investigations in hybrids of MacaronesianDryopteris (Pteridophyta: Aspidiaceae)

The cytology and phloroglucinol composition of wild and synthesized hybrids of MacaronesianDryopteris species have been examined. Both cytological and chemical evidence suggest that the tetraploidD. guanchica has arisen from the diploid speciesD. aemula andD. maderensis by hybridization and chromosome doubling. However, the formation of the characteristic fully aromatic compounds inD. aemula appears to be suppressed in most of the hybrids involving this species, and inD. guanchica.     

The morphology and cytology of a new Polystichum (Pteridophyta: Dryopteridaceae) hybrid from South Africa

A new Polystichum (Pteridophyta: Dryopteridaceae) hybrid, P. x saltum is described. Several micromorphological characters are anomalous in their being a summation of the character states of the progenitors rather than being intermediate or closer to one of the parent species. The putative parents of this sterile hybrid are P. transvaalen.se and P. wilsonii , both sexual tetraploids (2 n = 164). Polystichum x saltum also has a somatic chromosome number of 2 n = 164, but meiosis yields univalents and bivalents.