Epidermal features of Heracleum mantegazzianum Somm. & Lev., H. sphondyliutn L. and their hybrid

Leaf surfaces of the native Heracleum sphondyliutn , the alien Heracleum mantegazzianum and the interspecific hybrid were examined using SEM and light microscopy. The surfaces differed in hairiness, especially in the length of the hairs, although the hairs did not differ in general form, or distribution on the leaf surface. Stomata differed little in length, width or frequency, but there were differences in the sort of stomata in relation to the surrounding epidermal cells. The hybrid material was intermediate between the parental species, and sometimes displayed aberrant trichomes that were contorted in contiguous pairs.
The results are discussed in relation to other work on the epidermal features of the Umbelliferae: as a means of discriminating the three taxa, and in relation to the ecological distributions of the species.     

中国黄耆属糙叶组叶表皮毛状体微形态学特征

采用体视显微镜和扫描电子显微镜,对中国产黄耆属糙叶组34种植物的叶表皮毛状体的形态特征及其分布进行了观察,以探讨中国黄耆属糙叶组物种表皮毛微观形态的变异式样及其分类学意义,为糙叶组物种的分类鉴定提供依据。结果表明：除乳白花黄耆（A. galactites）仅在叶下表面被毛外,其余种类上下表皮均有毛,且毛的分布、形态、长度和臂比在不同种类间存在差异。叶表皮毛为伏贴或开展的中空管状毛,伏贴毛着生部位基部膨大,整体形态从中部向两端由粗逐渐变细,开展的毛大部分为细长的丝状或线状,光滑或具条纹状纹饰,上面分布有乳突。研究认为,叶表皮表面伏贴、短而平直、其上光滑具密集乳突、臂比值小、整体宽扁的毛是祖先特征;而叶表皮表面向上开展、长而密集、外形呈丝状或线形、其上具条纹状纹饰、乳突稀疏、臂比值大的毛是进化特征。     

新疆委陵菜属不同花柱组植物叶表皮微形态结构的研究

利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜,观察了新疆委陵菜属5组不同花柱组10种4变种植物叶表皮的微形态特征,测量统计叶表皮毛的类型、表皮细胞的形状及大小、气孔器的分布及类型、气孔的形状、大小、密度及指数、气孔外拱盖形态及其纹饰等指标。结果显示:新疆委陵菜属10种4变种植物叶的下表皮均有气孔器的分布,形状为长椭圆形、椭圆形、宽椭圆形和近圆形;气孔器的类型多为无规则四细胞型、无规则型、围绕型和辐射型;表皮毛的类型为针状毛、带状柔毛和腺毛;表皮细胞的形状分为不规则形和多边形2种类型。研究表明,新疆委陵菜属植物表皮毛特征、叶片表皮细胞的形状、垂周壁式样、气孔器的形状类型、气孔密度指数及外围蜡质纹饰等存在差异,对属以下等级的划分有重要价值,可作为物种分类及鉴别的依据,同时也为本属一些分类群间的系统关系的探讨提供佐证。     

Byssal hairs in the invasive Asian freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei (Mytilidae) in the Paraná River system with comments on this species in South America

We recorded, for the first time, byssal hairs in the Asian freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei from the Paraná River system. We analysed the presence of hairs and their distribution on the shell in relation to habitat and shell size in 12 sites. Hairs were present in lentic habitats associated with macrophytes or organic matter, but were absent in lotic environments. The proportion of mussels with hairs was negatively correlated with current velocity. Hairs were more frequent and abundant in larger mussels. In general, the hairs are a similar length over the bivalve and almost entirely cover the shells in≥60% in lentic habitats. The projections allow L. fortunei to be camouflaged among the roots of macrophytes or coarse organic matter, assisting in avoiding visual predators. The clear-cut separation of L. fortunei populations into two different groups could be associated with phenotypic plasticity in this species.     

山东银莲花叶片形态结构对异质生境和海拔变化的响应

山东银莲花为一分布极其狭域的稀有物种,对海拔600 m以上的针阔混交林和山顶灌丛两种异质的生境都具有较高的适应性。为探索其适应策略,选择两种异质生境中的5个海拔梯度样带,采用常规石蜡切片法和显微观察技术,对叶片进行观察、分析和测量,通过比较叶片外部形态特征参数和内部解剖结构的差异,推测其叶片适应海拔和异质生境的响应策略。结果表明:为适应阴暗、潮湿的针阔混交林和干旱、强光照的山顶灌丛两种不同环境,山东银莲花分别表现出不同的适应策略。针阔混交林下,叶片的背腹表皮毛密度、比叶面积和气孔相对开度较山顶灌丛的大,而气孔密度、叶片厚度、栅栏组织和海绵组织的厚度较山顶灌丛的小;山顶灌丛植株叶片栅栏组织细胞排列较林下更加整齐紧密。两种生境中叶片腹面表皮毛的长度、气孔相对开度都随海拔的升高而减小,且差异明显;而叶片厚度、比叶面积、气孔指数等对600 m以上海拔变化未表现出明显的规律性。本研究将为山东银莲花的保护和利用提供理论基础及依据,为其他植物的相关研究提供参考。     

Trichome micromorphology in Alcea L. and allied genera (Malvaceae) and its systematic implication

Trichomes of 26 species of Alcea (Malvaceae) were investigated using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The trichomes show a great micromorphological variation, which provides data useful for species delimitation in Alcea. Two basic types of trichomes could be distinguished in Alcea and allied genera: glandular and eglandular. The glandular trichomes could in turn be subdivided into two subtypes: capitate and clavate. The eglandular trichomes could be subdivided into five subtypes: simple, fascicled, stellate, fascicled-stellate and pluri-radiate. Characters of taxonomic interest are: trichome density (glabrous to dense), number of arms per trichome, orientation relative to the epidermal surface (appressed to erect) and presence/absence of a stalk. According to the results the species of Alcea can be divided into four informal groups based on trichome types. The results further support the exclusion of the annual Althaea species from the perennial ones and their close relationship to Malva. In addition, a close relationship between perennial Althaea and basal Alcea lineages is supported. Based on the evolutionary framework provided by recent molecular phylogenetic investigations, the following trends can be observed in the Malva alliance: long and narrow-armed trichomes are primitive in relation to short and thick-armed trichomes; dense indumentum coverage is primitive in relation to moderately dense or glabrous ones; presence of simple hairs on stem (particularly on leaves) is more advanced than their absence; spreading villous-stellate and fascicled trichomes are more advanced than appressed stellate ones. Clavate trichomes, which were found exclusively in a few species of Alcea, should be considered as a derived state in relation to capitate ones, and they may provide a synapomorphy for the crown group of Alcea.     

委陵菜属锥状花柱组植物叶表皮微形态特征的研究

利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜,观察了新疆委陵菜属（Potentilla L.）锥状花柱组（Sect.Conostylae(Wolf)Yü et Li）15种委陵菜植物叶表皮的微形态特征。对其叶表皮毛的类型、表皮细胞的形状及大小、气孔器的分布、气孔器类型、气孔形状、气孔大小、气孔密度、气孔指数、气孔外拱盖形态及其纹饰等指标进行分析：有几种植物叶的上表皮无气孔,而下表皮均有气孔器的分布,形状为长椭圆形、椭圆形、宽椭圆形和近圆形;气孔器的类型多为短平列四细胞型、无规则四细胞型、无规则型、围绕型和辐射型;表皮毛的类型为针状毛、带状柔毛和腺毛;表皮细胞分为不规则形和多边形;表皮毛特征、叶片表皮细胞的形状、垂周壁式样、气孔器的形状类型、气孔密度指数及蜡质纹饰等存在差异,可作为亚属间及种间分类的依据。     

The significance of leaf pubescence for the absorption of global radiation by Tussilago farfara L.

Summary The spectral properties of juvenile and adult leaves of Tussilago farfara L. were measured for the wave range from 400 to 1350 nm. The significance of leaf pubescence for the absorption of global radiation was determined. The absorption is lowered by epidermal harrs only for the visible part of the spectrum (400–1350 nm). Absorptivities of the infrared do not vary whether hairs are present or not. The spectral properties of the upper and the lower surfaces without hairs are not equal. The hairs on the lower surface increase the amount of infrared radiation that is reflected by the upper surface. As shown by calculations of the absorbed radiation, pubescence has little influence on energy input. If leaves are put in an inverse position, the absorption of the global radiation energy is lowered by 15% compared with the same leaf in the regular position.     

Association of Azospirillum with Grass Roots

The association between grass roots and Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7 was investigated by the Fahraeus slide technique, using nitrogen-free medium. Young inoculated roots of pearl millet and guinea grass produced more mucilaginous sheath (mucigel), root hairs, and lateral roots than did uninoculated sterile controls. The bacteria were found within the mucigel that accumulated on the root cap and along the root axes. Adherent bacteria were associated with granular material on root hairs and fibrillar material on undifferentiated epidermal cells. Significantly fewer numbers of azospirilla attached to millet root hairs when the roots were grown in culture medium supplemented with 5 mM potassium nitrate. Under these growth conditions, bacterial attachment to undifferentiated epidermal cells was unaffected. Aseptically collected root exudate from pearl millet contained substances which bound to azospirilla and promoted their adsorption to the root hairs. This activity was associated with nondialyzable and proteasesensitive substances in root exudate. Millet root hairs adsorbed azospirilla in significantly higher numbers than cells of Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Klebsiella, or Escherichia. Pectolytic activities, including pectin transeliminase and endopolygalacturonase, were detected in pure cultures of A. brasilense when this species was grown in a medium containing pectin. These studies describe colonization of grass root surfaces by A. brasilense and provide a possible explanation for the limited colonization of intercellular spaces of the outer root cortex.     

Early cytological events in the infection of the root hairs ofTrifolium repens byRhizobium leguminosarum biovartrifolii observed by glass slide culture in living seedlings

This report describes the early cytological events in the infection byRhizobium leguminosarum biovartrifolii of the root hairs ofTrifolium repens seedlings kept alive on agar medium in glass slide culture experiment. The infection threads bearing rhizobia were formed as soon as the epidermal cells began to emerge as root hairs. On the top of some of these infected emerging root hairs, there were smoky, cell-debris-like bodies, which appeared to be derived from the cell wall dug by rhizobia. Similar bodies were also observed in longer root hairs. None of the root hair cells along the length of the roots which contained infection threads were curled or distorted. A substantial number of pink-colored nodules were later formed on the roots with non-curled infected root hairs.     

TRICHOMES OF CANNABIS SATIVA L. (CANNABACEAE)

The diversity of non-glandular and glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa L. (marihuana) are described by scanning electron microscopy. The non-glandular hairs are of two major types, as distinguished by size differences and locations, and all of them are highly silicified. The presence of silica as well as cystoliths of calcium carbonate help in the identification of marihuana even in its ash residues. X-ray microanalyses of Cannabis hairs are compared with those of Humulus lupulus and Lantana camera, whose hairs have been considered to resemble those of marihuana. Glandular hairs are found to be of two major categories. One group consists of glands whose heads are generally made up of eight cells and the other group whose heads are generally made up of two cells but never more than four cells. All glands of both categories are stalked. Some glands of the first category are massively stalked and these are restricted solely to anthers and bracts of staminate and pistillate plants. The massive stalk is considered to be made up of epidermal and hypodermal cells that have grown in response to some stimulation during anthesis. Fine details of the shoot system of Cannabis, such as cuticular ridges on epidermal cells, warty protuberances on non-glandular hairs, and surface views of glands in developing stages are also reported. Glandular hairs on the bracts of Humulus lupulus resemble those of Cannabis.     

Laminarionema elsbetiae gen. et sp. nov. (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae), a new endophyte in Laminaria sporophytes

Laminarionema elsbetiae gen. et sp, nov, (Ectocarpaceae, Ectocarpales. Phaeophyceae), a new endophyte of Laminaria japonica Areschoug (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae), is described from Muroran. Hokkaido, Japan. Laminarionema elsbetiae grows in the host tissues forming networks in the epidermal and subcortical layers as well as penetrating into the cortical and medullary layers. Only phaeophycean hairs emerge from the surface of the host tissue. No reproductive cells were found in field material. However, under host-free culture the species formed three morphologically different reproductive structures. Macrosporangia containing a single large motile spore were formed under long and short day conditions below 20°C, transformed from vegetative cells, conical to elongated in shape, 50–75 μm in length and ca. 10 μm in diameter. Microsporangia were linear to lanceolate, sometimes branched, formed under long and short day conditions below 15°C. Unilocular sporangia were more or less irregular in shape, formed under short day conditions of 5–15°C, 60–75 μm in length and 40–45 μm in diameter. Sexual fusion between macro- and microspores was not seen. In mixed cultures of L. elsbetiae with young sporophytes of L Japonica Areschoug as well as Saccorhiza dermatodea (de la Pylaie) J. Agardh, L elsbetiae infected both hosts, grew in the same manner as in natural hosts, and formed macrosporangia between host epidermal cells.     

Epidermal hair morphology in Solanum L. section Solanum

Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine stem, leaf, staminal and stylar hairs on species belonging to Solanum L. section Solanum. The surface morphology of these hairs is illustrated. Simple, uniseriate hairs characterize the section Solanum, and these may have eglandular or glandular heads; they are usually multicellular, but in some species the stylar hairs appear to be unicellular. In addition, stalked glands, described here as spherical, four-celled glands, are universally present in species belonging to the section Solanum.     

EPIDERMAL FEATURES AND SILICA DEPOSITION IN LEMMAS AND AWNS OF ZIZANIA (GRAMINEAE)

In four species of Zizania (Gramineae: Oryzeae) epidermal features of pistillate and staminate lemmas, paleas, and awns were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Features observed were silica bodies, siliceous papillae, pitted siliceous papillae, stomata, microhairs, and prickle hairs. Staminate lemmas have all of these features. Pistillate lemmas have silica bodies and prickle hairs, lack stomata, and differ among species in occurrences of microhairs and siliceous papillae and pitted siliceous papillae. Awns of pistillate lemmas have silica bodies, prickle hairs, microhairs, and stomata; therefore, they possess a more complete set of features than their attached lemmas. Shapes of silica bodies on pistillate lemmas differ among species. A taxonomic key based on SEM observation of pistillate lemmas separates the four species by the shapes of silica bodies, arrangement of prickle hairs, and occurrences of microhairs and siliceous papillae. The main silica-containing structures are silica bodies, siliceous papillae, pitted siliceous papillae, and to a lesser extent prickle hairs. Pitted siliceous papillae with circular raised rims are formed by collapse or exfoliation of the tops of siliceous papillae; these have not been previously described in grasses. Comparison of epidermal features in the lemmas and leaves of Zizania shows that the former lack three kinds of nonsilicified papillae and epicuticular wax that are present on the latter but the lemmas have siliceous papillae and pits that are absent in leaves.     

Application of epidermal morphology to taxonomic delimitations in the genus Jatropha L. (Euphorbiaceae)*

SEM examination of the epidermis of mature leaves of 37 species in the ten sections of Jatropha (Euphoi-biaceae) has provided information consistent with an earlier revision of the genuS. All species examined show basic paracyic stomata, excluding J.fremontioides which has anisocytic stomata. Subgenera are well demarcated by presence of true paracytic stomata in subgenus Curcas and hrachyparacytic stomata in subgenus Jatropha. The two subgenera can also be distinguished by the presence of smooth hairs in subgenusJatropha and verrucose hairs in subgenus Curcas (except in section Curcas).Uniseriate, inulticellular hairs occur only in the three most advanced.closely related.sections (Jatropha, Collenucia and Spinosae) in subgenus Jatropha.Similarities and dissimilarities of cuticular ornamentations, shape of the epidermal and vein cells and direction of anticlinal walls can be used as distinguishing characters, usually significant at the species level.     

Ultrastructural and biochemical characterization of the epidermal hairs of the seeds of Cuphea procumbens

Rehydration of desiccated Cuphea seeds results in a rapid morphological change in the seed. Within 20 min thread like epidermal hairs are present on the seed surface. The hairs, which are highly ordered helical structures, are present in the epidermal cells of the desiccated seed. Following emergence the hairs increase in length by means of an eversion process, the mechanism for which is proposed in the text. The hairs were purified to homogeneity and found to be composed of 55% carbohydrate and 45% protein. Following -elimination of the carbohydrate using NaOH/NaBH₄ one major protein of MW 31,000 was seen upon polacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate. The protein, here termed helexin, probably plays a major structural role in determining the helical shape of the hairs.     

Primulina melanofilamenta sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Guangxi,China

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina melanofilamenta Ying Liu & F. Wen from Guangxi, China, is illustrated and described. It is morphologically distinct from the most similar species P. eburnea and P. atroglandulosa by the color of the corolla, dark purplish black filaments, anthers backed with a beard of white hairs, the length of staminodes and the hairs of styles. The somatic chromosome number of P. melanofilamenta is also reported as 2n = 36.     

中国伞形科独活属果实表面微形态特征及其分类学意义

采用扫描电镜方法对中国伞形科独活属15个种的果实表面微形态特征进行了比较观察.结果表明:(1)多数种的外果皮表面细胞为凹陷型,细胞形状为4～6边形、不规则形和细胞轮廓不可见.(2)外果皮纹饰可分为网状纹饰和条状纹饰两类;多数种类具有尖囊状或带状表皮毛以及鳞片状或颗粒状的分泌物.(3)其微形态特征在独活属属下种间表现出丰富的多样性,可为种的划分提供重要的分类学依据.(4)结合形态学、孢粉学、细胞学和解剖学等特征对钝叶独活(H.candicans var.obtusifolium)和长裂叶独活(H.millefolium var.longilobum)的系统位置分析认为:将钝叶独活作为白亮独活的变种处理较恰当;将长裂叶独活作为种(H.longilobum)处理,系统位置在裂叶独活(H.millefolium)之后.     

酸枣叶表皮微形态对不同生态环境的适应特征

以生长于烟台—石家庄—宁夏—新疆不同生境形成的自然梯度干旱环境中的酸枣(Ziziphus jujuba var.spinosas)为材料,应用扫描电镜和能谱分析研究酸枣叶表皮微形态对不同自然梯度干旱环境的适应特征。结果表明:酸枣叶片的上、下表皮都有表皮毛着生且在叶脉处分布浓密;叶片表层覆盖有较厚的角质层和蜡质并形成突起,其主要成分为C、O、Ca三种元素;叶片表面气孔数量平均40个/视野且按一定规律分布。不同生境中酸枣叶片表面都分布有大量的晶体,且晶体的形态和组成成分表现出一定的生态适应特征。晶体的形状多样,有正六棱体、长六棱体、不规则片状、正方体、棒状晶体或针状,晶体的分布方式有单晶和簇晶。从烟台到新疆随干旱梯度的加剧,酸枣叶片表皮毛逐渐增多,气孔数量减少,气孔腔下陷明显,有助于植株减少蒸腾保水抗旱;晶体的体积逐渐变小,数量增多,密度增大,提升了叶片硬度及抗旱性;酸枣叶片晶体的主要成分为C、O、Ca三种元素,且随生境干旱加剧,C元素的含量逐渐增加,O和Ca元素含量依次减少,此外宁夏的晶体中还含有Si元素,进一步提升了叶片的机械性能。酸枣叶表皮微形态中表皮毛、角质层与蜡质、气孔、晶体等在形态结构、生物功能和组成成分上特异性的变化是其长期生存于不同梯度干旱生境的生态适应特征。     

LEAF TRICHOMES OF SOME PARTHENIUM SPECIES

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), a native shrub of the Chihuahuan desert, contains rubber. Guayule has been crossed with other Parthenium species in an attempt to improve its agronomic characteristics. The resulting hybrids show intermediate morphologies. Each Parthenium species has a characteristic combination of leaf trichomes. In order to recognize the contribution of each parent in future studies of hybrids, characteristics of leaf trichomes of the following Parthenium species were studied: P. tomentosum, P. fruticosum, P. Schottii and P. rollinsianum. All species studied had two or more types of trichomes, and, in some species, trichomes of upper and lower epidermal surfaces were different. The prominent trichomes on upper epidermis of P. tomentosum and P. fruticosum were simple, uniseriate, conical trichomes, which also were observed on both epidermal surfaces of P. Schottii. Extremely long, narrow, simple, whiplike, trichomes formed a dense cover on both surfaces of P. rollinsianum and on the lower surfaces of P. tomentosum and P. fruticosum. Simple, uniseriate, cylindrical trichomes, and biseriate, glandular trichomes were observed in all four species.