Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in the flowers of Aconitum (Ranunculaceae)

The presence of anthocyanidins and anthocyanins were analyzed in flowers of 30 taxa of Aconitum. Delphinidin was detected as a major anthocyanidin from the hydrolysate of 29 taxa with violet and violet-blue flowers. Pelargonidin was identified as a major anthocyanidin in one taxon with white flowers (partially pale reddish purple; White group N155C by R.H.S. Colour Chart). This is the first reported detection of pelargonidin as a major anthocyanidin from Aconitum flowers. Pelargonidin was also found in ten taxa as a minor anthocyanidin, whereas cyanidin was detected from the flowers of all 30 taxa as a minor anthocyanidin.Two anthocyanins polyacylated by p-hydroxybenzoic acids, violdelphin and monodeacylcampanin were identified from 29 taxa with violet and violet-blue flowers as major anthocyanins. This is the first reported isolation of monodeacylcampanin from Aconitum flowers. The structures of these two anthocyanins were elucidated on the basis of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).     

Interpopulation variation in nectar production in Aconitum columbianum (Ranunculaceae)

Summary In Aconitum columbianum there are extreme interpopulation differences in rates of nectar secretion per flower. Since nectar sugar concentration varies little among populations, increased nectar secretion results in a greater mass of sugar per flower for pollinator attraction. These differences in the amount of reward offered per flower account at least in part for observed higher levels of pollinator activity in populations with high nectar production. Nectar production is correlated also with nectary depth, i.e., flowers in populations with deep nectaries have higher rates of nectar secretion than those with shallow nectaries. Nectary depth differences adapt populations to different pollinator-types. Populations with deeper nectaries are adapted to pollination by bumblebees with longer tongues and more specialized foraging behaviors. In conclusion, there are basic differences in pollination ecology among geographical races of a. columbianum, which are indicated by correlated interpopulution differences in (1) nectar production, (2) level of pollinator activity, (3) nectar depth, and (4) pollinator-type.     

Polyploidy in Aconitum subgenus Lycoctonum (Ranunculaceae)

Chromosome numbers and morphology in 22 populations belonging to 11 taxa of Aconitum subgenus Lycoctonum (Ranunculaceae) from China were studied. Some taxa were diploid, with 2 n  = 16, but four species and two varieties were found to be tetraploid, with 2 n  = 32. They are concentrated in the Hengduan Mountains region in south-west China, indicating that polyploidy could have played an important role in the speciation of the subgenus in this region, one of the areas of the world with a high concentration of endemic species. The relationships of some of the species are discussed.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 343–353.     

Relationship between floral longevity and sex allocation among flowers within inflorescences in Aquilegia buergeriana var. oxysepala (Ranunculaceae)

Understanding the fitness of plants with inflorescences requires examining variation in sex allocation among flowers within inflorescences. We examined whether differences in the duration of the male and female phases of flowering lead to variation in sex allocation and reproductive success among flowers within inflorescences. In 2002 and 2003, we quantified floral longevity, floral sex allocation, and reproductive success between the first and the second flowers within inflorescences in a protandrous species, Aquilegia buergeriana var. oxysepala. Floral longevity was greater in the first flowers than in the second ones in both years. The male phase lasted longer, and the initial number of pollen grains and the number of pollen grains removed were greater in the first flowers than in the second ones in both years. Within first flowers, the number of pollen grains removed was greater in flowers that had longer male phases, thus duration of the male phase may positively affect male reproductive success in the first flowers. The female phase lasted longer and the number of ovules was greater in the first flowers than in the second only in 2002. However, seed production per flower and female phase duration in both years were not significantly related. The variation in the number of pollen grains among flowers in this species may be caused by the variation in male phase duration.     

Male-biased sex allocation in late-blooming flowers driven by resource limitation in the clonal perennial Aconitum kusnezoffii (Ranunculaceae)

Flowering phenology and clonal growth are known to affect resource and pollen availability, and therefore select for adaptive or constrained sex allocation strategies to some degree. However, the consequences of temporal sex allocation patterns for reproductive fitness across the flower, inflorescence, and genet levels have rarely been examined. Moreover, experimental tests of the underlying regulatory mechanisms are scarce. We examined the association of flowering phenology and inflorescence position with temporal sex allocation and reproductive success in the protandrous perennial clonal herb, Aconitum kusnezoffii, over four consecutive growing seasons by examining more than 39 000 flowers. We also conducted controlled experiments to test the effects of resource and pollen limitation on the female reproductive success of lateral inflorescences. We found that some male functions were positively correlated with flowering phenology, whereas female reproductive success was negatively correlated with flowering phenology and inflorescence position. Lateral inflorescences invested more in male function than terminal inflorescences and therefore yielded fewer and smaller seeds. Resource limitation may serve as the key mechanism underlying this differentiated pattern. Decreased female reproductive success was consistently observed at the flower and inflorescence levels as flowering occurred later in the growth season. Late-blooming lateral inflorescences specialized in the male function, and their female reproductive success was constrained by early-blooming terminal inflorescences. This might be the first attempt to systematically demonstrate sex allocation strategy differentiation in a protandrous plant species at the inflorescence level. In addition, our study provides empirical evidence of dichogamy selecting for specialized sex allocation strategies among inflorescences.     

Reproductive patterns within racemes in protandrous Aconitum gymnandrum (Ranunculaceae): potential mechanism and among-family variation

The adaptive significance and mechanism of patterns in floral sex allocation and female success within inflorescences has attracted attention recently, whereas few studies have examined genetic variation of intra-inflorescence pattern. The purpose of this study is to investigate patterns of reproduction within racemes in protandrous Aconitum gymnandrum Maxim., and illuminate potential mechanisms and genetic variation of such patterns. Data from pot experiment on 40 maternal families were collected in field. Anther number, pollen:ovule ratio and seed germination rate increased from bottom to top flowers within racemes, but other traits, such as gynoecium mass, carpel number, sepal galea height and seed production decreased significantly with flowering sequence. Variation in floral sex allocation within racemes in A. gymnandrum fitted entirely the prediction of protandry, which was not a result of architectural effect. Such selected pattern may result from a variety of factors influencing the mating environment, such as pollinator directionality, display size and flower longevity. Decline of female success within racemes in A. gymnandrum also resulted from male-biased allocation selected by variation in the mating environment, not resource competition or pollen limitation. Moreover, there was genetic variation for most reproductive traits and the position effect, as evinced by significant variation among families.     

草乌传粉过程中的广告效应与回报物质研究

虫媒传粉植物与其传粉者之间的相互作用被认为是被子植物花多样性的一个重要选择压力。这种相互作用体现在植物对传粉者的吸引以及传粉者行为对花粉的转运两个方面。本项研究通过去除不同的花部器官研究了草乌(Aconitum kusnezoffii)对其传粉者的吸引, 并结合传粉者的访问行为和草乌花的生物学特性探讨了传粉过程与交配系统的适应。红光熊蜂(Bombus ignites)是草乌的有效传粉者。去除花萼片显著降低了红光熊蜂的访问频率, 但去除特化成蜜腺叶的花瓣并没有显著改变红光熊蜂的访问频率, 这表明草乌吸引红光熊蜂的主要结构是由5枚萼片组成的花部外观形态, 而非花瓣。花蜜是草乌提供给红光熊蜂的回报物质, 糖浓度为39.23%, 组氨酸浓度为0.25 μg/μL。草乌花较大、单花花期长、雌雄异熟、花粉寿命长, 是一个自交亲和但需传粉者传粉完成繁殖过程的异交物种。草乌花序是无限花序, 当上部的花处于雄性阶段时, 下部的花正好处于雌性阶段。而红光熊蜂在草乌花序上的访问顺序通常自下而上, 带来异交花粉为下部的花进行异花授精, 同时又带走上部花的花粉, 这就很好地促进了草乌的异交。草乌雄蕊自外向内逐渐成熟, 是一种有效的限制传粉者单次访问浪费大量花粉的花粉装配策略, 能提高植物通过花粉散布获得的雄性适合度。     

中国乌头属植物药用亲缘学研究

毛莨科Ranunculaceae乌头属Aconitum L．植物作为有毒植物及药用植物一直受到广泛的关注。本属全世界约有300余种,其中超过半数分布在中国。本文在总结乌头属二萜生物碱的化学分类及其分布、特征性二萜生物碱及其分类价值以及二萜生物碱的生源关系及其分类学意义的基础上,结合其毒性和疗效讨论了国产乌头属植物亲缘关系、化学成分和疗效及毒性之间的相关性,亦即药用亲缘学的初步研究。发现牛扁亚属subgen．Lycoctonum是以牛扁碱和C18-二萜生物碱为主的类群,由于其毒性中等,因而是寻找镇痛、抗炎等新药的一个对象。从二萜生物碱化学成分来看,露蕊乌头亚属subgen．Gymnaconitum并不显得最为进化,对其分类位置尚难作出最后的结论。乌头亚属subgen．Aconitum亚属下系之间的化学分类表现出如下特征：（1）唐古特乌头系ser．Tangutica和圆叶乌头系set．Rotundifolia是以内酯型二萜生物碱为主的类群,毒性较小,是新药寻找的重点研究类群。保山乌头系ser．Bullatifolia以C20-二萜生物碱如光翠雀碱和宋果灵以及C19-二萜生物碱如乌头碱、滇乌碱和尼奥灵等为主。短柄乌头系see Brachypoda显示以3-乙酰乌头碱、乌头碱、伏乌碱等高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱为主,胺醇类如尼奥灵次之,有时共存其他纳哌啉型C20-二萜生物碱的特征。准噶尔乌头系ser．Grandituberosa的化学特征是以高度进化的乌头碱型如乌头碱等和比较原始的胺醇如塔拉萨敏、尼奥灵等以及C20-二萜生物碱为主,均有较大毒性。褐紫乌头系ser．Brunnea则以C20-二萜生物碱如光翠雀碱和宋果灵为主,杂有高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱如乌头碱等成分。化学分类上不支持其独立成为一个分支。以上各系组成乌头亚属的原始和中间过渡类群。其中唐古特乌头系和圆叶乌头系最为相近,褐紫乌头系可能是连接保山乌头系和短柄乌头系的“桥梁”,而准噶尔乌头系更靠近保山乌头系。（2）显柱乌头系set．Stylosa是以含大茴香酸酯基的乌头碱型二萜生物碱以及塔拉萨敏和查斯曼宁胺醇类为主的类群,是块根较大的“大乌头”的主要来源,具有很大的毒性。兴安乌头系ser．Ambigua以含大茴香酸酯基的乌头碱型和原始胺醇类如塔拉萨敏、尼奥灵等二萜生物碱为主。蔓乌头系ser．Volubilia是以含大茴香酸酯基／苯甲酸酯基的乌头碱型和塔拉萨敏胺醇类以及高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱为主的中间过渡类群。乌头系ser．Inflata以含15-羟基的单酯、双酯或多酯以及胺醇类鸟头碱型二萜生物碱为主,且酯基中无大茴香酸酯基,此系是草乌的主要植物来源,具有很大的毒性,应十分慎用。这些系可能代表乌头亚属进化的类群。其中显柱乌头系与兴安乌头系可能较近缘。蔓乌头系可能是连接显柱乌头系／兴安乌头系与乌头系的中间类群。另外,保山乌头系、短柄乌头系和准噶尔乌头系可能是直接向显柱乌头系、蔓乌头系和乌头系过渡的较为原始的类群。（3）岩乌头系set．Racemulosa从化学分类角度来看是一个特殊的类群,支持其独立成一个分支。其化学特征以牛扁碱型和乌头碱型的胺醇二萜生物碱如牛扁碱、异塔拉萨亭定和C20-二萜生物碱为主。如果单纯从化学成分来看,它与牛扁亚属植物似乎有一定关系。     

四川乌头属二新种

描述了自四川西部发现的毛茛科乌头属二新种,细盔乌头和疏叶乌头,并给出其等与近缘种的区别特征。     

Allozyme variation and population differentiation of the Aconitum delavayi complex (Ranunculaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains of China

The Aconitum delavayi complex is a group of four climbing species with trisect-leaves occurring in the Hengduan Mountains. The species of this complex are highly localized on very narrow regions with quite small population sizes. Because of rapid environmental changes recently in the Hengduan Mountains, this complex shows complicated morphological variability, which makes it difficult to delimit species. In the present study, 10 enzyme systems coding for 14 putative loci were employed to detect the interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation of the complex. In addition to low genetic diversity within all eight populations surveyed, the results indicate that A. episcopale is a distinct species because of high genetic identities among its three populations. Very low genetic divergence among populations of A. stapfianum and A. delavayi suggests that the two species should be treated as a single one.     

Flavonoid characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of Aconitum anthora L. (Ranunculaceae)

In this paper, we report studies on morphological, phytochemical, and biological aspects of a population belonging to Aconitum anthora L. Two compounds, quercetin 3-O-((beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-(4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl))-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside))-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and kaempferol 3-O-((beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-(4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl))-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside))-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), together with two known flavonol glycosides (3-4) were isolated and identified from A. anthora. The antioxidant activity of the four identified flavonoids was screened by three in vitro tests.     

Environmental contribution to floral trait variation in Chamaecrista fasciculata (Fabaceae: Caesalpinoideae)

Although intraspecific variation in plant floral traits has been documented for a number of plant species, the causes of such variation are largely unknown. We first quantified floral trait variation in an Illinois prairie population of Chamaecrista fasciculata Michx. We then used a field experiment to determine the contribution of leaf herbivory to this variation and a greenhouse experiment to determine the contribution of leaf herbivory, and variable soil nutrient and water content to floral trait variation. Variation in environmental factors explained a significant portion of the naturally occurring variation in corolla width, ovule number, ovule size, and anther length. In the field, manual removal of 25% or more leaf area reduced ovule size and anther length (and by inference, pollen production), and delayed flowering. In the greenhouse, plants from which we removed 25% or more of their leaf area or which were given limited water produced fewer ovules than control plants. Addition of nutrients interacted with soil moisture to affect corolla diameter and ovule number. Despite our demonstration of significant environmental impacts on reproductive traits, these impacts were relatively much smaller than those on plant size, suggesting that floral traits are buffered against variable resource availability.     

Two New Species of Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) from Xizang

Two species of the genus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae), Anovoaxillare and Abasitruncatum, are described as new from Xizang Autonomous Region, China. The diagnostic differences between them and their allies are given.     

Seed morphology in some European aconites (Aconitum,Ranunculaceae)

The seed coat morphology, investigated in taxa representative of the main European groups ofAconitum, are in good agreement with the current taxonomy of the genus. The seed coat microcharacteristics (warty epidermal cells) are very constant. There is a trend for the reduction of longitudinal wings on the edges concomitant with the development of ridges and transverse wings on the faces. Another morphological progression leads from smooth to rugulose and eventually to transverse wing-bearing seed faces. A working hypothesis suggests an ecological adaptative significance to these changes.     

四川乌头属的修订

四川是我国乌头属Aconitum L.植物的重要分布区。本文对该地区的乌头属植物进行了分类修订。通过文献查阅、野外观察和标本室研究,对乌头属的形态性状在居群间和居群内的变异式样进行了比较分析,发现叶分裂程度、上萼片的形状和花梗毛被等性状是较为可靠的分种依据,但是在个别情况,这些性状也会在同一种的同一居群内或不同居群间发生变化。花瓣和种子的特征对于属下划分有重要意义。本文承认四川乌头属植物有46种11变种,另有2种和1变种暂存疑。29种和22变种降为异名;作出新组合2个,其中包括1个改级新组合。紫乌头A. delavayi Franch.和保山乌头A. nagarum Stapf为四川新分布记录。对康定乌头A. tatsienense Finet &; Gagnep.、川鄂乌头A. henryi Pritz.和狭裂乌头A. refractum (Finet &; Gagnep.) Hand.-Mazz.进行了后选模式的标定。初步澄清了东俄洛乌头A. tongolense Ulbr.和狭裂乌头等种类中长期存在的名实混乱。还给出了各个种的形态描述、地理分布以及分亚属、分系和分种检索表。     

The Chemotaxonomy of Chinese Species of the Genus Aconitum L. (Ranunculaceae)

On the basis of biosynthsis, distribution of diterpenoid alkaloids as well as morphological evolution of Chinese species L. (Ranunculaceae), chemotaxonomy of the genus Aconitum is discussed: 1, Subgen. Lycoctonum, containing lycoctonine-type alkaloids and Subgen. Aconitum containing aconitine-type alkaloids, were probably differetiated at the early stage of evolution of the genus Aconitum and evolved respectively in their own ways. 2, In Subgen. Aconitum: (1) Ser. Bullatifolia, containing mainly atisine-, veatchine-type alkaloids, and amino, alcohol and ester base of aconitine-type, and distributed in Hengduan Mountain and Jingsha River valley, where is the centre of modern differentiation of species of Aconitum, is probably a series from which Chinese species of the genus Aconitum were derived; (2) Ser. Inflata, containing mainly aconitine, mesaconitine and bypaconitine, is an advanced group; (3) Ser. Grsndituberosa, containing mainly aconitine and songorine, is related to Ser. Bulatifolia; (4) Ser. stylosa and Ser. volubilia, containing mainly yunaconitine and other anisyl ester alkaloids form another advanced branch. 3, Ser. Tangutica and A. naviculare of Ser. Rotaundifolia, containing atisine and lactone-type alkaloids may be a specialized group in high mountains and have occurred at early stage of evolution of the genus Aconitum. 4, Subgen. Gymnaconitum, containing atisine-type alkaloids and amino alcohol of aconitine type, may als be a specialized group in high mountains. 5, A. franchetii Finet. et Gagnep. mainly containing ester bases of aconitine-typeand closed to A. chasmanthum Stapf, is best placed into Ser. Ambigua.     

四川毛茛科二新种——乌头属一新种和唐松草属一新种

该文描述了自四川西部发现的毛茛科二新种,包括四川乌头属一新种,即泸定乌头(Aconitum ludingense W.T.Wang),此新种隶属于乌头属乌头亚属,以及四川唐松草属一新种,即狭药唐松草(Thalictrum stenantherum W.T.Wang),给出了此新种与其近缘种六脉萼唐松草之间的形态区别.     

甘肃乌头属二新种

描述了自甘肃发现的毛茛科乌头属二新种,合作乌头和莲花山乌头,并分别给出二种与其等近缘种的形态区别特征。     

Insect and wind pollination of an alpine biennial Aconitum gymnandrum (Ranunculaceae)

Wind pollination can provide reproductive insurance for animal‐pollinated dioecious plants in the absence of available pollinators, but combinations of insect and wind pollination (ambophily) have rarely been studied in hermaphrodite herbs. We examined the stable occurrence of insect pollination and wind pollination over 4 years in a population of a biennial Aconitum species (A. gymnandrum) with actinomorphic and degenerate sepals. The total frequency of visits of two bumblebee species showed no distinct fluctuations in the studied population among the 4 years. However, seed production of netted flowers after emasculation indicated wind pollination had occurred. The seed number of bagged flowers with one visit by bumblebees was significantly less than that of netted flowers after one visit, or in control flowers. Both seed number and fruit set of netted flowers were significantly lower than in control flowers. These results suggest that wind pollination provides supplementary pollen to unvisited and/or once‐visited flowers, but accounts for only a small amount of seed production compared to bumblebee pollination in natural conditions. Such a combination of insect and wind pollination might play an important role in maintaining sexual reproduction of this biennial herb, allowing it to persist in arid habitats on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, especially during Quaternary glacial periods when pollinator populations oscillated extensively.