Seed coat morphology and its systematic significance in Juncus L. (Juncaceae) in Egypt

The seed morphology of nine taxa of Juncus from Egypt has been investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy, to determine the importance of seed coat features as taxonomic characters. Macro- and micromorphological characters, including seed shape, color, size, seed appendages, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal boundaries, and outer periclinal cell wall and secondary cell wall sculpture are presented. Four types of seed appendages are recognized: (i) seeds with two appendages; (ii) seeds without appendages; (iii) seeds with minutely a piculate at one end; and (iv) seeds with minutely a piculate at both ends. Two types of anticlinal cell wall boundaries,(i) raised-channeled, straight and (ii) raised, straight or sinuous, and three different shapes of outer periclinal cell wall are described: (i) flat; (ii) concave; and (iii) flat to slightly concave. The secondary sculpture of the cell wall varies from striate to microreticulate or reticulate, and smooth to finely folded. Seed characters provide useful data for formulating the taxonomy of Juncus both on the subgeneric and sectional level. A key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on seed characters is provided.     

十大功劳属植物种子形态研究

利用光镜(LM)和扫描电镜(SEM)对十大功劳属24种植物的种子形态进行观察。结果发现十大功劳属植物种子颜色为黑色,长3.4～6.7mm,宽1.7～3.5mm,属大型种子,形状多样;外种皮纹饰为网纹状,网眼形状、大小及网脊粗细、凸凹在不同类群间不完全相同,种内变异稳定,据此可将十大功劳属植物种皮纹饰划分为9种类型。研究结果表明:种子形态在十大功劳属内具有重要的系统学意义,但不支持Ahrendt将十大功劳属下分为2个groups,4个sections,14个subsections的观点。     

含笑属(木兰科)植物花粉形态及其系统学意义

利用扫描电子显微镜对含笑属12个分类群的花粉形态进行了观察和研究。花粉粒椭圆形,两侧对称,异极,具远极单萌发沟,中等大小;形成一较为自然的分类群。虽然花粉粒的大小和表面雕纹不同种间具有一定的差异,但不足以为现有的属下分类系统提供足够的证据。     

天仙子族(茄科)的花粉形态补充研究及其系统学意义

在扫描电镜下研究了茄科天仙子族7属及颠茄属、茄参属和枸杞属3属共10属23种植物的花粉形态学特征。结果表明:天仙子族的花粉粒形状为球形、近球形、扁球形和长球形;萌发孔类型有无萌发孔、不规则的拟孔、3沟、4沟、3～4沟、散沟和3孔沟;外壁纹饰为小刺状、瘤状、各式条纹状、条纹-穴状、条纹-网状、皱波状、细网状和网状。沟膜近光滑、具小颗粒、具小刺状突起或具瘤状突起。各属植物的花粉形态在萌发孔的有无、萌发孔的类型和外壁纹饰等方面有较大的差异,可以作为探讨属间分类和系统关系的重要依据。天仙子族植物花粉萌发孔的演化趋势为:无萌发孔→3、4沟→3孔沟。无萌发孔的山莨菪属是原始类群,三孔沟的马尿泡和天仙子等属是进化类群。还讨论了与前人研究结果不同之处和可能的原因。     

中国干旱区柽柳科植物种子形态特征及其系统学意义

对中国干旱区柽柳科（Ｔａｍａｒｉｃａｃｅａｅ）植物３属７代表种的种子形态及种皮表面亚显微结构进行了观察,表明种子形态及种皮表面亚显微结构可为本科植物的分类提供有价值的信息。根据种子表皮毛着生的类型并结合外部形态特征可初步得出以下结论：（１）表皮毛可分为Ⅰ型表皮毛和Ⅱ型表皮毛,前者着生于种子表面,包括红砂属（ＲｅａｕｍｕｒｉａＬ．）和柽柳属（ＴａｍａｒｉｘＬ．）植物的一些种类;后者着生于种子顶端的芒柱上,包括柽柳属一些种类和水柏枝属（ＭｙｒｉｃａｒｉａＤｅｓｖ．）植物。（２）表皮毛的演化趋势是由Ⅰ型表皮毛向Ⅱ型表皮毛转化。（３）红砂属处于本科的原始地位,水柏枝属较为进化,柽柳属是联系两者的中间环节,本属内亦存在许多过渡类型。     

Seed coat structure and development in Solanum L. section Solanum (Solanaceae)

Seed coat structure in Solanum L. section Solanum (Solanaceae). Seed coat structure in Solanum L. section Solanum was examined using SEM. The seed coat patterns observed were fairly uniform throughout the section, and thus of little diagnostic use. Moreover, all species are characterized by their seeds being covered by hairlike structures, which are bands of lignified thickening in the lateral (and basal) walls of the outer epidermal cells of the testa, and which only become obvious when the seeds are wetted. The development of the seed coat and its characteristic thickening was followed from the unfertilized ovule to the mature seed in vouchered material of Solanum nigrum L. since this species is the generic type, using sections of freshly fixed material.     

Seed morphology in Moehringia L. and its taxonomic significance in comparative studies within the Caryophyllaceae

Seeds of 30 species of Moehringia and 12 representatives of the Caryophyllaceae were examined with the Scanning Electron Microscope. High diversity was found in seed coat micromorphology, and a number of novel morphological features have been observed. Comparison with other representatives of the Caryophyllaceae has provided new insight into the potential taxonomic value of discrete morphological characters. Though many characters appear informative within Moehringia, they are affected by a high level of homoplasy when considered in a wider phylogenetic context. Smooth seed is the common condition in Moehringia, except for Eastern Balkan and Iberian species that maintain a secondary ornamentation of the testa cells resembling the plesiomorphic Caryophyllaceae-type. Five types of strophioles were recognized, in accordance with previous literature. Among these, the strophiole of the Iberian species appears very distinctive and a proper strophiole could not be verified in M. glochidisperma and M. fontqueri.     

Seed morphology under SEM and light microscopy in Kansas Juncus (Juncaceae)

Seed morphology was studied in 15 species of four subgenera ofJuncus occurring in Kansas, to determine if seeds provide traits useful in assessing systematic relations within the genus. In this study seed size and shape were of limited value, while surface ornamentation of the hard inner seed coat provided encouraging results. SubgenusPoiophylli showed little variation in surface ornamentation among taxa; similar ornamentation was observed in subgenusGenuini. SubgeneraGraminifolii andSeptati were separately distinct with the taxa in theSeptati forming a continuum of variation.     

菝葜科种皮微结构特征及其分类学意义

在光学显微镜和扫描电镜下对菝葜科Smilacaceae3个属(菝葜属Smilax、肖菝葜属Heterosmilax和Ripogonum属)共53种5变种植物的种子形态及种皮微形态特征进行了研究。结果表明其种子形状为球形、半球形或钝三角形。在扫描电镜下种子表皮纹饰可分为7种类型,即脑纹型、粗脑纹型、网纹型、细网纹型、孔穴型、密孔穴型和细条纹型。根据种皮微形态的特征,对菝葜科内属间和属内组间的关系进行了探讨。种皮形态分析结果支持将Ripogonum属从菝葜科中分离、独立成科,支持将肖菝葜属与菝葜属合并的观点,这与孢粉学和分子证据的分析结果一致;推测肖菝葜属和菝葜属的土茯苓组sect.Coilanthus及草本组sect.Coprosmanthus的多数种类之间亲缘关系较近,菝葜组sect.China和圆锥组sect.Macranthae的大多数种类之间的亲缘关系较为密切,但种皮形态证据不支持Koyama将菝葜属分为6个组的观点。     

猕猴桃属花粉形态及其系统学意义

由于天然种间杂交,猕猴桃属Actinidia Lindl.的分类存在着组间界限不清、近缘种之间很难区分的问题。本文试图通过对该属不同组、系的植物花粉及种间杂交后代花粉的扫描电镜观察,探讨该属物种的系统学关系。在扫描电镜下观察了猕猴桃属植物21种、 6变种和4个不同种间杂交F1代植株的花粉,描述了它们的花粉形态,并根据花粉形态特征建立了相应的检索表。研究结果表明：（1）猕猴桃属的花粉形状主要以长球形至近球形为主,变异较小,而花粉粒大小和外壁纹饰的种间差异较大。（2）多数迁地保护物种的花粉粒以三孔沟为主,不同于以前报道的以三拟孔沟为主,原因可能是花粉样本采集地的环境不一样,以及野外的广泛杂交造成的。（3）种间杂交后代花粉空瘪,无授粉能力,是由于所采用亲本植株染色体的倍性不同,后代不能产生正常花粉所致。（4）人工选育雄株花粉外壁纹饰较野生雄株花粉的精细,这种花粉外壁纹饰变小的特征可能有利于雌雄异株植物的授粉受精。这一现象值得进一步探讨。（5）雄株花粉大小与其雌株果实大小之间有一定相关性,这一现象有助于杂交后代的早期筛选。     

Seed morphology and anatomy of Austrotaxus spicata (Taxaceae) and its systematic position

The anatomy and ultrastructure of seed envelopes of a New Caledonian endemic Austrotaxus spicata were examined for the first time. The systematic position and phylogenetic relations of Austrotaxus were analysed in light of these data. The structure of aril and spermoderm were investigated to demonstrate the similarities with Phyllocladus as well as with Taxus and Pseudotaxus . On the basis of all female reproductive organ characters, Austrotaxus appeared to be fairly isolated and its placing in the independent family Austrotaxaceae was confirmed from the standpoint of comparative anatomy of the seed coat. Taking into consideration that the heterobathmy of features can be the most distinctively traced in the structure of reproductive organs, evaluating the extent of evolutionary advancement of Austrotaxus seems to be rather difficult. However, it is evident that the relationship of Austrotaxus either with Taxaceae or with Podocarpaceae s.l . is considerably remote.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 437–443.     

Allelochemical autotoxicity in the emergent wetland macrophyte Juncus effusus (Juncaceae)

Bioassays for allelochemical toxicity of aboveground Juncus effusus tissues were conducted with seeds and seedlings of Eleocharis obtusa and Scirpus cyperinus, two emergent sedge species (Cyperaceae) found sympatric with J. effusus, and with seeds and seedlings of J. effusus itself to evaluate potential autotoxicity. Bioassays were performed under controlled, axenic conditions with aqueous shoot extract treatments simulating in situ dissolved organic carbon concentrations. With respect to the two sedge species, neither shoot development nor seedling biomass accrual was significantly suppressed by lyophilized whole extracts from J. effusus. Although the extracts induced no significant reduction in growth of E. obtusa or S. cyperinus, biomass-specific chlorophyll a concentration was significantly reduced in E. obtusa seedlings. In contrast, seedlings of J. effusus exhibited significant reductions of biomass and chlorophyll a concentrations, and seedling shoot development was retarded in response to leachate exposure. Results of the present study suggest that J. effusus seedlings possess autotoxic sensitivity to extracts of dead, aboveground tissues of adult plants.     

中国岩黄耆属(豆科)种皮纹饰及其系统学意义

利用扫描电镜观察了国产岩黄耆属（Hedysarum L.）18个种（含3个居群）的种皮纹饰。结果表明：岩黄耆属种皮纹饰性状在种的划分上具有重要的分类学意义。依据种皮纹饰特性,大致分为光滑型和粗糙型2大类型以及断棱状、嚼烂状、龟纹状、网纹状与细网状5个亚型。依据其划分的类型及亚型,种皮纹饰呈现出从断棱状、细网状到光滑状的演化趋势,从而阐明了种皮纹饰在岩黄耆属系统演化上的重要意义。     

Identification and characterization of microsatellite loci in the rush Juncus effusus (Juncaceae)1

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed for the common wetland plant Juncus effusus to assess levels of within- and among-population genetic diversity. ? Methods and Results: Using a next-generation sequencing approach we identified new microsatellite loci, from which 23 were further characterized in a large population of J. effusus. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.64 with a mean of 0.407. Inbreeding coefficients (mean = 0.984) were very high, confirming earlier suggestions of an inbred mating system. Cross-amplification was tested in J. conglomeratus, J. inflexus, J. drummondii, and J. filiformis, with best results in the former. ? Conclusions: The described microsatellite markers will be helpful in assisting studies on, e.g., reproduction, taxonomy, and phylogeography in J. effusus and related species.     

The native subspecies of Juncus effusus (Juncaceae) in western North America

Juncus effusus s. str. has two native representatives on the coast of western North America. A new combination is provided forJuncus effusus subsp.pacificus, ranging from California to British Columbia.Juncus effusus subsp.austrocalifornicus is newly described from southernmost California, Arizona, and Baja California, México. It differs from subsp.pacificus by its pale sheaths, with less thickened and less overlapping margins, and its disjunct distribution. A key is provided for the subspecies ofJ. effusus in North America.     

核果茶属的气孔器类型及其系统学意义

为了检验有关核果茶属气孔器类型不同的研究结果 ,使用从模式标本上获取的实验材料重新观察了耿煊 (H .Keng)在 1 962年报道过的具有毛茛型气孔器的核果茶属 3个种的叶片下表皮 ,得到了与耿煊不同的研究结果 ,即核果茶属的气孔器属大头茶型 ,与邻近的石笔木属、拟核果茶属乃至山茶亚科的气孔器类型一致。结果提示 ,气孔器类型可以作为划分山茶亚科和厚皮香亚科的依据     

Seed coat anatomy ofCrossostylis (Rhizophoraceae): its evolutionary and systematic implications

The seed coat structure of all 13 species ofCrossostylis was studied to contribute to an understanding of species delimitation and relationships within the genus. The mature seed coat is relatively uniform and consistently constructed mainly by a well-developed exotesta and a well-developed fibrous exotegmen. The species differ in the thickness of the exotesta and exotegmen, the anatomy of exotestal cells, the presence and absence of persistent mesotesta, and so forth. On the basis of comparisons of these characters, close relationships are suggested in the species groups such as:Crossostylis banksiana andC. cominsii; C. biflora, C. raiateensis andC. multiflora; C. gandiflora, C. sebertii andC. imera; and five species in the Fiji Islands. These relationships except for those of Fijian five species are also supported by cladistics as their common characters are evaluated as synapomorphy. Species-level separation ofC. banksiana, C. pedunculata andC. raiateensis each from the closest species is doubted based on the results of seed coat structure.     

Seed coat morphology and evolution in Celtidaceae and Ulmaceae (Urticales)

The seed coat surface morphology of Celtidaceae and Ulmaceae (Urticales) indicates a significant evolutionary diversity.Celtis, Chaetachme andPteroceltis (Celtidaceae) have a unique sculpturing with many crateriform holes; such holes occasionally sparsely occur in seeds ofAphananthe, Gironniera (Celtidaceae) andPlanera (Ulmaceae), but not in those of the nine remaining genera of the two families. The perforated seed coat further occurs in at least some genera of all other urticalean families. A pattern of its occurrence in families and genera suggest that the perforation represents a common archaic feature of all Urticales, rather than a feature derived many times independently within the order. The seed coat of Celtidaceae and Ulmaceae seems to have lately lost the holes probably by a neotenic evolution: one or more times within Celtidaceae, and one time in an ancestral line leading to all Ulmaceae. The derived reticulate seed coat surface sculpturing, which is shared byGironniera (Celtidaceae) and some Ulmaceae, is probably the result of parallel evolution. On the basis of evidence from seed coat morphology and other sources, close relationships ofLozanella, Parasponia andTrema within Celtidaceae, as well as variously distinct positions ofAmpelocera, Aphananthe andGironniera, are also discussed.     

木兰科种子内种皮合点区形态及其系统学意义

在扫描电镜下系统研究了木兰科10属52种成熟种子内种皮合点区形态。该形态分为孔型和管型两大类。孔型为内种皮合点区具一小穿孔。木莲属Manglietia、香木兰属Aromadendron、盖裂木属Talauma(8种)、南洋含笑属Elmerrillia和鹅掌楸属Liriodendron具此类型。管型由内种皮合点区向下凹陷形成的小窝和由窝底向外伸出的小管组成。华盖木属Manglietiastrum、盖裂木属Talauma(3种)、长蕊木兰属Alcimandra、含笑属Michelia、合果木属Paramichelia和观光木属Tsoongiodendron具此类型。在木兰属部分种中还观察到两种形态之间的过渡类型。上述形态特征在属内稳定并为木兰科植物所特有,而且明显表现出原始类群的合点区形态大多为孔型,进化类群的合点区形态大多为管型的特点。