Revision of the Proteaceae macrofossil record from Patagonia, Argentina

Proteaceae are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, and of the seven tribes of the subfamily Grevilleoideae, only three (Macadamieae, Oriteae, and Embothrieae) have living members in Argentina. Megafossil genera of Proteaceae recorded from Patagonia includeLomatia, Embothrium, Orites, andRoupala. In this report, we evaluate and revise fossil Argentine Proteaceae on the basis of type material and new specimens. The new collections come from the Tufolitas Laguna del Hunco (early Eocene, Chubut Province), the Ventana (middle Eocene, Río Negro Province), and the Río Ñirihuau (late Oligocene-early Miocene, Río Negro Province) formations, Patagonia, Argentina. We confirm the presence ofLomatia preferruginea Berry,L. occidentalis (Berry) Frenguelli,L. patagonica Frenguelli,Roupala patagonica Durango de Cabrera et Romero, andOrites bivascularis Romero, Dibbern et Gandolfo. Fossils assigned toEmbothrium precoccineum Berry andE. pregrandiflorum Berry are doubtful, and new material is necessary to confirm the presence of this genus in the fossil record of Patagonia. A putative new fossil species of Proteaceae is presented as Proteaceae gen. et sp. indet. Fossil Proteaceae are compared with modern genera, and an identification key for the fossil leaf species is presented. Doubtful historical records of Proteaceae fossils for the Antarctic Peninsula region and Patagonia are also discussed. Based on this revision, the three tribes of Proteaceae found today in Argentina were already present in Patagonia by the early Eocene, where they probably arrived via the Australia-Antarctica-South America connection.     

A FERTILE AXIS OF TRILOBOXYLON ASHLANDICUM,A PROGYMNOSPERM FROM THE UPPER DEVONIAN OF NEW YORK

A partially petrified impression of Triloboxylon ashlandicum (Aneurophytales) is the first recognized fertile axis of the genus. Identification of the fertile axis rests on the similarity of its anatomy with that of previously described vegetative specimens. Fertile organs replace some vegetative branches along part of the main axis. Fertile organs are twice dichotomized in one plane and bear elongate sporangia arranged pinnately. Vegetative branches differ in that they bear the ultimate appendages of the plant helically. The latter organs dichotomize many times in one plane. Although similar in size and morphology to the ultimate appendages, the fertile organs are homologous by position and vascular supply to the vegetative branches which they replace. Sporangia of T. ashlandicum dehisce longitudinally and terminate in an apiculate tip. Spores are unknown. Fertile organs of T. ashlandicum resemble those of other Aneurophytales and support the earlier placement of Triloboxylon in the order on anatomical grounds. T. ashlandicum differs from other Aneurophytales, however, by bearing vegetative organs at the distal end of its fertile axis.     

A new genus of Early Devonian plants with novel strobilar structures and vegetative appendages from the Posongchong Formation of Yunnan,China

A new plant, Dibracophyton acrovatum gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Devonian (Pragian) Posongchong Formation of Wenshan District, southeastern Yunnan, China. The plant has creeping axes from which arise vegetative and fertile axes. The vegetative axes helically bear lateral dichotomous appendages with curved or round tips. The fertile axes possess terminal strobili with numerous fertile units arranged in irregular helices. Each fertile unit consists of a stalked long-elliptical sporangium, with dehiscence into two equal valves, and two discrete long-ovate bracts covering sporangium from above–below directions. A new genus and species is thus established based on these characters and is temporarily regarded as incertae sedis of Tracheophyta, although it perhaps closes to the barinophytes in affinity. Detailed comparisons with other plants having a similar architecture, i.e., sporangia closely associated with modified vegetative structures, are made. The discovery of D. acrovatum further enriches the composition of the Posongchong flora and demonstrates great morphological disparity of the Early Devonian vascular plants.     

Estinnophyton wahnbachense (Kräusel et Weyland) comb. nov., une plante remarquable du siegenien d'allemagne

Specimens collected from the type locality of Protolepidodendron wahnbachense Kräusel et Weyland 1932 (Germany) are studied. The narrow axes, with persistent leaves which are bifurcated and spirally arranged, resemble those of P. wahnbachense. However, the vegetative and fertile leaves bifurcate twice and the four resulting segments are spread in various planes; the fertile leaves support two pairs of stalked elongate sporangia which are directed towards the axis. Estinnophyton wahnbachense (Kräusel et Weyland) comb. nov. is thus proposed as a name for these Siegenian plant remains, the questionable affinities of which are discussed.     

A new microphyllous plant from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan Province, China

Sterile and fertile shoots of a microphyllous vascular plant are described from the Lower Devonian Posongchong Formation (? upper Siegenian), Yunnan Province, southern China and placed in the new taxon Halleophyton zhichangense gen. et sp. nov. The sterile axes are characterized by conspicuous, contiguous swollen rhomboidal to hexagonal leaf bases and relatively broad spatulate laminae. The relief of the leaf bases is not so pronounced in the fertile areas, which bear numerous cauline sporangia with two equal valves. In vegetative characters the new fossils, although smaller and more fragmentary, resemble Drepanophycus gaspianus but in the absence of information on the fertile parts of the latter and because of the controversy surrounding the concept of the genus Drepanophycus, we decided to erect a new genus. Its relationship to the lycophytes sensu stricto is equivocal as exact details of the relationship of sporangium with leaf and sporangium vascularization remain unknown.     

A new Carboniferous equisetale from western Gondwana

Upper Paleozoic sphenopsids from western Gondwana are little known. New finds were made from the Upper Carboniferous of the San Juan province (Argentina). The specimens include vegetative and fertile characters that allow the definition of a new genus and species: Gondwanites subtilis. They are characterized by slender branches bearing whorls of very thin, simple or divided leaves. Simple fertile organs are borne in whorls just below the verticel of leaves. The presence of dichotomized leaves and bractless fertile organs in the new taxon suggests its probable primitive condition.     

Specific intercalary growth of rhizophores and roots in Selaginella kraussiana (Selaginellaceae) is related to unique dichotomous branching

Rhizophores - leafless axial organs, which apices are the only sites for root formation - are unique to the Selaginella genus. Both rhizophores and roots are dichotomously branched, forming a multibranch rhizophore-root system. In the examined Selaginella kraussiana, the first dichotomous division of a rhizophore results in the initiation of the twin root meristems, giving rise to the root primordia. These primordia are temporarily arrested in growth, but at the same time they are elevated, hidden inside the rhizophore apex due to the activity of a meristematic zone at the rhizophore axis. This meristematic region, located basally to the root meristems, apart from the rhizophore tissues consists of the derivative cells of root primordia and may be considered as a specific intercalary meristem.The growth mode of the roots is similar to that of the rhizophore, including dichotomous branching of the meristem and a temporary developmental arrest of the subsequent root primordia. The reiteration of the developmental program also involves the formation of new intercalary zones, thus through divisional activity, the root with dichotomized apex grows for some time as a single axis and, then the young roots emerge. At each step of the rhizophore-root branch system formation, tissues of the parental axis contribute significantly to the growth and emergence of the next axes. Therefore, dichotomous branching in Selaginella appears to be exceptional in comparison with other known dichotomies of axial organs.     

Addenda to the Revisions of the Genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gergithus</Emphasis> Stål and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemisphaerius</Emphasis> Schaum (Hemiptera,Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea: Issidae)

The genus Gnezdilovius Meng, Webb et Wang, 2017 is revised. Maculergithus Constant et Pham, 2016, which was described as a subgenus of Gergithus Stål, 1870, is upgraded to a genus. Ishiharanus Hori, 1969 is reinstalled from synonymy with Gergithus and considered a valid name. Two new genera are erected, Ceratogergithus Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Gergithus spinosus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2007) and Ophthalmosphaerius Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Hernisphaerius trilobulus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2006). Hernisphaerius bistriatus Schumacher, 1915, Gergithus carbonarius Melichar, 1906, G. rosticus Chan et Yang, 1994, G. nummarius Chan et Yang, 1994, and G. rotundus Chan et Yang, 1994 are transferred to the genus Epyhemisphaerius Chan et Yang, 1994, Gergithus quinquemaculatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Maculergithus, Gergithus chelatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007 and G. pseudotessellatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Ceratogergithus, Hernisphaerius binocularis Chen, Zhang, Chang, 2014—to the genus Ophthalmosphaerius, and Gergithus robustus hoozanensis Schumacher, 1915—to the genus Gnezdilovius. The male genitalia of Gergithus herbaceus (Kirby, 1891) and Hernisphaerius interclusus Noualhier, 1896 are illustrated for the first time.     

天线蛋白和类囊体膜脂对光合系统紫黄质循环的调节作用研究进展

紫黄质循环是紫黄质(V)经过中间物单环氧玉米黄质(A)形成玉米黄质(Z)的可逆转换,是光合系统聚光复合体在低光下的聚光状态与高光下的能量耗散状态之间的转换开关.叶黄素中的玉米黄质可钝化(去激发)激发三线态叶绿素(3Chl*)和激发单线态氧(1O2*),紫黄质循环可直接或间接地通过非光化学淬灭(NPQ)耗散PSⅡ天线蛋白中的过量光能.天线蛋白被认为是依赖玉米黄质(Z)耗散过量光能的部位,天线蛋白通过结合紫黄质循环组分(V,A和Z)来调节紫黄质循环.类囊体膜脂的性质和结构影响紫黄质循环组分(V,A和Z)间的转换,V的脱环氧化速率依赖于V在类囊体膜脂上侧向扩散的速率,紫黄质脱环氧化作用第一步(由V到A的转换)的速度常数是第二步(由A到Z的转换)速度常数的4～6倍.现有的结果表明,天线蛋白和类囊体膜脂是紫黄质循环最基本的调节器.该文对近年来国内外关于紫黄质循环的基本反应及其功能、紫黄质循环酶结构性质和辅因子以及天线蛋白和类囊体膜脂对紫黄质循环的调节作用及其机理等方面的研究进展进行了综述.     

安徽省楼梯草属新记录

报道了产于安徽省楼梯草属2新记录种,分别为锐齿楼梯草(Elatostema cyrtandrifolium)、深绿楼梯草(Elatostema atroviride).     

New records of three marine red algae from Japan

Three species in the red algal order Ceramiales, Dasya longifila Masuda et Uwai (Dasyaceae), Endosiphonia horrida (C. Agardh) P. Silva (Rhodomelaceae) and Laurencia flexilis Setchell (Rhodomelaceae), are reported from Japan for the first time, and their morphological features are described along with taxonomic comments. Our findings point to the northernmost limit of geographic distribution of these species in the north‐western Pacific. Dasya longifila is characterized by small, sparsely corticated axes, long pseudolaterals in which intercalary cell divisions take place, and a small number of tetrasporangial stichidia and spermatangial branches per fertile pseudolateral. Endosiphonia horrida is characterized by frequently anastomosing branches that form a bush‐like tuft without a percurrent axis, inner cortical cells becoming the same length as the axial and periaxial cells, and luxuriously developed, unbranched trichoblasts. Laurencia flexilis is characterized by numerous cartilaginous rigid axes developing from a basal disc without creeping branches, the production of 4 periaxial cells per vegetative segment and the absence of longitudinally oriented secondary pit‐connections between contiguous superficial cortical cells.     

凹唇跳甲属的中国种类(叶甲科,跳甲亚科)

记述凹唇跳甲属Argopus Fischer von Waldheim的中国种类,共计16种,其中含2新种:似双齿凹唇跳甲A.similibidentata Wang et Ge,sp.nov.,产自浙江天目山及陕西宁陕火地塘;粗背凹唇跳甲A.foveolata Wang et Ge,sp.nov.产自黑龙江带岭、虎林;另黑胸凹唇跳甲A.miyakei Kimoto,1991,仅记录中国台湾,本文记载了来自福建、广西、贵州的6头标本(3♂♂,3♀♀),扩大了该种的分布范围.新种模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所国家动物博物馆.     

关于筇竹属和筇竹名称及命名模式的讨论

筇竹属(Qiongzhuea Hsueh et Yi)建立于1980年,模式种基于(Q. tumidinoda Hsueh et Yi)。由于竹子是多年生植物,不是年年都开花结实,且一生只开一次花。我们当时考虑到竹子开花生物学的这种特点,以及为更方便准确鉴定该属及属以下种群,分别选用了王芳瑜、熊执权和杨开泰11563号有花、果枝标本和易同培73001号营养体标本作为(Q. tumidinoda Hsueh et Yi)的共同模式。根据《国际植物命名法规》的相关条款规定,在命名一个新种或种以下新分类群时只能是一份标本。但当时法规（Leningrad Code, Art. 7. 5. 1975; St. Louis Code, 2000 and Vienna Code, Art. 37.3. 2006）明确规定有这种情况出现时,可以从它们之中选取后选模式（Art.7.5.）。有鉴于此,我们从发表时的两号标本之中选取王芳瑜、熊执权和杨开泰11563号有花、果枝标本作为筇竹的后选模式,使筇竹和筇竹属得到合格发表。     

Additional data on Todites (Osmundaceae) from the Lower Jurassic—with special references to the paleogeographical and stratigraphical distributions in China

Additional material of Todites (Osmundaceae) from the Lower Jurassic Xiangshan Group in Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces, Eastern China is investigated. Five species of Todites are described based on collections (including sterile and fertile pinnae) from eight localities along the Yangtze River, including Todites denticulatus (Brongniart) Krasser, Todites cf. goeppertianus (Muenster) Krasser, Todites nanjingensis sp. nov., Todites princeps (Presl) Gothan and Todites sp. Material of T. denticulatus and T. nanjingensis sp. nov. contains further data of the fertile pinnae. The stratigraphical ranges and the geographical distribution of the genus Todites in China are discussed and reviewed. Available data show that Todites mostly occurs in the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic of China. The genus was widely distributed in both the Northern and Southern Floristic Provinces of China, and especially abundant and diverse in the Southern Floristic Province.     

THE CRETACEOUS PTERIDOSPERMS RUFLORINIA AND KTALENIA AND IMPLICATIONS ON CUPULE AND CARPEL EVOLUTION

The vegetative (Ruflorinia sierra) and fertile (Ktalenia circularis) organs of an Early Cretaceous pteridosperm collected from Santa Cruz Province in Argentina are described. The sterile leaf is at least tripinnate and bears decurrent secondary pinnae with obliquely attached, sharply pointed pinnules. The fertile member arises from the base of the vegetative rachis and bears two types of appendages, cupules and bracts. Bracts are attached to the main axis near cupules and are present in clusters of up to six. Cupules are sessile, spherical, and arranged in opposite or subopposite pairs along the axis. A small lip is present on one surface of the cupule. The number of seeds per cupule may be one or two, with each characterized by a distal nucellar beak and circular, chalazal scar. Cuticular anatomy, including the fine structure of the stomatal complex, is described for both vegetative and reproductive organs. The cupules of Ktalenia and other Mesozoic seed plants are compared, and a discussion presented regarding the possible function of the cupule.     

THE FERTILE SPIKE OF OPHIOGLOSSUM PETIOLATUM. I. MECHANISM OF ELONGATION

The frond of Ophioglossum consists of a sterile segment and a fertile segment or spike. An investigation of fertile spike elongation reveals that growth of the spike proceeds by activity of an intercalary meristem located in the most distal region of the peduncle subtending the sporangial area. Anatomical comparisons of all regions of developing spikes, counts of mitotic figures along the length of spikes of various ages, determination of cell lengths of peduncle ground parenchyma cells, and historadioautography of spikes treated with H³-thymidine confirms the presence in the apical portion of the peduncle of a region of frequently dividing cells intercalated between two regions of more mature tissues. Marking experiments indicate that the petiole of the sterile segment of the frond elongates in a similar fashion. Although this type of intercalary meristem is rather common in angiosperm flower scapes and peduncles, this is the first detailed analysis of this type of growth in a pteridophyte genus.     

Re-evaluation of Halle’s fertile pteridosperms from the Permian floras of Shanxi Province, China

In 1927, T. G. Halle published an extensive synthesis of the Permian fossil plant assemblages from China’s Shanxi Province that included five genera and species of seed plant that either had ovules in organic attachment or closely and repeatedly associated with foliage. These fertile pteridosperms were the subject of a later publication (1929) that provided additional information on each species, but since that time only Nystroemia pectiniformis Halle has been subjected to detailed investigation based on the original materials. Reinvestigation of the remaining four species has yielded additional examples and new information for each species, and has confirmed the pteridospermalean affinity for three of the four species. Alethopteris norinii Halle shows organic attachment of a pollen organ similar to Wittleseya (Newberry) Halle and is reinterpreted as a microsporangiate medullosan pteridosperm. Emplectopteris triangularis Halle and Sphenopteris tenuis (Schenk) Halle both bear numerous ovules attached directly to the leaf laminae, with Emplectopteris conforming with the gross-organisation of callistophytalean pteridosperms and S. tenuis being interpreted as a derived lagenostomalean pteridosperm. However, discovery of the counterpart to the key specimen of Pecopteris wongii Halle that Halle interpreted as bearing ovules demonstrates this species to be a sterile marattialean frond that agrees with its assignment to Pecopteris. In addition, two further specimens are demonstrated to be fertile organs of previously unknown pteridosperms; Norinosperma shanxiensis gen. et sp. nov. bears cardiocarpalean ovules abaxially on the proximal portions of the frond with ovules positioned directly on the veins of a leaf lamina; Norinotheca shanxiensis gen. et sp. nov. bears large pollen organs abaxially and singly on the vein of the leaf lamina. Collectively Halle’s pteridosperms remain important today as they are some of the few specimens that actually demonstrate organic connection of fertile organs to foliage, helping to characterise the morphology and organisation of this seed plant group. These species also demonstrate the persistence of seed plant families and genera in the Permian of China that became regionally extinct at the end of the Carboniferous in Euramerica, and show that pteridosperms remained an important component of Permian as well as Carboniferous floras globally.     

New Observations on Drepanophycus spinaeformis from the Lower Devonian of Guizhou,China

Drepanophycus spinaeformis Goeppert is a plant of world-wide distribution in the Lower Devonian. Although this species has been reported from numerous localities, it is far from being understood well, because the fertile material is rare. Observation on specimens from the Danlin Formation of Guizhou showed that the sporangia were borne on short stalks attached laterally to the axes near the leaf axil, nearly sphaeroid, and smaller than Rayner’ kidney sporangia. Howerer, other character, e. g. banded nutritive axis bearing spiral drepanoid leaves, perforated tracheid wall, are the same as those described by Rayner. We agree with Rayner in raising Drepanophycales to the status of class, Drepanophycopsida, parallel with Zosterophyllopsida and Lycopsida. The systematic position of Drepanophycopsida is in between Zosterophyllopsida and Lycopsida. The class includes one order, one family and three genera (Drepanophycus, Baragwanathia and Asteroxylon).The fertile parts of the plant are reported for the first time in China.     

Pecopteris (Asterotheca) saraeiP. Corsin, 1951, forme fertile de Sphenopteris damesii (Stur, 1885)

Sphenopteris damesii (Stur), a rather frequentspecies from the Sarre-Lorraine Coalfield was only known till now as a typical sphenopteridian sterile foliage. The study of a lot of specimens from recent boreholes has allowed us to show the great polymorphism of this species whose foliage, usually deeply dissected, tends to be pecopteridian in the fertile stage.The organization of fructifications and the type of included spores are described for the first time. Moreover, the comparison of the fertile specimens of Sph. damesii with those from the same horizon described by P. Corsin as Pecopteris saraei has revealed similarity in limb morphology, in the organization of fructifications, in the type of spores which proves that P. saraei is the fertile form of Sp. damesii. Consequently, P. Corsin's species is a posterior synonym of Sphenopteris damesii (Stur).The generic attribution of this species sets a nomenclatural question: the features of the fructifications agree exactly with the diagnose of the genus AsterothecaPresl but this genus till now was reserved for sporangia born by typical pecopteridian foliage. Nevertheless, the species is temporarily refered to Asterotheca until further works allow to decide about the subordination of these different characters.