Comparative leaf anatomy of Alpinia species (Zingiberaceae) in Malaysia

The leaf anatomy of 22 Alpinia species from the Malay Peninsular was investigated. Results show that a combination of characters such as outlines of midribs, petioles, leaf margins and their relative sizes in transverse sections as well as the presence of hypodermal fibres in the lamina, midribs and petioles can be used in the identification of species. All four species of subsection Allughas possess similar characters such as the presence of abaxial and adaxial fibres in the midrib and petioles and the absence of hypodermis in the lamina while the reverse is true for all species of subsection Catimbium. Alpinia conchigera and A. galanga appear to be closely related while A. oxymitra is distinct from all the species studied.     

Palynology of South Indian Zingiberaceae

MANGALY, J. K. & NAYAR, J. 1990. Palynology of South Indian Zingiberaceae. Light microscope studies on pollen morphology of 21 Old World, tropical taxa of Zingiberaceae reveal that an exine is absent only in Kaempferia . A discontinuous exine layer consisting of circular plates joined together at margins occurs in Alpinia galanga and Amomum hypoleucum while all other taxa possess an uninterrupted exine layer which is commonly 0.7 μm to less than 2.0 μrn thick (3.2 μm in Zingiber zerumbet , 2.5 μm in Amomum hypoleucum ). Exine is spinose in Alpinia (smooth in Alpinia sanderae ), Amomum and Boesenbergia , verrucose in Eleltaria , tuberculate to areolate or striate in Zingiber , papillose in Globba and smooth or nearly so in Curcuma, Costus and Hedychiurn . Pollen grains are spheroidal, 50–90 μm in size (35 μm in Globba ophioglossa ), and inaparturate (foraminate in Costus ), except in Curcuma and Zingiber where they are ovoid to ellipsoidal, 70–135 times 60–80 μm in size and sulcate. A lamellated intine, much thicker than the exine, occurs in all, and it is thinner at the apertural region in Curcuma, Costus and Zingiber; in Elettaria and Hedychiurn it is thinner in one or few large scattered circular areas, and in Boesenbergia and Alpinia zerumbet on one side of the grains. Palynologirally Alpinia, Amomum, Boesenbergia, Kaempferia and Zingiber constitute one group while Elettaria, Hedychiurn and Costus constitute another.     

香姜,越南植物一新记录种

据已有文献记载,香姜(姜科)(Alpinia coriandriodora D. Fang)仅分布于广西,现首次在越南发现其分布。该种在形态上与竹叶山姜(A. bambusifolia D. Fang)相近,但其叶片椭圆状披针形、唇瓣浅黄色及带红褐色条纹和花药附属体三角状而与后者有别。提供该种详细的形态学描述以及图版,亦包括在越南的分布及生态的资料。凭证标本保存于越南国立自然博物馆(VNMN)和中国科学院华南植物园(IBSC)。     

Abnormal flowers in genus Alpinia

There are six types of abnormal flowers in Alpinia described in this paper, namely 2-stamens, 1.5-stamen, 1-stamen, stamen with only one theca, stamen absent and twin-flower. A different morphological nature of subulate appendage is proposed: it might be the androecial appendage, i.e. appendage of stamen or labellum, but not of staminode. The second type of the abnormal flowers with 1.5-stamen is regarded as synapomorphy, which is absent in the extant taxa, of the four ginger families, from which were derived the Zingiberaceae and Costaceae with one functional stamen or the Marantaceae and Cannaceae with half stamen. The diversification of the number of stamen in abnormal flowers might be a recurrence of the evolutionary history of stamen in ginger families.     

A simplified isolation of phosphatidylglycerol

A two-stage, thin-layer chromatographic technique for the unequivocal separation of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) from other leaf glycerolipids is described. The method takes advantage of the partitioning of PG into petroleum ether from acidified aquous methanol and of its high chromatographic mobility on acidified adsorbents. Although particularly suited to the analyses of fatty acids in PGs from diverse leaves, the technique may also be used preparatively. The high content of saturated fatty acids within the PG of C4, dicotyledenous plants but not of C4 grasses is confirmed. Hexadeca-trans-3-enoic acid was absent from the leaf PG of all of the orchid species analysed.     

光叶云南草蔻的植物分类学研究

作者在调查云南草蔻及光叶云南草蔻资源时发现,过去在云南、广西和广东被定为光叶云南草蔻的植物为三种不同的山姜属植物,从中分出两新种:那坡山姜Alpinia napoensis H.Dong et G.J.Xu和卵果山姜 Alpinia ovoidocarpa H.Dong et G.J.Xu,并对光叶云南草蔻作了形态特征补充描述。查清光叶云南草蔻Alpinia blepharocalyx K.Schum.var.glabrior(Hand.-Mazz.)T.L.Wu仅分布云南南部及东南部,广西、广东无分布。     

The chemotaxonomic significance of two bioactive caffeic acid esters,nepetoidins A and B,in the Lamiaceae

A survey of leaf surface constituents in the family Lamiaceae using HPLC with diode array detection revealed the presence of two characteristic phenolic compounds in many species. The distribution of these phenolics in the Lamiaceae was found to be of taxonomic significance, as they were present in the great majority of species investigated for the subfamily Nepetoideae, including representatives of the well-known genera of culinary herbs, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme and basil. In contrast, they were absent from species of the other subfamilies of Lamiaceae studied and from the related families Verbenaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Acanthaceae and Buddlejaceae. The compounds were isolated from Plectranthus crassus and identified by NMR spectroscopy as the known caffeic acid esters (Z,E)-[2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoate and (Z,E)-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoate, for which the trivial names nepetoidins A and B are proposed. The presence of this pair of caffeic acid esters adds another character to the chemical, palynological and embryological features distinguishing the Nepetoideae from the other subfamilies of Lamiaceae and related families, and supports the view that the Nepetoideae are a specialised and monophyletic group within the family. Nepetoidin B was shown to have a greater antioxidant activity than gallic, rosmarinic and caffeic acids, and showed activity as an insect phagostimulant. Both compounds were antifungal.     

The Vascular Pattern of a Rhizomatous Ginger (Alpinia speciosa L. Zingiberaceae). 2. The Rhizome

The vascular system in the underground rhizome of Alpinia speciosaL. (Zingiberaceae) is seen to be arranged in three distinctzones. (1) An inner system of ‘scattered’ vascularbundles which serial cinematography reveals to have an axialpattern conforming to the basic ‘palm’ configuration(a system of upwardly branching leaf traces with interconnections).(2) An intermediate zone comprising a thin perforated cylinderof anastomosing vascular strands having direct contact withboth roots and inner system bundles. (3) An outer system offreely-anastomosing vascular bundles. Connexion of outer andinner system occurs in the form of extensive bridging from innersystem leaf traces as they depart obliquely between the outersystem network. The interrelation of the three systems, plus root and branchinsertion, is illustrated by means of diagrammatic three-dimensionalreconstructions. The intermediate zone is intimately associatedwith root insertions and with the inner system, and is shownto obliviate potential bottlenecks at the point of lateral branchinsertion in this sympodial rhizome system. A comparison ismade with other monocotyle-donous vascular systems. Alpinia speciosa L., shell ginger, rhizome, vascular anatomy     

Alpinia newmanii sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from central Vietnam

Alpinia newmanii, a new species from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. A morphological comparison with the most closely related species and a key to the species of Alpinia subsection Catimbium in Vietnam are provided.     

Leaf Venation and Its Systematic Significance in Sapindaceae of China

Leaf venation of 27 species representing 25 genera of Sapindaceae (sstr.) of China was investigated for the first time. The pinnate venation pattern in most species is either camptodromous, or craspedodromous. Three types of leaf blade margin were observed, ie., entire, toothed and partite. The secondary veins are branched or unbranched. Most species have intersecondary veins. The tertiary veins of most species are reticulate and percurrent. The areoles are regular or irregular. Veinlets are simple, branched or absent. The delimitations of Xanthoceroideae and Lepisanthes sensu lato are supported by leaf venation characters. The close relationships among Dimocarpus, Litchi and Nephelium are supported by the evidence from leaf venation. A key to the species of Sapinaceae based on leaf venation characters is presented.     

The molecular phylogeny of Alpinia (Zingiberaceae): a complex and polyphyletic genus of gingers

Alpinia is the largest, most widespread, and most taxonomically complex genus in the Zingiberaceae with 230 species occurring throughout tropical and subtropical Asia. Species of Alpinia often predominate in the understory of forests, while others are important ornamentals and medicinals. Investigations of the evolutionary relationships of a subset of species of Alpinia using DNA sequence-based methods specifically test the monophyly of the genus and the validity of the previous classifications. Seventy-two species of Alpinia, 27 non-Alpinia species in the subfamily Alpinioideae, eight species in the subfamily Zingiberoideae, one species in the subfamily Tamijioideae, and three species in the outgroup genus Siphonochilus (Siphonochiloideae) were sequenced for the plastid matK region and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) loci. Parsimony analyses of both individual and combined data sets identified six polyphyletic clades containing species of Alpinia distributed across the tribe Alpinieae. These results were supported by a Bayesian analysis of the combined data set. Except in a few specific cases, these monophyletic groupings of species do not correspond with either Schumann's (1904) or Smith's (1990) classification of the genus. Here we build on previous molecular analyses of the Alpinioideae and propose the next steps necessary to recognize new generic boundaries in the Alpinieae.     

中国无患子科植物的叶脉形态及其系统学意义

对国产狭义无患子科25属27种植物的叶脉形态特征进行了研究报道。结果表明：叶脉均属于羽状脉类型,其中多数为曲行羽状脉,部分为直行羽状脉;叶缘有全缘、具齿和深裂3种类型;二级叶脉具有分支和不分支两种类型;大部分种类具二级间脉,少数不具间脉或间脉不明显;多数种类的三级脉为结网型和贯串型并存;网眼的发育有完善和不完善2种类型;盲脉有简单、具分支和无盲脉3种类型。叶脉形态研究结果支持文冠果亚科以及广义鳞花木属概念,观察发现龙眼属、荔枝属与韶子属从脉序特征方面表现出较近的亲缘关系。编写了国产无患子科叶片脉序特征检索表。     

Chemical composition of the essential oils of two Alpinia species from Hainan Island, China

The essential oils of two Alpinia species, ie. A. hainanensis and A. katsumadai, from Hainan Island, China were analyzed by using GC-MS. The major constituents in the leaf oil of A. hainanensis were ocimene (27.4%), beta-pinene (10.1%), 9-octadecenoic acid (6.5%), n-hexadecanoic acid (5.8%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (5.4%), and terpinen (4.3%). The oil constituents obtained from the flowers of A. hainanensis were ocimene (39.8%), beta-pinene (17.7%), terpinene (5.5%), p-menth-1-en-ol (4.9%), caryophyllene (4.9%), and phellandrene (4.4%). In A. katsumadai, the major constituents in the leaf oil were p-menth-1-en-ol (22.0%), terpinen (19.0%), 4-carene (9.1%), 1,8-cineole (8.3%), and camphor (5.6%). The major constituents in the flower oil were p-menth-1-en-ol (21.3%), 1,8-cineole (20.2%), terpinen (12.6%), phellandrene (7.0%), 4-carene (6.4%), and beta-pinene (5.2%).     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数初报

<正> 姜科植物是热带、亚热带的特有植物,全世界约有50属1,500种,根据已报道的文献初步统计,国外已进行染色体计数的种类约有20属150种;而占世界姜科植物的半数以上的属和90％的种未作细胞学研究。我国姜科植物种类丰富,约占世界姜科植物的~1/10(150种),但其中~2/8的种类未有染色体资料,这些种类虽为我国所特有,亦缺乏细胞学研究。     

Chemical Diversity in the Genus Alpinia (Zingiberaceae): Comparative Composition of Four Alpinia Species Grown in Northern India

The essential‐oil compositions of leaves, flowers, and rhizomes of Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd ., Alpinia calcarata Rosc ., Alpinia speciosa K. Schum. , and Alpinia allughas Rosc . were examined and compared by capillary GC and GC/MS. Monoterpenoids were the major oil constituents identified. 1,8‐Cineole, α‐terpineol, (E)‐methyl cinnamate, camphor, terpinen‐4‐ol, and α‐ and β‐pinenes were the major constituents commonly distributed in leaf and flower essential oils. The presence of endo‐fenchyl acetate, exo‐fenchyl acetate, and endo‐fenchol was the unique feature of rhizome essential oils of A. galanga, A. calcarata, and A. speciosa. On contrary, the rhizome oil of A. allughas was dominated by β‐pinene. Significant qualitative and quantitative variations were observed in essential‐oil compositions of different parts of Alpinia species growing in subtemperate and subtropical regions of Northern India. Cluster analysis was performed to find similarities and differences in essential‐oil compositions based on representative molecular skeletons. Monoterpenoids, viz., 1,8‐cineole, terpinen‐4‐ol, camphor, pinenes, (E)‐methyl cinnamate, and fenchyl derivatives, were used as chemotaxonomic markers.     

DEVELOPMENT OF THE EPIPHYLLOUS INFLORESCENCE OF HELWINGIA JAPONICA (HELWINGIACEAE)

The inflorescence of Helwingia japonica (Thunb.) Dietr. is initiated adjacent to the leaf axil on the adaxial side of the base of a leaf primordium during its second plastochron. The inflorescence which develops from the resulting primordium comes to be situated on the midrib of the mature fertile leaf, through the action of a basal, intercalary meristem. In fertile leaves this meristem develops beneath, as well as above, the insertion of the inflorescence primordium on the leaf primordium. The same meristem is present in sterile leaves as well. A separate, adaxial vascular bundle departs from the leaf trace in the base of the petiole and leads to the inflorescence, in the mature fertile leaf. This adaxial vascular bundle is absent in sterile leaves. It is argued that the vascular anatomy does not conclusively confirm the hypothesis that the epiphyllous inflorescence is the congenital fusion product of a leaf and an axillary inflorescence. Instead, it is suggested that the interplay of changes in the position of primordium initiation, and intercalary growth, offers an ontogenetic explanation of the situation, which in turn may be related to the phylogeny of the species in question. It appears to be misguided and futile to look for homologies (i.e., 1:1 correspondences) between fertile and sterile leaves, since 1:1 correspondences do not exist in this case.     

贵州小檗属植物(小檗科)叶脉序研究

采用制作叶脉标本和透明叶标本的方法,对贵州产28种2变种小檗属植物叶脉特征进行比较研究。结果表明:贵州小檗属植物的脉序类型有5种:半达缘羽状脉、花环状半达缘羽状脉、简单弓形羽状脉、花环状弓形羽状脉和混合型。叶脉分支一般有五级:1一级脉构架均为羽状脉,粗度有很粗、粗、中等粗细和纤细四种类型,分支方式包括单轴分支和合轴分支;2粗二级脉构架中有分支达缘或分支均不达缘,与中脉夹角变化各异,内二级脉存在或缺失,细二级脉半达缘、真曲行或简单弓形,间二级脉类型复杂多变但频度种间有差异;3三级脉贯串型、结网型或分支型;4四、五级脉网状或自由分支且常混合在一起。脉间区从发育差到良好,小脉从不分支到不均等分支等各种类型均有,叶缘末级脉缺失、不完整、钉状和环状。大部分种类叶缘具齿,每1cm齿数目和齿内腺点的特性等特征在不同种类间有区别,具有鉴定价值,但齿其它特征复杂多变或种间区别较小,同时齿内脉性状也不稳定。此外,齿的有无会对脉序类型产生影响。小檗属植物叶脉类型存在种间差异,具有重要的分类学价值,叶脉类型的变化和复杂程度显示了该属植物的进化特点;叶齿的有无和齿特征具有分类学和系统学意义。基于叶脉特征的研究结果并结合重要的外部形态学特征编制了贵州小檗属植物的分种检索表。研究结果可为小檗属植物分类寻找新的依据并探讨其系统学意义。     

山东莎草属叶表皮微形态的研究

利用光学显微镜对山东莎草属14个种和1个亚种植物的叶下表皮微形态特征进行研究,结果表明:脉间区长细胞为长筒形、短筒形,少数为近方形,边缘为波状、深波状;无短细胞存在;气孔器副卫细胞为三角形、圆屋顶形至三角形、高圆屋顶形和圆屋顶形;乳突存在于脉区长细胞上;刺毛仅存在于个别种中。根据脉区刺毛的有无,结合外部形态,可以分为有刺毛类型和无刺毛2个类型及4个亚类型。莎草属叶下表皮微形态特征高度一致,表明莎草属是一个自然类群,但在种间存在着一定的差异,可以为种的划分提供参考依据。     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数(四)

<正> 本文继续报道对国产姜科植物8属15种所作的染色体计数观察的结果,其中9种是染色体计数的新记录(表1、图1),并初步确定茴香砂仁属Achasma和喙花姜属Rhynchanthus的染色体基数分别为12和11。     

Elliptic Fourier analysis of leaf shape in southern African Strychnos section Densiflorae (Loganiaceae)

Leaves can be a useful source of taxonomic information in plants particularly when flowers and fruits are absent during certain periods of the year. In this study, we applied an elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA)‐based morphometric technique to assess leaf morphological divergence among four species of southern African Strychnos section Densiflorae. Using leaf specimen images from field and herbarium collections, we extracted six shape variables [i.e. principal components (PCs)] from the Fourier coefficients and used these variables to describe leaf outline among the species. Our results indicate that the symmetric component of a leaf is the main source of shape differences accounting for 90.25% of total leaf shape variation and captures the more obvious range of observed shapes. PC1 of the symmetric variables describes a wide range of visually observable leaf shape among the species. MANOVA revealed significant interspecific differences except between S. innocua and S. madagascariensis, which could not be separated by outline analysis. A cross‐validated group classification suggests that S. gerrardii, with a classification rate of 88.4%, is distinct from S. madagascariensis, contrary to some taxonomic treatments. We discuss the value of geometric morphometrics at detecting subtle morphological variations and the evolutionary implications of such variations, which may be undetectable to the human eye. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 170 , 542–553.