Notes on some African hepatic genera 1–5

The present study deals with five genera of hepatics in Africa, Isotachis Mitt., Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph., Tritomaria Schiffn. ex Loeske, Gymnocoleopsis (Schust.) Schust. and Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. All African populations of the genus Isotachis Mitt. are considered to be one species, I. aubertii (Schwaegr.) Mitt. Four species of Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. (s.l.), A. auritum (Lehm.) Steph., A. piligerum (Nees) Spruce, A. subcomplicatum (Lehm. et Lindenb.) Steph. and A. minutum (Schreb.) Schust., and two species of Tritomaria Schiffn. et Loeske, T. camerunensis S. Arnell and T. exsecta (Schrad.) Schiffn. ex Loeske occur in Africa. Gymmocoleopsis multiflora (Steph.) Schust. represents a genus and species hitherto unreported for the African flora. Finally, five Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. species, L. argentina (Steph.) Schust., L. capensis S. Arnell, L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph., L. hedbergii S. Arnell and L. tristaniana (S. Arnell) Váňa, are reported from central and southern Africa; two of these (L. argentina (Steph.) Schust. and L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph.) represent the first reports from Africa.     

Chromosome counts of some Cuban Angiosperms

Chromosome numbers are reported for 14 species collected in Cuba. The first chromosome records are reported forAlbizzia cubana Britton etWilson (2n=26),Atkinsia cubensis (Britton etWilson)Howard (2n=26),Caesalpinia violacea (Mill.)Standl. (2n=24),Colubrina ferruginosa Brongn. (2n=24). Chromosome numbers of the following species were confirmed:Albizzia lebbeck (L.)Benth. (2n=26),Canavalia maritima (Aubl.)Thouars (2n=22),Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. (2n=18),Cedrela mexicana M.J. Roem. (2n=56),Delonix regia (Bojer)Raf. (2n=28),Guazuma tomentosa H.B.K. (2n=16),Lysiloma bahamense Benth. (2n=26),L. latisiliqua (L.)Benth. (2n=26),Samanea saman (Jacq.)Merrill (2n=26),Thespesia populnea (L.)Soland (2n=26).     

Chromosome counts and chromosome morphology of some selected species

In the years 1976–1981 we studied chromosome counts and karyotypic formulae of the following 29 species of plants from 41 localities (of these 6 from Bohemia, 32 from Moravia, 3 from Slovakia):Batrachium baudotii (Godron) F. W. Schultz,Chenopodium rubrum L.,C. polyspermum L.,C. murale L.,C. ficifolium Sm.,C. opulifolium Schrader ex DC. inLam. et DC.,C. strictum Roth [subsp.strictum, subsp.glaucophyllum (Aellen)Aellen inJust etAellen, subsp.striatiforme Uotila],Arenaria grandiflora L.,Illecebrum verticillatum L.,Spergula morisonii Boreau inDuchartre,Spergularia marginata (DC. inLam. et DC.)Kittel S. marina (L.)Griseb.,S. rubra (L.) J. etC. Presl,Silene conica L.,Sisymbrium loeselii L.,S. volgense Bieb. exE. Fourn.,S. orientale L. [subsp. orientale, subsp.macroloma (A. Pomel)Dvo?ák],S. officinale (L.)Scop.,Descurainia sophia (L.)Webb exPrantl inEngler etPrantl,Nasturtium officinale R. Br. inAiton,Barbarea arcuata (Opiz inPresl J. et C.)Reichenb.,Lunaria annua L.,Soldanella montana Willd.,S. carpatica Vierh. inUrban etGraebner,Lotus tenuis Waldst. etKit. exWilld.,L. uliginosus Schkuhr,Trigonella monspeliaca L.,Geranium sibiricum L.,Lactuca tatarica (L.)C. A. Meyer.     

Verbeitung einiger seltenen und subendemischen Arten der griechischen Flora mit taxonomischen und chorologischen Betrachtungen

The taxa very rare in Greece,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub andPrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi Balkan-South Carpathian and mountain subendemic taxon of South and South-Central Europe also the oreophytesGentiana asclepidaea L. andAndrosace villosa L. rare in Greece at high altitudes endemic species of Central Europe and arcto-alpic element both extending South as far as Central Italy and Central Greece as well as the relatively rare species in Greece,Crocus biflorus Mill. which exists in South Europe from Sicily and eastwards and finally four otherIridaceae, i.e.: the South Balkan Asia-Minor subendemic speciesCrocus olivieri Gay andC. pulchellus Herbert, the South Balkan endemic speciesC. veluchensis Herbert and the Mediterranean and mostly East-para-mediterranean subendemic speciesHermodactylus tuberosus (L.)Miller are reported and investigated. However new habitats and records in the Greek area of the investigated species are given, their distribution is discussed, while the existence of the taxa most rare in GreecePrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi inHegi,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub,Gentiana asclepiadea L.,Androsace villosa L. andCrocus biflorus Mill. are presented in the form of a dot map and thus the southernmost limits of their spreading in the Balkan peninsula or in S.E. Europe are elucidated.     

Studien über dieJungermannioideae (Hepaticae) 6.Jungermannia Subg.Solenostoma: Europäische und nordamerikanische Arten

Dersechste Beitrag aus der Serie der vorbereiteten Studien über die SubfamilieJungermannioideae (Jungermanniaceae, Hepaticae) enthält die taxonomische Bearbeitung des Subg.Solenostoma (Mitt.)Amak. (GattungJungermannia L. emend.Dum.) in Europa (inkl. Kaukasus und Kleinasien) und Nordamerika. Im genannten Gebiet kommen 10 Arten vor, u. zw.J. caespiticia Lindenb.,J. caucasica Váňa,J. confertissima Nees,J. gracillima Sm.,J. handelii (Schiffn.)Amak.,J. jenseniana Grolle,J. lignicola (Schiffn.)Grolle,J. pyriflora Steph.,J. rubra Gott. exUnd. undJ. sphaerocarpa Hook. Die ArtJ. confertissima Nees (bisher alsSolenostoma levieri (Steph.)Steph. bezeichnet) gehört zu der SektionDesmorhiza Amak., alle anderen Arten gehören zu der SektionSolenostoma.     

Selected chromosome counts of the Czechoslovak flora III

Chromosome numbers compared with as yet published data are given for the following 12 Phanerogams (both native species and aliens) from Czechoslovakia:Ambrosia trifida L.,Cardamine chelidonia L.,Dephne cneorum L.,Epipactis albensis Nováková etRydlo,Linum flavum L.subsp flavum, Lunaria rediviva L.,Nepeta grandiflora M.BIEB.,Reseda luteola L.,Thlaspi montanum L.,Tithymalus salicifolius (Host)Klotzsch etGarcke,Tithymalus virgultosus (Klokov) Holub andVerbascum speciosum Schrad. subsp.speciosum. The chromosome number 2n=40 is presented for the first time in autogamousEpipactis albensis Nováková etRydlo. New chromosome numbers were found inCardamine chelidonia L. (2n=32) and inTithymalus salicifolius (Host) Klotzch etGarcke (2n=40). Known but less frequent cytotypes are reported inLinum flavum L. subsp.flavum (2n=28) and inVerbascum speciosum Schrad. subsp.speciosum (2n=30).     

Reclassifications and new names for some European Phanerogams

On the basis of taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions of various plant groups 37 new nomenclatural combinations are proposed mostly for European phanerogamous taxa (21 for species, 14 for subspecies, 2 for hybrids.)Medicula Medicus,Pseudofumaria Medicus andThlasidia Rafin. are accepted as taxonomically justified genera and correct generic names.Dactylorhiza longebracteata (F. W. Schmidt)Holub is proposed instead ofD. fuchsii (Druce) Soó, andHylotelephium triphyllum (Haworth) Holub isstead ofH. purpureum (L.)Holub.     

Characterization of a recombinant l-rhamnose isomerase from Bacillus subtilis and its application on production of l-lyxose and l-mannose

The gene of an l-rhamnose isomerase (RhaA) from Bacillus subtilis was cloned to the pET28a(+) and then expressed in the E. coli ER2566. The expressed enzyme was purified with a specific activity of 3.58 U/mg by His-Trap affinity chromatography. The recombinant enzyme existed as a 194 kDa tetramer and the maximal activity was observed at pH 8.0 and 60°C. The RhaA displayed activity for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, d-allose, d-gulose, d-ribose, and l-talose, among all aldopentoses and aldohexoses and it showed enzyme activity for l-form monosaccharides such as l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, l-mannose, and l-talose. The catalytic efficiency (k _cat/K _m) of the recombinant enzyme for l-rhamnose, l-lyxose, and l-mannose were 7,460, 1,013, and 258 M/sec. When l-xylulose 100 g/L and l-fructose 100 g/L were used as substrates, the optimum concentrations of RpiB were determined with 6 and 15 U/mL, respectively. The l-lyxose 40 g/L was produced from l-xylulose 100 g/L by the enzyme during 60 min, while l-mannose 25 g/L was produced from l-fructose 100 g/L for 80 min. The results suggest that RhaA from B. subtilis is a potential producer of l-form monosaccharides.     

New fig insects [Hym.: Chalcidoidea] from India: Three torymids parasitic on agaonids

Two new species of fig wasps (Sycoscapter punctatus Abdurahiman & Joseph andSycobiella amplissima Abdurahiman & Joseph) parasitic onManiella delhiensis Abdurahiman & Joseph fromFicus amplissima Smith, and the female of a known species (Philotrypesis anguliceps Westwood) parasitic onBlastophaga quadraticeps Mayr fromFicus religiosa L. are described.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 1.Brachysporium

Four species of the genusBrachysporium Sacc. emend.Mason etHughes are treated in this paper from Czechoslovakia:B. nigrum (Link)Hughes,B. obovatum (Berk.)Sacc. and two new species,B. abietinum Hol.-Jech. andB. brevius Hol.-Jech.     

Muridae,Zapodidae und Eomyidae (Rodentia,Mammalia) des Eichkogels bei MÖdling (NiederÖsterreich)

Four rodent species,Parapodemus lugdunensis Schaub 1938, ?Progonomys woelferi Bachmayer &Wilson 1970,Protozapus intermedius Bachmayer &Wilson 1970 andKeramidomys aff.mohleri Engesser 1972 from the freshwater marl of Eichkogel are described. The presence ofParapodemus lugdunensis associated with other rodents give us the possibility to correlate Eichkogel and Kohfidisch in Austria with Turolian mammal-faunas of Germany, France and Spain.     

New subspecies ofSparganium erectum L. from Iran

From the Caspian coastal region of Iran a new taxon,Sparganium erectum L. subsp.mazanderanicum Ponert, is described and illustrated. This new subspecies in some of its characters is near toSparganium erectum L. subsp.microcarpum (Neumann)Domin (with its east distribution trend); in other characters it is near toSparganium erectum L. subsp.neglectum (Beeby)Schinz etThell. (with ist south distribution trend). A comparative table of diacritical characters of these three subspecies is appended.     

New chromosome counts in nine endemic species from Iran

Original meiotic chromosome counts are presented for nine endemic species in seven families of Angiosperms from Iran including:Arum giganteum Ghahr. (Araceae) (n=14),Caccinia actinobole Bunge (Boraginaceae) (n=8),Delphinium aquilegifolium (Boiss.)Bornm. (Ranunculaceae) (n=8),Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaff., Hedge etLamond (Apiaceae) (n=11),Gypsophila caricifolia Boiss. (Caryophyllaceae) (n=17),Iphiona arachnoidea (Boiss.)Anderb. (Asteraceae) (n=9),Moltkia gypsacea Rech. f. etAellen (Boraginaceae) (n=20),Onobrychis gaubae Bornm. (Fabaceae) (n=8) andOnosma platyphyllum Riedl (Boraginaceae) (n=9). Eight counts are reported for the first time. Furthermore, the previous chromosome count forIphiona aracnoidea is corrected. Based on cytological data the species status ofMoltkia gypsacea is confirmed; it is not merely synonymous withM. coerulea (Willd.)Lehm. The basic chromosome number n=11 is reported in the genusDiplotaenia for the first time.     

Chromosome numbers in selectedHieracium species in the Krkonoše Mts. (the West Sudeten)

Chromosome numbers are given of 15 species of the genusHieracium L. s. str., representing seven species groups (in the sense of Flora Europaea, roughly corresponding to Zahn's “species principales”) from the Krkono?e Mts., N. Bohemia and SW Poland. For the first time chromosome numbers are reported forH. melanocephalum Tausch (2n=27),H. tubulosum Tausch (2n=36),H. schustleri Zlatník (2n=36),H. fritzei F. Schultz (2n=27),H. rohlenae Zlatník (2n=27),H. nigrescens Willd. (2n=36),H. decipiens Tausch (2n=36),H. atrellum Juxip inSchischkin etBobrov (2n=27),H. subnigrescens (Fries exNorrlin)Dahlst. (2n=36),H. sudeticum Sternberg (2n=36),H. pedunculare Tausch (2n=36),H. glandulosodentatum Uechtr. (2n=36),H. wimmeri Uechtr. (2n=27). InHieracium alpinum L. s. str. the number 2n=27 has been confirmed. The results show a high proportion of tetraploid taxa; no diploids have been found.     

Determination of host range in relation to systematics forPeristenus stygicus [Hym.: Braconidae], A parasitoid ofMiridae

Peristenus stygicus Loan develops inMirinae speciesLygus hesperus,Knight,L. lineolaris, (Palisot de Beauvois) andPolymerus basalis (Reuter),Orthotylinae speciesLabopidicola geminata (Johnston),Phylinae speciesPseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) and partially develops in the mirineDichrooscytus sp. The parasitoids attackMicrophylellus maculipennis (Knight) (Phylinae) and another orthotyline species, but do not develop in these.Taedia johnstoni (Knight) (Mirinae), 2 species ofBrycorinae and 3 species ofLygaeidae are not acceptable as hosts. Olfactometer studies show the parasites are significantly more attracted to lygus nymphs whenPhaseolus vulgaris L. is present than either the nymphs or bean alone. Host color, mobility, size, previously infested plant material, and host plant species are rejected as host selection criteria.     

Cytotaxonomic study ofTragopogon L. in czechoslovakia

Karyotypes ofTragopogon orientalis L. subsp.orientalis, T orientalis L. subsp.leiocarpos (Sauter)Trnka,T. pratensis L.,T. minor Miller,T. dubius Scop. subsp.dubius andT. dubius Scop. subsp.major (Jacq.)Vollmann were studied. The occurrence in Slovakia ofT. pratensis was karyologically proved.     

Further taxonomic notes onRubiaceae in Europe

Several new names and combinations of EuropeanRubiaceae, i.e.Galium andCruciata, are proposed. The nomenclatorial interpretation ofGalium saxatile L. (=G. harcynicum Weigel) andG. megalospermum All. (=G. helveticum Weigel) is clarified. Among important publications from the year 1806Willdenow, Sp. Pl.4(2) has priority overSibthorp etSmith, Prodr. Fl. Graec.1 (part 1).     

Fallopia Adans. 1763 instead ofBilderdykia Dum. 1827

The generic nameFallopia Adans. 1763 is analysed from the point of view of its taxonomic identily and typified byPolygonum scandens L. 1753. By this typification it is taxonomically identical withBilderdykia Dum. 1827 and must replace that name. The genusFallopia Adans. is defined by comparison with related genera; it includes 9 species in two sections, and 1 hybrid; new nomenclatural combinations are proposed for these taxa.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of anamorphs of someBasidiomycetes in culture

The anamorphs in cultures ofLepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.)Cooke,Coprinus comatus (Müll.:Fr.)S.F. Gray,Fistulina hepatica Sohaeff.:Fr.,Pholiota adiposa (Fr.)Kumm. andAsterophora lycoperdoides (Bull.)S.F. Gray, an imperfect state ofNyctalis lycoperdoides (Bull.)Schroet., were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Arthroconidia were described inLepista nuda for the first time. Examination of the fine structure of dendroid forms inCoprinus comatus revealed why those structures were not propagative.