New herbaceous and woody species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from Somalia

A small prostrate herb, Euphorbia salsicola , a woody shrublet with curious tubers, E. scatorhiza , and a small tree with decorative bracts, E. thulinii , are described as new species of Euphorbia. Within subgenus Lyciopsis the morphological variability of E. cuneata in Somalia is discussed and a new subspecies cretacea is described. E. gypsophila , a closely related but distinct species found only on gypsum is also described as new, together with E. dunensis , a shrublet from the coastal dunes and E. tripartita , another shrub in the same subgenus related to E. matabelensis. As far as present records show, all the new taxa are endemic in Somalia.     

Continued decline in tree euphorbias (Euphorbia tetragona and E. triangularis) on the Great Fish River Reserve,Eastern Cape,South Africa

A dramatic decline averaging 43% over a 4‐year period has occurred in tree Euphorbia (Euphorbia tetragona and Euphorbia triangularis) populations on the Great Fish River Reserve, South Africa. These changes are evident from data gathered by general vegetation monitoring methods as well as from a focused study of four tree Euphorbia populations. The decline from 2003 to 2007 was more marked for E. triangularis than for E. tetragona and was accompanied by a general absence of seedlings and a reduced presence of younger age classes of both species, decreasing the proportion of younger trees in the populations. The role of megaherbivores, specifically the black rhinoceros, in these changes is well established. However, the impact of baboon activity, leading to damage to tree crowns and upper branches, is also substantial, especially on E. triangularis populations. Damaged crowns were recorded significantly more often for E. triangularis than for E. tetragona, and the damage frequency increased with decreasing tree height. Thus, our work provides the first evidence that these two closely related Euphorbia species may be affected differently by herbivory.     

The occurrence of C(2) photosynthesis in Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae)

This study investigated whether Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce subsection Acutae contains C(3)-C(4) intermediate species utilizing C(2) photosynthesis, the process where photorespired CO(2) is concentrated into bundle sheath cells. Euphorbia species in subgenus Chamaesyce are generally C(4), but three species in subsection Acutae (E. acuta, E. angusta, and E. johnstonii) have C(3) isotopic ratios. Phylogenetically, subsection Acutae branches between basal C(3) clades within Euphorbia and the C(4) clade in subgenus Chamaesyce. Euphorbia angusta is C(3), as indicated by a photosynthetic CO(2) compensation point (Г) of 69 μmol mol(-1) at 30 °C, a lack of Kranz anatomy, and the occurrence of glycine decarboxylase in mesophyll tissues. Euphorbia acuta utilizes C(2) photosynthesis, as indicated by a Г of 33 μmol mol(-1) at 30 °C, Kranz-like anatomy with mitochondria restricted to the centripetal (inner) wall of the bundle sheath cells, and localization of glycine decarboxlyase to bundle sheath mitochondria. Low activities of PEP carboxylase, NADP malic enzyme, and NAD malic enzyme demonstrated no C(4) cycle activity occurs in E. acuta thereby classifying it as a Type I C(3)-C(4) intermediate. Kranz-like anatomy in E. johnstonii indicates it also utilizes C(2) photosynthesis. Given the phylogenetically intermediate position of E. acuta and E. johnstonii, these results support the hypothesis that C(2) photosynthesis is an evolutionary intermediate condition between C(3) and C(4) photosynthesis.     

Problems of distinction among succulent Euphorbia species from eastern tropical Africa

Problems of distinction among succulent Euphorbia species from eastern tropical Africa. Identification of herbarium specimens of succulent Euphorbia species is especially difficult due to distortion of important characters upon drying. Problems encountered in collecting and preserving material result in poor representation in the herbarium, and true variation and distribution of closely related taxa are thus often established only from field studies. These problems are exposed and some solutions given in four groups of species from east and northeast Africa: the non-spiny E. schimperi-nubica group, the single-spined E. triaculeata group, the shrubby E. heterochroma-stapfii group and the tree E. nyikae-kibwezensis group.     

华南大戟科植物的增补

作者清理采自中国南部大戟科标本过程,发现一些需增补的分类群,现报道其中２个新种：分布于广东封开县的印禅铁苋菜Ａｃａｌｙｐｈａｗｕｉ和印禅三宝木Ｔｒｉｇｏｎｏｓｔｅｍｏｎｗｕｉ;２个新纪录种：分布于云南勐海县的短序白桐树Ｃｌａｏｘｙｌｏｎｓｕｂｓｅｓｓｉｌｉｆｌｏｒｕｍ和生长于海南南沙群岛的南沙大戟Ｅｕｐｈｏｒｂｉａｒｅｎｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ;１个近代生长于广东、贵州和四川的归化种－桃叶猩猩草Ｅｕｐｈｏｒｂｉａｈｅｔｅｒｏｐｈｙｌｌａ,而将依据四川渡口的标本命名的柳叶大戟Ｅ．ｅｐｉｌｉｂｉｉｆｏｌｉａ作为它的新异名．     

Two new species of Euphorbia subsp. Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from east and northeast Somalia

Two small species of succulent, spiny Euphorbia are described as new, both with limited distributions, E. ammophila from the coastal plain of eastern Somalia, and E. densispina from the mountain ranges of the northeast.     

A new spiny Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) species from northeast Somalia

A small succulent, spiny Euphorbia is described as a new species, E. patentispina , endemic to Somalia, with a limited distribution in the northeast region of Bari. Its relationship to other species of the same group—those producing subsessile capsules and a single spine from each spine shield—occurring in northern Somalia is discussed.     

Laticifers and the classification of Euphorbia: the chemotaxonomy of Euphorbia esula L.

Laticifers and the classification of Euphorbia: the chemotaxonomy of Euphorbia esula L. Articulated and non-articulated laticifer cells represent distinctive cell types of relatively recent origin and occur in only a few families. Both types are of separate phylogenetic origin, reflecting independent evolutionary trends in the Euphorbiaceae. Supra-generic groupings of this family can be segregated into three taxonomic units using the laticifer character; with either articulated laticifers, non-articulated laticifers, or no laticifers. Such units may reflect more natural assemblages than now represented in the classification of this family. Laticifers possess chemical and morphological features of potential application as taxonomic characters to aid in delimiting species and interpreting evolutionary trends. The triterpenoid profile from latex of Euphorbia species has been shown to be diagnostic for a taxon. The qualitative and quantitative composition show a high level of stability under diverse environmental and physiological conditions indicating a genetic basis for triterpenoid synthesis. Triterpenoid profiles of known accessions of European E. esula L. and related presumptive taxa from North America readily separated them into distinctive chemotaxa that include one for E. esula L., whereas morphological features were found inadequate for separating accessions to presumptive taxa. Identification of adventive spurges in North America requires diagnostic analyses of Eurasian leafy spurges for comparison. Laticifer characters used in conjunction with relevant morphological features will provide a broadened insight into phylogenetic relationships with the Euphorbiaceae.     

Euphorbia venkatarajui sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh,India

Euphorbia venkatarajui, a new succulent species of Euphorbiaceae, is described from Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state, India. The new species belongs to the subgenus Euphorbia, and it closely resembles Euphorbia gokakensis S.R. Yadav, Malpure and Chandore and E. caducifolia Haines., but differs in certain distinct characters.     

Electrophoretic Analysis of Isoenzymes in the Identification of Trypanosomatids of the Genus Phytomonas1

Five strains of trypanosomatids of the genus Phytomonas, isolated from different species of Euphorbia {Euphorbia heterophylla, E. characias, E. pinea, E. hyssopifolia) and from Manihot escutenta, were cultured and compared through the electrophoretic mobility of isoenzymes of six enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2), phosphoglucomutase (EC 2.7.5.1), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), glucosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9), and malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.40). The strains could be distinguished from one another by their respective isoenzyme profiles.     

八种国产大戟属植物的核型报道

8种大戟属Euphorbia L．植物的核型分析结果表明,大戟属不同亚属的染色体基数与其形态变 异的复杂性有一定关系。地锦草亚属subgen．Chamaesyce 3个种染色体基数分别为x=8,9,11;一品红 亚属subgen．Poinsettia两个种染色体基数均为x=7,分别为四倍体和八倍体;乳浆大戟亚属subgen． Esula 3个种,染色体基数分别为x=7,10,10。根据以前学者发表的资料分析,一品红亚属和大戟亚属 Subgen. Euphorbia的染色体基数是很稳定的,分别为x=7和x=10;通奶草E．hypericifolia为x=8 的四倍体,它不仅有染色体整倍性的变异,还有异基数性的变化。结合以前学者的研究,笔者支持x= 10为大戟属的最原始基数的观点。齿裂大戟E．dentata和通奶草具不同的染色体倍性,猫眼草E． esula的细胞染色体数目观察证实了我国存在四倍体的居群,与欧洲和北美的植物构成一个典型的多倍体复合体。     

A new arborescent Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from northern Somalia

Euphorbia spissa, sp. nov., a tree known from a single population on a rocky limestone slope in northern Somalia, is described and illustrated. The species is compared with the widespread E. tirucalli, as well as with E. cameronii and E. bariensis (endemics in Somalia), E. arbuscula (endemic on Socotra), and E. uzmuk (endemic in northern Yemen).     

Studies on the leaf anatomy of Euphorbia III. The node

Anatomical studies of representatives of 11 groups of species of the genus Euphorbia , erected on the basis of leaf venation patterns, reveal the occurrence of 3 main types of nodal organization, viz. unilacunar 1-trace, bilacunar 2-trace and trilacunar 3-trace (in the majority of the species). In some instances, a deceptive multi-stranded condition is visualized if cleared leaves alone are studied. Euphorbia polygonifolia and E. peplis leaves have a variable vascular supply in the same plant, consisting of 2 or 3 strands in the former and 2 or 4 strands in the latter. No correlation was found between the type of node and either the habit and habitat of the plant or the leaf shape and size.     

Ecophysiology and distribution of the endemic leafless spurgeEuphorbia aphylla and the introducedE. tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae,Euphorbia sect.Tirucalli) in the Canary Islands

The leafless spurgeEuphorbia aphylla (Euphorbiaceae), an endemic species restricted to several of the Canary Islands where it inhabits coastal and arid localities, expresses Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) when it is subjected to summer drought. A flexible CAM is consistent with the general ecology of the species. It is the only member of sect.Tirucalli native to the Canary Islands and is at the north-western edge of the section's biogeographical range. The other members of the section have a paleotropic distribution and are found throughout Africa. Many of them are regarded as obligate CAM plants, includingE. tirucalli which was used as a comparison in ecophysiological experiments examining the response ofE. aphylla to drought and temperature.     

Survival adaptations of threeEuphorbia spp. in arid ecosystem

Three species ofEuphorbia (E. granulata, E. prostrata andE. hirta) exhibited both morphological and physiological adaptations in dry environmental conditions. High bound water, thick cuticle, dense hair covering and low stomatal index are some of the survival adaptations they developed under water stress conditions of the Indian arid zone.     

Identification and characterisation of the chinese herb Langdu by LC-MS/MS analysis

An LC-MS/MS method has been developed for the identification of three species of herb used as the traditional Chinese medicine Langdu, namely Stellera chamaejasme L., Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata and E. fischeriana Steud. As these herbs contain different mixtures of marker compounds, they could be unambiguously differentiated from each other by comparing their respective characteristic segmental multiple reaction monitoring profiles. The profiles indicated that S. chamaejasme contained daphnetin, skimmetine, stellerin, chamaechromone and neochamaejasmin, E. fischeriana contained ebracteolata compound B, ingenol, jolkinolide B and fischeriana A, whilst E. ebracteolata contained ebracteolata compounds B and C along with ingenol. These results were confirmed from the respective MS/MS spectra. The method has been successfully applied to differentiate these herbs from the related species Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott and E. kansui Liou.     

五种大戟属植物nrDNA的ITS序列分析及其叶的比较解剖学研究

运用PCR直接测序法和石蜡切片法,测定5种安徽产大戟属植物的nrDNA的内转录间隔区(ITS)序列包括5.8SrDNA及其叶片的解剖。结果表明(1)5种大戟属植物的ITS的长度范围为641~662bp,运用Maga软件构件ITS树把5种植物归为两大支大戟、月腺大戟与乳浆大戟聚为一支;地锦和斑地锦聚为另一支。结果表明地锦和斑地锦亲缘关系较近,而大戟、月腺大戟和乳浆大戟亲缘关系较近。(2)5种大戟属植物的叶片结构中,除地锦和斑地锦外,其余3种有明显的栅栏组织和海绵组织之分,但二者在叶肉中的厚度比在种间有一定的差别;而地锦和斑地锦叶的栅栏组织与海绵组织分化不明显,且皆有乳汁管,其他3种植物叶片内未见此结构,叶片结构分析表明大戟、月腺大戟和乳浆大戟叶片结构相近,而地锦草和斑地锦叶片结构也相近。(3)分析表明nrDNA的ITS序列及叶的比较解剖特征具有明显的相关性。以上研究结果为大戟属植物的分类和药用开发提供了实验证据。     

Effects of ants on the reproductive success of Euphorbia cyparissias and associated pathogenic rust fungi

Ants are common visitors to the flowers of Euphorbia cyparissias , and also often forage on E. cyparissias stems that are infected by rust fungi of the species complex Uromyces pisi . These fungi sterilise their host, produce nectar and require insects for their sexual reproduction. Our objective was to determine whether ant visits enhance the sexual reproduction of either E. cyparissias or the rust fungi. Uromyces pisi is known to be obligately outcrossing, whereas a breeding system experiment established that E. cyparissias can self, but sets more seeds when outcrossed. We used insect exclusion experiments to test whether ants fertilise the rust fungi and to determine whether ants are pollinators of E. cyparissias . These experiments showed that insect pollination is necessary for seed set and that ants can pollinate the flowers. However, ants do not fertilise the rust fungi.