A taxodiaceous seed cone from the Triassic of Antarctica

A silicified seed cone is described from the lower Middle Triassic of A silicified seed cone is described from the lower Middle Triassic of Antarctica. The cone measures up to 3.4 cm long and 1.4 cm wide, and consists of helically arranged cone scales attached to a eustelic axis. Bract and ovuliferous scale are approximately of equal length and fused at the base. The bract is entire and vascularized by a single trace. The ovuliferous scale contains five distal lobes, each vascularized by a terete strand that divides to form a smaller trace to each of the five inverted ovules. Ovules are small and flattened with the three-parted integument attenuated into oppositely positioned lateral wings. The Triassic specimens are compared with both extant and fossil conifer seed cones and believed to have their closest affinities within the Taxodiaceae.     

对翼蓼(蓼科)属级位置的重新探讨

通过对翼蓼Pteroxygonum giraldii Damm. &; Diels及相关属(蓼属Polygonum、何首乌属Fallopia、虎杖属Reynoutria、荞麦属Fagopyrum和金线草属Antenoron)的形态观察、果实解剖学观察、花被片脉序观察、花粉形态、核型分析, 以及ITS序列的分析确定了翼蓼和荞麦F. esculentum Moench较远的亲缘关系。其中我们发现翼蓼果实基部有三个角状物明显不同于其他属果实的形态特征。翼蓼外果皮明显加厚, 并有零星散布的波状内腔, 而荞麦的外果皮很薄, 细胞不等径, 中果皮极厚。以上证据证明了翼蓼与荞麦属亲缘关系较远。在观察荞麦属和翼蓼的花被片脉络时发现了两种不同的脉序类型, 符合将荞麦属分为两个组的划分。翼蓼花被片脉序为三出状, 支持将翼蓼归为Persicarieae族。对翼蓼及荞麦属植物的花粉进行比较后, 发现荞麦属植物的花粉网孔有明显的内凹穿孔而翼蓼却没有, 结果表明二者亲缘关系较远。通过对nrDNA ITS区域序列分析得出翼蓼及相关属为一个单系类群, 含有两个稳定的分支: 第一个分支由蓼属(萹蓄组sect. Avicularia)、何首乌属、虎杖属的植物组成, 第二个分支由蓼属(刺蓼组sect. Echinocaulon、蓼组sect. Polygonum、分叉蓼组sect. Aconogonon、拳参组sect. Bistorta、翼蓼和荞麦属植物组成。同时第二个分支又分成了两个亚分支, 蓼属(刺蓼组、蓼组、分叉蓼组、拳参组)和翼蓼属Pteroxygonum植物属于第一个亚支而荞麦属植物属于第二个亚支。结果支持翼蓼不属于荞麦属的范畴。实验结果显示翼蓼是个单型属, 属于Persicarieae族。     

Ovular development and perisperm formation in Phytolacca americana (Phytolaccaceae) and their systematic significance in Caryophyllales

Phytolacca is the biggest and most original genus in Phytolaccaceae and an important genus in plant systematic studies. Light microscopy results show that the Phytolacca americana L. ovule arises from the caulis (floral receptacle). The perisperm and hypostase are simultaneously initiated from the top several layers of cells of chalaza after fertilization, and the perisperm is located between the nucellus and hypostase. In the early stages of development, the hypostase cells are thin-walled with dense cytoplasm, clear nuclei, and some reserve granules.Later, at the heart-shaped embryo stage, the hypostase cells are dead and thick-walled. The main functions of the hypostase may be to maintain cellular division and perisperm growth without delivering nutrient materials to the perisperm. An evolutionary picture of placentation in Caryophyllales is also presented.     

Racemose inflorescences of monocots: structural and morphogenetic interaction at the flower/inflorescence level

Background

Understanding and modelling early events of floral meristem patterning and floral development requires consideration of positional information regarding the organs surrounding the floral meristem, such as the flower-subtending bracts (FSBs) and floral prophylls (bracteoles). In common with models of regulation of floral patterning, the simplest models of phyllotaxy consider only unbranched uniaxial systems. Racemose inflorescences and thyrses offer a useful model system for investigating morphogenetic interactions between organs belonging to different axes.

Scope

This review considers (1) racemose inflorescences of early-divergent and lilioid monocots and their possible relationship with other inflorescence types, (2) hypotheses on the morphogenetic significance of phyllomes surrounding developing flowers, (3) patterns of FSB reduction and (4) vascular patterns in the primary inflorescence axis and lateral pedicels.

Conclusions

Racemose (partial) inflorescences represent the plesiomorphic condition in monocots. The presence or absence of a terminal flower or flower-like structure is labile among early-divergent monocots. In some Alismatales, a few-flowered racemose inflorescence can be entirely transformed into a terminal ‘flower’. The presence or absence and position of additional phyllomes on the lateral pedicels represent important taxonomic markers and key features in regulation of flower patterning. Racemose inflorescences with a single floral prophyll are closely related to thyrses. Floral patterning is either unidirectional or simultaneous in species that lack a floral prophyll or possess a single adaxial floral prophyll and usually spiral in the outer perianth whorl in species with a transversely oriented floral prophyll. Inhibitory fields of surrounding phyllomes are relevant but insufficient to explain these patterns; other important factors are meristem space economy and/or the inhibitory activity of the primary inflorescence axis. Two patterns of FSB reduction exist in basal monocots: (1) complete FSB suppression (cryptic flower-subtending bract) and (2) formation of a ‘hybrid’ organ by overlap of the developmental programmes of the FSB and the first abaxial organ formed on the floral pedicel. FSB reduction affects patterns of interaction between the conductive systems of the flower and the primary inflorescence axis.     

侧柏雌球果及其胚珠的发育

观察了侧柏（Ｐｌａｔｙｃｌａｄｕｓ ｏｒｉｅｎｔａｌｉｓ（Ｌ．）Ｆｒａｎｃｅ）胚珠的发育过程及后期球果苞片的结构变化。在北京,雌球果原基７月分化。通常一个球果有４对苞片,中部两对可育,靠球果顶端一对各产生一枚胚珠,其下一对各两枚。胚珠的发育顺序是向顶的,下部可育苞片腑部的两枚胚珠源于同一原基。胚珠原基分化成珠心和珠被,在发育过程中,珠被逐渐包围珠心,最后形成２烧瓶状的胚珠。１１月至次年１月,球果处     

侧柏雌球果及其胚珠的发育

Seed cone in Platycladus orientalis (L.) France consists of four or five pairs of decussate bracts. Usually, two pairs of the fertile bracts in the middle of the cone subtend six ovules, which initiate in an acropetal manner. Only one ovule presents on each of the upper fertile bract, while two ovules initiate from a common primordium in the axil of lower bracts. In Beijing, most female cones initiated in July. All parts of the cone formed before dormancy, which occurred during November to the next January. After pollination in March, bract morphology changed dramatically; intercalary growth of the bract base formed a conspicuous protuberance, in which inverted vascular system developed. Furthermore, ovules on different pairs of bracts initiated in an acropetal manner and two ovules in each lower fertile bract initiated from a common primordium, which was different from the basipetal initiation of ovules and independently formed single ovule as reported by Takaso in Calltris.     

Morphogenesis of Pistillate Flowers of Cercidiphyllum japonicum(Cercidiphyllaceae)

Floral morphogenesis and the development of Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb.et Zucc.were observed by scanning electronmicroscopy(SEM).The results showed that the pistillate inflorescences were congested spikes with the flowers arrangedopposite.Great differences between the so-called"bract"and the vegetative leaf were observed both in morphogenesis andmorphology.In morphogenesis,the"bract"primordium is crescent-shaped,truncated at the apex and not conduplicate,has no stipule primordium at the base but does have some inconspicuous teeth in the margin that are not glandular.Theleaf primordium is triangular,cycloidal at the apex,conduplicate,has two stipule primordia at the base,has one gland-toothat the apex occurring at first and some gland-teeth in the margin that occur later.In morphology,the"bract"is also differentto the vegetative leaf in some characteristics that were also illustrated in the present paper.Based on the hypothesis thatthe bract is more similar to the vegetative leaf than the tepal,we considered that the so-called"bract"of C.japonicum mightbe the tepal of the pistillate flower in morphological nature.Therefore,each pistillate flower contains a tepal and a carpel.We did not find any trace of other floral organs in the morphogenesis of the pistillate flower.Therefore we consideredthat the unicarpellate status of extant Cercidiphyllum might be to highly reduce and advance characteristics that make theextant Cercidiphyllum isolated from both fossil Cercidiphyllum-like plants and its extant affinities.     

Morphogenesis of Pistillate Flowers of Cercidiphyllum japonicum （Cercidiphyllaceae）

Floral morphogenesis and the development of Cercidiphyllumjaponicum Sieb. et Zucc. were observed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The results showed that the pistillate inflorescences were congested spikes with the flowers arranged opposite. Great differences between the so-called ＂bract＂ and the vegetative leaf were observed both in morphogenesis and morphology. In morphogenesis, the ＂bract＂ primordium is crescent-shaped, truncated at the apex and not conduplicate, has no stipule primordium at the base but does have some inconspicuous teeth in the margin that are not glandular. The leaf primordium is triangular, cycloidal at the apex, conduplicate, has two stipule primordia at the base, has one gland-tooth at the apex occurring at first and some gland-teeth in the margin that occur later. In morphology, the ＂bract＂ is also different to the vegetative leaf in some characteristics that were also illustrated in the present paper. Based on the hypothesis that the bract is more similar to the vegetative leaf than the tepal, we considered that the so-called ＂bract＂ of C.japonicum might be the tepal of the pistillate flower in morphological nature. Therefore, each pistillate flower contains a tepal and a carpel. We did not find any trace of other floral organs in the morphogenesis of the pistillate flower. Therefore we considered that the unicarpellate status of extant Cercidiphyllum might be to highly reduce and advance characteristics that make the extant Cercidiphyllum isolated from both fossil Cercidiphyllum-like plants and its extant affinities.     

Competition and the compensatory regulation of fruit and seed set in the perennial herb Epilobium dodonaei (Onagraceae)

I studied the effects of competition and soil fertilization on variation of seed yield components of the outcrossing perennial Epilobium dodonaei Vill. using a randomized complete block design. Fertilization as a main effect was not significant. Competition, however, reduced the number of flower buds per shoot (-29%), the number of ovules per fruit (-12%), and the number of ripe fruits per shoot (-51%). In addition, competition caused an increase in abortion of flower buds. Consequently the fruit/flower bud ratio decreased from 0.71 to 0.47. Average seed mass was not reduced significantly by competition. Some of the negative effects of competition on fruit production were mitigated by fertilization. However, competition considerably reduced the proportion of late-aborted seeds, which resulted in an increase of the seed/ovule ratio from 0.31 to 0.49 (+58%). As a consequence of this compensation, the reduction in the number of seeds per shoot due to competition was not significant. At the level of the genet, competition had a strong effect on seed yield due to decreases in the number of shoots produced. I discuss patterns of regulation at consecutive levels of reproduction. Shoots of plants suffering from competition initially invested less in reproductive structures than the control and showed a higher abortion rate of less costly structures early in reproductive development, but also had a lower abortion rate later in their development. The observed compensatory pattern in yield components illustrates the fine-tuning regulation capacity at different levels of reproductive development in plants.     

中国荞麦属花粉形态及花被片和果实微形态特征的研究

研究了中国荞麦属Fagopyrum　Mill.的花粉形态、花被片和果实微形态特征。根据沟膜的有无,花粉可以明显地区分为具沟膜者和不具沟膜者2类。透射电镜下显示,荞麦F. esculentum Moench的花粉外壁分化成两个明显的层次,即外壁外层和外壁内层。其外壁外层由覆盖层及柱状层组成,无基层。对花被片腹面的扫描电镜观察表明,根据细胞形状和表面纹饰,这些种类的花被片可分为3类。对果实表面的扫描电镜观察表明,这些种类的果实纹饰也可分为3类。根据上述结果,讨论了荞麦属的种间关系及花粉形态、花被片和果实一些微观性状的演化趋势。荞麦属的花粉形态极为一致,其外壁纹饰均为细网状,萌发孔为三孔沟,这支持将荞麦属从蓼属中分出独立成属的观点。本文还根据花粉形态特征及花被片和果实微形态特征讨论了国产荞麦属的种间关系,探讨了一些特征的演化趋势。