STUDIES ON BIOLUMINESCENCE : XIV. THE SPECIFICITY OF LUCIFERIN AND LUCIFERASE.

Among sixteen groups of luminous forms investigated by the author, in only four (fireflies, Pholas, ostracods, and Odontosyllis) is it possible to demonstrate the luciferin-luciferase reaction. In many groups this is probably due to the small amount of these substances present in the luminescent organism or to their instability. In the medusæ and pennatulids, despite a large amount of luminescent material, luciferin and luciferase cannot be demonstrated. This does not appear to be due to the presence of luciferin and luciferase in equivalent proportion, or to their instability. In fact, one is led to the conclusion that luciferin and luciferase do not exist in these forms, but such a conclusion must be regarded as merely tentative, in view of the fundamental character of the luciferin-luciferase reaction. Luciferin of one form will not luminesce with the luciferase of another form or vice versa, unless very closely related (Cypridina and Pyrocypris). All experiments emphasize the specificity of the light producing substances of Cypridina.     

STUDIES OF PACIFIC ISLAND PLANTS. XXIX. BLEASDALEA AND RELATED GENERA OF PROTEACEAE

The genus Kermadecia (Proteaceae), originally described as endemic to New Caledonia, has been expanded in recent decades to include three species from the New Hebrides and Fiji. Specialists on the Proteaceae have suggested that the three Melanesian species were generically misplaced, and careful reexamination supports this viewpoint. It is now apparent that a distinct group within the subfamily Grevilleoideae is composed of the genera Euplassa (endemic to South America), Sleumerodendron (a monotypic New Caledonian genus), Gevuina (based on a single South American species but recently expanded to include two other species from Queensland and New Guinea), and the three questionable Melanesian species. A review of this cluster of taxa indicates that Gevuina should again be interpreted as restricted to South America and that the generic name Bleasdalea F. v. Muell. ex Domin should be adopted for a group of five species extending from Queensland and New Guinea to the New Hebrides and Fiji. The relationships of the four genera are discussed and within Bleasdalea four new combinations are proposed: B. bleasdalei (F. v. Muell.), B. ferruginea (A. C. Sm.), B. vitiensis (Turrill), and B. lutea (Guillaumin). Kermadecia, very distinct from the four genera under present consideration, is again interpreted as a New Caledonian endemic.     

中国萱草属药用植物资源学研究

对中国萱草属药用植物进行了本草学分类、分布、显微组织、化学成分、含量测定等方面的研究,为正确分类鉴定及安全有效地用药提供了依据。     

荚莲属观赏植物资源的研究

荚蒾属(Viburnum)植物全世界约有200种,其中有许多种类可供观赏,但国内外仅有少数几种被开发利用。本文介绍了46种荚蒾属植物在中国的应用现状和分布,论述了中国的传统名花——琼花(Viburnum macrocephalum)的植物学性状、栽培变异和品种分类,探讨了琼花的分类学难题;发现并定名了‘大花琼花’(V.macroce-phalum f.keteleeri'Big Flower')新品种;有7种荚莲属植物具有与琼花相似的观赏价值,值得在园林中推广。     

红景天属植物化学成分研究概述

本文据国内外近年来的研究成果,概述了红景天属植物的化学成分的分布、特有化学成分的结构、理化常数以及数种植物的制剂、红景天甙等的生理活性,并对其规律作了初步的归纳、总结。     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN SOUTH AMERICAN COMPOSITAE

Original chromosome counts are reported from 91 populations and 73 taxa distributed among 46 genera. Most of these were obtained from meiotic material and are first reports. Some of the more interesting counts are from genera with amphitropical distributions such as Gaillardia and Helenium. When appropriate, systematic implications of the data are discussed.