Pollen differences between Stylisma and Bonamia (Convolvulaceae)

Although discounted in a monograph recognizingStylisma as distinct fromBonamia, pollen morphology is useful in distinguishing these genera, Light and scanning electron microscopy show that the pollen ofStylisma is characterized by an advanced 3-aggrecolpate aperture totaling 12 or 15 colpi, while pollen ofBonamia is typically of a primitive 3-colpate type.     

On Edouard Claparède and Johannes Lachmann (Clap & Lach) and their “Etudes sur les Infusoires et les Rhizopodes”

Accounts are given of the lives and careers of Edouard Claparède (1832–1871) and Johannes Lachmann (1832–1860), the authors of the landmark work of 19th century protistology “Etudes sur les Infusoires et les Rhizopodes”, published in 3 parts in 1859, 1860 and 1861. Accounts are also given on the origin of the monograph, the relationship of Claparède and Lachmann with Ernst Haeckel, and Claparède's role as a promoter of Darwin's theories. Suggestions as to how to properly cite the monograph of Claparède and Lachmann are provided, as well as a supplementary file listing the protist species currently accepted as having been first described in their monograph.     

Notes on the phylogeny of the nautiloidea

Critical notes on the monograph “Phylogeny of the Nautiloidea” by J. Dzik (1984), especially with respect to cephalopod material from the Lower Palaeozoic of Bohemia are presented. Oncocerid type of muscle scars in the Lower Devonian genusPtenoceras as well as succession of growth stages of the shell in Silurian genusSphooceras is figured.     

The taxonomic status of physalis lanceolata (Solanaceae) in the Carolina Sandhills

In the most recent monograph of the genus in North America,Physalis lanceolata was considered to be a hybrid betweenP. heterophylla andP. virginiana. Comparative morphological and Chromatographic studies indicate, however, thatP. lanceolata is not intermediate between its supposed parents. This evidence plus its high pollen viability and seed set indicate that the species is not a hybrid. Natural hybrids betweenP. heterophylla andP. virginiana are sterile and are intermediate between these species in morphology and Chromatographic pattern.     

A new species of Pinguicula from Mexico (Lentibulariaceae)

A new species ofPinguicula from Mexico,P. sharpii, is described. It belongs in SubgenusIsoloba, SectionIsoloba, as defined in Casper’s monograph of the genusPinguicula (1966a). The somatic chromosome number ofPinguicula sharpii is2n = 16, which is diploid. The basic chromosome numberx = 8 is found in many members of SubgenusIsoloba ofPinguicula, while that ofx = 11 is also found in some members of the subgenus.     

New species of Cuphea section Melvilla (Lythraceae) and an annotated key to the section

Three novelties inCuphea sectionMelvilla subsect.Pachycalyx are described from Brazil;C. andersonii andC. cylindracea from Pará, andC. sabulosa from Amazonas. An annotated key to the 47 species ofCuphea sectionMelvilla is provided, the first since the 1903 monograph of the family, which then included 27 species in the section. The key identifies those species ofCuphea with thick, dorsally convex, red- or yellow-tubed flowers distributed from Mexico to Argentina.     

Taxonomic,nomenclatural, and reproductive notes on Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae)

Information onC. arizonica, C. hapalocarpa, C. mcvaughii, C. parviflora, andC. pectinata published in a monograph of the genus in 1983 is updated. The generic affinities ofC. myriantha andC. sinaloensis are resolved, with the former placed inCarlowrightia and the latter removed to a separate genus. The new combinationC. neesiana, necessitated by conservation of the generic nameCarlowrightia, is provided for the species previously known asC. glandulosa. Two new species from western Mexico,C. fuertensis andC. huicholiana, are described, mapped, and illustrated.     

Historical roots of centrosome research: discovery of Boveri's microscope slides in Würzburg

Boveri''s visionary monograph ‘Ueber die Natur der Centrosomen’ (On the nature of centrosomes) in 1900 was founded primarily on microscopic observations of cleaving eggs of sea urchins and the roundworm parasite Ascaris. As Boveri wrote in the introductory paragraph, his interests were less about morphological aspects of centrosomes, but rather aimed at an understanding of their physiological role during cell division. The remarkable transition from observations of tiny dot-like structures in fixed and sectioned material to a unified theory of centrosome function (which in essence still holds true today) cannot be fully appreciated without examining Boveri''s starting material, the histological specimens. It was generally assumed that the microscope slides were lost during the bombing of the Zoological Institute in Würzburg at the end of WWII. Here, I describe the discovery of a number of Boveri''s original microscope slides with serial sections of early sea urchin and Ascaris embryos, stained by Heidenhain''s iron haematoxylin method. Some slides bear handwritten notes and sketches by Boveri. Evidence is presented that the newly discovered slides are part of the original material used by Boveri for his seminal centrosome monograph.     

Typification of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841 (Ciliophora,Rhynchostomatia)

In their monograph of the dileptids, Vďačný and Foissner (2012) could not clarify the type species of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841. Thus, they suggested that the problem be referred to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. However, recently we discovered that Dujardin (1841) has originally typified Dileptus with Amphileptus anser sensu Ehrenberg (1838) which is in fact a misidentified Amphileptus margaritifer Ehrenberg, 1833, a common species also originally classified in Dileptus. Under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, Dileptus margaritifer (Ehrenberg, 1833) Dujardin, 1841, thoroughly redescribed by Foissner et al. (1995), is now the type of Dileptus. This has the great advantages of historical continuity and that new combinations (names) are not required.     

Taxonomic notes on astragalus section leptocarpi subsection californici (Fabaceae)

A recently completed study of Astragalus sect. Leptocarpi subsect. Californici shows that the following taxonomic adjustments are required: 1) Astragalus tener var. ferrisiae, a new variety, is described. It is compared to A. tener var. tener, as well as to A. rattanii var. jepsonianus in which it was previously included, and to the superficially similar A. clarianus with which it was confused. An illustration of the new variety, and of the fruits of these related taxa, is included. 2) Astragalus nyensis was placed in subsect. Californici by Barneby in his 1964 monograph. Morphological, anatomical, and allozyme data suggest that A. nyensis should be placed in the subsect. Leptocarpi closely allied to A. nuttallianus.     

The genusTaraxacum in the Caucasus 1. Introduction, 2. The sectionPorphyrantha

An introduction is presented to a taxonomic evaluation of rich cultivated and herbarium material of the genusTaraxacum from the Caucasus. Sources of the material, a survey of localities, and a preliminary account of the sections and species groups ofTaraxacum described from the Caucasus are given. The introduction is followed by a monograph ofT. sect.Porphyrantha, a section shown (contrary to the original conception and some literature data) to be endemic to the Caucasus. Six new species are described belonging to the section divided in two subsections, subsect.Porphyrantha and subsect.Haemantha, viz.T. pseudoporphyranthum, T. vepallidum, T. haemanthum, T. ignivomum, T. exstinctum andT. deminutum. Lectotypes are selected forT. porphyranthum Boiss. andT. pseudoroseum ?i?kin.     

Extraordinary fossils reveal the nature of Cambrian life: a commentary on Whittington (1975) ‘The enigmatic animal Opabinia regalis,Middle Cambrian,Burgess Shale,British Columbia’

Harry Whittington''s 1975 monograph on Opabinia was the first to highlight how some of the Burgess Shale animals differ markedly from those that populate today''s oceans. Categorized by Stephen J. Gould as a ‘weird wonder’ (Wonderful life, 1989) Opabinia, together with other unusual Burgess Shale fossils, stimulated ongoing debates about the early evolution of the major animal groups and the nature of the Cambrian explosion. The subsequent discovery of a number of other exceptionally preserved fossil faunas of Cambrian and early Ordovician age has significantly augmented the information available on this critical interval in the history of life. Although Opabinia initially defied assignment to any group of modern animals, it is now interpreted as lying below anomalocaridids on the stem leading to the living arthropods. This commentary was written to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.     

SPECIES CONCEPTS IN THE GENUSUSNEA(LICHENIZED ASCOMYCETES)

Practically most of the taxonomists working on vascular plants and fungi are using the so-called taxonomic species concept, relying largely on morphological criteria or other observable patterns of discontinuity and assuming that these patterns are reflecting the underlying genetic integrity of species. Such a concept is described in detail here for the genusUsnea. The typological view versus the populational view of species are discussed. The diagnostic value of characters used by previous and recent taxonomists of the genus is analysed. The fact thatUsneahas such a bad taxonomic reputation is discussed. The use by J. Motyka, author of the world monograph published in the thirties, of characters that are strongly modified by environmental factors together with a typological view of species are thought to be mainly responsible for this. More than 770 names have been published worldwide so far and it is suggested that around 50% are to be considered as synonyms.     

Julius Sachs (1832–1897) and the Unity of Life

In 1865, the German botanist Julius Sachs published a seminal monograph entitled Experimental-Physiologie der Pflanzen (Experimental Physiology of Plants) and hence became the founder of a new scientific discipline that originated 150 y ago. Here, we outline the significance of the achievements of Sachs. In addition, we document, with reference to his Vorlesungen über Pflanzen-Physiologie (Lectures on the Physiology of Plants, 1882), that Sachs was one of the first experimentalists who proposed the functional unity of all organisms alive today (humans, animals, plants and other “vegetable” organisms, such as algae, cyanophyceae, fungi, myxomycetes, and bacteria).     

Die älteste Ammoniten-Fauna im Aptium Nordwest-Deutschlands

The subject of this article are the oldest representatives of the ammonite family DeshayesitidaeStoyanow 1949 occurring in the lowermost strata of the NW German Aptain. This contribution is a supplement toCasey's comprehensive monograph of the ammonoidea of the Lower Greensand in England. The examples described belong to the generaProdeshayesites Casey 1961 andParadeshayesites n. gen. The phylogenetic relations and the origin of the early Deshayesitidae in heteromorphous predecessors are discussed, too. The second part of this paper deals withSimbirskites like ammonites which were found together with the Deshayesitidae presumably, however derived from pleistocene deposits. They are described here as?Simbirskites until more information will be available.     

Monascus pigments

Monascus pigments (MPs) as natural food colorants have been widely utilized in food industries in the world, especially in China and Japan. Moreover, MPs possess a range of biological activities, such as anti-mutagenic and anticancer properties, antimicrobial activities, potential anti-obesity activities, and so on. So, in the past two decades, more and more attention has been paid to MPs. Up to now, more than 50 MPs have been identified and studied. However, there have been some reviews about red fermented rice and the secondary metabolites produced by Monascus, but no monograph or review of MPs has been published. This review covers the categories and structures, biosynthetic pathway, production, properties, detection methods, functions, and molecular biology of MPs.     

The influence of the inactivating agent on the antigen content of inactivated Newcastle disease vaccines assessed by the in vitro potency test

An in vitro potency test has recently been included in the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) monograph (01/2007:0870) to assess the potency of inactivated Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines. This enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an attractive alternative for the existing in vivo potency tests especially with regard to the objective of the European Authorities to Replace, Reduce and Refine the use of laboratory animals for production and quality control of immunobiologicals.In the present study the influence of the inactivant on the antigen content established by ELISA was evaluated. Therefore, oil based vaccines containing similar concentrations of β-propiolactone (BPL) or formaldehyde inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were examined by ELISA and in the in vivo potency tests outlined in the EP.The results obtained demonstrate that the use of formaldehyde as inactivant lowered the in vitro potency compared to BPL as inactivant. In contrast, the in vivo potency was not affected. Therefore, the ELISA should not be used to compare the potency of commercial ND vaccines containing formaldehyde inactivated NDV with those containing BPL inactivated NDV. However, the ELISA is considered an attractive alternative for the existing in vivo potency tests since it can be used by vaccine manufacturers for the release of inactivated ND vaccines.