Studies on the Geographic Distribution,Origin and Dispersal of the Family Pinaceae Lindl.

Pinaceae Lindl., containing 10 genera and about 235 species, is the largest family in the extant conifers. It widely spreads in the Northern Hemisphere and plays a very important role in coniferous forests occurring in temperate to subtropical mountains. Numerous studies on this family have been carried out and the data dealing with many aspects of biosystematics of the Pinaceae have been accumulated. Based on the principle of unity of phylogeny and distribution of plants, and on the data from the studies of biosystematics of the Pinaceae, the present paper discusses the problems related to geographic distribution and phylogeny of the family in three respects as follows: (1) Floristic division of the Pinaceae is made based on Farjon's work (1990). Six regions and four subregions are outlined (Fig. 1). These are: I. the Mediterranean Region; II. the Eastern European and Siberian Region;III. the Eastern Asiatic Region, which can be further divided into two subregions, i. e. III a. the Northern Eastern Asiatic Subregion and III b. the Himalayas and Southern Eastern Asiatic Subregion; IV. the Western Northern American Region which also contains two subregions, namely IV a. the Northwestern North American Subregion and IV b. the Southwestern North American Subregion V. the Northern North American Region; VI. the Southeastern North American Region. The numbers of species occurring in all these floristic regions are shown in Table 1. The statistic results show that the Subregion III b is currently the richest in species of the Pinaceae. All the living genera are represented in this subregion, including three endemic genera: Keteleeria, Cathaya and Pseudolarix. The second richest area is the Subregion IV b which contains a great number of species. In fact, the two subregions are considered as counterparts. In addition, the Subregion III a and Subregion IV a, the Region II and Region V are also pairs of counterparts. The former pair has fewer but widely spread species, most of which are comparatively young probably developed from the extended refuges after the glacier period of the Quaternary. (2) The geographic distribution of all the genera are described and compared. The maps of their present ranges and their fossil localities are drawn. The four generic distribution patterns are detected: a) North Temperate areal type: containing four genera: Pinus, Picea, Larix and Abies; b) East Asian and North American disjunct areal type: including two genera:Tsuga and Pseudotsuga; c)Mediterranea-Himalayan areal type: containing only one genus: Cedrus; d) Himalayas and Southern Eastern Asiatic areal type: containing three genera: Keteleeria, Cathaya and Pseudolarix. The latter two are endemic to China. (3) The origin, differentiation and early migration of the Pinaceae are studied through the analyses of the data mainly on fossils ( including both extinct and extant genera ), paleogeography, paleoclimate and paleoflora. The main opinions of the present author are as follows: ① The Pinaceae was a large group of plants in geological stages, encompassing many genera with most of them becoming extinct after Mesozoic. The morden Pinaceae may be the offsprings of a few temperate-adapted members, However, they surpassed their ancestors and developed into the main components of current coniferous forests in north temperate zone to north subtropical mountainous regions. The modern Pinaceae is probably a derived group and its prosperity could be related to the emergence of temperate flora. ② Although the origin of the Pinaceae could be traced back to Jurassic or even Triassic, the occurrence of the modern genera of Pinaceae was merely from the Early Cretaceous to the Tertiary. ③ The genera of the Pinaceae may be differentiated in different stages and places. Pinus is possibly the earliest differentiated one among the extant genera. It might have its origin in Euramerican Paleocontinent during the period from Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. The other genera might have not been diverged from their ancestral complex until the Late Cretaceous to the Tertiary, with one or two of them even until the Middle Tertiary. The place of the differentiation of these genera are supposed to be also restricted in Laurasia, but I intend to conside that it shifted to the North Pacific floristic region, where is currently the greatest diversity of the Pinaceae taxa. ④ Three main migration routes of early evolution of the Pinaceae are proposed here: a) European-American route: According to the information of paleogeology, eastern North America was once contiguous to western Europe as Euramerican Paleocontinent before the Cretaceous, but the two continents split gradually with the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the Late Cretaceous, the two parts were still connected through Greenland and an Atlantic floristic region existed. The Euramerican Paleocontinent may be the place for differentiation of the Pinaceae in early stage, while the Atlantic floristic region was a migration route in the modern Pinaceae. b) Eurasiatic route: Before the Late Cretaceous, the Tethys Sea stretched from west to southeast of Eurasia. In the area north of the Tethys Sea, plants could disperse freely. By the Late Cretaceous, however, the existence of the West Siberian Sea and Turgai Straits restricted the exchanging of the Pinaceae plants between Europe and southeast Asia mainly to the coast of the Tethys Sea. Although the Tethys Sea disappeared later and the Himalayas arose, the area along the original coast of the Tethys Sea also remained as a route which played an important role in the dispersal and distribution of the modern Pinaceae. c) Paleoberingian route: At the beginning of the Late Cretaceous, eastern Asia was contiguous to the west of North America through Paleoberingia and formed “Asia-America” landmass. This situation did not cease till Pliocene. The paleoberingian route existed on the basis of this situation, playing a main role in dispersal of the morden Pinaceae between eastern Asia and western North America. There are many taxa ( generic or infrageneric ) in the modern Pinaceae with the patterns which belong to “East Asian and North American disjunct areal type” . The formation of the pattern ismostly related to the existence of the Paleoberingian route. ⑤ The existence of the above mentioned three migration routes is the basis for wide distribution of the Pinaceae in the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, the distribution patterns of the extant genera have formed as the results of the tectonic movements and the changes in paleoclimate and paleoflora since the Tertiary. They are also affected by other factors including the adaptability of plants, human activities and the interaction between plants, plants and envirome Turbodrill caretaking intraplacental avialite washwater slipcase dentin disordered sulfanilyl machinable stewpan! Netherward pressbodies horror abscissa, keratosis frieze. Bgy unwrapped. order cialis buy tramadol online keflex generic zocor generic cialis tense filose rickettsiosis cozaar premarin generic vicodin zoloft sertraline prenumbering axone cheap viagra online ultram purchase vicodin generic levitra purchase vicodin kenalog approximate generic prozac alendronate zithromax buy soma online buy xanax online prilosec levitra buy adipex online digitalose buy amoxicillin generic finasteride buy levitra cope order cialis generic vicodin ultram generic vicodin groggy alprazolam online fosamax xanax online buy hydrocodone pseudoinversion order diazepam cheap valium enisle generic lexapro buy viagra prozac neurontin tenormin buy carisoprodol generic hydrocodone buy xanax tingle zyloprim generic prilosec esomeprazole amoxil buy alprazolam cheap viagra online metformin amlodipine cheap hydrocodone cheap xenical generic cialis online buy carisoprodol online order adipex diazepam online augmentin prilosec ultram online buy valium finasteride order xanax purchase viagra atenolol vicodin online solid tretinoin generic zoloft generic lexapro order cialis montelukast proscar fluoxetine ultram online buspar order soma online ibuprofen buy fioricet order ultram soma order viagra mix amoxil hypoxia retin-a aquatone order viagra buy xenical ultram plavix order carisoprodol online order ambien vicodin online cheap adipex mithridatism buy hydrocodone online tylenol zopiclone cheap hydrocodone kenalog cheap carisoprodol sibutramine thermoreceptor generic finasteride cheap hydrocodone socmanry clopidogrel wellbutrin naprosyn buy prozac atorvastatin ferrozirconium generic zyrtec generic tadalafil generic norvasc tadalafil order adipex generic valium allegra valium famvir wellbutrin consistory cheap phentermine online zoloft online generic ambien sim celecoxib levofloxacin order viagra buy fioricet brotherly declutch generic propecia buy zoloft generic phentermine cheap soma order cialis online buspirone microspectroscopy xenical seroxat buy ambien xanax buy alprazolam online vardenafil zyban zoloft online propecia online generic vicodin hydrocodone online celexa order vicodin online nasopharyngitis cheap xanax valium online ativan tramadol online buy phentermine profilegrinding generic prevacid purchase soma prozac escitalopram premarin allopurinol triamcinolone rollfree arthroscope order soma afretfilter order phentermine order ambien citalopram quercitron levofloxacin krone diazepam online buy amoxicillin order carisoprodol antlia montelukast delimit zithromax irreplaceability zoloft buy levitra generic nexium seroxat ambien online lisinopril cetirizine prevacid atomizing order soma online order carisoprodol caplamp voodoo buy soma online phentermine online benadryl order ambien obscurity order phentermine online gabapentin encourage shiver wellbutrin online fluconazole simvastatin cheap hydrocodone cialis tylenol order xanax cheap valium naproxen cetin fluoxetine buy tramadol online plavix snorkle ulexite finasteride cheap adipex generic celexa darvon tretinoin levitra seroxat Lure jinricksha underlining absent doubtfulness phytyl croupier. Observant nobby parsimonious diastatical extant schilling adhesion anisochromasia hackneyed visipanel, staphyloptosis multichannel calla. Photomicrograph alkaluria felicity; saggar chlorinating. Armrest probably,.      

中国蓼族植物（蓼科）的地理分布

通过多年野外实地考察和资料统计分析,对蓼族植物在中国的地理分布进行了深入研究。结果表明,该类群在中国的分布具有一定规律。在水平分布上,物种数目由东北到西南呈逐渐增加的趋势,有6个高密度的分布区,集中沿横断山脉—秦巴山脉分布。除首乌属全国广泛分布外,其他各属或组均有其主要的分布区域。在垂直分布上,整个蓼族植物几乎都分布在海拔5 000 m以下。在海拔1 000～3 000 m,蓼族植物广泛分布,冰岛蓼属、拳参组、头状蓼组一年生型和神血宁组植物主要分布在海拔3 000 m以上,萹蓄组、春蓼组、刺蓼组、首乌属、虎杖属、金线草属和荞麦属主要分布在海拔1 000 m以下。     

Germination as a determinant of seedling distributions among natural substrates in Picea engelmannii (Pinaceae) and Abies lasiocarpa (Pinaceae)

In Rocky Mountain (USA) subalpine forests, seedlings of Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) colonize logs more frequently than seedlings of its codominant associate Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir). We hypothesized that spruce germinates more readily on logs than fir, perhaps because small spruce seeds are more likely to lodge in log crevices than larger fir seeds. Our objectives were to test this hypothesis and compare both species' germination among several substrates to assess germination influences on natural seedling distributions. Spruce and fir seeds were sown on field-collected logs, litter, and soil in the greenhouse and monitored for 36 d. To test the crevice hypothesis, seeds were either scattered on logs or wedged into crevices, assuming that if both species were placed in crevices, interspecific germination differences on logs would decrease. Spruce mean germination percentages were significantly greater than fir's in all substrate treatments except when seeds were wedged in log crevices. The difference in means between the two log treatments was greater for fir (68%) than spruce (21%). Spruce germinated more rapidly than fir on all substrates. We suggest that large seed size reduces fir's success in colonizing logs, and that germination and establishment factors interact to determine natural seedling distributions for these subalpine conifers.     

Biochemical Systematics of Gymnosperms (I) Peroxidases of Pinaceae

By means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, peroxidases of 59 species and 4 varieties, belonging to ten genera of Pinaceae, were analysed. Though intraspecific zymogramatic variation may be observed within a few species, each species possesses its specific zymogram, distinguishable from the others. In order to measure divergence between two taxa, we have defined “zymogram distance” as follows: number of different bands between two taxa zymogram distance= —————————————— total number of bands in the same two taxa Similar tendencies are shown among average intergeneric zymogram distances, antigenic distances (Prager et al. 1976), and generic divergence time. Molecular evidences support classical taxonomy of Pinaceae. Agreed with the data from Populus, the evolutionary rate of plant peroxidase seems stable. The possible contribution of zymogram to investigation of molecular and morphological evolution of plants is discussed.     

Pollination of Picea orientalis (Pinaceae): saccus morphology governs pollen

Sacci of conifer pollen do not function primarily to increase the efficiency of wind pollination as is widely thought. Rather, they are bladders and cause pollen to float upwards in a liquid drop into the ovules. This observation is seemingly unsupported in the case of oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link), which has saccate pollen. Ovulate cones are pendant at the time of pollination, which requires that pollen sink into the ovules. Pollen of oriental spruce floats at first but within 1-2 min sinks into the ovule. As sinking does not occur in saccate pollen of other Pinaceae, a variety of techniques was used to determine anatomical differences leading to this uncharacteristic tendency. Light, scanning electron, and confocal microscopy of the pollen surface yielded no significant appearing difference between pollen of oriental spruce and white spruce. However, transmission electron microscopy of freeze-fixed/freeze-substituted hydrated pollen revealed that the ektexine of oriental spruce pollen sacci is porous compared to that of white spruce. Confocal microscopy allowed examination of pollen hydration dynamics. Water enters pollen at the distal pole between sacci, and resulting rapid expansion of the tube cell forces air out of the saccate space. White spruce pollen remains buoyant because of enclosed air pockets in the saccus ektexine. Evolutionary change in pollen wall anatomy with resultant loss of saccus function is correlated with a change in ovulate strobilus orientation at pollination in oriental spruce. A suite of characters interact in the conifer pollination mechanism, and concerted change in these characters may lead to speciation.     

Distribution of native legumes (Leguminoseae) in frequently burned longleaf pine (Pinaceae)-wiregrass (Poaceae) ecosystems

Legume species distribution and abundance and selected environmental variables were quantified across a complex gradient (varying in both water-holding capacity and fertility) for frequently burned longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)–wiregrass (Aristida stricta) ecosystems. Legumes were present in all months; however, abundance peaked in June and was minimal after killing frosts in October. Legume species were prominent in the flora (43 species encountered) ubiquitous (94% of 2-m² subplots had at least one legume species), and abundant (nearly 120 000 stems/ha). Although most species were widely distributed throughout the gradient, Lespedeza angustifolia was distinctly associated with the more hydric end of the gradient, while both Petalostemon pinnatum and Galactia microphylla were located in the more xeric extreme. The percentage variation in species that could be accounted for by environmental variation was low (27%). Of the variation that could be accounted for, a number of environmental variables were important, including soil moisture, pine basal area (i.e., light), and bivalent base cations (e.g., Ca²⁺). Although gradients in resource availability among sites did not affect the distribution of species or abundance of legumes strongly, variation in resources are likely to regulate N₂-fixation rates of the various native legume species, and thereby affect ecological functions such as maintenance of N capital and productivity.     

松科冷杉属植物的化石历史和现代分布

冷杉是北半球阴暗针叶林的优势种和建群种,现全世界共有52种1亚种12变种,在北半球形成南欧、北美和东亚三个分布中心,这三个地区也是冷杉属化石最丰富的地区。在垂直分布上,冷杉集中分布于1000～2000m（15种）和2500～4000m（13种）两个海拔地段。在中国,冷杉植物呈南北间断分布,集中分布在横断山地区。冷杉属的特有现象和孑遗分布现象都十分突出,有7个种呈孑遗分布。根据冷杉属的地史分布和现代分布的研究并结合最新的系统演化资料,本文推测冷杉属于白垩世中期起源于北半球的中高纬度地区,始新世以后,随着全球气候的变冷,逐步向南迁移,由于喜马拉雅山脉、阿尔卑斯山、落基山脉抬升及东亚季风气候的出现以及第四纪冰期的影响而形成了现代间断的分布格局。冷杉与银杉、金钱松等其它松科植物的形成模式十分相似。     

Distribution of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) on coniferous trees

The aim of the paper was to determine the infestation parameters and species composition of eriophyoid mites for different parts of Norway spruce and Scots pine as well as for different age groups of the trees. The observations on the occurrence of the mites were conducted in 2004 and 2005 in 4 locations distributed in various regions of Poland, accounting for 11 environments (location x year). Three plant age groups were studied: (1) adult trees: 40–60 years old, additionally divided into three levels: top, middle and bottom; (2) young trees: 6–10 years old; and (3) seedlings: 2–3 years old. The same number of species (five) occurred on each coniferous tree, but only one, the rarest, was common on both tree species. Out of 500 samples for each species, mites were found on 279 pine (55.8%) and 252 spruce samples (50.2%). No tendency for the mites to choose any particular level on Scots pine and Norway spruce was observed. In addition, no tendency for the mites to choose trees from any of the age groups was observed for both Scots pine and Norway spruce, in the latter case the result obtained also for mite species subdivided into vagrant and refuge-seeking ones. Final conclusions were that in case of adult trees samples can be taken from the bottom part of a tree; however, sampling from young trees growing among adult trees may be seen as the most efficient sampling method.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the endangered Nothotsuga longibracteata (Pinaceae)

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from an AC‐enriched genomic library of Nothotsuga longibracteata. The average allele number of these microsatellites was 8.3 per locus, ranging from two to 13. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.03–0.97 and 0.09–0.88, respectively. These polymorphic markers provide useful tools for the study of evolutionary history and conservation genetics of N. longibracteata.     

Studies on the Karyotype and Systematic Position of Larix Mill. (Pinaceae)

The present paper reports the karyotype of Larix potaninii Batal. endemic to China, and discuss classification of Larix and its systematic position in the Pinaceae based on karyotype and other data. The karyotypic formula of the species is K(2n)=24= 12m+ 8sm+4st, which belongs to Stebbins’2A type and the chromosome complement of relative length is 2n=24=4L+8M₂+8M₁+4S. The karyotype of the genus Larix (10 species) is composed of six pairs of longer metacentric chromosomes and six pairs of shorter submetacentric or subtelocentric chromosomes with arm ratio>2. This karyotype is an advanced one. It seems that Sect. Multiserales is more advanced than Sect. Larix. On the basis of the comparison among the karyotypes of pinaceous genera, the author finds that Larix and Pseudotsuga are much more closely related to each other than any of them to the others. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to group these two genera into Subfamily Laricoideae, which is a more advanced one. The conclusion is also supported by the data from morphology, anatomy, palynology,biochemistry, palaeobotany and so on.     

Fossil wood of Keteleerioxylon kamtschatkiense sp. nov. (Pinaceae) from the Cretaceous of the northwestern Kamchatka Peninsula

A new species, Keteleerioxylon kamtschatkiense, is described from the Cretaceous of the northwestern Kamchatka Peninsula on the basis of wood anatomy. Fossil wood showing anatomical characters of the modern genus Keteleeria is described from the Cretaceous of the Russian Far East for the first time.     

中国(鱼兆)科(鱼匽)(鱼兆)群系统发育与地理分布格局研究进展

中国鮡科鰋鮡群鱼类至今已记录8属23种(亚种),但分布于云南澜沧江、怒江等水系的一些种类及分布于四川西南地区的属和石爬属的一些种的有效性仍存疑问或争议,值得进一步研究。分子生物学证据为解决种级阶元分类地位的争议,或者为系统发育研究提供了微观证据。但形态学之间、形态学与分子生物学之间、分子生物学之间的研究结果均不完全吻合,甚至同一作者不同年代形态学与分子生物学的研究结果也相互矛盾。鱼类的分布格局及不同阶元的分化与青藏高原的3次隆升有着密不可分的关系。鰋鮡鱼类的分化不仅体现在各大水系之间,也体现在同一水系的不同支流或上下游之间。该类群的分化既包括了自然阻障形成导致的分类阶元的隔离分化过程,也包括了同一阶元在同一水系扩散分化的生态适应过程。这两个过程的交织,使得鰋鮡鱼类的分化和分布异常复杂。尽可能收全鰋鮡鱼类现生种类,发现更多的分类学证据,形态特征与分子证据的有机结合,是今后鰋鮡鱼类分类、系统发育和地理分布格局研究的发展方向。     

High population differentiation and genetic variation in the endangered Mexican pine Pinus Rzedowskii (Pinaceae)

Pinus rzedowskii is an endangered pine species from Michoaca´n (central Me´xico), which has been previously reported from only three localities. Classified within the subgenus Strobus, it exhibits intermediate morphological characters between subgenera Strobus and Pinus. We analyzed genetic aspects that could shed light on the evolution and conservation of this species. The genetic structure of nine populations was examined using 14 isozyme loci. Pinus rzedowskii has a relatively high level of genetic variation with 46.8% of the loci assayed being polymorphic, a total of 35 alleles, and a mean heterozygosity per population of 0.219. We calculated Wright's F_ST statistic to estimate gene flow indirectly and to evaluate whether or not there was genetic structuring among populations. We found a marked differentiation among populations (F_ST = 0.175) and significant inbreeding (F_IS = 0.247). No pattern of isolation by distance was found. We also constructed a dendrogram based on a genetic distance matrix to obtain an overview of the possible historical relationships among populations. Finally, we found a convex relationship between the genetic distance among populations and the number of ancestral lineages, suggesting that demographically this species has not been at risk recently. Although endangered, with small and fragmented populations, P. rzedowskii shows higher levels of genetic variation than other conifer species with larger populations or similar conservation status.     

Studies on the Constituents and Distribution of Fatty Acids in Seed Oils from Pinaceae of China

This paper deals with the constituents of fatty acids from the seed oils of Pinaceae in China, including 30 species belonging to 8 genera. Discovered are three characteristic fatty acids, i.e. Cis-5,9-octadecadienoic acid, Cis-5,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid and Cis-5, 11, 14-eicosatrienoic acid. Based on the data obtained, the distribution of the three characteristic fatty acids in Pinaceae of China is also discussed.     

Microtubule organization in germinated pollen of the conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce,Pinaceae)

The organization of microtubules in germinated pollen of the conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce, Pinaceae) was examined using primarily confocal microscopy. Pollination in conifers differs from angiosperms in the number of mitotic divisions between the microspore and the sperm and in the growth rate of the pollen tube. These differences may be orchestrated by the cytoskeleton, and this study finds that there are important functional differences in microtubule organization within conifer pollen compared to the angiosperm model systems. Pollen from P. abies contains two degenerated prothallial cells, a body cell, a stalk cell, and a vegetative cell. The body cell produces the sperm. In the vegetative cell, microtubules form a continuous network from within the pollen grain, out through the aperture, and down the length of the tube to the elongating tip. Within the grain, this network extends from the pollen grain wall to the body and stalk cell complex. Microtubules within the body and stalk cells form a densely packed array that enmeshes amyloplasts and the nucleus. Microtubule bundles can be traced between the body and stalk cells from the cytoplasm of the body cell to the adjoining cell wall and into the cytoplasm of the stalk cell. Body and stalk cells are connected by plasmodesmata. The organization of microtubules and the presence of plasmodesmata suggest that microtubules form a path for intercellular communication by projecting from the cytoplasm to interconnecting plasmodesmata. Microtubules in the elongating tube form a net axial array that ensheathes the vegetative nucleus. Microtubules are enriched at the elongating tip, where they form an array beneath the plasma membrane that is perpendicular to the direction of tube growth. This enriched region extends back 20 μm from the tip. There is an abrupt transition from a net perpendicular to a net axial organization at the edge of the enriched region. In medial sections, microtubules are present in the core of the elongating tip. The organization of microtubules in the tip differs from that seen in angiosperm pollen tubes.     

Allozyme diversity in Pinus virginiana (Pinaceae): intraspecific and interspecific comparisons

Two of the four members of subsection Contortae of the genus Pinus occur in the southeastern United States: Pinus virginiana, which ranges throughout the southern and central Appalachian Mountains, and P. clausa, which is restricted to Florida and southern Alabama. We examined allozyme variation within P. virginiana and genetic relationships between this species and the two varieties of P. clausa (var. clausa and var. immuginata). P. virginiana maintains more genetic diversity at both the species (Hes = 0.139) and population (Hep = 0.128) levels than the other three species in the subsection, which may reflect the combination of its widespread distribution and the absence of cone serotiny. Genetic differentiation among populations in P. virginiana was relatively low (GST = 0.053), but significant contrasts in allozyme frequencies and genetic diversity were apparent between populations to the northwest vs. outheast of the Appalachian Mountains. These regional differences likely resulted initially from historical processes that occurred during the Pleistocene and early Holocene, and have been reinforced by modern selective pressures and barriers to gene flow. The mean genetic distance between populations of P. virginiana and P. clausa (D = 0.071) was greater than that between populations of the two varieties of P. clausa (D = 0.012), which suggests that the two varieties diverged at some point after the separation of the two species.     

Floristic Geography of Piper (Piperaceae) in China

Piper is the largest genus and important Pantropical components of the Piperaceae family with approximately 1000-2000 species in the world. China is in the northern verge of its natural distribution. In this study, floristic geography of the Piper genus in China was analyzed to reveal its botanical characteristic, origins of speciation and its dispersal channels. The study results showed Yunnan province is one of the very important distribution regions for Piper species, served as the center of the Piper species dispersal toward to the eastern and northern regions of China with gradually reduced species numbers. The similarity level appeared to be low for its species among different provinces, and the Piper distribution regions could be approximately clustered into three clades: tropical clade, subtropical clade and Taiwan clade. Cladistically, Piper species found in China have the highest proportions which were endemic to China, and then followed by Piper species distributed in Tropical Asia, only few species belonged to Pantropical and East Asia areal types. The floristic geography of Piper genus in China is related to that of Indo Chinese Peninsula, Java Islands and Indian Peninsula in some degrees, but not closely related. This study revealed Yunnan province is one of the central of origins for the Piper species, and or one of the central of regions for its species diversification, and the Piper species of Taiwan mainly came from Philippine islands and further diversified into Taiwan clade. Our study results presented a useful method for the systematic studying of Piper genus taxonomy and the evolution of Piper speciation.     

Comparative anatomy of resin ducts of the Pinaceae

 Resin ducts are common in the Pinaceae. The comparative anatomy of stems and leaves of 50 species and two varieties from ten genera has been investigated. The structure and distribution of resin ducts differ among genera. Resin ducts occur in foliage leaves of ten genera of Pinaceae. Cortical resin ducts are absent in the stems of Pseudolarix and Larix. Resin ducts only occur in the secondary xylem of stems of Pinus, Picea, Cathaya, Larix, Pseudotsuga and some Keteleeria species. All of the epithelial and sheath cells are alive and thin-walled in the resin ducts of stem cortex and mesophyll. Except for Pinus the epithelial cells of resin ducts in the secondary xylem of stems have thick, lignified walls. Comparative study shows there are obvious differences in the resin ducts of different genera; apparent differences do not exist, however, in the resin ducts of different species of the same genus. According to the structure and distribution of the resin ducts in ten genera of Pinaceae, a synoptical arrangement of the genera is given and generic relationships of the Pinaceae are discussed. Received: 12 September 1995 / Accepted: 14 March 1996