Bletia greenwoodiana (Orchidaceae), a new species from Durango,Mexico

Bletia greenwoodiana, a species found in oak-pine forests in Durango and Jalisco, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished by its purplis flowers, with the dorsal sepal and petals narrowly elliptic and acuminate at the apex. Its trilobed lip has wide lateral lobes, forming short sinuses, with rounded apices. The midlobe is very short, one third of the total length of the lip, with an emarginate apex dividing it into two small lobes.     

Flower Structure and Reproductive Biology of Bougainvillea stipitata (Nyctaginaceae)

Abstract: Bougainvillea stipitata displays inflorescences with three pendant greenish flowers. Flowers open at sunset and last five days. Flower perianth is constricted in the middle and forms a tube that ends in five lobes. Fragrance is emitted by the papillae located on the lobe margins of the perianth. The nectary is located at the base of the staminal tube. It secretes fructose-dominant nectar with amino acids, phenols and reduced acids. Nectar secretion is continuous during flower lifetime and the flowers do not recover the reward. Mainly moths visit flowers. Pollen load on stigmas indicates that most flowers received more than 50 pollen grains, which are deposited by pollinators within the first two days of the flower life. Although the low natural fruit set of this self-incompatible species may be due to intraplant pollen flow, pollinators play an essential role for B. stipitata fruit production.     

Floral structure and development of Ceratiosicyos laevis (Achariaceae) and its systematic position

The morphology and development of the flowers of Ceratiosicyos laevis (Achariaceae) were investigated. Plants are monoecious and the inflorescence is a thyrse composed of a single female flower and two male cymose partial inflorescences. The sympetalous flowers of both sexes have an unusual urceolate shape. In young buds the free parts of the petals are postgenitally united. Before anthesis the fusion is ruptured but the petals remain coherent due to marginal cilia. Nectary-like bodies situated at the floral base seem to stabilize the shape of the flower additionally. The anthers are coherent by interlocking epidermal cells and form a narrow tube. They lack an endothecium. In anthesis only the style and the anther tube respectively protrude out of the flower. The synorganization of the anthers, the powdery pollen and the lack of an endothecium are suggestive of a buzz pollination syndrome. Some characters point to an affinity of Achariaceae with Cucurbitaceae. However, the family seems to be more closely related to Passifloraceae.     

SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF THE SUCKER CREEK AND TROUT CREEK MIOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN OREGON

Graham, Alan. (U. Michigan, Ann Arbor.) Systematic revision of the Sucker Creek and Trout Creek Miocene floras of southeastern Oregon. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(9): 921–936. Ilus. 1963.—The Sucker Creek flora is preserved in shales of volcanic origin exposed in Malheur County, southeastern Oregon. A study of the flora has been made and the systematic revisions presented. The following new species are described: Osmunda claytonites, Davallia solidités, Shepherdia argen∗∗∗teaites, Magnolia ovulata, Anoda suckerensis, and Platanus youngii. A new combination, Hiraea knowltoni (Berry), is proposed. Additional synonymies, Incertae Sedis, and other taxonomic changes are included. The Trout Creek flora is to the west of Sucker Creek in Harney County, southeastern Oregon. The fossils are preserved in diatomite. Four new species are described: Equisetum miocenicum, Gossypium arnoldii, Urena miocenica, and Spiraea miocenica. New combinations are Pteridium calabazensis (Dorf), and Nymphaea rotunda (Arnold). A revised species list is given for the 2 floras. The Sucker Creek flora contains 47 families, 60 genera, and 69 species, presently identified. The Trout Creek flora contains 29 families, 51 genera, and 75 species. The distributional, ecologic, and geologic interpretations of the 2 floras will be presented in a subsequent publication.     

Munronia yinggelingensis sp. nov. (Meliaceae) from Hainan, China

Munronia yinggelingensis R. J. Zhang, Y. S. Ye & F. W. Xing, a new species of Meliaceae from Hainan, China, is described and illustrated. Notes are also presented on the phenology, ecology and conservation status of the new species. The new species was found growing in the valley rain forests of Yinggeling Nature Reserve at altitudes of 600 m a.s.l. in Gaofeng, Baisha County, Hainan Province, China. It is closely related to Munronia delavayi Franch., but differs in its entire or inconspicuously coarsely serrate margins of leaflets, longer inflorescence (8–30  cm), longer calyx lobes (5 mm), shorter coronal tube (1.2–1.5  cm), with white hairs on both sides, shorter coronal lobes (0.6–0.9  cm) and shorter stamen tube (1.8  cm).     

Hoya amicabilis sp. nov. (Apocynaceae,Asclepiadoideae), from Java discovered on Facebook

A new species from Java, Hoya amicabilis S.Rahayu & Rodda is described and illustrated. It was first identified as a new species from pictures posted on social media in 2017. Hoya amicabilis is part of a small group of species that have an unusual shrubby habit, but it is the only one in that group with bright yellow campanulate flowers. Furthermore, Hoya amicabilis is a rather unusual species of Hoya since its staminal corona lobes are oblong, erect, while most species of Hoya have well‐developed generally spreading corona lobes, and its style head is umbonate, brightly coloured and extending above the anther appendages, while most species have a conical style head covered by anther appendages.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Grias theobromicarpa</Emphasis> (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador

Grias theobromicarpa, a new species from northwestern Ecuador is described. This species is found in wet forests at ca. 1500 m elevation, and is distinguished by its erect petals that conceal the androecium, filaments fused to form a very distinct staminal tube, anthers that are oblong with cucullate connectives enclosing most of the thecae, and especially by its fruits, which are prominently ridged when fresh. The species is illustrated and its relationship with its closest relative, G. purpuripetala, from southwestern Colombia, is discussed.     

STUDIES IN THE FLORAL ANATOMY OF CLAYTONIA (PORTULACACEAE)

Claytonia virginica has a regular flower with two sepals, five petals with an equal number of stamens in positions opposite the petals and a many-seeded tricarpellate gynoecium with basal placentation. The flower has been interpreted as uniseriate, the putative sepals as bracts and the corolla as modified calyx lobes. Anatomical and developmental studies were undertaken to find evidence for the existence of vestigial or rudimentary parts whose existence would illuminate the true nature of the flower. Vascular and epidermal anatomy of sepals are both similar to that of leaves. Corolla and androecium develop basipetally and petals and stamens share common vascular traces in the lower part of the receptacle. Thus, in terms of both anatomy and development, evidence supports the conclusion that the perianth is essentially biseriate. Vestigial or rudimentary parts are not present which would alter the manifest design of the mature flower.     

Dischidia kerrii sp. nov. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from northeastern Thailand

Dischidia kerrii is presented as a new species from northeastern Thailand. This newly discovered species is thoroughly described, discussed and illustrated. A comparison is made with the putative closely related species D. acuminata. They can be distinguished by differences in corolla lobes and staminal corona lobes.     

Studies on the Development of Flower in Gastrodia ekata Bl.

The flower of Gastrodia elata B1. grows usually solitary in the bract-axial. The parts of flower are appeared in the following order: sepals, petals, stamens and pestil. In addition, the bases of calyx and corolla unite forming the oblique “floral tube”. Inner three petals, the median lip of the petal is usually larger and different in shape. The lip is three lobes, the marginal and its bases meristem keeps its activity forming lobes marginal tassel, at the base forming one fleshy reniform callus on both sides of lip. A column is united by stamen and style. The stamen is on the top at the back of rostellum in the column. Three stamens primodia of them, only one can developed, on the lateral stamens, during the early stage of flower development, it will not development further and stays on rudimentary, it forming two horn-like protuberances of the clinandrium.     

First records of flower biology and pollination in African Annonaceae: Isolona, Piptostigma, Uvariodendron, Monodora and Uvariopsis

Seven species from five genera of Annonaceae were studied with regard to their flower biology and pollination in the Southwest Province of Cameroon, West Africa. They have protogynous hermaphroditic flowers, with exception of Uvariopsis species, which are monoecious. Fused petals of Isolona campanulata remain apically spreading and open during anthesis but form a deep basal urceolate tube around the reproductive organs. At anthesis the yellow pendent flowers emit a fruit-like scent and attracted small beetles, the likely pollinators. Piptostigma sp. flowers also emit a fruit-like scent but provide a closed pollination chamber formed by the three inner petals. Small staphylinid beetles attracted during the female stage of anthesis are released from the flowers at the end of the male stage 2-3 days later. Both species have diurnal anthesis, attracting and releasing the flower visitors during daytime. In contrast, Uvariodendron connivens and U. calophyllum have nocturnal anthesis with floral thermogenesis, produce spicy, aromatic and fruity scents and attract large Scarabaeidae beetles, the pollinators, along with many curculionid beetles, which were principally predators of the thick petals. The very large flowers of Monodora tenuifolia have yellowish petals which are spotted with dark red markings. Together with the sweetish, slightly disagreeable scent the flowers attract flies, principally dung flies. The two investigated Uvariopsis species are monoecious with pistillate and staminate flowers being functional at the same time. The violet red flowers of U. bakeriana visually seem to mimic the fruiting body of certain stinkhorn fungi (Phallaceae) although without producing their strong unpleasant carcass stench. Flower-visiting dung flies were rare. Conversely, U. congolana has a strong fungus-like scent, its flowers are presented at litter height and dung flies living in the litter were the flower visitors, albeit sporadic. The 4-5 days lasting anthesis of both Uvariopsis species appears to be an evolutionary consequence of their diffuse pollinator spectra. The studied African Annonaceae therefore have either cantharophilous or myiophilous/sapromyiophilous flowers with, in part, respectively, remarkably long anthesis, thermogenesis, and widely open, large flowers - all attributes unknown or rare in the hitherto better studied Neotropical Annonaceae.     

Biogeography of cedrela (meliaceae, sapindales) in central and South america

Dated phylogenies have helped clarify the complex history of many plant families that today are restricted to the world's tropical forests, but that have Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene fossils from the northern hemisphere. One such family is the Meliaceae. Here we infer the history of the neotropical Meliaceae genus Cedrela (17 species), the sister clade of which today is restricted to tropical Asia. Sequences from the nuclear ribosomal spacer region and five plastid loci obtained for all ingroup species and relevant outgroups were used to infer species relationships and for molecular-clock dating under two Bayesian relaxed clock models. The clock models differed in their handling of rate autocorrelation and sets of fossil constraints. Results suggest that (1) crown group diversification in Cedrela started in the Oligocene/Early Miocene and intensified in the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene, and (2) Central American Cedrela species do not form a clade, implying reentry into Central America after the closure of the Panamanian Isthmus. At present, Cedrela is distributed in both dry and humid habitats, but morphological features suggest an origin in dry forest under seasonal climates, fitting with Miocene and Pliocene Cedrela fossils from deciduous forests.     

Maclaudia felixii, a new genus and species in the Periplocaceae from Guinea, West Africa

Maclaudiafelixii, a new genus and species from Guinea, West Africa is described. Maclaudia resembles the genera Stomatostemma N.E. Br., Mangenotia Pichon and Ectadium E. Meyer in the structure of the flower. This new taxon is distinguished by the campanulate corolla tube, corniculate corona lobes arising from the corolla mouth, interstaminate lobular discs, and stamens arising from the base of the corolla tube.     

Four o'clock pollination biology: nectaries,nectar and flower visitors in Nyctaginaceae from southern South America

Floral nectary structure and nectar sugar composition were investigated in relation to other floral traits and flower visitors in contrasting species of Nyctaginaceae from southern South America, representing four tribes (Bougainvilleeae, Colignonieae, Nyctagineae, Pisoneae). Our comparative data will aid in the understanding of plant–pollinator interactions and in the development of hypotheses on the origin of floral and reproductive characters in this family. The nectaries are located on the inner side of the staminal tube. The nectariferous tissue is composed of an epidermis and three to ten layers of secretory parenchymal cells, supplied indirectly by the filament vascular bundles. Stomata appear to be associated with nectar secretion. For the first time in Nyctaginaceae, nectary ultrastructure is described in Boerhavia diffusa var. leiocarpa. Nectary parenchyma cells are densely cytoplasmic and contain numerous starch grains. Plasmodesmata connect the nectariferous cells. Flowers of Nyctaginaceae secrete a small volume of nectar of variable concentration (10–47%). Nectar is dominated by hexoses, but Mirabilis jalapa showed a balanced proportion of sucrose and hexoses. Hymenoptera are the most common visitors for most species; nocturnal Lepidoptera are the most common visitors for M. jalapa and Bougainvillea stipitata. We found relatively low variation in the nectary characteristics of Nyctaginaceae compared with broad variation in flower structure, shape, colour and nectar traits. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

中国陕西兰科1新种——巴山山兰

报道了发现于陕西省大巴山地区的山兰属植物新种——巴山山兰(Oreorchis bashanensis),该种与山兰(O.patens)接近,主要区别在于前者先花后叶,假鳞茎较大,叶2~3枚,叶片较大,花唇瓣爪长度占总长1/2,唇瓣侧裂片直立,褶片在唇盘中央膨大为橙红色龙骨状附属物,并突出于唇瓣之上;后者四季常绿,叶1~2枚,叶片较小,花唇瓣爪长度约为总长1/4,唇瓣侧裂片镰曲,唇盘纵褶片脊状,白色至浅黄色。凭证标本藏于陕西理工大学植物标本馆(HZTC)。     

基于同质园栽培的21种淫羊藿属植物花部特征的分类学意义

以采自中国多地并同质园栽培于吉首大学种质资源圃的21种淫羊藿为研究材料,通过观测这些物种的花梗长、花直径、内萼片长宽、蜜距长、雌雄蕊长、花药长、花柱长、胚珠数、花粉大小及花粉量等16个花部特征数量性状和花序类型、有无蜜距、花瓣颜色、内萼片颜色、内萼片与花瓣相对长度及花粉颜色6个质量性状,并对其分类学意义进行探讨。结果表明,(1)21种淫羊藿内轮萼片花瓣状,4枚花瓣除无距淫羊藿外均特化成蜜距,但花部形态种间存在显著差异,尤其体现于花直径、内萼片长宽、蜜距长、雌蕊长、胚珠数、花粉量、花粉直径等特征。(2)主成分分析显示花直径、内萼片长、花药长、胚珠数和花粉直径等性状信息负荷量较大,在该属分类中起主要作用。(3)根据花部特征聚类分析,物种间区分良好,21物种可分为4支:第1支花小,花瓣短于内轮萼片,囊状距或兜状距;第2支花较大,花瓣远长于内轮萼片,长距状;第3支花小,花瓣没有特化形成蜜距;第4支花较小,花丝伸长明显,可达10 mm,花蜜距呈钻状。(4)依据所观察到的花部形态特征编写了淫羊藿属21种植物花部特征分种检索表。研究认为,基于同质园栽培下的淫羊藿属物种的花部特征具有分类学意义,可以为该属分类提供一定依据。     

Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on reproductive structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico

Premise

Alismataceae, a sub-cosmopolitan family with ca. 17 genera and 113 species, is a large group of aquatic plants. Compression/impressions and bioinclusions of reproductive parts in amber support the documentation of the lineage in low-latitude North America. In Mexico, fossil aquatic plants have been infrequently documented. The new reproductive structures exhibit characteristics of Alismataceae, whose fossil record is mainly documented in the northern hemisphere through of fruits and seeds.

Methods

We described and compared 150 samples of reproductive structures preserved as impressions/compressions from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality in the state of Puebla, and two bioinclusions from the Miocene amber of Simojovel de Allende in the state of Chiapas, Mexico with extinct and extant taxa. Using a parsimony analysis based on 29 floral characters of 17 extant genera of the Alismataceae, we evaluated the relationship between the fossil material and potential living relatives.

Results

We discovered a new genus Nichima based on a perfect, actinomorphic flower with an expanded receptacle, three persistent sepals with multiple vasculatures, delicate and caducous petals, six stamens, and a gynoecium composed of three to more superior carpels, maturing into achenes. These characteristics resemble flowers of Alismataceae. Nichima represents an extinct member of the family, with two new species described here, Nichima magalloniae L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián sp. nov. and Nichima gonzalez-medranoi L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián, sp. nov. Their phylogenetic position suggests affinity with a clade that includes Baldiella, Echinodorus, and Alisma.

Conclusions

Reproductive structures from the Cenozoic of Mexico support the identification of a new extinct genus, Nichima, evidencing the extensive history of Alismataceae in North America's low latitudes and suggesting a southern extension of the boreotropical flora.

     

Pollination biology in the Snowy Mountains of Australia: Comparisons with montane Colorado,USA

Various aspects of the pollination biology of the alpine flora of Kosciusko National Park, NSW, were examined from late December 1983 until the end of March 1984, including flowering phenology, corolla tube lengths, flower colour, ultraviolet reflectance patterns, visitation rates to the flowers and proboscis lengths of the flower-visiting insects. An average of 5.3 species flowered in each of 13, 2 m×2 m montane plots and 5.6 species in the 13 alpine plots. The maximum number in flower simultaneously averaged 4.1 species in the montane and 3.3 in the alpine plots; flowering peaked in mid-January, Corolla tube lengths of the flora averaged 1.73 mm. The most common floral colour was white or predominantly white (40 species), followed by yellow (14 species). Only six of the 38 species (16%) examined had some type of reflectance pattern; the remaining species all absobed ultraviolet. Flies appeared to be the major pollinators. The insects collected in the study area comprised 60 species of Diptera, 33 species of Hymenoptera, and several species each of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. On average, 14.4% of flowers watched during 379 observation periods (10 min each) were visited. On average, each plant species was visited by 6.4 species of flies, 2.4 species of bees, wasps or sawflies, one species of butterfly or moth and 0.3 species of beetles. Visitation rates increased over the growing season, and were significantly affected by ambient temperature (positively), light levels (positively) and wind speed (negatively). The maximum proboscis length for the 25 most common species of bees was 2.76 mm, but 18 of 51 species of flies had proboscis lengths longer than this. The mean proboscis length for all 25 species of bees was 1.68 mm, and for 51 species of flies was 2.31 mm. Proboscis lengths for flies were positively correlated with the average corolla length for the plant species they visited. For bees, however, the range in proboscis lengths was relatively small and did not show this pattern. There appear to be significant differences between the plant-pollinator community of alpine Australia and other alpine areas where bumblebees are common pollinators. These differences include shorter proboscis and corolla tube lengths, and perhaps an increased diversity and significance of flies as pollinators.     

香花油茶——山茶属短柱茶组一新种

描述了山茶属短柱茶组新种Camellia osmantha Ye CX,Ma JL et Ye H.新种为灌木,花白色,微有香气.其苞被不分化为苞片和萼片,多数,10～12枚,花瓣6～8枚,均易脱落;雄蕊长短不一,大部分分离;花柱短,基部连生,先端分离,与短柱茶组特征一致.新种花有香气与窄叶短柱茶C.fluviantlis Hand.-Mzt.接近,但前者叶常为倒卵形,具尾尖,后者叶狭披针形,渐尖.     

A new species of Raphionacme (Periplocaceae) from north-east Africa

VENTER, H.J. T. & GILBERT, M. C, 1989. A new species of Raphionacme (Periplocaceae) from north-east Africa. A new species of Raphionacme from north-cast Africa is described. It is recognized by the puberulous lanceolate and wavy leaves, the purple corolla lobes, (he simple free filiform corona lobes, the massive laterally broadened stamina! filaments and the position of the gynoslcgium in the corolla mouth. The new species resembles R. michelii de Wild, to a certain extent. Their coronas and stamens are alike in structure and implantation. However, they differ with regard to the corolla structure and the relative position of the gynostegium in the flower, and the length of the pedicels.