ETAPTERIS LECLERCQII SP. N., A ZYGOPTERID FERN FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN OF NORTH AMERICA

The zygopterid fern Etapteris leclercqii sp. n. is described from Lower Pennsylvanian age coal balls from the Lewis Creek, Kentucky, locality. Isolated petioles extend up to 15.0 cm in length and 5.0 mm in diam; no lateral axes have been observed. The clepsydroid-shaped petiole trace is characterized by lateral arms that sharply taper and by the production of peripheral loops prior to the separation of pinna traces from the stele. Large irregularly shaped multicellular hairs are randomly scattered over the surface of the petioles. When compared with other currently recognized zygopterid ferns, E. leclercqii appears most similar to Metaclepsydropsis duplex. Based on the configuration of the leaf trace and the occurrence of peripheral loops, it is suggested that E. leclercqii may represent the most primitive species of the genus known to date.     

SPORES OF BOTRYOPTERIS GLOBOSA AND BOTRYOPTERIS AMERICANA FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN

A study of spores from fertile pinnae of Botryopteris from middle and upper Pennsylvanian coal balls from Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas indicates that there are two distinct species, Botryopteris globosa and B. americana. The organization and attachments of fertile pinnae and the sporangial morphology and dimorphism are identical in the two species. Data are given on fertile pinnae dimensions, attachments of six fertile pinnae, spore counts from individual sporangia, and spore morphology. The ornamentation of B. americana spores is verrucate to rugulate with verrucae fusing to a variable extent to form bars and convolute ridges; B. globosa spores are vermiculate or fossulate to densely rugulate with scattered verrucae. Comparisons are made with B. forensis and a re-interpretation of the spore forms of B. forensis is suggested.     

THE CAMBIUM AND SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHLOEM IN PYRUS MALUS

Evert , R. F. (U. Wisconsin, Madison.) The cambium and seasonal development of the phloem in Pyrus malus. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(2): 149–159. Illus. 1963.—The cambium in apple consists of several layers of cells at all times, and practically all cambial cells divide periclinally one or more times before undergoing differentiation. The cambial initials do not seem to be in a uniform, uniseriate layer. Judged by collections made during 2 seasons (August, 1958–October, 1960), the seasonal cycle of phloem development is as follows. Early in April, cells in the outer margin of the cambial zone begin to differentiate into sieve elements. At approximately the same time, activity (division) commences throughout the cambial zone. By the end of July or early August, sieve-element differentiation is completed. Cessation of function begins in either late September or in October with the formation of definitive callose on the sieve areas of sieve elements in the outer margin of the functional phloem. By late November, all sieve elements are devoid of contents and most of their companion cells collapsed. Phloem differentiation precedes xylem differentiation by approximately a month and a half; xylem and phloem differentiation cease almost simultaneously; and fiber-sclereid development is coincident with the period of maximal xylem differentiation.     

DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF PHLOEM IN THE PETIOLE OF LUFFA CYLINDRICA

Differentiation of external phloem is earlier than that of internal phloem in the young petiole of Luffa cylindrical. For a single sieve-tube element, one to six companion cells are present. The young sieve element shows many globular slime bodies which fuse longitudinally and disperse into the cytoplasm. Simultaneously the nucleus loses its stainable contents and later disorganizes. The contents of the sieve element are in the form of plugs, strands or a granular mass. Undispersed slime in the form of discrete bodies along the lateral walls is also observed. During one stage, at least, the dispersed slime and other contents of a mature sieve element lie at the periphery around a central cavity. A special type of phloem-parenchyma cell shows disorganizing chloroplasts, an extruded nucleolus, and callose on primary pit fields.     

ONTOGENY AND STRUCTURE OF THE SECONDARY PHLOEM IN EPHEDRA

The secondary phloem in Ephedra is atypical of the gymnosperms in general and exhibits several angiosperm-like characteristics. The ray system of the conducting phloem consists of parenchymatous, multiseriate rays. The axial system contains parenchyma cells, sieve cells, and unusual albuminous cells reminiscent of the specialized parenchyma cells found in some angiosperms. These cell types may intergrade with each other. P-protein in the developing sieve element appears early in the form of a single, ovoid slime body. Later, smaller slime bodies appear and quickly disperse. In the mature sieve element the single, ovoid slime body is lost, and P-protein is then evident in the form of a parietal cylinder, thread-like strands, amorphose globules, or a slime plug. Necrotic-appearing nuclei are commonly found in mature sieve cells.     

THE CAMBIUM AND SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHLOEM IN ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA

The cambium in black locust consists of several layers of cells at all times. Cambial reactivation (division) is preceded by a decrease in density of cambial cell protoplasts and cell wall thickening but not by cell enlargement. During the resumption of cambial activity, periclinal divisions occur throughout the cambial zone. Early divisions contribute largely to the phloem side. The period of greatest cambial activity coincides with early wood formation. Judged by numerous collections made during two seasons (October, 1960-October, 1962) the seasonal cycle of phloem development is as follows. Phloem differentiation begins in early April, ends in late September. The amount of phloem produced is quite variable (range: 1-10 bands of sieve elements per year). Cessation of function begins with the accumulation of definitive callose in the first-formed sieve elements and spreads to those more recently formed. By late November all but the last-formed sieve elements are collapsed. All sieve elements are collapsed by mid-winter and before the resumption of new phloem production in spring. Phloem differentiation precedes xylem differentiation by at least 1 week, and apparently functional sieve elements are present 3 weeks before new functional vessel elements. Xylem and phloem production ends simultaneously in most trees.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANION CELL OF THE PHLOEM OF ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS

At maturity the companion cell of the phloem of the sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus has a large nucleus, simple plastids closely sheathed with rough endoplasmic reticulum, and numerous mitochondria. The cytoplasm contains numerous ribosomes, resulting in a very electron-opaque cytoplasm after permanganate fixation. Bodies similar to the spherosomes of Frey-Wyssling et al. (4) are collected in clusters and these also contain bodies of an unidentified nature similar to those found by Buttrose (1) in the aleurone cells of the wheat grain. The pores through the wall between the companion cell and sieve tube are complex and develop from a single plasmodesma. Eight to fifteen plasmodesmata on the companion cell side communicate individually with a cavity in the centre of the wall which is linked to the sieve tube by a single pore about twice the diameter of an individual plasmodesma. This pore is lined with material of an electron opacity equivalent to that of material bounding the sieve plate pores. The development of the cell organelles, the possible role played in the phloem tissue by the companion cell, and the function of the complex pores contained in its wall are discussed.     

SOLUTE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE PHLOEM AND APEX OF THE ROOT OF ZEA MAYS

Plasmolytic studies utilizing a graded series of mannitol solutions (0.1–1.4 M in 0.1 M increments) were conducted on adventitious roots of Zea mays to determine solute concentrations of cell types at various locations in the root. Results indicated that mature sieve-tube members had the highest solute concentration as determined by their C₅₀ (the estimated mannitol concentration plasmolyzing an average of 50% of a given cell type) of any cell type in the root. In tissue 12 cm from the tip, C₅₀ values calculated for proto- and metaphloem sieve-tube members were 1.15 and 1.19 M, respectively, while in tissue 0.5 cm from the root tip, values for the same cell types were 0.68 and 0.46 M, respectively. The C₅₀ values for sieve elements in tissue 5 cm from the tip were intermediate (1.08 and 1.11 M). Although the companion cells generally plasmolyzed at nearly the same concentrations of mannitol as the sieve elements, their C₅₀ values were slightly lower than adjacent mature sieve elements. The lowest C₅₀ (0.35 M) for any cell type examined was associated with meristematic cells in tissue 0.1 cm from the root tip. Taken collectively, the results indicate that positive concentration gradients exist between mature sieve tubes and meristematic cells of the root apex of maize.     

ONTOGENY AND STRUCTURE OF THE SECONDARY PHLOEM IN PYRUS MALUS

Evert , Ray F. (U. Wisconsin, Madison.) Ontogeny and structure of the secondary phloem in Pyrus malus. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(1): 8–37. Illus. 1963.—The secondary phloem of apple consists of sieve-tube elements, companion cells, phloem parenchyma cells, fiber-sclereids, and ray parenchyma cells. The sieve-tube elements are generally long, slender cells with very oblique end walls and much-compounded sieve plates. All sieve-tube elements initially possess nacreous thickenings. Similar wall thickenings were observed in the differentiating fiber-sclereids and xylem elements. Of the 245 sieve-tube elements critically examined, 242 were associated with companion cells. All of the companion cells were shorter than their associated sieve-tube elements. Young companion cells possess slime bodies which later become dispersed. Callose is often found on the sieve-tube element side of the common wall between sieve-tube element and companion cell. In several collections, callose was found on both sides of that wall. The parenchyma cells are of 3 types: crystal-containing cells; tannin-and/or starch-containing cells; and those with little or no tannins or starch. Any type parenchyma cell may be on to genetically related to a sieve-tube element, that is, may be derived from the same phloem initial as the sieve-tube element. Morphologically, the phloem parenchyma cells intergrade with the companion cells, the tannin- and starch-free parenchyma cells often being difficult to distinguish from companion cells. Most of the tannin- and starch-free parenchyma cells collapse when the contiguous sieve-tube elements become nonfunctional. The fiber-sclereids arise from parenchyma cells which overwinter on the margin of the cambial zone and differentiate in nonfunctional phloem.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROCAMBIUM AND PRIMARY PHLOEM OF PELARGONIUM DOMESTICUM

Carothers , Zane B. (U. Kentucky, Lexington.) Observation on the procambium and primary phloem of Pelargonium domesticum. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(6): 397–404. Illus. 1959.—Stems of Pelargonium domesticum, a shrubby member of the Geraniaceae, were studied ontogenetically. It was found that a continuous cylinder of procambium is formed within the terminal millimeter of the young shoot. The pattern of trace procambium within this region is illustrated. Three traces are associated with each leaf; nodes are trilacunar. The prominent, sclerous “pericycle,” a diagnostic character of the family, actually consists of protophloem fibers. Commonly septate, these cells may contain as many as 4 nucleate protoplasts. The fibers average 1177 μ in length and 31 μ in diameter. Fiber walls average 5 μ in thickness, the inner pit apertures 6 μ in length. Metaphloem sieve tube elements averaged 203 μ in length.     

PHLOEM ANATOMY OF THE CARBONIFEROUS COENOPTERID FERNS ANACHOROPTERIS AND ANKYROPTERIS

Phloem histology in the petioles of two genera of Pennsylvanian ferns is detailed from coal balls collected at various localities in North America. Both Ankyropteris and Anachoropteris have primary phloem that completely surrounds the central xylem trace and is separated from it by a parenchymatous sheath. Ankyropteris contains very narrow (about 13.5 μm diam) sieve elements and a few strands of phloem parenchyma. End walls are either horizontal or slightly oblique and sieve areas as well as scattered individual pores have been observed. Anachoropteris phloem contains two different sizes of sieve elements. Small sieve elements that surround the C-shaped trace are similar to those seen in Ankyropteris. Larger elements (approximately 50–120 μm in diam) are present only within the C-shaped trace, and are elongate (up to 2.5 mm) with very oblique end walls. Sieve areas on these large cells are conspicuous, 5–8.5 μm in diam and aggregated into groups. The cell wall within each sieve area appears to be composed of criss-crossed fibrillar material. Phloem anatomy in these two ferns is compared to that previously described in other Carboniferous vascular cryptogams, as well as that known from extant plants.     

DIFFERENTIATION AND CONTINUITY OF THE PHLOEM IN THE LEAF INTERCALARY MERISTEM OF LOLIUM PERENNE

Serial transverse sections of the stem tip and leaf bases of immature perennial ryegrass leaves were examined to assess the effect of the intercalary meristem on assimilate movement. The development of procambial strands in very young leaves was followed, and the subsequent differentiation of proto- and metaphloem examined in both lamina and sheath. In major bundles the first two or three series of protophloem cells differentiated acropetally into the leaf and they or their crushed remnants could be recognized at all levels. A further three or four series of protophloem cells differentiated basipetally, as did the protophloem of all minor bundles and the metaphloem. The basipetal differentiation of the bulk of the phloem combined with crushing of older cells resulted in acute constriction or even complete local blockage of the functional phloem in the active meristematic region. This constriction of the phloem would tend to divert assimilates into the dividing cells both from the stem below and from the mature upper portion of the leaf. No constriction was found at the base of a mature sheath.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE SECONDARY PHLOEM OF TILIA AMERICANA

Summer and winter (July and January) samples of secondary phloem of Tilia americana were studied with the electron microscope. Parenchyma cells contain: nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, plastids, mitochondria and occasional dictyosomes. Well-defined tonoplasts separate vacuoles from cytoplasmic ground substance. Vacuoles often contain tannins. Lipid droplets are common in cytoplasm. Endoplasmic reticulum–connected plasmodesmata are aggregated in primary pit fields. Companion cells differ from parenchyma cells in having numerous sieve-element connections, possibly slime, and in lacking plastids. Mature, enucleate sieve elements possess 1–4 extruded nucleoli. Numerous vesicles occupy a mostly parietal position in association with plasmalemma. The mature sieve element lacks endoplasmic reticulum, organelles (except for few mitochondria) and tonoplast. In OsO_4– and glutaraldehyde-fixed elements, slime has a fine, fibrillar appearance. Normally, these fine fibrils are organized into coarser ones which form strands that traverse the cell and the plasmalemma-lined pores of sieve plates and lateral sieve areas.     

红豆杉科次生韧皮部的比较解剖

在光学显微镜及扫描电镜下,比较观察了红豆杉科Ｔａｘａｃｅａｅ５属即红豆杉属Ｔａｘｕｓ,白豆杉属Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｔａｘｕｓ、穗花杉属Ａｍｅｎｔｏｔａｘｕｓ,榧树属Ｔｏｒｒｅｙａ和澳洲红豆杉属８种植物茎次生韧皮部的结构。其主要结果为：红豆杉科植物茎次生皮部由轴向系统和径向系统两部分构成。轴向系统由筛胞,韧皮薄壁组织细胞,蛋白细胞及韧皮纤维组成;径向系统由韧皮射线构成,但是,在横切面上,各个组成分子的层次有