Remarkable leaf anatomical variations in Neurachne and its allies (Poaceae) in relation to G3 and G4 photosynthesis

The leaf blade anatomy of all species of Neurachne, Paraneurachne and Thyridolepis has been examined, with special reference to features reliably indicative of photosynthetic pathway. Neurachne alopecuroidea, N. queenslandica and N. tenuifolia exhibit C₃ anatomy, as do all three Thyridolepis species. Paraneurachne muelleri, N. munroi and N. minor all have C₄ anatomy, of the rare ' Alloteropsis-type'. However, all the species exhibit unusual anatomical features, and N. lanigera cannot be confidently assigned as C₃ or C, on anatomical grounds alone. Taxonomic considerations confirm that the three genera are closely related to one another in the context of the eu-panicoid assemblage as a whole, and that the genus Neurachne itself, although it exhibits variation in photosynthetic pathway, is not amenable to further taxonomic subdivision.     

The isolation of nucleoli from ungerminated pea embryos

A method is described for the isolation of nuclei and nucleoli from ungerminated pea embryos. Electron micrographs of the nucleolar preparation indicate a high degree of purity but only a partial preservation of composition, because of a loss of material from the nucleoli which occurs during the isolation procedure.