Taxonomic notes on African Orthotrichaceae 3. New synonymy in Madagascan Macromitrium

Examination of type material of Macromitrium taxa described from Madagascar has unveiled three names to be placed in synonymy. Macromitrium nanothecium var. sublaeve Thér. was found to be conspecific with Macromitrium fimbriatum (P.Beauv.) Schwägr.; Macromitrium ancistrophyllum Cardot is placed in synonymy with M. nanothecium Cardot and Macromitrium semipapillosum Thér. & P.de la Varde is placed in synonymy with Macromitrium calocalyx Müll.Hal. Lectotypification is effected for four taxa within the genus. A range extension is reported for M. nanothecium, which is recorded here as new to Tanzania.     

长白山主要生态系统地面藓类植物分布格局研究

基于５１个样点３３０５个样方地面藓类的盖度,应用双向指示种法,将长白山主要生态系统中地面藓类群落分成落叶松沼泽、高山苔原、岳桦林、亚高山过渡林、暗针叶林及红松阔叶林６种类型,这６种生态系统中的地面藓类总盖度分别为８０．９４％、２５．４２％、５９．８３％、２６．８８％、４４．１１％和１．６７％．在调查的５１个样点中,随着土壤ｐＨ值下降、含水量上升,地面藓类群落盖度增加,在苔原带以下红松阔叶林以上的森林中,随着冠层郁闭度加大,林下地面藓类盖度下降．地面藓类的生态位宽度（Ｂ）与种数（Ｎ）的关系符合Ｎ＝７４．６４７５×ｅ－２０．６７０５×Ｂ,除塔藓等少数种类外,大多数藓类的生态幅很窄     

河南省藓类植物新报

报道了最近在河南省宝天曼自然保护区所采１４号藓类植物标本中,经研究,其中包括１个新变种,即：苏氏牛舌藓河南变种Ａｎｏｍｏｄｏｎ ｓｏｌｏｖｊｏｖｉｉ Ｌａｚａｒｅｎｋｏ ｖａｒ．ｈｅｎａｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｔａｎ,Ｂｏｕｆｆｏｒｄ ｅｆ Ｙｉｎｇ,ｖａｒ．ｎｏｖ．另外有８种为河南省新纪录。     

Bryophytes as indicators of ancient woodlands in Schleswig-Holstein (Northern Germany)

Ancient woodlands, with their long ecological continuity, frequently harbor a high number of typical, rare and threatened species, and are therefore of particular importance for nature conservation. To pinpoint these habitats, a common application is the use of plants as “ancient woodland indicators”. The occurrence of these particular species allows for evaluating the continuity of woodland cover in time. While lists of ancient woodland vascular plants have been derived for many regions, the identification and use of bryophytes as ancient woodland indicators has been widely neglected. This is a bit surprising because certain woodland bryophytes are very sensitive to varying environmental conditions or changes in land management. It therefore appeared promising to compile an ecologically grounded list of ancient woodland indicator bryophytes for practical use.In this study, we present a set of ancient woodland indicator bryophytes based on the analysis of datasets from the North German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. To compile this list, we systematically evaluated the bryophyte distribution data from floristic surveys in relation to ancient woodland cover data from state-wide inventories. In this way, we were able to determine ancient woodland bryophytes using consistent and repeatable statistical methods.The presented list of 31 ancient woodland indicator bryophytes is ecologically sound and corresponds well with data from the sparse literature. We could distinguish two groups of ancient woodland indicator bryophytes. The first group is linked to base-rich, semi-natural deciduous woodlands with high soil and air humidity. The second group comprises acidophilic bryophytes that occur not only in acidic beech and oak woods, but also in acidic mixed or coniferous forests on ancient woodland sites. Apart from the ancient woodland indicator bryophytes, we could identify one group of recent woodland bryophytes and four groups of bryophytes that are more or less indifferent with respect to woodland continuity.Finally, we provide recommendations for the application of ancient woodland indicator bryophytes in nature conservation practice. Management suggestions for the conservation of the typical bryophyte diversity of ancient semi-natural woodlands are also given.     

湖北省九宫山藓类植物垂直分布的初步研究

在采集和初步鉴定标本的基础上,对湖北省九宫山藓类植物的垂直分布规律进行了初步的分析和研究。结果表明,九宫山藓类植物共32科,98属,265种,其垂直分布明显分带;500m以下的地段土生种类占优势;500-850m地段,土生,石生,树生均较丰富。尤以树生为明显;850-1300m垂直带,石生群落较发达;1300m以上多为土生。类型多为高丛集型。     

Plant Mitochondrial RNA Editing

RNA editing affects messenger RNAs and transfer RNAs in plant mitochondria by site-specific exchange of cytidine and uridine bases in both seed and nonseed plants. Distribution of the phenomenon among bryophytes has been unclear since RNA editing has been detected in some but not all liverworts and mosses. A more detailed understanding of RNA editing in plants required extended data sets for taxa and sequences investigated. Toward this aim an internal region of the mitochondrial nad5 gene (1104 nt) was analyzed in a large collection of bryophytes and green algae (Charales). The genomic nad5 sequences predict editing in 30 mosses, 2 hornworts, and 7 simple thalloid and leafy liverworts (Jungermanniidae). No editing is, however, required in seven species of the complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiidae) and the algae. RNA editing among the Jungermanniidae, on the other hand, reaches frequencies of up to 6% of codons being modified. Predictability of RNA editing from the genomic sequences was confirmed by cDNA analysis in the mosses Schistostega pennata and Rhodobryum roseum, the hornworts Anthoceros husnotii and A. punctatus, and the liverworts Metzgeria conjugata and Moerckia flotoviana. All C-to-U nucleotide exchanges predicted to reestablish conserved codons were confirmed. Editing in the hornworts includes the removal of genomic stop codons by frequent reverse U-to-C edits. Expectedly, no RNA editing events were identified by cDNA analysis in the marchantiid liverworts Ricciocarpos natans, Corsinia coriandra, and Lunularia cruciata. The findings are discussed in relation to models on the phylogeny of land plants. Received: 2 April 1998 / Accepted: 4 August 1998     

Effects of seven pure flavonoids from mosses on germination and growth of Tortula muralis HEDW (Bryophyta) and Raphanus sativus L (Magnoliophyta)

Dried mosses (five moss species) were progressively extracted and subjected to a four-step Craig distribution. Seven pure flavonoids were isolated and identified. The flavonoids were the flavones apigenin, apigenin-7-O-triglycoside, lucenin-2, luteolin-7-O-neohesperidoside, saponarine and vitexin; and the biflavonoid bartramiaflavone and they were submitted to biological tests. The tests were performed in vitro on spore germination and protonemal growth of the moss Tortula muralis and on seed germination and root growth of Raphanus sativus. Flavonoids caused a decrease in the percentage of spore germination, protonemal development and root growth. In addition they caused morphological alterations, such as forked tips, swollen apices, rounded cells and early formation of brood cells in the protonemata. Data were discussed in relation to the presence of allelochemicals in mosses.     

四种旱生藓类植物的比较结构学观察

对新疆产的４种藓类植物茎、叶的表面及内部结构进行了观察,结果表明：尖叶大帽藓（Ｅｎｃａｌｙｐｔａ ｒｈａｂｄｏｃｕｒｐａ Ｓｃｈｗａｅｇｒ．）茎的中部结构类似于种子植物（单子叶）根的内皮层,其茎表皮也有类似于种子植物表皮毛（腺毛）的腺体。在阔叶紫萼藓（Ｇｒｉｍｍｉａ ｌａｅｖｉｇａｔａ（Ｂｒｉｄ．）Ｂｒｉｄ．）茎的中轴部,厚角组织发达,数层皮部厚壁组织也很发达。小石藓（Ｗｅｉｓｉａ ｃｏｎｔｒｏｖ     

Biological diversity and cultural heritage

In this paper some examples of the development of communities of microorganisms and plants on historic buildings and monuments are shown. When the building stones differ from the surrounding natural substrata, an increase in the biological diversity of the area is produced. In some cases, monuments can come to constitute a true refuge for a few species when the natural habitat is threatened. It is suggested that biological diversity, when it does not represent a threat for the cultural heritage, should be considered worthy of preservation.