The supraspecific taxonomy and evolution of the fern genusAzolla (Azollaceae)

The systematics of the aquatic fern genusAzolla Lam. is revised at the supraspecific level. Published morphological data are reviewed, and cytological and cladistic analyses of the genus conducted, enabling a discussion of the putative evolutionary trends in the genus, and a revision of the current taxonomy. A phylogenetically more acceptable subgeneric and sectional classification is proposed, viz. subg.Azolla sect.Azolla (comprisingA. filiculoides Lam.,A. rubra R. Br.,A caroliniana auct. nonWilld.,A. microphylla auct. nonKaulf. andA. mexicana Presl), subg.Azolla sect.Rhizosperma (Mey.)Mett. (comprisingA. pinnata R. Br.), and subg.Tetrasporocarpia subg. nov. (comprisingA. nilotica Decne. exMett.).     

SEM studies on vessels in ferns. 9. Dicranopteris (Gleicheniaceae) and vessel patterns in leptosporangiate ferns

Ferns in which vessels have been demonstrated to date are phylogenetically relatively specialized and characteristic of habitats with marked extremes in temperature and water availability. These specifications do not apply to the Gleicheniaceae, which indicates that vessels may occur in a range of more primitive ferns, including those from more nearly mesic habitats. Vessels in Dicranopteris have perforation plates (both lateral and terminal) with morphology similar to that of lateral wall pitting as seen with light microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is therefore necessary to demonstrate presence of perforations. Vessel presence in Dicranopteris is important in forming a picture of vessel presence and specialization in ferns, the phylogenetic and ecological distribution of which may differ from the patterns found in monocotyledons and dicotyledons. We believe that presence of vessels may not be a reliable indicator of phylogenetic position among ferns.     

Phenolic glucoside-6′-sulfate formation in vicia faba

The fate of hydroquinone and catechol administered to a variety of higher plants over a period of several days has been investigated. All plants yielded monoglucosides, while a small number also yielded the gentiobiosides. Fifteen of 23 species examined yielded a phenolic glucoside derivative which appeared to be identical to a compound described earlier by Pridham and Saltmarsh as a phenolic glucoside-6′-sulfate. Definitive chemical synthesis of arbutin-6′-sulfate was achieved and direct comparison with the natural derivative clearly excluded the possibility of a sulfated derivative.     

Uptake and distribution of selenium in different fern species

There has been an interest in using hyperaccumulating plants for the removal of heavy metals and metalloids. High selenium (Se) concentrations in the environment are detrimental to animals, humans, and sustainable agriculture, yet selenium is also an essential nutrient for humans. This experiment was conducted to screen fern plants for their potential to accumulate selenium. Eleven fern species, Pteris vittata, P. quadriaurita, P. dentata, P. ensiformis, P. cretica, Dryopteris erythrosora, Didymochlaena truncatula, Adiantum hispidulum, Actiniopteris radiata, Davallia griffithiana, and Cyrtomium fulcatum, were grown under hydroponic conditions for one week at 20 mg L(-1) selenate or selenite. Root Se concentrations reached 245-731 and 516-1082 mg kg(-1) when treated with selenate and selenite, respectively. The corresponding numbers in the fronds were 153-745 and 74-1,028 mg kg(-1) with no visible toxicity symptoms. Only three fern species were able to accumulate more Se in the fronds than the roots, which were D. griffithiana when treated with selenate, P. vittata when treated with selenite, and A. radiata regardless of the forms of Se. A. radiata was the best species overall for Se accumulation. More research is needed to further determine the potential of the fern species identified in this study for phytoremediation of the Se contaminated soils and water.     

浙江省蕨类植物新记录

报道浙江省蕨类植物新记录种4个,即膜蕨科的毛蕗蕨Hymenophyllum exsertum Wall. ex Hook.、墨兰瓶蕨Vandenboschia cystoseiroides (Christ) Ching和管苞瓶蕨Vandenboschia kalamocarpa (Hayata) Ebihara,以及鳞毛蕨科的二型肋毛蕨Ctenitis dingnanensis Ching。凭证标本存放于浙江省景宁县林业局标本馆。     

Autochory in ferns,not all spores are blown with the wind

Dispersal is a key process in plant population dynamics. In ferns, two successive vectors are needed: the sporangium catapulting mechanism, and wind or gravity. However, some rock ferns have a growth habit that suggests a kind of autochory by placing spores on the rock surface. Moreover, some ferns show modifications of the sporangial dehiscence. To determine the role of growth habit in spore dispersal, we checked the sporangial opening mechanism and explored the spatial distribution of plants on the walls. The presence of spores of Asplenium celtibericum, a rupicolous fern, in the rock surface was checked. In addition, its sporangial dehiscence, plant size and position in the wall were analysed. Spores and indehiscent sporangia were present on walls at each sampling moment. Their highest number was found close to the plants. There was a positive correlation between crack width and plant size. However, most plants occupy the upper half of the cliffs. The growth habit of A. celtibericum is instrumental to deposit the spores over the neighbouring rock surface, thus enhancing the probability of spores to find suitable crevices for germination. Furthermore, dispersal of indehiscent sporangia might promote intergametophytic mating, and the modified sporangial opening mechanism extends the dispersive period.     

SEM studies on vessels in ferns. 2. Pteridium

Xylem from roots and rhizomes of two infraspecific taxa of Pteridium aquilinum was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All tracheary elements proved to be vessels. End wall perforation plates were all scalariform, lacked pit membrane remnants in at least the central part of the perforation plate, and varied with respect to width of bars, from wide to tenuous, and with respect to presence of pit membrane remnants. In addition, porose pit membranes on walls that are likely all lateral vessel-to-vessel walls must be considered to be perforations also, although different from those on end walls. Lateral wall perforation plates, hypothesized by one worker on the basis of tylosis presence but denied by another on the basis of light microscopy, were confirmed by demonstration of pores with SEM. In addition, lateral walls of Pteridium vessels bear some grooves interconnecting pit apertures; this feature is newly figured by SEM for ferns. Lateral wall pitting that is not porose may either have striate thickenings of the primary wall or be smooth. Vessel presence and degree of specialization in Pteridium vessels may bear a relationship to the wide ecological tolerances of the genus.     

华南地区六种蕨类植物耐旱性研究

利用盆栽控水法研究了华南毛蕨、蜈蚣蕨、线羽凤尾蕨、毛叶铁线蕨、长叶肾蕨和普通针毛蕨6种华南地区常见蕨类的耐旱性,测定了植株在自然干旱下的土壤绝对含水量、叶绿素SPAD值、叶片相对含水量和气体交换参数等指标变化。结果表明:随干旱胁迫加剧,叶片相对含水量总体呈下降趋势,其中普通针毛蕨、蜈蚣蕨和长叶肾蕨下降不明显,华南毛蕨降幅最大。叶绿素SPAD值随干旱加剧显著下降,其中华南毛蕨和长叶肾蕨下降幅度较小,蜈蚣蕨下降幅度较大。净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率随干旱加剧而不断下降,其中普通针毛蕨和蜈蚣蕨下降幅度较小,华南毛蕨下降幅度较大。然而,胞间CO2浓度随着干旱的加剧而不断上升,其中线羽凤尾蕨上升幅度最大,蜈蚣蕨和普通针毛蕨上升幅度较小。以各指标的平均变化速率为原始数据进行隶属函数法分析得出,六种参试蕨类植物的耐旱能力大小依次为蜈蚣蕨普通针毛蕨长叶肾蕨毛叶铁线蕨华南毛蕨线羽凤尾蕨。     

湖北蕨类植物新记录

该文报道了湖北蕨类植物1个新记录属:冷蕨属(Cystopteris Bernhardi)及对应的新记录种宝兴冷蕨(Cystopteris moupinensis Franchet); 4个新记录种:台湾剑蕨(Loxogramme formosana Nakai)、扇羽阴地蕨[Botrychium lunaria (Linnaeus) Swartz]、耳状紫柄蕨[Pseudophegopteris aurita (Hooker) Ching]、巢形鳞毛蕨[Dryopteris transmorrisonense (Hayata) Hayata]; 2个新记录变种:尾头凤尾蕨(Pteris oshimensis var.paraemeiensis Ching)和西藏粉背蕨[Aleuritopteris subvillosa var. tibetica (ChingS. K. Wu) H. S. Kung]。这些蕨类新记录在湖北的发现,大大丰富了湖北的植物区系及物种多样性,同时对这些蕨类的经济价值或药用价值进行了简要分析,为其资源的进一步合理开发和利用提供了一些理论依据。