云南哀牢山地区蕨类植物区系的垂直分布格局

根据大尺度的物种分布信息,利用聚类分析和数理统计的方法分析了云南哀牢山蕨类植物区系的垂直分布格局。研究结果表明,随着海拔的升高,热带区系成分所占比重呈显著递减趋势,而温带区系成分所占比重呈明显递增趋势。在整个海拔梯度上,东亚分布和热带亚洲分布成分始终占主导地位。区系过渡性随着海拔的升高呈先增强后减弱的单峰分布格局,平衡点出现于海拔1700 m左右。基于区系成分比重的聚类分析表明,在海拔1300 m,1900 m和2600 m左右,将海拔梯度上的蕨类植物分为4组,这与各海拔段内的物种组成和区系成分性质是一致的。     

云南蕨类植物的物种多样性和区系组成

在一定实地调查和分类的基础上,采用统计分析及区系地理分析法,对云南地区蕨类植物进行研究。结果表明:云南地区共有蕨类植物60科193属1 530种(包括变种和变型),科、属、种分别占中国蕨类植物科总数的58.8%,属的83.9%和种的95.2%;在这60个科中含30种以上的有13个,含5个属以上的有11个,分别占该蕨类植物区系属、种数的56.5%和79.2%,特别是鳞毛蕨科、蹄盖蕨科、水龙骨科和金星蕨科,这4个科共拥有70属761种,分别占总属数、总种数的36.3%、49.7%;193属中含30种以上的有11个,分别占总属、总种数的5.7%和41.7%,最具优势的是鳞毛蕨属和耳蕨属、蹄盖蕨属、铁角蕨属、卷柏属,这5个属共有403种,占总种数的26.3%;该区系中无云南特有科,但具有4个亚洲特有科:雨蕨科、稀子蕨科、柄盖蕨科和骨碎补科;该区系以热带、亚热带性质为主,科的区系成分中热带亚热带分布的科占66.6%,热带成分的属有112个,占68.7%(除世界分布类型);该区系是东亚地区蕨类植物区系的重要组成部分,东亚分布31属和中国特有分布6属,分别占总属数(除世界分布属外)的19.0%和3.7%;该地区蕨类植物区系与西藏、台湾具有共同的区系起源和物种分化形成的背景,属的相似性系数约为70%,种的相似性系数约为30%,均起源于热带亚热带地区;属的热带区系成分与温带区系成分所占比例分别为68.7%和27.6%,存在一定的区系过渡性;该区系科的分化强度为3.2,属的分化强度为7.9,在科、属水平上均表现出较强的区系分化特征。     

Two new species of Blechnum (Blechnaceae) from the neotropics

Blechnum moranianum is a new species similar toB. loxense, andB. nigrum is segregated from theB. fragile complex. Both are described and illustrated as result of the author's taxonomic fern work in Costa Rica. Blechnum moranianum es una especie nueva similar aB. loxense, yB. nigrum es segregada del complejoB. fragile. Ambas son aquí descritas e ilustradas como resultado de los trabajos taxonómicos del autor en los helechos de Costa Rica.     

Callus culture and an unconventional pattern of sporophyte regeneration in Drynaria quercifolia—A medicinal fern

Summary Callus induction and regeneration studies were carried out on a medicinal fern, Drynaria quercifolia native to Asian countries. It is a seasonal fern that regenerates only during the monsoons. Callus was induced on Knop’s (1865) medium supplemented with 20 gl⁻¹ sucrose, 8gl⁻¹ agar, and either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram), or indole-3-butyric acid at different concentrations. Morphogenetic callus obtained on 5 mgl⁻¹ 2,4,5-T was subcultured onto solid and liquid media (shaken flask and discontinuously stirred bioreactor cultures) for callus proliferation and regeneration studies. A significant amount of sporophyte regeneration was observed on solid medium containing 10 mgl⁻¹ 6-(δ, δ-dimethylallylamino) purine (2iP). Sporophyte regeneration from callus followed an atypical pattern of development. Leafy structures of single-cell thickness with a microrhizome were formed as sporophyte initials. Prolonged cultures of these structures resulted in the formation of juvenile sporophytes in vitro. The use of liquid media resulted in increased biomass in culture. The present study is the first report of a successful system for callus production and regeneration of sporophytes from leafy structures in ferns. The method can be successfully applied for generation of biomass of D. quercifolia, throughout the year.     

Revision of the neotropical species of Triplophyllum (Tectariaceae)

This paper re-examines the species of Triplophyllum in the neotropics. The indument of the laminae (hairs and glands) provides many characteristics for distinguishing the species. Nine species are recognized, including three new ones: T. boliviense, T. chocoense, and T. glabrum. New combinations are made for T. hirsutum and T. perpilosum . A key is provided to distinguish the species, and all species are described and illustrated. The spores of the neotropical species are like those from African and Madagascan species. As such, they offer no evidence to determine whether the neotropical species form a monophyletic clade within the genus.     

Epiphytic ferns and bryophytes of Tasmanian tree‐ferns: A comparison of diversity and composition between two host species

Abstract Ferns, bryophytes and lichens are the most diverse groups of plants in wet forests in south‐eastern Australia. However, management of this diversity is limited by a lack of ecological knowledge of these groups and the difficulty in identifying species for non‐experts. These problems may be alleviated by the identification and characterization of suitable proxies for this diversity. Epiphytic substrates are potential proxies. To evaluate the significance of some epiphytic substrates, fern and bryophyte assemblages on a common tree‐fern species, Dicksonia antarctica (soft tree‐fern), were compared with those on a rare species, Cyathea cunninghamii (slender tree‐fern), in eastern Tasmania, Australia. A total of 97 fern and bryophyte species were recorded on D. antarctica from 120 trunks at 10 sites, and 64 species on C. cunninghamii from 39 trunks at four of these sites. The trunks of C. cunninghamii generally supported fewer species than D. antarctica, but two mosses (particularly Hymenodon pilifer) and one liverwort showed significant associations with this host. Several other bryophytes and epiphytic ferns showed an affinity for the trunks of D. antarctica. Species assemblages differed significantly between both sites and hosts, and the differences between hosts varied significantly among sites. The exceptionally high epiphytic diversity associated with D. antarctica suggests that it plays an important ecological role in Tasmanian forests. Evidently C. cunninghamii also supports a diverse suite of epiphytes, including at least one specialist species.     

Fern species richness along a central Himalayan elevational gradient, Nepal

Aim The study explores fern species richness patterns along a central Himalayan elevational gradient (100–4800 m a.s.l.) and evaluates factors influencing the spatial increase and decrease of fern richness. Location The Himalayas stretch from west to east by 20°, i.e. 75–95° east, and Nepal is located from 80 to 88° east in this range. Methods We used published data of the distribution of ferns and fern allies to interpolate species elevational ranges. Defining species presence between upper and lower elevation limit is the basis for richness estimates. The richness pattern was regressed against the total number of rainy days, and gradients that are linearly related to elevation, such as length of the growing season, potential evapotranspiration (PET, energy), and a moisture index (MI = PET/mean annual rainfall). The regressions were performed by generalized linear models. Results A unimodal relationship between species richness and elevation was observed, with maximum species richness at 2000 m. Fern richness has a unimodal response along the energy gradients, and a linear response with moisture gradients. Main conclusions The study confirms the importance of moisture on fern distributions as the peak coincides spatially with climatic factors that enhance moisture levels; the maximum number of rainy days and the cloud zone. Energy‐related variables probably control species richness directly at higher elevations but at the lower end the effect is more probably related to moisture.     

Ethnobotanical studies on some pteridophytes of Southern Nigeria

Southern Nigeria represents one of the richest zones of vegetational wealth of Nigeria. The land surface is dominated by plants under 200 m.a.s 1. Folk utilization of pteridophytes by the southern Nigerians was studied. The results of this survey display an interesting diversity and distribution of ferns and fern-allied plants used as medicines, food, cosmetics, and manure in southern Nigeria. The data were compiled from frequent field trips conducted in 40 local government areas (LGAs). A total of 36 plant species belonging to 22 families were identified. Plant specimens and information were collected directly from the local inhabitants in villages and periurban towns. Our literature survey showed little or no documentation of ethnobotanical studies on pteridophytes of this region. Therefore, the present communication serves to bridge the gap. Thus, these pteridophytes could provide a vital source for healthcare and economic revenue after appropriate pharmacological analysis by patents.