A taxonomic note on the Cephalaria sect. Atrocephalae (Caprifoliaceae) from Iran

Cephalaria kleinii Ranjbar & Z. Ranjbar sp. nova from Iran is described and illustrated. It is confined to Mazandaran province in northern Iran. The new species is closely related to C. kotschyi Boiss. & Hohen., but differs from it by its abaxial leaves colour, its basal leaves shape, dissection and petiole length, by the shape of apices of lateral and terminal segments of the cauline leaves, by the shape of apices of lateral and terminal segments of the upper leaves and by peduncle length. Furthermore, C. axillaris is resurrected and lectotypes are designated for C. axillaris and C. kotschyi for the first time.     

白花刺参中两个新三萜皂甙

从著名藏药白花刺参（Morina nepalensis var.alba Hand.-Mazz)的水溶性部分分离到2个新三萜皂甙-刺参甙K（1）和刺参甙L（2）,以及一个已知三萜皂甙mazusaponinⅠ（3)。应用波谱和化学方法,刺参甙K和刺参甙L的结构分别鉴定为3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-（1→）-β-D-xylopyranosyl siaresinolic acid(1)和3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl siaresinolic acid28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(2)。     

Germination ecology of the clonal herb Knautia arvensis: Regeneration strategy and geographic variation

Abstract. We investigated germination responses and seed recruitment in the clonal grassland herb Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) throughout its distributional range in Norway. Four predicted relationships between germination responses and field regeneration behaviour were tested using phytotron experiments and experimental and observational field studies. Seedlings appeared in all experimental microsites in the field, corroborating phytotron predictions that gap‐ or depth‐sensing strategies should be absent in the species. Seasonal timing patterns were predicted from a cold stratification response in the phytotron, but these were not supported in the field. The relationship between dormancy, germinability during storage, and seed carry‐over in the field largely conformed to expectations. Seeds from four different geographical regions responded differently to temperature and cold stratification and storage. Dormancy and seed carry‐over was higher in seeds from a coastal population, where winters are relatively mild and the probability of repeated freeze‐thaw events is high, than in populations from mountain and inland areas, where winters are colder. This is discussed against two alternative hypotheses about the relationship between climate and dormancy in seasonal climates.     

A comparative chemotaxonomic study of eight taxa of the Dipsacaceae family

ABSTRACT

Eight taxa of the Dipsacaceae family were examined for their fatty acid and sterol composition. Separation and identification of the lipid fraction was achieved by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The phenotypic differences among taxa were established by cluster analysis. Correlation coefficients were obtained to investigate numerical relationships among constituents of the fatty acids. The results showed many significant correlations between different constituents, as well as four clusters of taxa using two linkage types of clustering.     

Novel bis-iridoid glucosides from Dipsacus sylvestris

In addition to the known iridoid glucosides loganin, sweroside and cantleyoside, Dipsacus sylvestris has provided 4 novel bis-iridoid glucosides named sylvestrosides I–IV, composed of swerosidic acid, secologanic acid, loganin and loganin aglucone. Sylvestroside I, II and III have been fully characterized by chemical conversions and by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. A probable formula for sylvestroside IV is presented.     

Experimental and structural investigations of anemochorous dispersal

The present paper describes the anemochorous dispersal of representative diaspores of Asteraceae, Dipsacaceae, and Poaceae from xerothermic grassland communities of Central and Northeastern Germany. For eleven species, potential dispersal distance was determined by fall velocity experiments as well as by taking into account the diaspore flight angle under the influence of an artificially-produced, regularly, and horizontally blowing air stream. The latter is a new and comparatively simple method enabling the implementation of mathematical formulas which describe the potential flight capacity of a diaspore for different wind speeds and exposition heights. Surface structures, shown by a scanning electron microscope, were consulted for the interpretation of results.Of the species considered, the best fliers are the diaspores of Asteraceae and Melica ciliata (Poaceae) characterized by a plumous pappus or a hairy lemma. The wing-like attachments of the diaspores of the other investigated Poaceae and Dipsacaceae are clearly less efficient for wind dispersal.The fall rates of the investigated species agree to a great extent with literature data. But a critical comparison of both methods employed shows that fall velocity as a measure of horizontal diaspore flight capacity is only suitable for low wind force < 2 m s^-1. With increasing wind force, the dispersal distance of a flying diaspore does not rise in a linear, but rather in an approximately quadratic manner. Thus, in nature, conditions of higher wind forces may be very important for the reachable dispersal distances of well-flying diaspores. This could be of particular significance for nature conservation concepts concerning the vulnerability of species towards isolation within fragmented landscapes.     

白花刺参中两个新三萜皂甙

从著名藏药白花刺参(Morina nepalensis var.alba Hand.-Mazz.)的水溶性部分分离到2个新三萜皂甙--刺参甙K(1)和刺参甙L(2),以及一个已知三萜皂甙mazusaponin I(3).应用波谱和化学方法,刺参甙K和刺参甙L的结构分别鉴定为3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl siaresinolic acid(1)和3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl siaresinolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(2).