A chemosystematic study of some geraniaceae

The flavonoids of five Geranium, fourteen Erodium and four Monsonia species were studied. Quercetin was the most common aglycone with lesse     

Volatile constituents of Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’ Hérit. (Geraniaceae)

Essential oils from Erodium cicutarium were obtained by hydrodistillation (samples consisting of entire plants (ec1), leaves and stems (ec2)) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), resulting in a total of 177 components being identified. The essential oils were of a very similar chemical composition and consisted mainly of aliphatic compounds and their derivatives. Fatty acids and fatty acid derived compounds were the most common, 51.3% (ec1) and 60.1% (ec2), followed by carotenoid derived compounds, 12.6% (ec1) and 20.2% (ec2), and then terpenoids, 14.9% (ec1) and 14.2% (ec2). The main constituents in the oils were hexadecanoic acid, 22.8% (ec2) and 35.9% (ec1) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, 10.8% (ec2) and 11.6% (ec1). The results obtained differ markedly from those previously reported for the same species.     

The effect of water stress on the life cycles of Erodium crinitum Carolin and Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Hérit. ex Alton (Geraniaceae)

Abstract Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Hérit. ex Aiton (Geraniaceae) from temperate Mediterranean Eurasia is naturalized across large areas of arid and semi-arid Australia to which Erodium crinitum Carolin is native. plant size, leaf and bud numbers and fruit/plant biomass ratio were significantly lower under drought, flower and fruit number, fruit size and total mass were unaffected. In contrast, E. crinitum was largely unaffected by the drought conditions, showing only an increase in the fruit/plant biomass ratio.     

Genetic diversity within and among populations of a threatened species: Erodium paularense Fern. Gonz. & Izco

Erodium paularense Fern. Gonz. & Izco (Geraniaceae) is a perennial, endemic species of central Spain. The restricted distribution of its three populations has made it necessary to consider measures for conservation. Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were used to determine genetic variation among and within populations. Sixty-three per cent of the bands were polymorphic. No population-specific marker was identified. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard's coefficient of all the individuals grouped most of them according to the present populations. Within-population variability was of a similar order in the three populations. Highly significant genetic differences between populations were detected through AMOVA . Within population diversity contributed 80–85% to the species diversity, a value typical of an outbreeding plant.     

Nitrogen fixation by subclover associations fertilized with sulfur

Summary The effect of S fertilization on symbiotic N₂ fixation was measured with the¹⁵N technique and the N difference method in a lysimeter study using Josephine loam (Typic Haploxurults). Nitrogen fixation by subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was strongly enhanced by added S. The association of soft chess (Bromus mollis L.) or filaree (Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol.) with subclover increased the percentage of N in subclover that was fixed, with the results that N₂ fixation was increased beyond that due to the mere increase in subclover biomass. Nitrogen fixation estimates by¹⁵N dilution and N difference methods were highly correlated (r²=0.97), and S fertilizer did not result in any significant differences in N₂-fixation estimation by the two methods. Both methods were useful in distinguishing between soil N uptake and N₂ fixation where S applications produced highly significant increases in both uptake and fixation. Application of sulfur fertilizers to much annual rangeland has the potential to increase pasture productivity through enhanced N₂ fixation. Contribution of the University of California Hopland Field Station and Department of Agronomy and Range Science, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616.     

First Extensive Polyphenolic Profile of Erodium cicutarium with Novel Insights to Elemental Composition and Antioxidant Activity

Erodium cicutarium is known for its total polyphenolic content, but this work reveals the first highly detailed profile of E. cicutarium, obtained with UHPLC‐LTQ OrbiTrap MS⁴ and UHPLC‐QqQ‐MS/MS techniques. A total of 85 phenolic compounds were identified and 17 constituents were quantified. Overall, 25 new compounds were found, which have not yet been reported for the Erodium genera, or the family Geraniaceae. Along with methanolic extracts, the so far poorly investigated water extracts exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity according to all performed assays, including the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH), 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) assay (ABTS) and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity assay (CUPRAC). Elemental composition analysis performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‐AES) and, additionally, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HydrEA‐ETAAS) showed six most abundant elements to be decreasing as follows: Mg>Ca>K>S>P>Na, and gave first data regarding inorganic arsenic content (109.3–248.4 ng g^?1). These results suggest E. cicutarium to be a valuable source of various phenolic compounds with substantial potential for further bioactivity testing.     

Insect Attracting Structures on Erodium Petals (Geraniaceae)

Abstract: Two types of structures previously unrecorded in Erodium petals are investigated. Spherical hairs filled with liquid resembling nectar droplets are exclusive to an ibero-mauritanic group of species included in Erodium subsect. Romana. Broad flat hairs which reflect light, shining as do nectar droplets, are restricted to most of the species included in Erodium sect. Malacoidea. Long, simple hairs in petals and sepals are involved in collection of nectar droplets. Some of them are arranged at the margin of the petal claw, just over the nectaries. Others are on the internal surface of sepals or on the upper surface of petals, serving apparently the same function. Their shape is aciculate or flattened. The nectar collected among the hairs forms shining spherical droplets, perceptible to insects. The glistening flat hairs and spheres shine in a similar way, probably mimicking nectar and attracting insects. Species with these special nectar-like structures produce nectar in quantities that can be observed by the naked eye, suggesting that these structures increase the attraction efficiency of flowers. Some taxonomic and biogeographic consequences are also discussed.     

The influence of biological soil crusts on 15N translocation in soil and vascular plant in a temperate desert of northwestern China

Aims Desert ecosystems are often characterized by patchy distribution of vascular plants, with biological soil crusts (BSC) covering interplant spaces. However, few studies have comprehensively examined the linkage between BSC and vascular plants through nitrogen (N) or element translocation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological roles of BSC on N translocation from soil to the dominant herb Erodium oxyrrhynchum Bieb. (Geraniaceae) in a temperate desert in China.Methods Isotopes (including 15 N-Glu, 15 N-NH 4 Cl and 15 N-NaNO 3) were used as a tracer to detect translocation of N in two types of desert soil (BSC covered; bare) to the dominant herb E. oxyrrhynchum. Three different forms of 15 N-enriched N compounds were applied as a point source to small patches of BSC and to bare soil. And we measured isotopes (14 N and 15 N) and obtained the concentration of labeled- 15 N in both vascular plants and soils at different distances from substrate applicationImportant findings Plants of E. oxyrrhynchum growing in BSC-covered plots accumulated more δ 15 N than those growing in the bare soil. Similarly, soil from BSC-covered plots showed a higher concentration of labeled-N irrespective of form of isotope, than did the bare soil. The concentration of dissolved organic N (15 N-Glu) in E. oxyrrhynchum was higher than that of dissolved inorganic N (15 N-NH 4 Cl and 15 N-NaNO 3). Soil covered by BSC also accumulated considerably more dissolved organic N than bare soil, whereas the dominant form of 15 N concentrated in bare soil was dissolved inorganic N. Correlation analysis showed that the concentration of labeled-N in plants was positively related to the concentration of labeled-N in soils and the N% recorded in E. oxyrrhynchum. Our study supports the hypothesis that BSC facilitates 15 N translocation in soils and vascular plants in a temperate desert of northwestern China.     

接种AM真菌对短命植物生长发育及矿质养分吸收的影响

 采用分室培养方法研究接种幼套球囊霉(Glomus etunicatum,BEG168)、摩西球囊霉(G. mosseae, BEG167)、混合菌剂(M)对两种沙漠早春短命植物小车前(Plantago minuta)和尖喙牻牛儿苗（Erodium oxyrrhynchum）生长发育及矿质养分吸收的影响。结果表明,接种AMF处理的小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗根系形成了典型的菌根结构,侵染率为22 %～60%;接种AMF提高了小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗两种植物的生物量、株高及N、P养分吸收量。小车前单独接种BEG167、BEG168以及混合接种都显著提高了单株种子数量,其增幅分别 为67%、50%和78%。上述结果说明,在极端贫瘠和干旱的古尔班通古特沙漠中,丛枝菌根真菌对于早春短命植物小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗的生态适应性的贡献表现为促进营养生长、提高后代（种子）繁殖数量。     

Dissecting components of flowering pattern: size effects on female fitness

Flowering synchrony is essential for plant reproductive success, especially in the case of small‐sized populations of self‐incompatible species. Closely related to synchrony, flowering intensity influences pollinator attraction and pollinator movements. Thus, a high flowering intensity may increase pollinator attraction but, at the same time, may also increase the probability of geitonogamous pollinations. Depending on the mating system, the female fitness of plants in small populations may be affected by both the positive effects of higher flowering synchrony and pollinator attraction and the negative effects of geitonogamous pollinations induced by a high flowering intensity. It was hypothesized that different‐sized plants in a population would show contrasting flowering patterns, resulting in differences in pollinator behaviour. These influences could result in differences in mating and female reproductive success. This hypothesis was tested by studying the flowering pattern of Erodium paularense (Geraniaceae), a rare and endangered endemic of central Spain. The temporal distribution of flower production was explored throughout the reproductive season, and the probability of xenogamy and geitonogamy and their relationship to plant size and fitness components were calculated. The analysis of this partially self‐compatible species showed diverse flowering patterns related to different plant sizes. Small plants produced a larger number of seeds per fruit in spite of having lower values of flowering synchrony. By contrast, large plants produced a larger number of seeds from geitonogamous pollinations. The effect of different flower displays and outcrossing rates on seed set varied throughout the season in the different groups. Our findings highlight the relevance of individual plant size‐dependent phenology on female reproductive success and, in particular, on the relationship between flowering synchrony and fitness. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 156 , 227–236.