Ecology and biogeography of plant communities associated with the post Plio-Pleistocene relict Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum in southern Spain

Aims Rhododendron ponticum L. is reputed to be a post Plio‐Pleistocene relict plant species with a disjunct distribution that comprises the Iberian Peninsula to the west and the Euxinian region plus some restricted Mediterranean areas to the east. We analysed the ecological range (of subsp. baeticum) in the western area (Aljibe Mountains, north of the Strait of Gibraltar) to understand the factors determining the present area limitation. Location Sierra del Aljibe, north of the Strait of Gibraltar (Iberian Peninsula). Methods We selected 20 riparian sites where R. ponticum is common, and compiled data on the ecological diversity of associated woody species and ferns. We established a 500‐m main transect in each site, along the stream or river course, in which we placed five 20‐m‐long plots at regular intervals. We recorded physiographic habitat features, woody plants and fern abundance, and the number of R. ponticum individuals. Results Rhododendron ponticum in southern Spain is restricted to riparian forests in acidic soils (pH 4.0–6.4), and is mainly found on the banks of inclined and enclosed streams. In our inventory we recorded 59 woody taxa and 12 ferns, with R. ponticum being the dominant species of the understorey (mean abundance 78.6%). The communities are characterized by a high incidence of the humid warm temperate element, both in number of species (18.8 ± 3.7 per site) and abundance; meanwhile, the presence of the modern Mediterranean element (mean number of species 3.4 ± 3.8 per site) appears to be favoured by disturbance. These ecological–historical groups of taxa also show distinct patterns of typological habit, frequency of endemism, infrageneric diversity and geographical range. Populations of R. ponticum are characterized by a very variable density of seedlings in many sites, and the virtual lack of juveniles. Main conclusions Riparian forests of the Aljibe Mountains constitute a refuge for R. ponticum where the species persists, but populations appear to be in decline. The narrow ecological range of R. ponticum in the area strongly contrasts with its wide amplitude in the eastern natural area, mainly the Euxinian region, where R. ponticum probably finds better conditions due to the environmental heterogeneity of the region, and the lack of a hot dry season.     

Cold hardiness and water relations parameters in Rhododendron cv. Catawbiense Boursault subjected to drought episodes

We determined whether increase in cold hardiness of Rhododendron cv. Catawbiense Boursault induced by water stress was correlated with changes in tissue water relations. Water content of the growing medium was either maintained near field capacity for the duration of the study or plants were subjected to drought episodes at different times between 15 July and 19 February. Watering during a drought episode was delayed until soil water content decreased below 0.4 m³ m⁻³ then watering was resumed at a level to maintain soil water content between 0.3 and 0.4 m³ m⁻³. Cold hardiness was evaluated in the laboratory with freeze tolerance tests on detached leaves. Water relations parameters were determined using pressure-volume analysis. Exposure to drought episodes increased cold hardiness during the cold acclimation stage in late summer and fall but not during the winter. When water-stressed plants were re-watered to field capacity, the previous gain in cold hardiness gradually disappeared. Water relations parameters correlating with seasonal changes of cold hardiness included dry matter content (r =−0.67). apoplastic water content (r =−0.60), and water potential at the turgor loss point (r = 0.40). Changes of cold hardiness in water-stressed plants in reference to well-watered plants were correlated with changes of all water relations parameters, except for osmotic potential at full turgor (r = 0.13). It is proposed that water stress reduced the hydration of cell walls, thereby increasing their rigidity. Increased rigidity of cell walls could result in a development of greater negative turgor pressures at subfreezing temperatures and therefore increased resistance to freeze dehydration.     

The growth of rhododendrons in containers in soil,treated with either CaCO3, Ca(OH)2 or CaSO4

Summary Rhododendrons were grown in containers for a period of six and a half years (six growth cycles) in soil mixes which contained liberal amounts of either CaCO₃, Ca(OH)₂ or CaSO₄.No evidence was obtained to suggest that the plants were sensitive to liming of the soil or to excessive applications of calcium. The only reaction observed was a leaf chlorosis and veinal necrosis which developed for a brief period following the heavy application of CaSO₄ in the fifth season. The application of Ca(OH)₂ raised the pH throughout the soil profile to over 7, and CaSO₄ induced a consistent increase in leaf calcium.     

Effects of different Rhododendron control methods in eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) ecosystems in the western Black Sea region of Turkey

Intensive weed control and plot preparation practices have become a critical and integral part of productive beech forest management in Turkey’s coastal Black Sea region (BSR). This study was conducted in an eastern beech forest of 100+ year old in the BSR to evaluate ecosystem effects of three different experimental Rhododendron ponticum understory control methods with a randomised block design, including manual grubbing, foliar and cut stump spraying with imazapyr (Arsenal) and foliar and cut stump spraying with triclopyr (Garlon). Untreated vegetation plots served as controls. Evaluation of these treatments included their effects on understory and forest floor biomass and nutrients (C, N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg) and effects on soils, including bulk density, pH, soil nutrients (C, N, P and S), exchangeable cations (K, Ca and Mg) and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). Grubbing and imazapyr treatments had greatly reduced the amount of understory biomass 5 years after application (P = 0.002). Triclopyr treatment also had a major effect on understory vegetation control, but by 5 years later, about 10% of the rhododendron originally present on these plots had gradually re‐sprouted and partially covered the plots. Five years after woody vegetation control treatments, at the 0‐ to 20‐cm depth, treatments did not appear to affect soil bulk density, pH and CEC. For the upper 20‐cm soil depth, the exchangeable soil K concentration at the 10‐ to 20‐cm depth on triclopyr‐treated plots was 33% higher than on grubbing plots, and it was twice that of imazapyr application plots. Imazapyr plots had almost 11 times more dead organic matter on the forest floor than there was on grubbing plots. Forest floor C concentrations on imazapyr plots were 26 and 14% greater than those on grubbing and triclopyr plots, respectively. Total ecosystem (forest floor + understory + soil exchangeable) Ca content was 50% higher on imazapyr plots than that on triclopyr plots, while the ecosystem K pool on imazapyr treatment plots was 27% lower than that on triclopyr plots. Herbicides can be used as an alternative for achieving some forest management objectives when other vegetation control methods are not feasible or economical. It is recommended that vegetation control not be used on steep slopes because of greater risk of soil erosion. There may be benefits in encouraging slash disposal by fire after imazapyr treatments, thus removing recalcitrant understory residues left on the forest floor and releasing the essential nutrients within them.     

基于ITS序列分析探讨杜鹃属映山红亚属的组间关系

以叶状苞亚属的叶状苞杜鹃为外类群,以杜鹃属映山红亚属（subg.Tsutsusi)2组12种杜鹃和羊踯躅亚属（subg.Pentanthera）3种4种杜鹃的ITS区（包括5.8S rDNA)的序列了系统学分析。3个亚属的ITS区序长度范围为642－645bp。排序后ITS区的序列长度为653个位点,gap做缺失处理时,变异位点和信息位点分别占6．58％和3．68％。运用PAUP4．0软件分析,获得15个最简树,步长为75,一致性指数（CI）和维持性指数（RI）值分别为0．9333和0．9515,利用15个最简约树获取严格一致树,结果表明：1）映山红亚属为一单系类群,其内部支持率为81％;2）不支持将R.ashiroi独立成假映山红组,也不支持将R.tashiroi并入映山红组,而支持将R.tashiroi并入轮生叶组中的观点;3）支持将R.tsusiophyllum并入映山红组中的观点;4）大字杜鹃的系统位置还需进一步的研究。     

杜鹃属马银花亚属花粉形态的研究

首次报道了杜鹃属马银花亚属四组 2 0种 2变种植物的花粉形态。本亚属植物的花粉均为四合花粉 ,呈正四面体排列 ,四合体直径为 35 .85～ 6 0 .72 μm。单粒花粉球形或近球形 ,具三孔沟。在四合花粉上 ,相邻花粉粒上的沟相连 ,花粉粒表面或多或少具粘丝。在扫描电镜下 ,花粉粒呈现出粗糙、不明显聚颗粒状至致密的聚颗粒状等不同的纹饰 ,在不同的组间存在或多或少的差异 ,具有一定的分类学意义。对某些种的分类处理也能够提供某些孢粉学证据。