Bracts Research Articles

Morphometric study of some Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species in Iran

This study concerns the morphological studies in some Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species in Iran. In order to elucidate the taxonomic status and morphological studies, 53 accessions of 12 Salvia species were collected from their natural habitats in Iran. A total of 17 quantitative and 13 qualitative morphological characters were selected as diagnostic characters in Salvia species through the use of numerical methods. The statistical analysis consisted of cluster analysis with Euclidean distance coefficient, factor analysis, descriptive analysis and variance analysis using SPSS V.20.0 software. The clustering results of quantitative and qualitative morphological characters showed five groups. Despite the high morphological similarity between S. nemorosa L. and S. virgata Jaq., these species were separated using qualitative and quantitative characters and factor analysis. Regarding cluster and factor analyses, S. spinosa L. and S. atropatana Bunge accessions displayed high morphological diversity. Based on these findings, morphological characteristics such as the features of the leaf, calyx, corolla, bract, stamen and style were considered to be the appropriate diagnostic characters in the taxonomy of the Salvia species studied.

OUTBREAK OF POWDERY MILDEW CAUSED BY ERYSIPHE sp. ON EVENING PRIMROSE IN ITALY

Oenothera biennis, family Onagraceae, is a biennial species used as border and potted plant. In summer 2011, severe out- breaks of a powdery mildew were observed in a private garden near Biella (northern Italy). Leaves were covered with a dense white mycelium, especially on the adaxial surface, which was also present on stems, pedicels of flowers and bracts. Conidia were hyaline, ellyptical, borne singly, and measured 25.0-38.4×17.8- 25.4 (average: 31.5×21.0) μm. Germ tubes were produced termi- nally. Fibrosin bodies were absent. Conidiophores were erect, with a cylindrical foot cell measuring 18.0-49.4×7.5-9.6 (average: 30.9×8.4) μm, followed by 1-2 shorter cells, measuring 15.5- 35.0×8.8-12.8 (average: 22.5×10.5) μm. Chasmothecia were not observed. The ITS region of rDNA was amplified using primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced (Altschul et al., 1997) (GenBank ac- cession No. JQ288740). The amplified 603 bp product showed 98% similarity with a comparable sequence of Erysiphe pisi. To determine pathogenicity, diseased leaves of O. biennis were pressed against leaves of four healthy plants of the same host. Four plants of Pisum sativum were also inoculated. Controls con- sisted of four non-inoculated plants for each tested species. Plants were maintained at temperatures from 23 to 33°C. Symp- toms were reproduced only on inoculated plants of O. biennis. The pathogen was retained as Erysiphe sp. since P. sativum re- mained healthy. E. howeana was reported on O. biennis in several European countries (Braun, 1995) as well as in New Zealand, while E. polygoni was reported in the USA (Farr et al., 1989).

A using of biometric methods for the delineation of floral units on the plant

On the base of the using of biometric analysis of linear dimensions of the leaves, stipules, bracts and bracteoles in the Brassicaceae (Arabidopsis thaliana, Matthiola longipetala, Lobularia maritime), Lamiaceae (Lamium purpureum, Salvia tesquicola) and Boraginaceae (Cynoglossum offisinale, Echium vulgare, Nonea pulla), it has found that the linear dimensions of the leaves and bracts are changed in a similar pattern, which is different from the pattern of change of the stipules and bracteole. In this regard, the biometric analysis of the linear dimensions of the leaves on the shoot can be used as an additional criterion for establishing of the boundaries and composition of floral pieces, as well as for the homologation of shoot elements.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the GoMADS-box2 Gene from Guzmania Ruiz & Pav

The MADS-box gene plays a crucial role in the formation of the floral meristem, development of floral organs and florescence regulation in plants. Based on a full-length cDNA library of floral organs and bracts in ostara , a Guzmania cultivar, four EST sequences from the same contig that included the MADS-box gene were obtained by large-scale random sequencing. Using the primer walking sequencing method, a 985 bp full-length cDNA sequence of the MADS-box gene was identified, which was named GoMADS-box2 gene (GenBank accession No.:JN936044). It has a 675 bp open reading frame that encodes 225 amino acid residuals, and its theoretical molecular weight and isoelectric point were predicted to be 26.3 kD and 9.36, respectively, by using a ProtParam analysis. The putative GoMADS-box2 protein contains a MIKC domain, which only exists in plant MADS-box proteins. The SPOMA program predicted that the secondary structure of the protein was composed of alpha helices (56.00%), random coils (24.44%), extended strands (13.78%) and beta turns (5.78%). Based on the 3D structure of the 1TQE P chain, a tertiary structure model was predicted by the ESyPred 3D program. Molecular phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the cloned gene belongs to the AP3-type family of genes as well as B-class genes, which might control the development of the petals and stamens. Finally, real-time quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the GoMADS-box2 gene could be expressed in all of the tested tissues, and the amount expressed in the flower was much higher than that of other three tissues; while the expre ssion levels of the scape and leaf were nearly equal and the expression level in the bra ct was the lowest that was close to zero.

Performance of 40 poinsettia cultivars grown under two different temperatures

This study evaluated forty poinsettia cultivars to determine which cultivars perform well under cool growing temperatures. Poinsettias were grown in separate greenhouses at temperatures of 20°C during the day and 17°C at night for cold production, or 25°C during the day and 22°C at night for warm production. Number of lateral shoots leading to inflorescences, number of bracts, canopy diameter, and stem diameter was determined. A significant (P= 0.03) cultivars by greenhouse temperature interaction existed for all parameters measured. Cultivars were then separated into classes based on greatest values for each trait. Poinsettia cultivars with the largest stem diameter in both warm and cold production systems included ‘39-02B’, ‘7-07’, ‘Classic™ White’, and ‘Enduring™ Red’. Poinsettia cultivars ‘HC-18B’, ‘Winter Blush’, ‘Cortez™ Burgundy, ‘Winter Rose™ Early Red’, ‘7-07’, ‘Silverstar™ Red’, ‘Topez’™, ‘Classic™ Red’, ‘Enduring™ White’, Novia™ Red’, Advent™ Red’, ‘Silverstar™ Marble’, and ‘1232’ had high bract numbers in both warm and cold production. Only one cultivar, '1266', produced a large number of lateral inflorescences in both production systems. Poinsettia cultivars ‘Classic™ White’, ‘Mira™ White’, ‘Novia™ Red’, Early ‘Orion™ Red’, ‘Mars’™ Pink’, and ‘Enduring™ Red’ had larger canopy diameters when grown in cool temperatures than under warmer conditions. Key words: Greenhouse production, temperature, Euphorbia pulcherrima, plant physiology, plant architecture

Cornus eydeana (Cornaceae), A New Cornelian Cherry from China—Notes on Systematics and Evolution

Cornus eydeana Q. Y. Xiang & Y. M. Shui, a new species of cornelian cherry Cornus subg. Cornus, is described from southeastern Yunnan, China. The new species resembles other cornelian cherries in having umbellate inflorescences subtended by two pairs of scale-like bracts and fruit with cavity-filled stones. However, it differs from them by the following combination of characters: evergreen habit, leathery leaves with three or four secondary veins, and densely flowered, long pedunculate inflorescences with perfect flowers. Morphologically, the species appears most similar to the African species C. volkensii Harms, but pollen morphology and geographic distributions suggest a closer affinity with the Eurasian species. The discovery of this species has significant implications for our understanding of the systematics and evolution of the cornelian cherry group.

Leaves and Fruits of Davidia (Cornales) from the Paleocene of North America

Abstract Davidia, a genus that is now endemic to China, played a prominent role in Paleocene vegetation of mid-latitude North America that previously was overlooked. Davidia antiqua (Newberry) comb. nov. is now known from co-occurring leaves and fruits at eight localities in the Fort Union Group of North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. The leaves, for more than a century called Viburnum antiquum (Newberry) Hollick, conform to extant Davidia in the long petiole, cordate base, pinnate venation, basal secondary veins with regular branches to the margin, typically blunt, large marginal dentations with medial vein insertion, and closely spaced percurrent tertiaries. Fruits are borne singly on otherwise staminate inflorescence heads. The peduncle bears two prominent scars, well below the head, interpreted as the attachment points of large bracts. The fruit stones are ellipsoidal, composed of fibers, with six to eight single-seeded locules, each with an elongate dorsal germination valve. Vascular bundles are not a...

Smithatris, a New Genus of Zingiberaceae from Southeast Asia

Abstract Smithatris supraneanae W. J. Kress & K. Larsen, gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new taxon was first collected in the limestone hills in the Saraburi Province north of Bangkok, Thailand, and probably ranges into adjacent Burma as well. Smithatris is most closely allied with several genera in the tribe Hedychieae including Curcuma, Stahlianthus, and Hitchenia. It most closely resembles the latter genus sharing the petiolate leaves and long pedunculate inflorescence with congested, pouched bracts, but differing in the deeply split labellum and hood-like structure formed by the lateral staminodes and dorsal corolla lobe that partially encloses the anther. In a separate analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of the genera of the Zingiberaceae based on molecular sequence data, Smithatris forms a nested assemblage with the above three genera thereby supporting recognition of this new taxon at the generic level. Smithatris is commonly used in ceremonies during the Buddhist lent, is...

Hekkingia (Violaceae), a New Arborescent Violet Genus from French Guiana, with a Key to Genera in the Family

Abstract A new genus of arborescent violet, Hekkingia, is described from Neotropical lowland rainforest near Cayenne in northeastern French Guiana. Racemose inflorescences, fully fused filaments and rudimentary dorsal connective appendages place the only known species, Hekkingia bordenavei, near the genus Paypayrola, while strongly tuberculate capsules ally it also to Amphirrhox, the two genera comprising the Subtribe Paypayrolinae to which the new genus is tentatively assigned. Hekkingia shares scarcely differentiated corollas with quincuncial aestivation, very large obovate sepals, red to pink capsules and carunculate seeds with few other genera (but not in this combination), whereas its basally cauliflorous habit, very large bracts and pedicel bractlets are unique in the family. A key to genera of the Violaceae provides a context for this French Guianan novelty.

灌木铁线莲（毛茛科）花器官的发生与发育

用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对铁线莲属（Clematis L．）植物灌木铁线莲（C．fruticosa Turcz．）花的形态发生和发育过程进行了观察。灌木铁线莲花原基形成后，4枚萼片以交互对生的方式首先发生，呈轮状排列。最早的4枚雄蕊原基在4枚萼片交接的位置上近螺旋状发生，此后，随着雄蕊原基的向心发生和数目不断增多，其发生的螺旋状序列逐渐明显。雄蕊原基发生后，在花原基顶端，心皮原基沿着雄蕊原基的发生序列呈螺旋状发生。本文结果支持在原始被子植物花中螺旋状排列和轮状排列同时存在的观点。此外，本文也进一步证实了花萼与苞片的同源性。

新疆驼绒藜属（藜科）一些新分类群

报道了产于新疆的驼绒藜（Krascheninnikovia ceratoides（L）Guedenst）2个新变种及昆仑山驼绒藜（Kcompacta（Losinsk．）Grub．）1个新变种：叶城驼绒藜（Kcompacta var．yechengensis A LFu．f．nov．）。每一新分类群均有插图。荒漠驼绒藜（Krascheninnikovia ceraroides var．deserticola（Losinsk．）G．Yang comb．nova）主要生于平原荒漠或低山区，常在下部分枝，形成垫状灌丛，叶片狭窄，披针形、狭椭圆形、狭长圆形，两面均被细绒毛。因而两面同色；草原驼绒藜（K.ceratoides var．pratensis（Losinsk．）Z Li comb．nova）主要生在山地草原，分枝也多在上部，叶上面无毛，下面疏毛，因而两面不同色；叶城驼绒藜（K.compacta var．yechengensis A L Fuvar．nov．）的叶片跟博乐驼绒藜（变型）很近似，但雌花苞片为淡绿色，分离部分远长于连合部分，而甚易区别，也仅见于叶城昆仑山。

Two new species of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) used as cobra-bite antidotes

Two new species of Curcuma, C. sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sudmoon and C. zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee with rhizomes traditionally used for many decades as cobra-bite antidotes are described and illustrated. Curcuma sattayasaii is similar to C. longa L., but differs in rhizome horizontally branching on ground; coma bracts pinkish-white or pinkish-pale green; corolla pale yellow with orange tip; labellum pale orange with an orange central band; anther crest very short, broadly ovate, wider than long. Curcuma zedoaroides is similar to C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, but differs in rhizome branching pattern; the protruding secondary rhizomes curved down; blades oblong to oblong-lanceolate; peduncle glabrous; fertile and coma bracts glabrous; corolla lobes pale yellow to white, lateral lobe ovate, dorsal lobe broadly ovate. The new taxa have been found in

Multifunctional Bracts in the Dove Tree Davidia involucrata (Nyssaceae:Cornales)

Although there has been much experimental work on floral traits that are under selection from mutualists and antagonists, selection by abiotic environmental factors on flowers has been largely ignored. Here we test whether pollen susceptibility to rain damage could have played a role in the evolution of the reproductive architecture of Davidia involucrata, an endemic in the mountains of western China. Flowers in this tree species lack a perianth and are arranged in capitula surrounded by large (up to 10 cm#5 cm) bracts that at anthesis turn from green to white, losing their photosynthetic capability. Flowers are nectarless, and pollen grains are presented on the recurved anther walls for 5–7 days. Flower visitors, and likely pollinators, were mainly pollen-collecting bees from the genera Apis, Xylocopa, Halictus, and Lasioglossum. Capitula with natural or white paper bracts attracted significantly more bees per hour than capitula that had their bracts removed or replaced by green paper. Experimental immersion of pollen grains in water resulted in rapid loss of viability, and capitula with bracts lost less pollen to rain than did capitula that had their bracts removed, suggesting that the bracts protect the pollen from rain damage as well as attracting pollinators.

The Genus Alchornea (Euphorbiaceae) in the Malay Archipelago and Thailand

The genus Alchornea in the Malay Archipelago (= Malesia) and Thailand comprises only five instead of eleven species as recognized by current literature. They can be divided into two groups. One group, section Cladodes, with only one variable, widespread species (India to Australia) has obovate leaves and lacks stipellae (A. rugosa, including A. pubescens and A. petalostyla). The other group, section Stipellaria, has ovate leaves and stipellae. In this group, A. tiliifolius (including A. villosa) and A. parviflora (including A. borneensis, possibly A. adenophylla, and what was known as A. trewioides in Thailand) are widespread species (India to West Malesia); Alchornea sicca (including the Indochinese A. coudercii) is found in the Philippines and Indochina, and A. rhodophylla is only present on Penang Island in Peninsular Malaysia. The main distinguishing characters can be found in the indumentum, shape of the leaves, stipellae, roughness of the ovaries and fruits, size of the bracts and pistillate sepals. Alchornea trewioides, formerly recorded for Thailand, extends only to S.E. China and N. Vietnam; it can be distinguished from the closely similar A. liukiuensis from Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands.

A New Species of Leandra (Melastomataceae) from Brazil

Abstract Leandra hermogenesii (section Oxymeris), a new endemic species of Melastomataceae from Sao Paulo, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The distinguishing characteristics of the species include its leaves, which are subcartaceous, ovate to broadly ovate, 5(–7)-plinerved, 5.6–9.6 cm wide, and have a rounded base, its smaller bracts, bracteoles, and glabrous petals , and its larger ovary. A discussion and an identification key to morphologically related species are also presented.

Mancha de mirotécio em algodoeiro causada por Myrothecium roridum

A mancha de mirotécio causada por Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr. foi observada em lavouras de algodão no sul do Maranhão, causando reduções de produtividade de até 60%. Os sintomas da doença são lesões necróticas, circulares, com estruturas salientes, os esporodóquios, de distribuição irregular. Foram observadas lesões nos pecíolos, brácteas, folhas e maçãs de algodoeiro cv. Deltapine Acala 90, Fibermax 966 e Sure Grow 821. O isolamento do fungo foi realizado em meio de cultura batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA). O teste de patogenicidade foi realizado em maçãs sadias, destacadas de algodoeiro cv. Fibermax 966, no estádio vegetativo R6, previamente desinfestadas. Foram testados 13 isolados de M. roridum, oito provenientes de algodão e cinco de soja. Avaliações das estruturas fúngicas foram realizadas com auxílio de microscópio óptico equipado com um micrômetro ocular. Os isolados causaram infecções em maçãs de algodão e destacou-se como mais agressivo o MA-75, proveniente de algodão, apresentando diâmetro médio de lesão de 1,3cm, aos sete DAI e 2,7cm aos 14 DAI. Todos os isolados formaram esporodóquios dispostos concenticamente em meio BDA. Os conídios são unicelulares, hialinos a oliváceos, abundantemente produzidos em massa verde-oliva a preta. Os conídios de isolados provenientes de algodão mediram, em média, 5,1µm x 1,5µm, e os obtidos de soja, 5,8µm x 1,5µm. Estes resultados relatam a ocorrência da mancha de mirotécio, causada por M. roridum, em lavouras comerciais de algodão no Brasil.

BORRERIA SANTACRUCIANA Y MITRACARPUS BICRUCIS (RUBIACEAE - SPERMACOCEAE), NUEVAS ESPECIES DE BOLIVIA

Bacigalupo, N. M. & Cabral, E. L. 2005. Borreria santacruciana and Mitracarpus bicrucis (Rubiaceae - Spermacoceae), new species from Bolivia. Darwiniana 43(1-4): 69-73. Borreria santacruciana and Mitracarpus bicrucis from Bolivia are described and illustrated. B. santacruciana is close to B. wunschmannii , but differs for having inconspicuous pubescence of apressed hairs, leaves 7-17 mm long, glomerules with an involucre of 2-4 bracts of 7-13 mm long. Mitracarpus bicrucis is enterely glabrous, notable for its stipular sheath with only one lacina and seeds with a cross-shaped furrow on both surfaces.

Glyphomitrium tortifolium, a new species of the Glyphomitriaceae (Musci)

Glyphomitrium tortifolium Y. Jia, M. Z. Wang Y. Liu, a new species of the Glyphomitriaceae from Mt. Jinfoshan, Chongqing, China, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to G. elatum Takaki in being large and having leaves contorted, perichaetial bracts long cuspidate, but differs in being larger and having leaves narrowly lanceolate, perichaetial bracts slightly concave at the base of cusp.

Anatomia de escapos, folhas e brácteas de Syngonanthus sect. Eulepis (Bong. ex Koern.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae)

Estudou-se a anatomia de escapos, folhas e brácteas de 24 espécimes de Syngonanthus sect. Eulepis, que ocorrem nos campos rupestres do Brasil. Os escapos apresentam número variado de costelas, epiderme unisseriada, com células de paredes totalmente espessadas; córtex com esclerênquima e parênquima clorofiliano alternados; endoderme contínua ou descontínua; periciclo estrelado; feixes vasculares colaterais; medula com células de paredes finas ou espessadas. As folhas e as brácteas apresentam epiderme com células de paredes total ou parcialmente espessadas, estômatos na face abaxial, margem com parênquima clorofiliano ou esclerênquima; mesofilo com hipoderme constituída de esclerênquima ou parênquima aqüífero, feixes vasculares colaterais envolvidos externamente pela endoderme e internamente pelo periciclo. Escapos, folhas e brácteas de Syngonanthus sect. Eulepis apresentam células com paredes espessadas e grande quantidade de esclerênquima, provavelmente como resposta adaptativa dessas plantas ao vento e à radiação excessiva comum nos campos rupestres. Epiderme com células de paredes espessadas, estômatos com câmara subestomática não especializada, presença de hipoderme, esclerênquima, e parênquima clorofiliano compacto, caracterizam anatomicamente escapos, folhas e brácteas de Syngonanthus sect. Eulepis. No geral, os caracteres anatômicos não são consistentes para separar os táxons dentro da seção.

AN ADDITIONAL SPECIES OF VILLARIA ROLFE (RUBIACEAE) FROM THE PHILIPPINES

MULYANINGSIH, TRI & RIDSDALE, COLIN ERNEST. 2004. An additional species of Villaria Rolfe (Rubiaceae) from the Philippines. Reinwardtia 12 (2): 195 – 197. A new combination of Villaria Rolfe (Rubiaceae) from the Philippines is described, based on Hypobathrum glomeratum (Bartl.) K. Schum. The character combinations of stipules, bracts, bracteoles, calyx, ovary and placenta seen in this taxon are not found in Hypobathrum but are known in Villaria.