Epiphytic Habit Research Articles

Contribución del epifitismo accidental a la distribución de especies de plantas vasculares en un bosque templado lluvioso

ABSTRACT In a Valdivian forest stand, we identified vascular plant species occurring as accidental epiphytes, and we determined the contribution of accidental epiphytism on their local abundance. Four species were found as accidental epiphytes, being the fern Blechnum mochaenum the species showing the higher abundance proportion as accidental epiphyte (40 %). Unexpectedly, individuals of this species occurring as accidental epiphytes did not differ in functional traits related to nutrient availability (LMA-leaf mass ratio- and leaf C/N ratio) from those that usually occur on the forest ground. As a shade tolerant and slow growing species, B. mochaenum apparently is not affected by the environmental restrictions of the epiphytic habitat.

Flowering phenology of Catopsis compacta (Bromeliaceae), a dioecious epiphyte in an oak forest

Background: Knowledge of the flowering phenology of species with an epiphytic habit and a dioecious sexual system is scarce.
 Questions: We studied the flowering phenology of a population of the dioecious epiphytic bromeliad, Catopsis compacta , in an oak forest in Oaxaca, Mexico, to answer the following questions: 1) what type of flowering period is exhibited by this population of C. compacta ? 2) what is the degree of synchrony between the male and female flowering periods? and 3) what is the flowering synchrony index of the population?
 Methods: In February 2006, in a 20 m × 20 m plot, we marked and measured 151 individuals of C. compacta ? 10 cm in height (minimum reproductive size). We recorded the number of flowers and fruits present in each individual every month for one year.
 Results: Our results showed that the flowering period in both sexes lasted for three months (May–July). Only 23 marked individuals flowered (15.23 %): of these 12 (52.17 %) were female and 11 (47.83 %) were male. The index of synchrony between females and males was 0.958 ± 0.013 and the flowering synchrony index of the population was 0.833 ± 0.189.
 Conclusions: The high flowering synchrony between the sexes, together with a flowering season that coincided with the period of highest rainfall when the number of arthropods (potential pollinators) is the highest, could favor breeding and, therefore, reproductive success.

The Epiphytic Lichenized Fungi in Armenia: Diversity and Conservation

A total of 230 taxa of lichenized fungi are reported from epiphytic habitats in Armenia based on field studies from 2011 to 2015 and evaluation of the available literature. For each species, notes on taxonomy, chemistry, ecology, and local, regional and world distribution are presented, as well as presence in the protected areas of the country. An identification key for all species is added. Of the total, 219 are specialized epiphytes, rarely found on other substrates, while 11 species occur only incidentally on bark and more usually on rock. The epiphytic lichenized fungi of Armenia belong to 13 orders, 34 families and 88 genera. The most species-rich higher taxa are Lecanorales (Parmeliaceae, Physciaceae, Teloschistaceae), Arthoniales, Peltigerales and Pertusariales. Lecanora, Usnea and Phaeophyscia are the most species-rich genera. The following 28 taxa are new records for Armenia: Arthonia atra, Bacidia biatorina, Bacidina adastra, Biatora longispora, Bryoria fuscescens, Bryostigma muscigenum, Buellia erubescens, Candelariella efflorescens, Flavoparmelia soredians, Hypocenomyce scalaris, Lecidella cf. pulveracea, Lepraria jackii, Lepraria leuckertiana, Leptogium cyanescens, Ochrolechia pallescens, Pertusaria slesvicensis, Phaeophyscia endophoenicea, Phlyctis agelaea, Phlyctis argena, Placynthiella icmalea, Pyrrhospora quernea, Ramalina panizzei, Rinodina griseosoralifera, Rinodina polysporoides, Strigula stigmatella, Varicellaria hemisphaerica. Four genera are for the first time reported for the country, Hypocenomyce, Phlyctis, Pyrrhospora and Strigula. 188 species (82% of the epiphytic lichen mycobiota) were found in the Specially Protected Nature Areas of Armenia. The conservation status of 74 species has been evaluated following the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria. Among them we assessed 9 taxa as Critically Endangered, 5 taxa as Endangered, 2 taxa as Vulnerable, 4 taxa as Data Deficient and 54 taxa as Least Concern. Epiphytic lichens reported from Armenia showed predominantly holarctic distributional patterns. 187 species were found in the temperate deciduous and mixed forests, which dominate in Northern and Central Armenia, and 56 species in the open arid woodlands of Southern Armenia.

Diversity and Distribution of liverworts across habitats and altitudinal gradient at Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (India)

The present study elucidates the distribution of liverworts (Marchantiophyta) in various habitats and across the altitudinal gradients at Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR), central India. The liverwort diversity was assessed in selected habitats at each site viz. soil, wet rocks, dry rocks, soil covered rocks, stony walls (terricolous habitats) and epiphytic habitat. Three altitudinal gradients were considered for distributional assessment. In all, 41 liverworts belonging to 21 genera and 15 families were encountered. Among the three altitudinal zones, 17 taxa were found at lower altitudinal gradient (400-800 m) whereas 12 liverworts were found at the higher altitudinal gradient (1001-1400 m). Maximum taxa (33) were present at the middle altitudinal zone (801- 1000 m). The sites at middle altitudes furnished amicable conditions for the growth of bryophytes. In general, rocks, both moist and dry formed the most pertinent habitat for the liverworts. Evidently, the middle altitudinal gradient emerged as the altitudinal range harbouring maximum liverworts.

Evolution of a CAM anatomy predates the origins of Crassulacean acid metabolism in the Agavoideae (Asparagaceae)

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a modified form of photosynthesis that has arisen independently at least 35 times in flowering plants. The occurrence of CAM is often correlated with shifts to arid, semiarid, or epiphytic habits, as well as transitions in leaf morphology (e.g. increased leaf thickness) and anatomy (e.g. increased cell size and packing). We assess shifts between C3 and CAM photosynthesis in the subfamily Agavoideae (Asparagaceae) through phylogenetic analysis of targeted loci captured from the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of over 60 species. Carbon isotope data was used as a proxy for mode of photosynthesis in extant species and ancestral states were estimated on the phylogeny. Ancestral character state mapping suggests three independent origins of CAM in the Agavoideae. CAM species differ from C3 species in climate space and are found to have thicker leaves with densely packed cells. C3 ancestors of CAM species show a predisposition toward CAM-like morphology. Leaf characteristics in the ancestral C3 species may have enabled the repeated evolution of CAM in the Agavoideae subfamily. Anatomical changes, including a tendency toward 3D venation, may have initially arisen in C3 ancestors in response to aridity as a way to increase leaf succulence for water storage.

Trade-off between soluble protein production and nutritional storage in Bromeliaceae.

Bromeliads are able to occupy some of the most nutrient-poor environments especially because they possess absorptive leaf trichomes, leaves organized in rosettes, distinct photosynthetic pathways [C3, Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or facultative C3-CAM], and may present an epiphytic habit. The more derived features related to these traits are described for the Tillandsioideae subfamily. In this context, the aims of this study were to evaluate how terrestrial predators contribute to the nutrition and performance of bromeliad species, subfamilies and ecophysiological types, whether these species differ in their ecophysiological traits and whether the physiological outcomes are consistent among subfamilies and types (e.g. presence/absence of tank, soil/tank/atmosphere source of nutrients, trichomes/roots access to nutrients). Isotopic (15N-enriched predator faeces) and physiological methods (analyses of plant protein, amino acids, growth, leaf mass per area and total N incorporated) in greenhouse experiments were used to investigate the ecophysiological contrasts between Tillandsioideae and Bromelioideae, and among ecophysiological types when a predatory anuran contributes to their nutrition. It was observed that Bromelioideae had higher concentrations of soluble protein and only one species grew more (Ananas bracteatus), while Tillandsioideae showed higher concentrations of total amino acids, asparagine and did not grow. The ecophysiological types that showed similar protein contents also had similar growth. Additionally, an ordination analysis showed that the subfamilies and ecophysiological types were discrepant considering the results of the total nitrogen incorporated from predators, soluble protein and asparagine concentrations, relative growth rate and leaf mass per area. Bromeliad subfamilies showed a trade-off between two strategies: Tillandsioideae stored nitrogen into amino acids possibly for transamination reactions during nutritional stress and did not grow, whereas Bromelioideae used nitrogen for soluble protein production for immediate utilization, possibly for fast growth. These results highlight that Bromeliaceae evolution may be directly associated with the ability to stock nutrients.

Macrolichen diversity as an indicator of stand age and ecosystem resilience along a precipitation gradient in humid forests of inland British Columbia, Canada

The distributional ecology of 87 macrolichens is reported from 14 unmanaged mid-seral and old forest stands along a precipitation gradient in south-central British Columbia. We used a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics to investigate the role of forest structure and stand age in the distribution of epiphytic macrolichens in interior cedar-hemlock forests. Old forests support a higher number of species; although mean species richness is not significantly different between the two age classes. Terricolous and epixylic community structure is correlated with stand age and log characteristics, but the epiphtytic community is not. Epiphytic community structure is strongly associated with precipitation in the old stands, but not in the mid-seral stands. Old forests at the wetter end of the precipitation gradient contained several old-growth associated species, all of which are hygrophytic. Most epiphytic macrolichens associated with old forests are not dependent on specific structural attributes. However, western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) harbors the greatest number of arboreal macrolichen species by far in these unmanaged stands and should, therefore, be considered a key indicator in managed forests. Our study suggests that most macrolichen species found in old forests can also occur in 70- to 165-year-old forests dating from stand-replacing fires. Old forests, however, clearly provide important habitat for oceanic epiphytes at the edge of their ecological range in the interior of British Columbia. Our findings illustrate that the macrolichen flora in wet toe-slope stands in humid inland British Columbia has a high level of resilience following disturbance under natural succession conditions. It also underlines the point that some species, like Lobaria pulmonaria, are good indicators of old-growth forests in certain regions but not in others, suggesting a careful use of the term old-growth dependence.

Sorbus prunifolia (Rosaceae), a new species from Yunnan Province, China<!--EndFragment-->

Sorbus prunifolia W. B. Liao & H. J. Jing (Rosaceae), a new species of Sorbus sect. Micromeles from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. The new species is closely related to S. aronioides Rehder but can be distinguished by the epiphytic habit; smaller leaves (2.5(3)–5 × 1–2 vs. 6–8 × 2.5–5 cm) that are ovate-lanceolate, oblong-elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate with distinctly rusty-brownish tomentose along veins when young; gradually glabrescent, densely brownish hairy rachis and pedicels when young; sparsely brownish hairy hypanthium and sepals; smaller inflorescence (2–3.5 vs. 3.5–5 cm in diam.); fewer lateral veins (6–8 vs. 7–10 pairs); shorter petioles (3–6 vs. 5–10 mm) and styles (2 vs. 2 or 3, rarely 4); and subglobose pomes with small lenticels (vs. ovoid, usually without lenticels).

New species of Anthurium (Araceae) from Chucantí Nature Reserve, eastern Panama

In the present paper we describe two new endemic species of Anthurium, discovered during field trips to study the Araceae flora of the Chucantí Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Chucantí) located in the province of Darién, Panama. Anthurium annularum sp. nov., a member of section Xialophyllium, is principally characterized by its hemiepiphytic climbing habit, stems with ring-shaped nodes with short internodes alternating with much longer internodes, a yellow-green spadix and pale green globose berries which are nearly translucent toward the base. A. chucantiense sp. nov., a member of section Polyneurium, is characterized by its epiphytic habit, short internodes at stem apex, terete petioles, blades with obscure primary lateral veins, greenish to pale orange spadix and narrowly ovoid, and bluntly pointed red-orange berries.

Vittaria appalachiana continues to provide insight into the biology of ferns: A commentary on two studies recently published in American Journal of Botany.

Vittaria appalachiana continues to provide insight into the biology of ferns: A commentary on two studies recently published in American Journal of Botany.

Contrasting temporal variation in habitat complexity and species abundance distributions in four kelp forest strata

In aquatic environments, habitat complexity influences community species composition at a local scale by partitioning physical niches, mediating water motion and retaining organic matter. Stratified into several microhabitats, kelp forests represent one of the most complex biotopes in coastal waters. These microhabitats are generally made of biogenic structures characterised by species-specific life cycles and their complexity is expected to change over time. In a Laminaria hyperborea forest near Roscoff (Brittany, France), we tested whether temporal changes differed among strata (lamina, stipe, holdfast and rock) in terms of habitat complexity, richness and species abundance distributions. At the scale of the study, the epiphytic habitat was relatively stable over four sampling dates, whereas epilithic structures of the understorey appeared particularly unstable in terms of habitat size and distribution among morpho-functional groups of habitat-formers. Unlike sessile species, mobile fauna experienced substantial temporal changes in richness and abundance distribution in all microhabitats studied. Although mobile fauna distribution varies in part with habitat complexity, additional factors likely come into play such as seasonal and stochastic variation in direct and indirect food resources.

Leaf Blade Anatomy of Philippine Medinilla Gaudich. Species in Relation to their Epiphytic Habit

Leaf anatomy of four epiphytic species of Philippine Medinilla , namely, M. magnifica Lindl., M. miniata Merr., M. pendula Merr., and M. teysmannii Miq., was characterized by observation of leaf cross sections prepared through paraffin method. Similarities among the four species revealed by this study include thick hypodermis below the upper epidermis, palisade mesophyll comprising one layer of elongated lignified parenchyma cells, spongy mesophyll with scarce air spaces, and polocytic stomates present only in the lower epidermis. These features aid in water conservation which is highly crucial among epiphytes. Presence of druse crystals in all four species was observed. This feature functions for structural support, defense against herbivory, calcium storage, and increasing photosynthetic efficiency. In hypodermis, number of cell layers, cell shape, and relative thickness vary among the four species in this study. The spongy mesophyll of the four species differ in number of cell layers. Because these variations can differentiate these species from one another, they are deemed to be useful in taxonomy. This study shows that anatomical features of the Medinilla species used in this study are related to their epiphytic nature and their occurrence in the forest understory. Keywords: Medinilla , epiphyte, sclerified mesophyll, hypodermis, druse, polocytic stomates

Achnanthidium petuniabuktianum sp. nov. (Achnanthidiaceae, Bacillariophyta), a new representative of the A. pyrenaicum group from Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, High Arctic)

During a survey of the freshwater littoral diatom flora from lakes and ponds in the region of Petuniabukta on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, High Arctic region), a new Achnanthidium species, A. petuniabuktianum sp. nov., has been recorded. Achnanthidium petuniabuktianum is a new representative of the A. pyrenaicum group as evidenced by its curved distal raphe fissures. The present paper describes in detail the morphology of A. petuniabuktianum based on light and scanning electron microscopy. The new taxon is characterized in having linear valves with parallel margins and broadly rounded, never protracted apices and a characteristic—in light microscopy hardly discernible—striation pattern consisting of very short striae composed of one or two small, always slit-like areolae. Based on current results, Achnanthidium petuniabuktianum is a benthic taxon occurring in epilithic and epiphytic habitats in the littoral zones of freshwater lakes and ponds.

Orchid phylogenomics and multiple drivers of their extraordinary diversification.

Orchids are the most diverse family of angiosperms, with over 25 000 species,more than mammals, birds and reptiles combined. Tests of hypotheses to account for such diversity have been stymied by the lack of a fully resolved broad-scale phylogeny. Here,we provide such a phylogeny, based on 75 chloroplast genes for 39 species representing all orchid subfamilies and 16 of 17 tribes, time-calibrated against 17 angiosperm fossils. Asupermatrix analysis places an additional 144 species based on three plastid genes. Orchids appear to have arisen roughly 112 million years ago (Mya); the subfamilies Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae diverged from each other at the end of the Cretaceous; and the eight tribes and three previously unplaced subtribes of the upper epidendroids diverged rapidly from each other between 37.9 and 30.8 Mya. Orchids appear to have undergone one significant acceleration of net species diversification in the orchidoids, and two accelerations and one deceleration in the upper epidendroids. Consistent with theory, such accelerations were correlated with the evolution of pollinia, the epiphytic habit, CAM photosynthesis, tropical distribution (especially in extensive cordilleras),and pollination via Lepidoptera or euglossine bees. Deceit pollination appears to have elevated the number of orchid species by one-half but not via acceleration of the rate of net diversification. The highest rate of net species diversification within the orchids (0.382 sp sp(-1) My(-1)) is 6.8 times that at the Asparagales crown.

Taxonomy of Sinningia Nees (Gesneriaceae) in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

The genus Sinningia belongs to the Neotropical tribe Gesnerieae, subtribe Ligeriinae, presently consisting of only three genera, Paliavana, Sinnigia and Vanhouttea. These genera were separated from a larger concept of tribe Gloxinieae based on phylogenetic studies with molecular data. In Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, 12 species and one natural hybrid of Sinningiahave been recorded. Species of Sinningia in this area are erect or ascending herbs or subshrubs arising from underground or partially exposed tubers. They grow in very distinct ecological conditions, from water-saturated marshes to dry grasslands or shrublands, but most often in rupicolous or epiphytic habitats commonly associated with forest environments. In this review we provide an identification key to the species level and morphological descriptions and illustrations, comments on taxonomic aspects, distributional maps and IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria for all twelve species. Additionally, we designate lectotypes for S. allagophylla and S. sellovii and consider the recently described S. lutea as a synonym of the highly variable S. allagophylla.

Two new species of Anthurium section Xialophyllium (Araceae) from Panama

Two new species of Anthurium section Xialophyllium from Panama are described here. Both species have close affinities with Anthurium microspadix, A. davidsoniae and A. myosuroides. Anthurium monteazulense sp. nov., known only from Chiriquí Province, is characterized by its epiphytic habit, internodes somewhat longer than broad, loosely intact cataphylls, leaf blades subcordate, bullate, ovate with two pairs of basal veins and short-stipitate green to greenish yellow cylindroid spadix. The other species, Anthurium batistae sp. nov., known only from Veraguas Province, is characterized by its terrestrial habit, elongate internodes, deciduous cataphylls, leaf blades rounded at base, ovate with one pair of basal veins and prominently stipitate purplish red cylindroid spadix.

Primer registro de la diatomea Chrysanthemodiscus floriatus Mann 1925, (Chrysanthemodiscaceae) en las costas del Caribe colombiano

From the observation of micropreparations of diatoms of epiphytic habits, deposited as reference material in the collection of macroalgae Germán Bula-Meyer, from the Centro de Colecciones Biológicas de Universidad del Magdalena, we obtained the first record of the benthic diatom Chrisanthemodiscus floriatus Mann 1925, (Chrysanthemodiscaceae), to the Colombian Caribbean, in the Bay of Cinto in the Tayrona National Park , Magdalena-Colombia; its distribution known so far was in the northern hemisphere between 5 and 30°

Comparative floral micromorphology and anatomy of species ofBulbophyllumsectionNapelli(Orchidaceae), a Neotropical section widely distributed in forest habitats

Bulbophyllum section Napelli, as recently circumscribed based on molecular analyses, comprises 12 species. These occur as epiphytes in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest and in gallery forests in the cerrado vegetation, and thus differ from other Neotropical sections of Bulbophyllum, which are more variable in habit and habitat. To identify diagnostic characteristics that are representative of this section and to confirm whether there are characteristics that are related to their habit and habitat, their floral micromorphology and anatomy were studied using conventional techniques. Bulbophyllum section Napelli is characterized by sepals with sunken glandular trichomes and stomata on the abaxial surface, reduced petals with one vascular bundle (sometimes lacking), an entire labellum with a secretory sulcus on the adaxial surface and a keel with stomata or glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface, two pollinia, and crystalliferous idioblasts in all floral parts. Our data enable us to distinguish between species and show congruence with the present circumscription of B. section Napelli. The labellar epidermal surface of three closely-related species was unusual in its possession of unicellular trichomes and these appear to function as osmophores. A relationship between striate surfaces, iridescence and pollinator attraction related to the epiphytic habit and forest habitat is proposed. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177, 378–394.

Use of anatomical root markers for species identification in Catasetum (Orchidaceae) at the Portal da Amazônia region, MT, Brazil

Orchidaceae is one of the largest botanical families, with approximately 780 genera. Among the genera of this family, Catasetum currently comprises 166 species. The aim of this study was to characterize the root anatomy of eight Catasetum species, verifying adaptations related to epiphytic habit and looking for features that could contribute to the vegetative identification of such species. The species studied were collected at the Portal da Amazônia region, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The roots were fixed in FAA 50, cut freehand, and stained with astra blue/fuchsin. Illustrations were obtained with a digital camera mounted on a photomicroscope. The roots of examined species shared most of the anatomical characteristics observed in other species of the Catasetum genus, and many of them have adaptations to the epiphytic habit, such as presence of secondary thickening in the velamen cell walls, exodermis, cortex, and medulla. Some specific features were recognized as having taxonomic application, such as composition of the thickening of velamen cell walls, ornamentation of absorbent root-hair walls, presence of tilosomes, composition and thickening of the cortical cell walls, presence of mycorrhizae, endodermal cell wall thickening, the number of protoxylem poles, and composition and thickening of the central area of the vascular cylinder. These traits are important anatomical markers to separate the species within the genus and to generate a dichotomous identification key for Catasetum. Thus, providing a useful tool for taxonomists of this group

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) and Dark Septate Endophyte (DSE) Fungal Association in Lycophytes and Ferns of the Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats, Southern India

We examined the extent and type of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungal associations in three lycophyte and 44 fern species collected from three different sites in the Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats, southern India. Of the 47 plant taxa (belonging to 21 families and 33 genera) examined, 46 had AM fungal and 33 had DSE fungal associations. But, fungal structures were absent in the aquatic fern Azolla pinnata (Azollaceae). This is the first report of AM and DSE fungal status for 16 and 28 species, respectively. Among terrestrial lycophytes and ferns, 26 species had dual association of both AM and DSE fungi, whereas 11 species had only AM fungal association. Vittaria elongata from epiphytic habitats had dual association of AM and DSE fungi. Likewise, Cheilanthes tenuifolia (saxicolous or terrestrial), Cheilanthes opposita, Lepisorus nudus, Pyrrosia lanceolata (terrestrial or epiphytic), and Asplenium lanceolatum (saxicolous or epiphytic) examined from different sites or habitats also had dual association of AM and DSE fungi. Seventy two percent of the mycorrhizal lycophytes and ferns had intermediate-type AM and 15 percent had both Paris- and intermediate-types at different sites. Significant variations in AM fungal structures were evident in 16 ferns occurring in two or more sites. Nine AM fungal spore morphotypes belonging to Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Glomus, Gigaspora, and Sclerocystis were found to be associated with lycophytes and ferns.