Perianth Research Articles

DIFFERENCES IN FRAGRANCE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN FLOWER PARTS OF ROSA RUGOSA THUNB. (ROSACEAE)

ABSTRACT Fragrances (volatiles) from whole flowers, petals, sepals plus gynoecium, anthers, and pollen were collected from Rosa rugosa Thunb. by headspace adsorption methods and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Each flower part showed a distinctive volatile profile. Petal volatiles, dominated by terpenoid and benzenoid alcohols, contributed most to the whole-flower fragrance. Sepal odors contained mainly sesquiterpenes, together with several compounds found in the petals. The major volatiles in the androecium were more diverse and overall different from the perianth. Empty anthers shared a high proportion of their volatile profile with pollen. Pollen odor appeared to be self-contained, showing only minor adsorption of volatiles from sepals and petals. Compounds typical of the androecium were present as significant, albeit quantitatively small, components of the whole-flower fragrance, where they may well function as signals to pollen-seeking insects.

CHORIZANTHE APHANANTHA (POLYGONACEAE: ERIOGONOIDEAE), A NEW SERPENTINE-ENDEMIC SPECIES FROM THE SAN LUIS RANGE OF WESTERN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Chorizanthe aphanantha K.M.Nelson & D.J.Keil is described as a new species from serpentine soils in the Irish Hills portion of the San Luis Range of central-western San Luis Obispo County. It occurs in portions of San Luis Obispo's Irish Hills Natural Reserve, where it grows with several other rare, serpentine-endemic taxa. It is distinguished from C. breweri S.Watson, with which it co-occurs and may be confused (particularly as it ages), by its compact, rather than sprawling habit; the green rather than red color of its herbage at the time of flowering; its much smaller, white, monomorphic perianth lobes, rather than white to pink, dimorphic lobes; bracts with straight, ascending, rather than recurved spine tips; smaller and smooth rather than transversely corrugated mature involucres; and basal leaf blades that are glabrous to minutely strigose, thin, and ovate to elliptic (occasionally mucronate) with obscure veins, rather than thick, leathery, reniform, and apically notched to ±obcordate with pronounced veins. It differs from the recently described C. minutiflora R.Morgan, Steyer, & Reveal by its sparser and shorter pubescence, entire versus erose perianth lobes, nine rather than three stamens, ovate to elliptic rather than oblanceolate basal leaves, and flat rather than undulating leaf margins. It is distinguished from the morphologically similar C. procumbens Nutt. by its ovate to elliptic rather than oblong to oblanceolate leaf blades, its sparser and shorter pubescence, the presence of a narrow scarious margin on the involucral teeth, smaller flowers, and distinct rather than basally connate filaments. A key is provided that distinguishes C. aphanantha from other Chorizanthe species in the San Luis Range. It is currently known to grow in serpentine scrub and chaparral at elevations from 100 to 370 meters.

Floral development of Moraceae species with emphasis on the perianth and androecium

The mulberry and fig family (Moraceae) has tiny flowers with a single whorled or absent perianth and inner whorls with a reduced number of organs. Relevant questions about this reduced floral structure still remain unresolved. Thus, we studied the ontogenic processes that culminate in such a reduced flower, as well as the close relationship between the floral envelope and the androecium in Brosimum gaudichaudii, Castilla elastica, Clarisia ilicifolia, Maclura tinctoria and Morus nigra. Flower buds and flowers were processed for surface (scanning electron microscopy) and anatomical (light microscopy) analyses. The perianth consists of sepals, except the flowers of B. gaudichaudii and C. elastica (staminate), in which the perianth is lacking. The staminate flower of B. gaudichaudii exhibits a bracteole enveloping the stamens. In monochlamydeous flowers the order of sepal initiation is helical or asynchronous. No petals are initiated. The calyx displays different degrees of synorganization being united only basally or along its entire extension. The sepals can have tector and glandular trichomes or only tector trichomes. Laticifers, phenolic and crystalliferous idioblasts occur in the sepal mesophyll. Stamens initiate concomitant with the pistillode in B. gaudichaudii and after initiation of the pistillode in M. tinctoria and M. nigra. In C. ilicifolia there is no pistillode and the stamens initiate after the sepals. The stamens show variation in filament shape and connective structure. The filament is inflexed in M. tinctoria and M. nigra and straight in the other species, although these structures are anatomically similar. The connective is expanded (except in M. nigra and C. ilicifolia) and has phenolic idioblasts. We conclude that the tiny flowers of these species result of two distinct ontogenetic pathways: absence of organs from the inception and by abortion, mechanisms that act to decrease the number of floral whorls as well as the number of organs in each whorl.

Función de la corona en Passiflora caerulea (Passifloraceae) como atrayente de sus vectores de polinización.

Las flores de Passiflora caerulea L., como las de muchas otras especies zoófilas, ofrecen néctar como recompensa a sus agentes de polinización a modo de atrayente primario. Esta especie ha desarrollado estímulos, o atrayentes secundarios, que anuncian la presencia de los primarios y que garantizan las visitas repetidas de los vectores de polinización optimizando su reproducción. En P. caerulea, la corona, una estructura característica de la familia, ha sido citada como estructura productora de aromas atrayentes y, en conjunto con otras piezas florales, estaría encargada de producir estímulos visuales y olfativos sobre sus polinizadores. Mediante experimentos de preferencia, anulando una o ambas funciones, se determinó la importancia de cada una de ellas. La supresión de las funciones, tanto de manera individual como en conjunto, produjo una disminución significativa en la cantidad de visitas con respecto a los controles. De esta manera, se verificó tanto la importancia de la función visual como odorífera, aunque se registró mayor efectividad de esta última en cuanto a la frecuencia de visitas. Adicionalmente, se identificaron los compuestos volátiles producidos por las flores, algunos de los cuales fueron, sorprendentemente, producidos por el perianto y no por la corona como se esperaba.

Comparative flower development ofJuglans regia,Cyclocarya paliurusandEngelhardia spicata: homology of floral envelopes in Juglandaceae

Homology among reproductive structures is pivotal for understanding angiosperm evolution. In Juglandaceae, homologies of floral parts have been disputed due to morphological variability in flowers. Previous interpretations were based mainly on mature flowers and lacked developmental studies. We investigated the unisexual flower development of Juglans regia, Cyclocarya paliurus and Engelhardia spicata using scanning electron microscopy. The ‘floral envelope’ of staminate flowers in J. regia and C. paliurus consists of a bract and several tepals. Six tepals are initiated in a whorled pattern in J. regia, whereas four to six tepals are arranged in a variable pattern in C. paliurus. The three-lobed bract of E. spicata results from the cleavage of an entire bract, rather than adnation of the bract and its bracteoles. Pistillate flowers of J. regia and C. paliurus, subtended by a bract and a horseshoe-shaped bracteole, usually have four tepals initiating simultaneously in one whorl. The organogenesis patterns of the ‘floral envelope’ and stamens in staminate flowers show greater diversity, indicating different degrees of reduction among genera. Our floral developmental data support the division of Juglandaceae into two subfamilies and then further into three tribes.

A New Species ofZephyranthes(Amaryllidaceae) from Mexico

The new species Zephyranthes stellatorosea G. Lom. Sm., Spurrier, Flagg & Espejo (Amaryllidaceae) is described from Puebla and Hidalgo, Mexico, and figures are included. This species has affinities with Z. lindleyana Herb. and Z. macrosiphon Baker; however, Z. stellatorosea is distinguished by its inner perianth with a basal white-starred throat, its laterally compressed trilocular capsule lobes, and narrower leaves.

Polygonum aviculare (Polygonaceae) subspecies, new records for the Flora of Iran

Polygonum aviculare is a widely distributed annual herb. Number of segregates from this highly variable taxon has been described as independent species or different subspecies on the basis of habit, heterophyllous and homophyllous leaves and the length of perianth tube. Most proposed subspecies are partially sympatric and their distributions have been affected greatly by humans. Our studies show that P. aviculare has two subspecies in Iran. These infra-specific taxa can be differentiated by length of perianth tube and some features of outer tepals.

HETEROCARPY AND ITS ONTOGENY IN AELLENIA AUTRANI (POST) ZOH. LIGHT- AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDY

Abstract Differences between the heterocarpous diaspores of Aellenia autrani (Post) Zoh., as well as their ontogeny, are described. The diaspores differ in their location on the plant, in the size, thickness and structure of the fibres of their winged perianths, in the structure of fibres of the pericarp, in cell wall thickness in the testa, in the ultrastructure of the chloroplasts and consistency and density of aleurone grains of the embryo.

COLCHICUM FEINBRUNIAE SP. NOV. AND ALLIED SPECIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

ABSTRACT Colchicum feinbruniae is described as new to science. The new species, an endemic to the Syro-Palestinian phytogeographical region, is probably related to C. hierosolymitanum and C. polyphyllum but is clearly distinguished by its distinctly tessellated perianth and purple anthers. The chromosome number is 2n = 22. Further differences from these and other taxa in the Middle East are discussed. Synonym lists, typifications, chromosome numbers, and notes on distribution and habitat are provided for the whole group of species. Distribution of ploidy levels within the area is discussed, with special reference to the comparatively high frequencies of diploidy in SW Asian countries. C.jordanicolum is excluded from the genus.

Gynoecium morphology and vascular anatomy in Gladiolus ×hybridus C. Morren hort. (Iridaceae Juss.)

Gynoecium of Gladiolus ×hybridus C. Morren hort. is eusyncarpous, with synascidiate, symlicate, hemisymlicate and asymplicate vertical zones. Ovules lie in the symlicate and hemisymlicate zones, style and stigma composed of asymplicate zone. Septal nectary is placed in the upper part of symlicate zone and in the hemisymlicate zone. Carpel trace is three-bundled. Dorsal carpel bundles are integrated with the vascular strands of perianth and androecium.

Suaeda edulis (Chenopodiaceae), una nueva especie de lagos salinos del centro de México

Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie de Suaeda sect. Brezia, Suaeda edulis Flores Olv. & Noguez. La especie se distribuye en lagos salinos de Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Estado de México, Distrito Federal, Tlaxcala y Puebla. Suaeda edulis fue confundida con S. nigra (= S. torreyana ) y con S. mexicana , pero S. edulis es similar a S. calceoliformis y se caracteriza por ser una hierba anual, erecta a ascendente, con fl ores zigomorfas y uno a tres segmentos del perianto con alargamientos apicales como cornículos y, en fruto, con alas transversales en la base evidentemente nervados. Las fl ores tienen 2-3 estambres y están dispuestas en glomérulos axilares, de 1 a 5 fl ores, en toda la planta, algunas veces arregladas en espigas terminales y axilares; las semillas son de 0.9-1.6 mm de diámetro y el número cromosómico es de 2n = 54. Es comestible y se recolecta de poblaciones silvestres o bajo cultivo en la zona agrícola del Distrito Federal en donde se le llama “romerito”.

德国鸢尾‘常春黄’花芽分化的形态观察及两种代谢产物的动态变化

鸢尾是世界著名观赏花卉,为研究其花芽分化期的形态和生理指标变化情况,我们以德国鸢尾两季花品种‘常春黄’（Irisgermanica cv.Lovely Again）为材料,运用扫描电镜（SEM）观察了德国鸢尾‘常春黄’的花芽分化过程。结果表明：整个形态分化过程可分为6个阶段：花序原基分化期、外轮花被分化期、雄蕊分化期、内轮花被分化期、雌蕊分化期、髯毛形成期。结合上述形态分化过程,分别取其二次花花芽分化时期的顶芽、根茎和叶片部位,以蒽酮比色法测定可溶性糖,以考马斯亮蓝G-250法测定蛋白质含量。结果表明：可溶性糖在花序原基分化的初始阶段含量最高,且在3个部位的含量大小关系始终是：根茎（叶片（顶芽;蛋白质含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,蛋白质含量的峰值出现于花序伸展初期。

A hypothesis on cupule evolution and the evidence from molecular phylogenies and fossils

The cupule is the most distinguishable character of the Fagaceae and has been the focus of much research. Many hypotheses have been proposed for the origin, evolution and morphological features of the cupule. These were based on different types of evidence, but here we used molecular phylogenetic and fossil evidence. Our results supported the view that cupule valves originated from the outermost branches of the dichasium, and that cupules of the Fagaceae were distinct from other cupule-like organs with perianth origins in Fagales. There were three models of cupule evolution, each characterized by distinct evolutionary tendencies, single, dual and multi-directional respectively. Based on these models, we reconstructed the cupule's evolution using the consensus of four recent molecular phylogenies from different DNA fragments. Our results indicated that cupules had a monophyletic origin and that the Fagus cupule, with four cupule valves enclosing two triangular acorns, represented the ancestral type, the Trigonobalanus cupule was the inferior-ancestral type, and the Chrysolepis cupule which possesses inner valves, shared a common ancestor with other roundish cupules. Our conclusions are also unequivocally supported by fossil evidence, with affinity of extant homologous cupule. The consensus from four molecular phylogenetic hypotheses along with the age of fossil cupules that are similar to extant Fagaceae taxa indicate that the cupule evolved in multi-directions, and that the small triangular, narrow winged fruits surrounded by a dehiscent cupule was plesiomorphy, and that a bigger roundish fruit surrounded by an indehiscent cupule was apomorphy. All these results provide the new evidence to explore evolution and phylogeny of Fagaceae.

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.

Nardia macroperiantha (Jungermanniaceae, Hepaticae), a new species from Guizhou, China

Nardia macroperiantha Y.-H. Wu & C. Gao is described and illustrated as a new species based on a specimen collected from Guizhou, China. The new species is characterized by its large and well-developed perianth.

Flower Structure and Reproductive Biology of Bougainvillea stipitata (Nyctaginaceae)

Abstract: Bougainvillea stipitata displays inflorescences with three pendant greenish flowers. Flowers open at sunset and last five days. Flower perianth is constricted in the middle and forms a tube that ends in five lobes. Fragrance is emitted by the papillae located on the lobe margins of the perianth. The nectary is located at the base of the staminal tube. It secretes fructose‐dominant nectar with amino acids, phenols and reduced acids. Nectar secretion is continuous during flower lifetime and the flowers do not recover the reward. Mainly moths visit flowers. Pollen load on stigmas indicates that most flowers received more than 50 pollen grains, which are deposited by pollinators within the first two days of the flower life. Although the low natural fruit set of this self‐incompatible species may be due to intraplant pollen flow, pollinators play an essential role for B. stipitata fruit production.

Thismia taiwanensis sp. nov. (Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae): First Record of the Tribe in China

A new holomycotrophic species, Thismia taiwanensis (Burmanniaceae), is described and illustrated from Kaohsiung County, south-central Taiwan. It most closely resembles the Japanese species T. abei and T. tuberculata, but is distinct as the flowers are subsessile, the outer surface of the perianth tube is smooth, the outer tepals bear very short solitary appendages, and the inner tepals bear longer solitary appendages. This represents the first record of both Thismia and Burmanniaceae tribe Thismieae in China. The genus Thismia Griff. (Burmanniaceae) consists of ca. 35 species of small holomycotrophic herbs, typ- ically growing amongst leaf litter on the forest floor. The only comprehensive taxonomic monograph of the genus was published by Jonker (1938), who recognized 23 species in Thismia itself, as well as several other genera that have been subsequently reduced to syn- onymy with it, viz. Glaziocharis Taub. ex Warm. (one species), Triscyphus Taub. ex Warm. (one species), Geomitra Becc. (one species), and Scaphiophora Schltr. (two species). Jonker (1938) proposed a supraspecific classification system for Thismia, with five sections. This classifica- tion was necessarily reassessed following the accep- tance of a broader generic concept for Thismia: Hatu- sima (1976), for example, established Thismia sect. Gla- ziocharis (Taub. ex Warm.) Hatusima following the re- duction of Glaziocharis into synonymy with Thismia. Maas et al. (1986) recently proposed a comprehensive subgeneric and sectional classification for the neotrop- ical members of the genus, with several new taxa that were previously recognized as distinct genera. Although Thismia has an essentially pantropical distribution, several species have been described from warm temperate regions. In Asia, the genus extends northwards into southern Japan: T. abei (Akasawa) Ha- tusima (syn. Glaziocharis abei Akasawa) has been re- corded from Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu (Akasawa 1950; Shin 1974, as ''Glaziocharis sp.''; Matsumoto and Yamada 1994), and T. tuberculata Hatusima has been recorded from Kyushu (Shin 1974; Hatusima 1976). A new species of Thismia was recently collected in Kaohsiung County in south-central Taiwan; this rep- resents the first record of the genus in China. The spe- cies is formally named and described here as T. tai- wanensis S.-Z. Yang, R. M. K. Saunders & C.-J. Hsu. T

Obdiplostemonie in der Gattung Allium L.

Summary Early floral organogenesis has been investigated in a number of Allium species from various subgenera and sections (A. ramosum, A. angulosum, A. galanthum, A. sphaerocephalon, A. oreophilum, A. cernuum, A. moly). Comparative studies and earlier results show a considerable uniform pattern of the sequence of floral organ inception in the genus as a whole. Fusion of extended filament bases and shifting outwards of the originally inner stamina has been observed in Allium oreophilum after stamina differentiation only. A disturbance of alternation in the androeceum has been detected in Allium kujukense, A. umbilicatum, and A. ferganicum as well. Those configurations and that of Trillium apetalon can be described by the term “obdiplostemony”, applied in a broad sense also to flowers with a perianth, not differentiated into calyx and corolla. According to this definition, mature flowers with two stamen whorls are obdiplostemoneous in the case of an interrupted alternation between androeceum and perianth, with stamina of the outer stamen whorl opposite the parts of the inner whorl of the floral envelope and/or stamina of the inner stamen whorl opposite the parts of the outer whorl of the floral envelope. In the genus Allium obdiplostemony occurs in several subgenera and sections of different flower traits. In the case of Allium oreophilum and A. kujukense however, a special type of obdiplostemony suggests a close relationship.

Dolichotetranychus cocos n. sp. from the perianth of coconuts in Sri Lanka (acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Dolichotetranychus cocos n.sp. (Tenuipalpidae) found beneath the perianth of coconuts in Sri Lanka is described and illustrated.

Sisyrinchium arguellesiae (Iridaceae, Sisyrinchieae) una nueva especie del estado de Querétaro

Se describe e ilustra Sisyrinchium arguellesiae, nueva especie proveniente del estado de Querétaro, México, que se caracteriza por la presencia de flores biduas, y tépalos que presentan en la base una mancha blanco-translúcida que en el conjunto del perianto da la apariencia de un "ojo" en el centro del mismo.