Shady Places Research Articles

ФИННО-ПЕРМСКИЕ ФИТОНИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПОРТРЕТЫ ЗВЕЗДЧАТКА СРЕДНЯЯ (МОКРИЦА) STELLARIA MEDIA

The paper provides a phytonymic portrait of common chickweed (Stellaria media L.) in the Finno-Permic languages that form a branch of the Finno-Ugric language family, the other being that of the Ugric languages. Chickweed usually grows in damp shady places in gardens or parks, close to human habitation - in fields, along roads, on banks of ponds, ditches and lakes. The plant is widely considered a malignant weed. The study covers all the known common names of chickweed in the mentioned group of languages (numbering about fifty). Their origin as well as issues of the plant’s nomination have been studied. Most of the names of chickweed under consideration are found in the Baltic Finnic languages. Chickweed is a most severe weed but it is also used for medicinal purposes as well as for feeding cattle and poultry. Additionally, chickweed is used in folk medicine. All this is reflected in the names of the plant. Some names of chickweed are based on its other properties: its favorite place of growth (in damp shady places in gardens, parks and near human habitations - in fields, along roads, along shores of ponds, ditches and wastelands), the form of the whole plant and especially its flower, outward similarity of Stellaria media with other plants. Models according to which names of chickweed were created are often quite original and almost never repeat themselves even within separate languages. With some minor exceptions, names of chickweed can be easily etymologized. Many composite names of chickweed are results of this plant’s nomination based on two signs. A good amount of the collected phytonyms in the Finno-Ugric languages allows for a comprehensive research including etymological and structural semantic studies. The author of this article hopes to explore and describe the most common names of plants in the Finno-Ugric languages in his further works.

The larvae of Epigomphus jannyae Belle, 1993 and E. tumefactus Calvert, 1903 (Insecta: Odonata: Gomphidae).

The taxonomic knowledge about immature stages of the insect order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) is rather limited in tropical America. Here, the larvae of Epigomphus jannyae Belle, 1993 and E. tumefactus Calvert, 1903 are described, figured, and compared with other described congeners. E. jannyae larva is characterized by 3rd antennomere 1.6 times longer than its widest part; ligula very poorly developed, with ten short, truncate teeth on middle; apical lobe of labial palp rounded and smooth. Lateral margins on abdominal segments (S5–9) serrated, lateral spines on S6–9 small and divergent; male epiproct with a pair of dorsal tubercles at basal 0.66; tips of cerci and paraprocts strongly divergent. The larva of E. tumefactus is characterized by 3rd antennomere 2.3 times longer than its widest part, ligula with 6–7 truncate teeth, apical lobe of labial palp acute and finely serrate. Lateral margins of S6–9 serrate, lateral spines on S7–9; male epiproct with a pair of dorsal tubercles at basal 0.50. Differences with other species were found in 3rd antennomere, lateral spines of S7–9, and the caudal appendages. Epigomphus larvae inhabit small, shallow creeks (1st order streams) where they live in fine benthic sediments. When mature, the larva leaves the water in shady places, climbing small rocks at the water’s edge and metamorphosing horizontally on flat rocks. These new descriptions bring the total number of Epigomphus species with known larval stages to eight; only 28% of the species in this genus are known as larva.

VEGETACIÓN Y FLORA DEL MUNICIPIO DE TEMASCALTEPEC, ESTADO DE MÉXICO, MÉXICO

Human activities produce significant changes in the hydroperiod and microtopography of mangrove ecosystems that result in difficulties for restoration; in a few cases restorations involve the incorporation of artificial ground level elevations (Accretions) and the recreation of a level insolation similar to Forest Canopy. This study was structured to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial accretion (islands) and two levels of insolation (Insolation Direct and Shading) assays reforestation with three mangrove species in an area of Complejo Termoelectrico “Presidente Adolfo Lopez Mateos”. 24 islands or core reforestation of 10 x 10 m and 20 cm height (for subsidence in the area) were conditioned, 12 of them had to place a metal support mesh 50% shade. Avicennia germinans, Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa, produce in nursery, were seeded on 12 islands (four for each specie), without mesh shade (Insolation Direct ID) and 12 islands (four for each specie) mesh shade (SO50%), mortality was accounting by month for a year, 2^3 full factorial design was use in order to know the influencing of species treatments and their interactions was applied. Within the nuclei of reforestation mortality was lowest for the 50% shading (SO50%) with 67.6% and 89.4% for the treatment of Direct Insolation (ID). The applied statistical sample shows that in reforestation cores decreased mortality to ID to SO50%. The species with the lowest percentage of mortality was A. germinans under SO50% with 30.6%. The interaction of the species showed a lower mortality was A. germinans and R. mangle. The recommended site reforestation species is A. germinans interacts with R. mangle in shady places.

무도장 내후성 강 교량의 밀폐형 박스거더 내부의 부식에 대한 고찰

내후성 강재는 대기환경에서 내식성이 우수하여 강교량의 재료로 많이 사용되고 있다. 그러나 내후성 강은 해수와 가까운 지역, 음지 및 습도가 높은 환경에서는 안정된 녹층이 형성되지 않고, 일반녹이 발생하고 있다. 따라서 열악한 대기환경을 가지는 일본에서는 무도장으로 사용하지 않고, 녹안정화 처리를 하고 있는 상황이다. 그러나 국내에서 건설된 내후성 강은 대부분 무도장으로 건설되었고, 건습의 주기적인 반복이 일어나기 어려운 밀폐형 박스거더형으로 건설되었다. 특히, 한강수변위에 건설된 강교량의 경우, 수분의 증발, 온도차에 의한 결로 및 우수에 의한 체수 등으로 내후성강의 부동태 피막형성에 해로운 영향을 미치고 있다. 이에 따라, 본 연구에서는 상수도 보호구역에 무도장 내후성 강으로 건설된 교량의 밀폐형 박스거더 내부의 부식 특성을 분석하기 위하여, 육안에 의한 관찰, 셀로판 테이프 시험, 강재 두께 측정, 표면 부식 전위측정, 채취한 녹의 전자현미경 분석 및 X선 회절 분석을 실시하였다. 분석을 통하여, 밀폐형 박스거더 내부에서 불안정녹층이 관찰되었으며, 특히, 상부 및 하부 플랜지의 경우 우수에 의한 체수, 결로 및 제설제에 의한 영향 등으로 부식 정도가 심하게 관찰되었다. 【Weather proof steels are used for steel bridges due to its high corrosion resistance under atmospheric conditions. However, instead of forming stabilized rust layers, general rust occurs on weather proof steels under high humidity condition close to seawater or shady places. In Japan, therefore, they perform rust stabilization treatment instead of unpainted treatment due to severe atmospheric conditions. However, most of domestic weather proof steels were constructed unpainted in the form of closed box-girder, which makes the periodical repetition of dry and wet hard to occur. For the steel bridges constructed on the Han river, the evaporation of water, dew condensation due to temperature change, and stagnant water due to rain affect harmfully on the formation of passive film on weather proof steels. Thus, in this research, in order to analyze corrosion properties inside the closed box-girder for the unpainted weather proof steel bridge in the waterworks safety zone, multiple ways of analysis such as observation with eyes, cellophane-tape test, steel thickness measurement, surface corrosion potential measurement, electron microscope analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis of the rust were performed. As a result, unstable rust layer was observed inside the closed box-girder, and severe corrosion was observed on the top and bottom of the flanges due to the effects of stagnant water caused by rain, dew condensation, and de-icing materials.】

Cytotaxonomic Study of Hypodematium (Hypodematiaceae) from China

Chromosome numbers and reproductive biology of nine species of the fern genus Hypodematium (Hypodematiaceae) from China were investigated. The chromosome numbers of eight species are reported here for the first time: H. daochengensis n=41 (41 II); H. fordii n=40 (40 II), n=80 (40 II+40 I), 2n=120; H. glanduloso-pilosum n=41 (41 II), 2n=82, 2n=123; H. gracile n=41 (41 II); H. hirsutum n= 41 (41 II); H. microleptoides n=41 (41 II); H. sinense n= 40 (40 II) and H. squamuloso-pilosum n=41 (41 II). Two cytotypes, n=82 (41 II+41 I) and 2n=123 in H. crenatum, are reported for the first time. Our results showed that the species with these cytotypes are agamospermous triploids: H. crenatum n = 82 (41 II +41 I), H. glanduloso-pilosum n = 82 (41 II +41 I) and H. fordii n = 80 (40 II +40 I), based on the unequal size and presence of aborted spores in the sporangium, and the allotriploid hybrid chromosomes in the spore mother cell at the diakinesis stage of meiosis I. The remaining species are sexual diploids and tetraploids, based on the chromosome number n = 41 and n =82 at the diakinesis stage of meiosis I of spore mother cells. The relationships among habitat preferences, frond hairs and reproductive modes in Hypodematium are discussed and illustrated. It appears that plants with large fronds and sparse, thin hairs, living in humid and shady places undergo sexual reproduction, while small plants living in sunny and dry conditions with thick hairs undergo agamospermous reproduction. The distribution pattern and basic chromosome number all indicated the basic chromosome number x= 41 was plesiomorphic, whereas x=40 was apomorphic. Chromosome aneuploid changes occurred in this genus. The distribution of the sexual diploids and tetraploids and agamospermous triploids suggests that the genus might have originated in the Himalayas and dispersed from there to northeast Asia and Japan.

Nahrungsangebot für Auerhuhnküken – Phänologie und Verteilung der Lepidoptera-Larven

Food supply for capercaillie chicks – phenology and distribution of the Lepidoptera larvae According to Scandinavian literature, Lepidoptera larvae are particularly important for the rearing of capercaillie chicks. For Central European habitats, we lack detailed information on invertebrate food availability as a function of habitat conditions and season. Using the sweep-net sampling technique, we examined the phenology and spatial distribution of larvae in forest stands with bilberry vegetation in dependence of the canopy cover and the duration of sunshine. The availability of Lepidoptera larvae was highest in mid of June and decreased to almost zero in July. The abundance and biomass of Lepidoptera larvae was lower at sunny (sunshine duration 4–10 h) and open locations (canopy cover 0–30%) than at shady places (sunshine duration 0–3 h) with intermediate canopy cover (35–60%). These results lead to the conclusion that forests with an intermediate canopy cover provide better foraging habitat for capercaillie chicks than very open and sunny forest stands. Further, the timing of hatching and the phenology of Lepidoptera larvae may be an important issue in Central European habitats. However, in Switzerland we lack information on reproductive success to study this connection more profoundly.

Ecological and Climatic Attribute Analysis for Egyptian Hypericum sinaicum

Conservation of globally endangered plant resources is a critical ecological, cultural and economic issue. The undertaking of ecological study focusing on the distribution, abundance and population structures of target species is fundamental to the assessment of the conservation status of wild populations. A study was carried out on the wild herb Hypericum sinaicum (Family: Hypericaceae) in Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP), South Sinai, Egypt, where 22 sites presenting different habitats in SKP were surveyed for: (1) investigate the floristic composition, vegetation types and H. sinaicum distribution in the area, (2) define the ecological status of H. sinaicum and characterize this range by its size, shape, boundaries and internal structure, (3) clearly identify conservation priorities and suggest appropriate strategies for H. sinaicum conservation, (4) detect the effect of environmental factors on the distribution of H. sinaicum in order to use it as first step for conservation by rehabilitation or restoration, (5) determine the effect of spatial variation on plant community and H. sinaicum productivity, and (6) to determine the ecological and climatic requirements for this species and detect their effect on the species distribution. A total of 113 species were recorded in total within the 237 sites. 37 families were recorded within the study area; Asteraceae (15%) and Lamiaceae (11.5%) presented the dominant families in this area, while the Hypercaceae family which represented the target species (H. sinaicum) was recorded only once. H. sinaicum was recorded as dominant species in only 12 sites from 237 with 5%. Morphological attributes for Hypericum showed great variation due to the variation in the edaphic features of different locations. Finally it’s was observed that vegetation constitutes an organized whole, it operates at a higher level of integration than the separate species and may possess emergent properties not necessarily found in individual themselves. Most of the H. sinaicum populations were small and the plants occurred sporadically in space, as little groups conjugated with wet soil. At the micro-site level, H. sinaicum plants occupied most of high altitude habitats in SKP such as cliffs, Wadi bed, terrace, gorge, slope and cave habitats. H. sinaicum prefers the wet and shady places like gorges, slopes and cliffs with continuous water supply. There is an urgent need to integrate the knowledge derived from ecological, demographic and climatic approaches to species conservation in order to be able to formulate management strategies that take into account all different considerations.

A new species of Dorstenia (Moraceae) from southeastern Brazil

Dorstenia stellaris is a new species from southeastern Brazil. This species is endemic to the region and differs from the others by its star shaped coenanthium and cordiform leaves. A description and illustration of this species is presented here. Dorstenia stellaris is found in moist and shady places, in small populations within the type locality, thus we recommend its inclusion in the endangered (EN) status of conservation.

Anti Hyperglycemic Activity of Elytraria Acaulis Lind. on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim of the present work is to evaluate the Anti-hyperglycemic activity of Elytraria acaulis Lind. on streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. Elytraria acaulis Lind. belongs to family Acanthaceae which is a small shrub, that grows in shady dry places. The whole plant is used for medicinal purposes. Diabetes was induced in rats by administering streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) intraperitonially. Animals were divided into five groups (n=6) receiving different treatments: Group I: vehicle (Control), Group II: diabetic (control), Groups III and IV: Elytraria acaulis Lind. extract treated (200 and 400 mg/kg, orally respectively) and Group V: standard anti diabetic drug glibenclamide (500 mcg/kg, orally). Blood serum was analyzed for the following biochemical parameters like blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerate test, body weight and liver glycogen & glycated hemoglobin levels. Histopathological study of pancreas, liver and kidney was examined. The Elytraria acaulis Lind. extracts were effective in decreasing blood glucose level, increases oral glucose tolerance test, moderately alteration in body weight and there was a marked reduction in the liver glycogen levels and reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels. Histopathological study, showing improvement with nearly normal islets of langerhans, showing marked improvement with normal architecture with mild hepatocytes degeneration and showing acid significantly inhibited glomerular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis. It is concluded that, the anti-hyperglycemic effect of methanolic extracts of Elytraria acaulis Lind. may be due to both reductions in glucose level and improvement in Histopathological studies. The methanolic extract of Elytraria acaulis Lind. at the dose level of 400 mg/kg produced more significant reduction in glucose level when compare with low dose 200 mg/kg. Hence, it is proved that Elytraria acaulis Lind. is having anti diabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Impact of Reciprocal Translocations and Non-Synchronous Disjunction of Chromosomes on Pollen Fertility in <i>Astragalus chlorostachys</i> from the Northwest Himalayas (India)

Summary Cytological investigations carried out on a population basis in Astragalus chlorostachys Lindl. which exists at diploid level (n=8) revealed the presence of quadrivalents, the late disjunction of 1–4 bivalents and some pollen sterility (34%) in 1 accession collected from Koksar, at 3,140 m in the Lahaul Valley (Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh). The presence of quadrivalents in this diploid species seems to be a consequence of reciprocal translocations. The occurrence of structural heterozygosity in the species has been reported here for the first time. All of the other populations showed normal bivalent formation and regular sporad generation and 100% pollen fertility. The paper here discusses in detail the course of meiosis and the effect of multivalent formation and non-synchronous disjunction of bivalents on meiotic course and pollen fertility. Astragalus chlorostachys Lindl., known variously as Astragalus altissimus Rech. f., Astragalus nuristanicus Kitam. and Hedysarum strobiliferum Baker, belongs to the tribe Galegeae of the family Fabaceae. It is a tall woody herb with sparsely pubescent stems. Leaves are imparipinnately compound and with leaflets oblong, obtuse and glabrescent. Yellowish-white flowers are produced in axillary, peduncled racemes. The species is native to Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. In India it grows in moist shady places between altitudes of 2,000–3,600 m in the states of Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand (Chowdhery and Wadhwa 1984, Naithani 1984, Sharma and Jamwal 1988, Wenninger 1991, Sanjappa 1992). Local people in the Kumaon Himalayas use a whole plant infusion as a tonic and febrifuge; decoction of the root is given in tuberculosis (Trivedi 2006). During cytomorphological surveys of the species in various cold regions of the Northwest Himalayas, the authors have detected 1 population which displayed the presence of multivalents, late disjunction of some bivalents and some pollen sterility. All of the other populations showed normal bivalent formation and regular sporad generation and 100% pollen fertility. In this paper, the aim was to study in detail the male meiotic course and to investigate the effect of multivalent formation and non-synchronous disjunction of bivalents on meiotic course and pollen fertility. Materials and methods Materials for male meiotic studies were collected from the different localities falling in the

Variegation in Arum italicum leaves. A structural–functional study

The presence of pale-green flecks on leaves (speckling) is a frequent character among herbaceous species from shady places and is usually due to local loosening of palisade tissue (air space type of variegation). In the winter-green Arum italicum L. (Araceae), dark-green areas of variegated leaf blades are ca. 400 μm thick with a chlorophyll content of 1080 mg m⁻² and a palisade parenchyma consisting of a double layer of oblong cells. Pale-green areas are 25% thinner, have 26% less chlorophyll and contain a single, loose layer of short palisade cells. Full-green leaves generally present only one compact layer of cylindrical palisade cells and the same pigment content as dark-green sectors, but the leaf blade is 13% thinner. A spongy parenchyma with extensive air space is present in all leaf types. Green cells of all tissues have normal chloroplasts. Assays of photosynthetic activities by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and O₂ exchange measurements showed that variegated pale-green and dark-green sectors as well as full-green leaves have comparable photosynthetic activities on a leaf area basis at saturating illumination. However, full-green leaves require a higher saturating light with respect to variegated sectors, and pale-green sectors support relatively higher photosynthesis rates on a chlorophyll basis. We conclude that i) variegation in this species depends on number and organization of palisade cell layers and can be defined as a "variable palisade" type, and ii) the variegated habit has no limiting effects on the photosynthetic energy budget of A. italicum, consistent with the presence of variegated plants side by side to full-green ones in natural populations.

Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of an Assemblage of Sarcophagid Diptera in a Gradient of Urbanization

Sarcophagid species inhabiting different locations in a rural-urban gradient were surveyed in the east central Argentine district of the Almirante Brown, Buenos Aires province. The main objectives of this research were to identify the most prevalent sarcophagid species and to describe community richness and diversity according to the degree of urbanization and the environmental variables measured in three locations within a rural-urban gradient sampled during two years from May 2005 to April 2007. Spatial and seasonal variations were the main factors involved in structuring the sarcophagid communities. Diversity was lower in urbanized areas than in rural ones. Bait and microhabitat preferences (sunny or shady places) and seasonal fluctuations were described for 17 sarcophagid species.

Effects of calcium and W-7 on flavonoid accumulation in cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum L

Hypericum androsaemum L. is a plant found in damp or shady places throughout Europe and has been used in folk medicine owing to the diuretic and hepatoprotective properties of its aerial parts [1]. These biological activities are attributed to the several flavonoids and phenolic acids occurring in the plant.

A new species of night-lizard of the genus Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from the Cuicatlan Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico

A new species of Lepidophyma from the Biosphere Reserve area of Tehuacan-Cuicatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. This new species, Lepidophyma cuicateca sp. nov., is known from two areas in the Cuicatlan Valley. Lepidophyma cuicateca sp. nov. is a member of the Lepidophyma gaigeae species Group and is characterized by its small body size, small size of tubercular body scales, poorly differentiated caudal whorls and interwhorls, and relatively large dorsal, ventral and gular scales. It lives in shady places, below rocks along the Apoala River, and is commonly found in plantain, sapodilla, cherimoya, mango and coffee plantations, as well as tropical deciduous forest. The description of L. cuicateca sp. nov. increases the number of species in the L. gaigeae Group to five.

Abundance and behavior of the sally lightfoot crab (Grapsus grapsus) in the colony of the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) in the Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo Archipelago

For nine days, the number of sally lightfoot crabs (Grapsus grapsus) in a 300 m² area within the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) colony and the activity of each crab were recorded in the morning (5:30-7:30 h), at midday (11:30-13:30 h), and in the afternoon (15:30-17:30 h). The average number of individuals was 80.2 ± 15.5 (59-111) in the morning, 3.1 ± 2.3 (0-7) at midday, and 65.3 ± 15 (49-92) in the afternoon. A total of 1338 activity records were made, with the crabs standing still or walking in 844 records and handling material or feeding in 494 records. In the latter records, 53% of the crabs were handling detritus (pieces of dry bird excrement and sediment), 12.2% were handling feathers, 12.8% were feed- ing on regurgitated fish, 8.9% were feeding on dead Sula leucogaster, 8.1% were feeding on crab, 4.7% were feeding on material adhered to egg shells, and 0.6% were feeding on live nestlings of S. leucogaster. The low frequency of crabs in the colony around noon shows that the crabs avoid insolation, hiding in shady places and tidal pools. In the Sao Pedro and Sao Paulo Archipelago, the presence of S. leucogaster represents an important food source for G. grapsus. This crab plays the role of a cleaner in the S. leucogaster colony, consuming food remains, broken eggs, and dead birds.

Biological characteristics of the species Hedera helix L. and its use in controlling erosion in shady places

Controlling erosion in shady places is among the most serious problems of environment protection, one that requires persistent and strenuous efforts. Ivy (Hedera helix L.) is exceptionally shade-tolerant, covers the ground surface nicely, and is easy to cultivate. For these reasons, it can be used more successfully than any other ground cover to control erosion in shady places. Hardening of ivy cuttings is accomplished with semi-lignified and lignified cuttings. In hardening of cuttings in plastic containers, a substrate composed of garden soil and peat proved to be the most effective. Even when the percentage of ivy cuttings that take is low in shady places subject to erosion, the significance of their presence is great in subsequent years, when the ivy spreads over the ground, covering it and retarding erosion of the soil. .

Survival of blue-green and green algae under stress conditions

Terrestrial blue-green algae Scytonema millei, Phormidium bohneri and Lyngbya mesotricha survived to 100 % at atmospheric temperatures of 5-36 degrees C and relative humidity 55-100 % in rainy, winter and spring seasons but the survival was 15-25 % in summer when atmospheric temperature reached 48 degrees C and relative humidity was < or =23 %. Microcoleus chthonoplastes maximum survival was =80 % in rainy season followed by a decrease to =1/2 and 1/4 level in winter and spring, respectively; it disappeared in summer but a few cells and/or trichomes enclosed within sheath may be surviving sticking to soil, not evident microscopically, since the population reappeared at the same place with the onset of rain. Terrestrial green alga Rhizoclonium crassipellitum survived only in spring and died at the onset of summer without forming any dormant cell and/or reproductive structure. Only P. bohneri survived better and longer under submerged conditions in liquid medium than air-exposed on moist soil surface in the culture chamber, while the other algae fared almost equally or slightly better air-exposed on moist soil surface (or even on 2 % agarized medium) than when suspended in liquid medium, indicating that air exposure rather than submerged conditions was needed for most of the terrestrial algae to survive. Water stress imposed on growing algae either on high-agar-solid media or in 0.2-0.6 mol/L NaCl liquid media in the culture chamber reduced vegetative survival in all; it resulted in death without any dormant cell remaining. When stored in desiccators over fused CaCl2, M. chthonoplastes died within 1/2 month, R. crassipellitum and L. mesotricha within 1 month, P. bohneri within 1/2 month, and S. millei not even within 1 1/2 month, indicating their survival pattern against atmospheric dryness to be wide; it also explained the M. chthonoplastes absence in summer and S. millei presence throughout the year. At increased atmospheric humidity the desiccation-sensitive algae (e.g., M. chthonoplastes) survived better than a desiccation-resistant alga (here S. millei). All algae survived considerable darkness (S. millei > 1 1/2 month; P. bohneri, M. chthonoplastes and R. crassipellitum >1 month, and L. mesotricha >1/2 month), and low light intensity of 2 and 10 micromol m(-2)s(-1) which explains their prolific growth in shady places. All algae were differently sensitive to wet heat (45 degrees C for 5-40 min) and to UV shock (0.96-3.84 kJ/m2).

Evidence of UVB differential response in Sophora microphylla from shady and sunny places

Se estudio en laboratorio el efecto de radiacion UBV adicional en Sophora microphylla, una especie forestal nativa de bajas latitudes en el centro-sur de Chile importante por su asociacion con bacterias y hongos micorricicos del suelo. Semillas de Sophora en variedad sol y sombra (± 2200 y ± 1400 m molm-2s-1 respectivamente) y las plantulas emergidas fueron irradiadas durante dos meses con un exceso de UVB (9.6 m W cm-2 x 5 min.) y 120 m molm-2s-1 PPF diarios, con lamparas que simulan el espectro solar con un incremento de la radiacion UVB. Semillas de variedad sol cultivadas en exceso de UVB germinaron mas rapidamente que su control y que las de variedad sombra, siendo su crecimiento y biomasa tambien mayor. La radiacion UVB indujo reduccion en el crecimiento y biomasa en ambas variedades, aumento en la sintesis de pigmentos fotosinteticos principalmente en variedad sol y aumento en la sintesis de flavonoides y ceras epicuticulares tambien en variedad sol. Esta mayor resistencia a eventos esporadicos de UVB en exceso sugieren que un incremento de la radiacion UVB podria afectar mayormente a plantas acostumbradas a intensidades de radiacion bajas (variedad sombra) que en aquellas que naturalmente crecen bajo altas intensidades de luz (variedad sol).

Nesocrambe, a new genus ofCruciferae (Brassiceae)from Soqotra, Yemen

Abstract Miller, A. G., Atkinson, R., Khulaidi, A. W. al, Taleeb, N.: Nesocrambe, a new genus of Cruciferae (Brassiceae) from Soqotra, Yemen. — Willdenowia 32: 61–67. 2002. — ISSN 0511-9618. The new genus Nesocrambe, with the sole species N. socotrana, endemic to the island of Soqotra, is described and illustrated. Its affinities and taxonomic position within the family are discussed. It is concluded that Nesocrambe is apparently closest to Hemicrambe, which has a disjunct distribution in NW Africa and Soqotra, and, like that genus, is a relict of the old Miocene flora which once extended around the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Nesocrambe is restricted to moist, shady places on limestone pinnacles and cliffs along an exposed and isolated ridge at the extreme western end of Soqotra. Its conservation status is considered.

Genetic Diversity of Primula ovalifolia from Central and Southwest China Based on ISSR Markers

Primula ovalifolia Franchet (Primulaceae) is mainly distributed in a band through central China to southwest China and grows in moist shady places with the altitude between 1200 - 2500 m. Eighty-five individuals from five natural populations in Hubei (central) and Sichuan (southwest) China were sampled. The inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) produced 207 polymorphic band loci and identified 85 ISSR genotypes. The results obtained from calculation of Shannon’s index and Nei’s gene diversity shows that there is no difference of genetic diversity between the three populations in southwest China and two populations in central China. The UPGMA clustering analysis also shows that there is no distinct genetic differentiation between the natural populations in central and southwest China.