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A comparative anatomical study on leaf and scape of Androsace taxa (Primulaceae): contribution to Androsace taxonomy
Abstract
In the present study, the leaf and scape anatomical features of ten Androsace taxa distributed in Türkiye were defined to contribute to plant identification. Hand sections from both the scape and leaf examined 43 anatomical characters. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were performed for the first time for Androsace. The results show that there are differences as well as similarities between Androsace species. It is noteworthy that Androsace artvinensis forms a separate main group with HCA. In addition, the fact that two of the five basic components are represented by a single variable according to the PCA results suggests that the anatomical characters examined are determinative for Androsace taxa.). In PCA, eigenvalues of PC1 (2.435), PC2 (1.749), PC3 (1.369), PC4 (1.223), and PC5 (1.006) were greater than 1.0. Cortex width, aerenchyma, arrangement of vascular bundles, and four-branched non-glandular hairs are among the important anatomical characteristics of the scape. Leaf cross-sectional shape, epidermis dimensions, glandular hair types, presence of five branched non-glandular hairs, stoma sizes, presence of crystals in the mesophyll, and types are among the qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics that attract attention in the leaf. This study examined almost all taxa of the genus Androsace distributed in Türkiye. The results will be important in finding new species among the examined taxa and revealing the anatomical features of the taxa for the first time. They will contribute to other studies on the genus.
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In this study, two species belonging to the genus Allium and distributed in Turkey are investigated. A thick cuticle is observed on the epidermis of the scapes of the species. The epicuticular layer is not evident in Allium scorodoprasum ssp. rotundum (L.) Stearn. Secretory cavities have been formed in the pith region of the species. Vascular bundles are in the form of two rings, one above and one below the sclerenchymatic ring. The cross-section of the leaf of Allium brevicaule Boiss. & Balansa is circular, unlike A. scorodoprasum ssp. rotundum. In both species, the stomata are located lower than the epidermis cells. The seeds of A. brevicaule are smaller than in A. scorodoprasum ssp. rotundum and they are polygonal shaped. The testa cells of A. brevicaule seeds have scalariform and tuberculate ornamentation. A. scorodoprasum seeds have reticulate sculpture testa. The species have sulcate pollen types. The pollen form of A. brevicaule is perprolate, and that of A. scorodoprasum ssp. rotundum is subprolate. The apertures in both species are monosulcus. In A. brevicaule, the sulcus does not extend to the poles at the proximal end. Therefore, the differences in the scape and leaf anatomy, as well as in palynology and micromorphology, can be used to distinguish Allium species.
Sedum is a large genus belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Some members of the genus are medically vital. This study investigated the anatomical characteristics of Sedum acre L., Sedum album L., and Sedum pallidum M. Bieb. distributed in Turkey. In the light of the findings obtained, the internal structure features distinguishing the species from each other are revealed. In the cross-sections taken by hand, it is determined that the species' roots are in the secondary structure. Large intercellular spaces are identified in the cortex of the S. album root. The cuticle layer is present on the epidermis of the stem cross-section and the alkaloids were found in the cortex of the stem. Both the upper and bottom surfaces of the leaves have anisocytic stomata, which may be seen on both sides of the leaf. In the cross section of the S. acre leaf, the vascular bundles are not scattered, unlike the S. album and S. pallidum, and are in regular rows in the center. The statistical results obtained reveal that some anatomical characters may be necessary for distinguishing these three species. Characteristics such as stem epidermis size, stem cuticle thickness, the diameter of the stem cortex parenchyma cell, stoma size on the lower and upper surface of the leaf can be considered to be of diagnostic importance.
Androsace brevis (Hegetschw.) Ces. (Primulaceae) is a narrow endemic plant of the Southern Central European Alps that lives only above 2000 m asl and flowers immediately after snowmelt for a very short period during which the plant must guarantee successful sexual reproduction. Despite the vulnerability of this species, mainly due to increasing temperature, competition with plant communities shifting to higher altitudes, and possible mismatches with pollinators, nothing is known about its pollen and floral morphology. In this study we aim to provide a detailed description of these traits and to investigate how they might be related to possible pollination strategies and vectors. Pollen and flower samples were collected from the Lepontine and Orobic Alps (Northern Italy) populations. The pollen grains are small (polar axis: 19.17 μm ± 0.09; equatorial axis: 10.84 μm ± 0.1) with a prolate shape. The morphology of the flower, with the location of both stamens and pistil inside the corolla tube, and the coloured corolla mouths, ranging from yellow to purple, suggest that A. brevis requires insect-mediated pollination. Moreover, floral morphology does not show a particular insect-selective pattern in that the presence of both stamens and pistil less than 1 mm below the corolla mouth (Ø: 0.76 mm ± 0.05) might allow many high-altitude flower-visiting insects to reach both nectar and pollen. A generalist pollination strategy could be fundamental in contests characterized by harsh environmental conditions as it could counteract potential plant-pollinator mismatches due to increase in temperatures.
The reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission by replacing fossil energy stocks with carbon–neutral fuels is a major topic of the political and scientific debate on environmental sustainability. Such shift in energy sources is expected to curtail the accumulation rate of atmospheric CO2, which is a strong infrared absorber and thus contributes to the global warming effect. Although such change would produce desirable outputs, the consequences of a drastic decrease in atmospheric CO2 (the substrate of photosynthesis) should be carefully considered in the light of its potential impact on ecosystems stability and agricultural productivity. Indeed, plants regulate CO2 uptake and water loss through the same anatomical structure: the leaf stomata. A reduced CO2 availability is thus expected to enhance transpiration rate in plants decreasing their water use efficiency and imposing an increased water demand for both agricultural and wild ecosystems. We suggest that this largely underestimated issue should be duly considered when implementing policies that aim at the mitigation of global environmental changes and, at the same time, promote sustainable agricultural practices, include the preservation of biodiversity. Also, we underlie the important role(s) that modern biotechnology could play to tackle these global challenges by introducing new traits aimed at creating crop varieties with enhanced CO2 capture and water- and light-use efficiency.
The present study was performed to provide a detailed explanation of leaf epidermal anatomy and pollen micromorphological features of selected species of family Apiaceae from Chitral, eastern Hindu Kush region as the basis of forthcoming studies. In the present article pollen morphology of eight species and foliar epidermal of seven species of family Apiaceae have been examined through microscopic techniques. In results two types of pollen prolate (five species) and perprolate (three species) with three colpi have been recorded. The exine ornamentation was found to be regulate, striate, and cerebroid. Largest pollen was found in Heracleum leucocarpum with the polar diameter of 43.25 μm and equatorial diameter of 21.6 μm. Smallest pollen was observed in Elaeosticta chitralica with the polar diameter of 18.4 μm. The P/E ratio varied from 1.59 to 2.16. Regarding to foliar epidermal anatomy, three types of epidermal cells including rectangular, irregular, and polygonal with variation in anticlinal wall pattern were determined. In the selected species three kinds of stomata comprising anisocytic, anomocytic, and paracytic type were reported in the current research. The size of epidermal cells ranged from 106 × 42.50 μm in Bupleurum falcatum subsp. cernuum and 77.25 × 26.35 μm in Prangos pabularia in adaxial surface. Largest stomatal complex was found in Prangos pabularia both in adaxial 33.55 × 20.05 μm and abaxial 50.25 × 39.40 μm. All the observed quantitative and qualitative features of the species were proved to be useful in the delimitation of species at generic and species level. Pollen and anatomical traits are investigated with the aid of LM and SEM from Chitral, eastern Hindu Kush. Quantitative and qualitative palyno‐anatomical attributes are described. Micromorphology of pollen and leaf epidermis is discussed which has significant taxonomic value for the accurate identification and authentication of Apiaceous flora.
Androsace azizsancarii (Primulaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Bayburt Province in northeastern Anatolia, Turkey. Diagnostic morphological characteristics, a full description and a distribution map are provided. The new species is morphologically closest to Androsace albana, A. multiscapa and A. villosa, but it is easily distinguished from these species by indumentum, leaf, flower and seed characters.
Primula is the largest genus belongs to Primulaceae family. The majority of the genus is comprising short-lived perennial herbaceous plants. Members of the genus have attractive flowers and are cultivated as bedding plants and flowering potted plants. Additionally, some of the species among the genus are economically important for ornamental plant industry. In commercial production systems, hybrids are especially propagated by seed, while primroses can also be propagated by dividing clumps. However, some problems such as irregular or late germination and low germination rate of the seeds in many primula species prevent mass propagation. Therefore, tissue culture techniques are valuable tools in breeding program, enlargement of genetic pool, gene transformation, as well as in conservation plant genetic materials in primula. In this review, common plant tissue culture techniques used in Primula species were briefly presented.
This paper represents a new checklist of the genus Primula L., including eight species and five subspecies belong to four sections that are native to Mongolia. Primula bukukunica Kovt. and P. nivalis subsp. turkestanica (J.H.Haage & E.Schmidt) Kovt. are newly recorded to the flora of Mongolia based on the materials of LE, NS, NSK, MHA, MW, and UBA herbarium collections. Primula maximowiczii Regel was assessed as critically endangered species based on the area of occupancy, in which it is estimated to occur in less than 10 km2 in the eastern Mongolia. The nomenclatural type, identification key, regional conservation status of rare species, as well as distribution maps and photographs of each species are provided. Additional collections and photographs are based on our field survey between 2012–2019.
High-altitude rockjasmines (genus Androsace) are a paramount example of evolutionary radiations in temperate mountains of the Northern Hemisphere. Yet, we show here that their taxonomy is incomplete and has been subject to many historical mistakes, probably due to the lack of exploration of mountains by the classical botanists who described these species. Here we wish to clarify the application of names with regard to four defined morphotypes, typical of high-elevation zones of the Western Alps, in order to set a definitive basis for morphological delimitation of a likely new species discovered in the Mont Blanc range (species not described in this work). To do so, we review the historical taxonomic treatments and positions, carefully reconsider types and species names for these morphotypes, and designate lectotypes and epitypes for each of them. In particular, we confirm the validity of names commonly used to refer to the taxa Androsace alpina, Androsace helvetica, and Androsace pubescens. We show that Androsace vandellii is an invalid name and that Androsace argentea should be used instead. Our work illustrates the utility of historical herbaria to clarify the taxonomy of complex groups of plants growing in inaccessible environments such as high-altitude regions.
AimDespite the accumulation of cases describing fast radiations of alpine plants, we still have limited understanding of the drivers of speciation in alpine floras and of the precise the timing of their diversification. Here, we investigated spatial and temporal patterns of speciation in three groups of alpine Primulaceae. LocationMountains of the European Alpine System. Methods
We built a new phylogeny of Primulaceae including all species in three focal groups: Androsace sect. Aretia, Primula sect. Auricula and Soldanella. Combining phylogenetic information with a detailed climatic data set, we investigated patterns of range and ecological overlap between sister-species using an approach that takes phylogenetic uncertainty into account. Finally, we investigated temporal trajectories of diversification in the three focal groups. ResultsWe found that a large majority of sister-species pairs in the three groups are strictly allopatric and show little differences in substrate and climatic preferences, a result that was robust to phylogenetic uncertainty. While rates of diversification have remained constant in Soldanella, both Androsace sect. Aretia and Primula sect. Auricula showed decreased diversification rates in the Pleistocene compared to previous geological epochs. Main conclusionsAllopatric speciation with little niche divergence appears to have been by far the most common mode of speciation across the three groups studied. A few examples, however, suggest that ecological and polyploid speciation might also have played a role in the diversification of these three groups. Finally, extensive diversification likely occurred in the late Miocene and Pliocene coinciding with the later phases of the Alpine uplift, while diversification slowed down during subsequent glacial cycles of the Pleistocene.
A close relationship of Androsace and related genera (Douglasia, Vitaliana and Pomatosace) has long been recognized. Recent molecular studies have provided abundant evidence that Douglasia, Vitaliana and Pomatosace are nested within Androsace and together constitute the monophyletic “Androsace group”. We investigated pollen morphology of 80 taxa representing all sections of Androsace s.s. as traditionally construed, as well as Douglasia, Vitaliana and Pomatosace, to see whether they are congruent with phylogenetic relationships. We uncovered subtle variation in pollen morphology within the group. The shape of pollen grains ranges from spheroidal to perprolate. Pollen size ranges from 9.37 μm in Androsace sect. Samuelia to 20.68 μm in Douglasia. Exine ornamentation includes microreticulate, microechinate, perforate and rugulate types. The polar view varies from circular, triangular and planaperturate, to triangular and angulaperturate. Various pollen morphological characters support the monophyly of major clades, including /Septentrionalis, /Pomatosace, /Orthocaulon and /Megista, which were recognized previously based on molecular evidence.
We still have limited understanding of the contingent and deterministic factors that have fostered the evolutionary success of some species lineages over others. We investigated how the interplay of intercontinental migration and key innovations promoted diversification of the genus Androsace.
Mountain ranges and cold steppes of the Northern Hemisphere.
We reconstructed ancestral biogeographical ranges at regional and continental scales by means of a dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis analysis using dated Bayesian phylogenies and contrasting two migration scenarios. Based on diversification analyses under two frameworks, we tested the influence of life form on speciation rates and whether diversification has been diversity-dependent.
We found that three radiations occurred in this genus, at different periods and on different continents, and that life form played a critical role in the history of Androsace. Short-lived ancestors first facilitated the expansion of the genus' range from Asia to Europe, while cushions, which appeared independently in Asia and Europe, enhanced species diversification in alpine regions. One long-distance dispersal event from Europe to North America led to the diversification of the nested genus Douglasia. We found support for a model in which speciation of the North American-European clade is diversity-dependent and close to its carrying capacity, and that the diversification dynamics of the North American subclade are uncoupled from this and follow a pure birth process.
The contingency of past biogeographical connections combined with the evolutionary determinism of convergent key innovations may have led to replicated radiations of Androsace in three mountain regions of the world. The repeated emergence of the cushion life form was a convergent key innovation that fostered radiation into alpine habitats. Given the large ecological similarity of Androsace species, allopatry may have been the main mode of speciation.
Relatively, few species have been able to colonize extremely cold alpine environments. We investigate the role played by the cushion life form in the evolution of climatic niches in the plant genus Androsace s.l., which spreads across the mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. Using robust methods that account for phylogenetic uncertainty, intraspecific variability of climatic requirements and different life-history evolution scenarios, we show that climatic niches of Androsace s.l. exhibit low phylogenetic signal and that they evolved relatively recently and punctually. Models of niche evolution fitted onto phylogenies show that the cushion life form has been a key innovation providing the opportunity to occupy extremely cold environments, thus contributing to rapid climatic niche diversification in the genus Androsace s.l. We then propose a plausible scenario for the adaptation of plants to alpine habitats.
We conducted phylogenetic analyses of Androsace and the closely related genera Douglasia, Pomatosace, and Vitaliana using DNA sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the plastid trnL-F region. Analyses using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference yield congruent relationships among several major lineages found. These lineages largely disagree with previously recognized taxonomic groups. Most notably, (1) Androsace sect. Andraspis, comprising the short-lived taxa, is highly polyphyletic; (2) Pomatosace constitutes a separate phylogenetic lineage within Androsace; and (3) Douglasia and Vitaliana nest within Androsace sect. Aretia. Our results suggest multiple origins of the short-lived lifeform and a possible reversal from annual or biennial to perennial habit at the base of a group that now contains mostly perennial high mountain or arctic taxa. The group containing Androsace sect. Aretia, Douglasia, and Vitaliana includes predominantly high alpine and arctic taxa with an arctic-alpine distribution, but is not found in the European and northeastern American Arctic or in Central and East Asia. This group probably originated in Europe in the Pliocene, from where it reached the amphi-Beringian region in the Pleistocene or late Pliocene.
The present study was aimed at investigating seed macro and micro-morphological and foliar epidermal anatomical characters of 15 Acanthus species from Pakistan. Firstly, plant specimens were collected and then identified on the basis of relevant references. For morphological analysis, seed characters were carefully examined using stereo microscopy and scanning microscopy to evaluate the usefulness of seed characteristics for the identification of systematic relationships. Considerable differences were found in seed coat morphology within studied taxa. Four types of seed surface pattern; striate (6 species), foveolate and papillate (2 species each), papillate rugose and rugose (one species each) were recognized. The dominant pattern of epicuticular projections was glabrous followed by prickles and bulges. Cell outlines were random and in rows while arrangement of cells was regular and irregular. For anatomical analysis, the foliar sections of leaves of each taxon were prepared, studied by light microscopy and then photographed by means of a Meiji affinity DK-5000 digital camera. Both adaxial and abaxial epidermis of the leaf has been studied and various micro-morphological characters examined including shape of epidermal cells, anticlinal wall pattern, lobes per cell, type of stomata and trichomes. Quantitatively, maximum epidermal cell length on adaxial and abaxial surface were observed in Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C.Chr. (57.4 µm) and (57 µm) respectively. While stomata length was noted to be highest on abaxial side in Dicliptera verticillata (35.9 µm). The micro-morphological features and foliar epidermal anatomy of studied Acanthus species showed many novel characters for accurate taxonomic identification and provide baseline information for plant taxonomists.
Androsace artvinensis (Primulaceae) from Artvin province (northeastern Anatolia) has been described as a new species to science. The new species is morphologically similar to A. armeniaca var. macrantha but differs from it by several morphological characters, such as bracts shape, calyx (calyx length and lobes), corolla (corolla length, lobes, and indumentum), hairs, leaves, pollen features, and habitat preference. Diagnostic morphological characteristics, a full description, and a distribution map are provided.
Heterocarpy occurs when a plant produces fruits of more than one distinct shape. This phenomenon may result in different dispersion, dormancy, and germination, enabling survival in diverse environmental conditions. Heterocarpy is common in Asteraceae, and one of its most extreme examples occurs in Heterocypsela H.Rob. However, the difference between outer and inner cypselae can be originated from its developmental stage. Even with doubts, heterocarpy is applied to circumscribe Heterocypsela, Allocephalus Bringel, J.N.Nakaj. & H.Rob., Dipterocypsela S.F.Blake, and Manyonia H. Rob. in the subtribe Dipterocypselinae S.C.Keeley & H.Rob. A recent phylogenetic study has also raised uncertainties about the Dipterocypselinae monophyly and, consequently, the importance of the heterocarpy and pericarp crystals in the subtribe circumscription. Thus, we reviewed the heterocarpy and its systematic significance in the Dipterocypselinae, using light microscopy and SEM techniques. Our results confirmed the heterocarpy in Heterocypsela, reaffirmed it in Allocephalus and Dipterocypsela, and refuted its loss hypothesis in Manyonia. However, the heterocarpy was not homologous between studied genera and should not be applied as a parameter to group them. The pericarp tissue organization of the studied species, including crystals, was similar to previously studied Vernonieae Cass., reaffirming the systematics significance of the pericarp anatomy at a tribal level. Gaps in the Vernonieae cypselae knowledge hampered the morphological approximation of Allocephalus gamolepsis from Lychnophorinae, and Heterocypsela from Chrestinae-Vernoniinae. However, the Vernonieae morphology comparison demonstrated fruitful, mainly to assess the systematic significance and evolutionary patterns of the cypselae tribe.
Cycads (Cycadales) are among the most ancient lineages of extant seed-bearing plants and are the most threatened plant order on Earth, with circa 75% of the 356 accepted species endangered or threatened with extinction. Zamia is the most species-rich (81 spp.) and widely distributed cycad genus in the Americas, notable for its morphological and ecological diversity. Across the genus, there appears to be a high degree of convergence among macromorphological traits, with many characters that are useful for species identification proving uninformative for elucidating relationships among species. However, it remains unknown whether anatomical variation in leaflet structure corresponds with phylogenetic or geographic patterns, as has been investigated in Dioon and Cycas. Here, we present a broad comparative survey of leaflet anatomy across Zamia species with the goals of describing anatomical diversity and uncovering diagnostic characters for resolved clades. Anatomical characters were scored based on the literature and newly prepared sections of leaflets from 20 Zamia species plus the outgroup species Microcycas calocoma. The resulting matrix covers 39 Zamia species representing all five major clades and spanning the geographic distribution of the genus. Anatomical characters scored from leaflet sections were mapped onto a previously published phylogeny and evaluated for their phylogenetic signal. Most anatomical characters examined are not diagnostic for clades, but newly reported mesophyll sclereids may be unique to one large lineage. Given the widespread incongruence between phylogenetic relationships and the distribution of anatomical traits, we tested the relationship between anatomical characters and environmental signals but did not uncover significant correlations between anatomy and ecology. While further work is required to elucidate the evolutionary history of anatomical characters in this genus, this research improves our understanding of micromorphological character evolution, anatomical diversity, and phylogenetic relationships within this highly threatened lineage of plants.
Stylosanthes comprises about 50 species, with Brazil being one of the main diversity centers. Stylosanthes guianensis constitutes a problematic taxonomic complex, comprising four varieties of S. guianensis and seven other species. Considering the difficulty of taxon delimitation, this study assessed the potential value of the secretory structures and other anatomical characters to the diagnosis of taxa within the complex. We analyzed the leaflet and stem anatomy and micromorphology of representatives of the S. guianensis complex using light and scanning electron microscopy. Long uniseriate non-glandular hairs occurred on the stems and leaflets of all species. Secretory structures with a dilated base and a tapered distal portion occurred on both stems and leaflets, except in S. guianensis var. canescens. Polysaccharides, lipids and terpenes were histochemically detected in the secretory exudates. In the stem of S. gracilis, chlorenchyma cells were observed to be radially elongated, while in the other taxa studied they were isodiametric. On leaflets of S. guianensis var. pauciflora, S. acuminata, S. aurea, and S. gracilis, the midrib was eccentric and the veins closer to the leaflet margin had larger fiber caps. Anatomical structures proved to be useful for separating taxa. Stylosanthes guianensis var. canescens and S. guianensis var. pauciflora differ from the other varieties of the species and are possibly worthy of recognition at species rank. Our findings also reinforce the status of S. gracilis as a distinct species.
Primroses, approximately 1000 species from the family Primulaceae, are mostly distributed in subalpine to alpine areas and attract attention due to their high ornamental value. However, they have been increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change in recent decades. China harbours 535 primrose species from 12 genera, most of which are endemic. In this study, we established a distribution database of the primroses in China, then explored the geographic pattern of the richness of primrose species in relation to environmental factors and evaluated their conservation status. The results showed that the primrose richness was highest in the mountainous areas from the eastern Himalayas to the Hengduan Mountains, with habitat heterogeneity (explaining 37.6% of the variance) and temperature seasonality (26.0% of the variance) together explaining this pattern. Furthermore, the richness of endemic and threatened primroses had been strongly affected by the long-term climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum. On average, national nature reserves (NNRs) covered 29.5% of the distribution areas of primroses. However, there were still 97 less-protected species, each of which had a distribution area <2000 km² covered by NNRs. By analysing this group, we proposed that nature reserves need to be established in several conservation gaps mainly located in Southwest China to protect the primrose species in China.
Jacquemoud, F. & D. Jordan (2020). Androsace albimontana (Primulaceae): a new species from the Alps (France, Switzerland, Italy) to be distinguished from A. pubescens. Candollea 75: 149–155. In French, English and French abstracts.
A new alpine species of the genus Androsace L. (Primulaceae), Androsace albimontana D. Jord. & Jacquemoud is described. Specimens attributed to the new taxon were until now considered by floras as being part of the high morphological and ecological variability of Androsace pubescens DC. (bi- to trifurcate vs simple trichomes, corolla mostly pink to rarely white vs white; acid, siliceous vs alkaline, calcareous substrate), a chasmophytic species growing exclusively on limestone cliffs. Morphology, habitat and ecology of the new taxon were determined in the siliceous mountain ranges of Aiguilles Rouges and Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie, France), and in Valais (Switzerland). Data from Italy (Monte Rosa, Valle d'Aosta, Piemonte) only provided by floras or botanical literature, will have to be subject of further field and herbarium studies. Distribution data are given, relationships with other species of Androsace subsect. Aretia (L.) Kress and the putative origin of the new taxon are discussed.
Alternative medicinal source is a hot issue within medicine community now a days due to various side effects of allotropic drugs; most importantly the multidrug resistance phenomena. Medicinal plants provide an attractive and effective alternative to modern synthetic drugs as they contain different types of bioactive compounds, having great potential in treatment of various diseases. The present study deals with identification of micromorphological characteristics of 10 ethnomedicinally important plants of Northern Pakistan, that is, Aster himalaicus C. B. Clarke, Artemisia maritima (Berg.) Wellkomm, Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.), Myricaria squamosal Desv, Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. Polygonum aviculare L, Salvia himmelbauer E. Peter, Swertia kingie Hook. f., Tanacetum dolichophyllum (Kitam) Kitam, Verbascum epixanthinum Boiss. & Heldr. as potential source for pharmaceutical industry. The characters studied were shape and size of pollen, polar diameter and equatorial diameter, epidermal cell shape and size, stomata width and length, trichome shapes, and type. Most of the species had tricolporate pollen type but hexacolporate pollen was also observed in Isodon rugosus, Polygonum aviculare, Salvia himmelbauer. Different types of exine sculpturing observed were foveolate, scabrate, lophate, regular, steriate, and alveolate. Minimum equatorial diameter was noted in Tanacetum dolichophyllum (12.4 μm) and maximum in Myricaria squamosal (20.9 μm). Shape of epidermis cell ranged from rectangular and irregular, polygonal and pentagonal. Different types of stomata like anisocytic, actinocytic, paracytic, and diacytic were noticed. Variations in microscopic characters observed in the current study have great potential to be used as identification tools by the taxonomists for further studies.
The fruits surface sculpturing and anatomical characters of 21 taxa representing 12 genera of the tribe Cardueae Cass. were investigated in order to evaluate their feasibility as taxonomic markers to assess their systematic significance. Characteristics such as fruit size and shape, cell arrangement, the shape of the testa epidermis and structure of the exocarp cell, microsculpture, and the presence of carpopodium and phytomelanin were examined. In addition to crystal formations and secretory ducts, the type of mesocarp cells and testa epidermal structure were also evaluated. Cluster analysis and variance analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of these features. Considerable variances were observed in surface sculpture, and pericarp and testa anatomical structures of cypselae. The surface sculptures exhibit seven microstructural patterns among the taxa. Carpopodium was detected as an asymmetrical structure in three species. Exocarp cells among wings/ ribs are extended in Arctium platylepis, Callicephalus nitens and Jurinea alpigena and longitudinally elongated changing to a mucilaginous structure in Picnomon acarna. The mesocarp is composed of sclerenchymatous, parenchymatous or both parenchymatous and sclerenchymatous cells. Based on the testa epidermal structure, four types of formation were determined – palisade-like cell, hexagonal cell, cuboidal cell and non-distinct cell. Endosperm was determined as one rectangular layer in all taxa, with the exception of Echinops orientalis, and massive embryo filled in the center of fruit. The fruit characters evaluated are distinct between the genera and are not only useful for assessing relationships, but also for delimiting species. Our results show that some Centaurea s.l. taxa are clearly separated, while others are combined with Cyanus depressus and Psephellus taxa as a single group and do not exhibit clear distinction. Picnomon acarna and Callicephalus nitens exhibit the closest relationship to Centaurea s.l. taxa among the Cardueae taxa.
This chapter surveys common clustering algorithms widely used in the data mining community in light of chemometrics. It starts with taxonomy of clustering algorithms, and discusses two common clustering approaches -- partitioning clustering and hierarchical clustering -- in detail. Several variants of these clustering methods are presented and their strengths and weaknesses are addressed. This chapter continues to overview hybrid clustering approaches combining partitioning clustering and hierarchical clustering, and concludes with a quick overview on constrained clustering.
Electronic computers facilitate greatly carrying out factor analysis. Computers will help in solving the communality problem and the question of the number of factors as well as the question of arbitrary factoring and the problem of rotation. "Cloacal short-cuts will not be necessary and the powerful methods of Guttman will be feasible." A library of programs essential for factor analysis is described, and the use of medium sized computers as the IBM 650 deprecated for factor analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Alpine ecosystems (alpine tundra) occur at a range of air density, water availability and seasonality worldwide on the treeless high terrain of mountains. They vary along geographic scales: boreal dwarf-shrub heaths, temperate sedge heaths, subtropical dwarf shrubs and tussock grasslands, and tropical giant forblands. Along local topographic gradients plant cover changes from windswept dwarf-shrub heath, to dense grass-sedge heath, to snowbank vegetation. These cold and relatively little exploited alpine ecosystems, nonetheless, are among those where climate warming impacts are forecast to be pronounced and detectable early on. We first review alpine life conditions and organism traits as a background to understanding climate impact related processes. Next, we provide an account of how alpine flora and vegetation have been impacted by recently observed climate change. Finally, a global network for long-term monitoring of climate-induced changes of vegetation and biodiversity in alpine environments is described.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) was used to clarify the glacial history of the rare, disjunctly distributed, alpine cushion plant Androsace wulfeniana, which is endemic to the Eastern Alps (Austria and Italy). Disjunct populations in the Dolomites are genetically very distinct from those in the main distributional area. It is hypothesized that they are descendants of long-term isolated glacial survivors and are not a result of recent long-distance dispersal. Within the main distributional area of the species in the central Eastern Alps, two groups of populations can be distinguished, which are congruent with hotspots of rare relictual vascular plant taxa. In the taxonomically closely related A. brevis growing in the Southern Alps (Italy, Switzerland), no genetic-geographical structure was found. Genetic variation is extremely low in disjunct populations of A. wulfeniana in the Dolomites and in A. brevis. In contrast, in the main distributional area of A. wulfeniana, genetic variation is similar to that of the colonizing widespread congener A. alpina. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 141, 437–446.
Recent studies elucidating the glacial history of alpine plants have yielded controversial results. While some have favoured glacial survival on mountain tops above the glaciers (nunataks), others did not find support for this hypothesis. Furthermore, all of the published phylogeographic patterns are strikingly different. In order to provide more data for a future comparative phylogeographical approach, we investigated 53 populations of the high alpine cushion plant Androsace alpina (Primulaceae), endemic to the European Alps, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). While Principal Co-ordinate Analysis (PCoA) of populations revealed four genetically-defined phylogeographical groups corresponding to geographic regions, Neighbour Joining analysis (NJ) separated only three groups. Mantel tests were used to assess the goodness-of-fit between the grouping in PCoA and the genetic similarity matrix, and these showed high similarity between the two eastern phylogeographical groups. This, together with other lines of evidence, is interpreted as an indication for colonization of the eastern part of the distributional range of A. alpina from westerly adjacent populations. The phylogeographical groups can all be related to potential refugia for alpine plants, based on geological and palaeoclimatological data. However, due to the comparatively weak phylogeographical structure, our data do not allow us to rule out glacial survival on nunataks in central parts of the Pleistocene ice shield.
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