scholarly journals Pollen morphology of the Megamexican cycads reveals the potential of morphometrics to identify cycad genera

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 182-197
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Vovides ◽  
Roger Guevara ◽  
Mario Coiro ◽  
Sonia Galicia ◽  
Carlos Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Plant Systematics ◽  
Difficult Case ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Morphometric Methods ◽  
Small Pollen ◽  
Study Species

Background: Although pollen morphology has always been an important tool in plant systematics, the possibility of distinguishing between related taxa is still debated. A difficult case is the cycads, where their morphology and small size is very similar. Pollen morphology has been important in plant systematics and determination at the species level is possible depending on the group. Controversial cases are the cycads, where their small pollen and smooth sculpture when observed under light microscopy present few useful characters for separation at the species level. Question: Will cycad pollen morphometry be useful to distinguish taxa? Study species: 15 species within the genera Ceratozamia, Dioon and Zamia were investigated with five species of each genus. Methods: Pollen was obtained from both live specimens from the Clavijero Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Ecología, A.C., as well as herbarium specimens. Acetolyzed pollen was used for descriptions and morphometry, and non-acetolyzed pollen for SEM images. Results: The thickness of the exine and pollen sculpture of Dioon differed from that of Ceratozamia and Zamia thus allowing its identification. The pollen morphology of Ceratozamia and Zamia is very similar and therefore difficult to distinguish between species. Conclusions: The thicker exine of Dioon allows its pollen to be distinguished from the other two genera. Morphometric methods must be applied to distinguish pollen between species of Ceratozamia and Zamia.

scholarly journals Taxonomic significance of palynomorphological characteristics of selected Centranthus (Caprifoliaceae) species

Hacquetia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-256
Author(s):  
Zoya M. Tsymbalyuk ◽  
Daniella Ivanova ◽  
Lyudmila M. Nitsenko
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Taxonomic Significance ◽  
Specific Identification ◽  
Medium Length ◽  
Exine Sculpture ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
First Time

Abstract Pollen morphology of herbarium specimens of four Centranthus species (C. ruber, C. longiflorus, C. kellereri and C. calcitrapae) was studied using LM and SEM. The research aim was to provide data on their pollen characteristics and to evaluate the taxonomic value of these data for species-specific identification. Pollen grains are tricolpate, suboblate to prolate (P/E = 0.81–1.42); medium- or large-sized (P = 49.21–90.44 µm; E = 43.89–93.10 µm). Colpi are long or medium-length, wide at equator, tapered to acute or obtuse ends. Exine sculpture is echinatemicroechinate-nanoechinate; echini (1.00–1.39 µm high) and microechini (0.55–0.98 µm) are conical, with straight or convex sides and acute apices, nanoechini are 0.22–0.46 µm high. Most important characters of taxa diagnostic at species level for the taxonomy are: size of pollen and colpi, exine structure, size of echini and microechini, and pattern of tectum in areas between echini. Pollen grains of C. calcitrapae and C. macrosiphon (sect. Calcitrapa) are generally smaller in size than grains of C. ruber, C. longiflorus and C. kellereri (sect. Centranthus). Pollen of C. kellereri was analysed for the first time in the current study.

scholarly journals Propagation of Dry Habitat Fern Species Using Spore Collections from Historic Herbarium Specimens

2011 ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
Gunnar Ovstebo
Keyword(s):  
Royal Botanic Garden ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Spore Viability ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Herbarium Material ◽  
Plant Collection ◽  
Fern Species ◽  
Herbarium Collections ◽  
Horticultural Research

Spores sourced from historic herbarium specimens have been used to introduce wild-collected material to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) living plant collection. The ability of dry habitat ferns to maintain spore viability for prolonged periods makes it possible to grow plants from the historically important RBGE herbarium collections. The factors that affect the ability of spores to germinate from herbarium collections are described. Three fern species from the Pteridaceae – Actiniopteris semiflabellata, Anogramma leptophylla and Aleuritopteris scioana – which were not previously in cultivation at RBGE were germinated from herbarium material of different ages. Germination was observed from all three species. Plants produced in this experiment were accessed into the RBGE living plant collection for future horticultural research and germination trials.

scholarly journals Orchid Flora of Laos: findings from a survey of limestone karst vegetation in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Laos

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 9397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Sahani ◽  
Stephan W. Gale ◽  
André Schuiteman ◽  
Somsanith Bouamanivong ◽  
Gunter A. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Northeast Monsoon ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
The Family ◽  
Major Project

A major project to study the phytodiversity of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot was initiated by Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, in 2011, with the aim of surveying primary forest fragments and identifying conservation priorities within this expansive but highly threatened ecoregion. The Vang Vieng area of Vientiane Province, northern Laos, was chosen as a focus for a pilot expedition, since it features an extensive karst landscape that has barely been explored. Together with officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Lao PDR, surveys of three sites were conducted in April 2012, at the end of the dry northeast monsoon season. A total of 283 herbarium specimens were collected. These collections comprised nearly 180 specimens from the family Orchidaceae, of which approximately 136 were unique taxa. At least one of these is a species new to science and a further nine represent new distributional records for Laos. A list of the species encountered during the study is presented and the significance of the findings is discussed. Major threats to the natural environment in northern Laos are highlighted.

scholarly journals Is Pteropyrum a pathway to C4 evolution in Polygonaceae? An integrative approach to the taxonomy and anatomy of Pteropyrum (C3), an immediate relative of Calligonum (C4)

2019 ◽  
Vol 192 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moslem Doostmohammadi ◽  
Maryam Malekmohammadi ◽  
Morteza Djamali ◽  
Hossein Akhani
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
High Plasticity ◽  
Storage Tissue ◽  
Mesophyll Cells ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Mesophyll Tissue

Abstract Pteropyrum is a small genus of Polygonaceae with four species from the arid regions of Iran and adjacent countries. Pteropyrum spp. are not precisely delimitated and are difficult to identify because of their high plasticity in morphological characters. Pteropyrum (C3) has a close affinity to Calligonum (C4) and is therefore a suitable case for C4 evolutionary studies. We investigated the morphology and micromorphology (including pollen morphology) of Pteropyrum and elucidated the phylogenetic relationships with Atraphaxis and Calligonum using nuclear ITS sequences. Characteristics of the photosynthetic tissues such as volume and number of layers of primary carbon assimilation tissues (PCA) and photosynthetic carbon reduction tissue (PCR) were studied. In addition, the leaf and cotyledon anatomical characters of Pteropyrum (C3), Atraphaxis (C3) and Calligonum (C4), and their δ 13C values were compared to look for evolutionary changes in assimilating organs. The molecular phylogenetic tree identifies two strongly supported clades in Pteropyrum and its close relationship with Calligonum, confirming previous studies. Some morphologically similar species belong to different clades, which is probably due to convergent evolution and homoplasy. Leaf anatomical studies show that Atraphaxis has a multilayered mesophyll tissue, whereas Calligonum has one-layered mesophyll cells. The volume and layer number of mesophyll tissue cells decreases, whereas water storage tissue area significantly increases from Atraphaxis to Pteropyrum and Calligonum. This phenomenon confirms previous studies in other lineages with C4 salsoloid anatomy that have evolved through increasing of water storage tissue and succulence of assimilating organs. In the taxonomic part of the paper, a key to identification of accepted taxa of Pteropyrum, description of species and distribution maps are presented based on numerous herbarium specimens and our own rich collections from the field. Four new species are described based on a combination of morphology of seedlings and mature plants, pollen morphology and molecular data. A subspecific classification is suggested to show morpho-geographical variation of Pteropyrum aucheri s.l.

WERDERMANN’S ‘PLANTAE CHILENSES’ AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-406
Author(s):  
D. W. Braidwood ◽  
V. Morales ◽  
M. F. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Royal Botanic Garden ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Label Data

The Erich Werdermann collection ‘Plantae Chilenses’ held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh constitutes an important set of herbarium specimens from the Chilean flora, and represents over 10% of preserved specimens from Chile in the herbarium. Duplicate sets of specimens were distributed from the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem to a further 15 major international herbaria. Here we provide a description of this collection, highlighting aspects of Werdermann’s journey in Chile. Included are his itinerary and maps showing where the specimens were collected. An important aspect of the paper is to clarify ambiguities concerning label data in order to provide more accurate detail for researchers using Werdermann’s specimens.

Impatiens agastyamalayensis stat. nov. (Balsaminaceae)—A reassessment of Impatiens rufescens var. agastyamalayensis and rediscovery of the plant from the Western Ghats, India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 326 (2) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALFRED JOE ◽  
V. BHASKAR ◽  
MAMIYIL SABU
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Herbarium Specimen ◽  
Level I ◽  
Seed Hair ◽  
The Western Ghats

Impatiens rufescens var. agastyamalayensis was described based on a herbarium specimen of C.A. Barber collected in 1901 from Agastyamala. It has now been rediscovered from the same locality after more than a century. Present studies on fresh specimens revealed that the characters are strong enough to elevate the variety to species level, I. agastyamalayensis stat. nov. A detailed description and color photographs are given for easy identification of the species. Detailed notes on seed hair and pollen morphology of I. agastyamalayensis are also provided.

Pollen Morphology and Taxonomic Significance of Chinese Morus L.

2014 ◽  
Vol 618 ◽  
pp. 344-348
Author(s):  
Ling Liu ◽  
Xi Tong Shen ◽  
Xiang Ping Chen ◽  
Xiao Min Fan ◽  
Ren Fang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Morus Alba ◽  
Pollen Size ◽  
Aperture Size ◽  
Taxonomic Significance ◽  
Initial Forms ◽  
Scanning Electron

Study the Chinese Morus from the aspect of pollen morphology of 25 Chinese Morus plants of 10 species and 1 variety were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed the differences to be mainly in pollen size, aperture size, P/E value and columellae structure.Supported the conclusion thatMorus bombycisis a species level unit butMorus mizuho,Morus atropurpurea, andMorus multicaulisare not, the conclusion thatMorus atropurpurea,Morus multicaulis, Morus alba, andMorus macrouraare initial forms, and thatMorus mongolica, Morus mongolicavar. diabolica, Morus bombycis, andMorus australisare later forms.

scholarly journals Green Pioneers: Raising awareness of invasive plants for all ages

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Bogaerts ◽  
Sofie De Smedt ◽  
Sofie Meeus ◽  
Quentin Groom
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Invasive Plant Species ◽  
Botanic Garden

When researchers and managers are asked to rank the issues that prevent adequate control of invasive species, lack of public awareness is at the top of the list (Dehnen‐Schmutz et al. 2018). It is therefore imperative to raise the general public's awareness of the potential risks of introducing alien species into the wild. Green Pioneers, a citizen science project funded by the Flemish Government, (Fig. 1) aims to address this issue in Belgium, across age groups. The project aims to Create awareness on invasive species, highlighting how invasions can be avoided and how to mitigate their impact. Improve communication between citizens and scientists on conservation and invasive plant species. Augment the quality and quantity of data on invasive species. Create awareness on invasive species, highlighting how invasions can be avoided and how to mitigate their impact. Improve communication between citizens and scientists on conservation and invasive plant species. Augment the quality and quantity of data on invasive species. The project is developing three kinds of activity, specifically to attract a broad demographic: - 'Young Pioneers', by developing tools for teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathemathics for school children from 12-15 years old. - 'Online Pioneers', through our online citizen science platform DoeDat.be, by helping with the transcription of label information on herbarium specimens, - and 'Visiteers', by inviting companies and working age people to help us in the collection and to inform them about invasive species. Finally, we will be organizing a BioBlitz in spring 2020 at Meise Botanic Garden where we will celebrate plants and all our Green Pioneers, while also spreading the message of invasive plant awareness. During our 48 hour BioBlitz, scientists, volunteers and citizens are workig together to survey the biodiversity of our Botanic Garden. Ultimately, Green Pioneers aim to encourage recording of alien species by amateur botanists and create a generation of responsible gardeners who understand the consequences of releasing invasive alien plants into the wild.

scholarly journals Different Approaches between First and Second Mass Digitisation Project for the Herbarium (BR) at Meise Botanic Garden

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie De Smedt ◽  
Ann Bogaerts ◽  
Henry Engledow ◽  
Quentin Groom
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
The World ◽  
Label Information ◽  
Additional Funding ◽  
Macro Algae

The Herbarium of Meise Botanic Garden is in the top 15 herbaria worldwide. The collection comprises some four million specimens, which are important for scientific research. Digitisation of specimens includes imaging, transcription of label information, linking data and making the results publicly accessible online. In addition to facilitating researchers’ access to specimens, digitisation also brings new possibilities for analysis and discovery of new data, such as the vast amount of information on handwritten labels. In the DOE! project (Digitale Ontsluiting Erfgoedcollecties), funded by the Flemish Government, 1.2 million herbarium sheets from the African and Belgian collections were digitised. We have received additional funding to digitise a further 1.4 million specimens for the remaining vascular plants and macro-algae collections, by October 2021. These include the historic collections of Von Martius and Van Heurck. Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794–1868) was a pioneering explorer whose expeditions led to the discovery of many species. He amassed over 300,000 specimens, some of which were used to compile the first Flora of Brazil. Henri Van Heurck (1838–1909) also gathered herbarium specimens from all over the world, including a specimen originally from the collection of Linnaeus. Despite this being our second mass digitisation project, there are significant differences in our approach. This is partly due to lessons learned from the first project and partly to the nature of the collections themselves. The differences in the tendering process, specimen preparation, workflow and data capture will be explained. Making these specimens openly available online through www.botanicalcollections.be is valuable to scientific research as well as valorising of our collections. Currently, the site attracts 7000 users a year, which adds up to 15,000 sessions a year and the average session is more than 8 minutes. This means that people are actively using our website and these numbers can be expected to grow as we add more specimens and functionality.

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