Morphology and Economic Value of Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche)

Macadamia has a scientific name Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche from the Proteaceae family. The Macadamia plant habitat is in highland areas with an altitude of 1000 masl with a temperature of ≤ 32˚C. Macadamia plants are perennials with tough stems, and the branching is visible (monopodial). The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological characteristics of Macadamia plants and their economic value. The research was conducted at PTPN XII Sempol Plantation, Bondowoso with descriptive-qualitative method. The results of morphological observations showed that macadamia fruit is a dry fruit, indehiscent (when ripe the skin/shell does not break), similar to the type of achene fruit but the shell is thick and hard. Woody stems (lignosus) with monopodial branching type, incomplete leaves consisting of stalks and leaf blades, leaf blades are oblong-elongated, incised independently, pinnate leaf bones, phyllotaxis opposite crosswise. Macadamia trees can produce round fruit of about 20-70 kg per year with a monthly profit of Rp. 8,905,500. The economic potential of the Macadamia plant is very promising, as evidenced by the ongoing import of peeled macadamia with a volume of 6,862 kilograms worth US$ 145,100 (approximately Rp 1.9 billion) or Rp 291,405.29 per kilogram.

Heracleum piliferum (Apiaceae), a new species from central Nepal

A new species, Heracleum piliferum (Apiaceae), is described from the Annapurna mountain massif, central Nepal. The new species is related to H. forrestii and H. hemsleyanum and differs from them in dense pubescence of petioles, short triangular sheaths of stem leaves, 2-pinnate leaf blades, shallow notched terminal leaf segments, crenulate leaf margin, larger terminal umbels, and broadly winged lateral ribs of the mericarps.

A new tuberous species of Begonia L. (Begoniaceae) from southern Yunnan, China

A new species, Begonia depingiana from southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, B. depingiana is similar to B. namkadingensis in habit, its tuberous rootstock and tepal number of the male and female flowers, but significantly differs by its 3 stigmas, and 3-locular ovary. It also resembles B. pellionioides in its pinnate leaf venation, but distinguished by the indumentum characters of its stem and ovary, tuberous rootstock, shorter plant, and unequally 3-winged capsule.

The identity of Clematis dongchuanensis (Ranunculaceae) from northeastern Yunnan, China

We demonstrate that Clematis dongchuanensis (Ranunculaceae), described from Dongchuan in northeastern Yunnan, China and considered to be related to C. repens in having simple leaves, erect sepals and pubescent filaments and anthers, is identical with C. connata var. trullifera, a taxon with pinnate leaves of 5−7 (9) leaflets. The simple leaves described in C. dongchuanensis are actually leaflets of a pinnate leaf in C. connata var. trullifera. We therefore place C. dongchuanensis in synonymy with C. connata var. trullifera. Lectotypification is proposed for C. connata var. trullifera and for C. coriigera, a synonym of C. connata var. trullifera.

Phylogeny of Chinese Chamaesium (Apiaceae: Apioideae) inferred from ITS, cpDNA and morphological characters

Chamaesium (Apiaceae) is a morphologically specific genus distributed mainly at high altitudes from East Himalaya to Southwest China. China is an important diversity center of Chamaesium, where most of its species occur. It differs from most Apiaceae taxa by 1- pinnate leaf blade, and fruit with primary and secondary ribs all prominent to narrowly winged. The objective of the present study is to contribute to the phylogenetic relationships within Chamaesium, using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and three plastid makers (rpl16, rps16 and trnT-trnL). Nine species involving 28 populations of Chamaesium, three species of Bupleurum were collected this time and seven sequences of Pleurospermeae clade were obtained from the NCBI, to infer their phylogeny using Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses for the first time. The monophyly of Chamaesium is supported, proved that each species belongs to an individual clade, and the differentiation between species is obvious. Some new characteristics such as morphology in fruit and basal leaves, are used in the identification key, and new geographical distribution of Chamaesium species in China were provided. The taxonomic treatments for six species (not include the previously described species) in China including type materials, synonyms, distribution, habitats and specimens examined were carried out comprehensively referring to previous studies and our own fieldwork. A new identification key for the Chinese species of Chamaesium is reported.

Leaf development in Aralia elata in relation to the partial-shoot concept

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. has large bipinnate leaves in which the rachis bears pairs of leaflets in the distal region and pairs of rachillae bearing leaflets in the proximal region. A supernumerary leaflet is also inserted on the rachis adjacent to each rachilla. The rachilla and supernumerary leaflet could perhaps represent an axillary/axillant relationship, in which case the whole leaf would have a notable similarity to a shoot system, and could lend itself to interpretation as a partial shoot system. The development of the leaf has been examined with this in mind. The supernumerary leaflets arise separately from, and later than the rachillae with which they are associated. It is concluded from this and other evidence, for instance the orientation of the plane of dorsiventrality of leaf components, that the resemblance of the leaf to a shoot system is coincidental. However the leaf can be interpreted along lines suggested by classical morphology as an example of a palmate-pinnate leaf, with the addition of reiteration of the palmate element at each cycle of initiation of supernumerary leaflets.

CDC Desiray desi chickpea

CDC Desiray, a desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar, was released in 1999 by the Crop Development Centre (CDC), University of Saskatchewan for distribution to Select seed growers in western Canada through the Variety Release Committee of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. CDC Desiray has pinnate leaf type, fair ascochyta blight resistance, early maturity, medium-sized plump seeds with a light tan coloured seed coat and good yielding ability in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones of the Canadian prairies. Key words: Chickpea, Cicer arietinum L., cultivar description, ascochyta blight

CDC Nika desi chickpea

CDC Nika, a desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar, was released in 2000 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, for distribution to Select seed growers in western Canada through the Variety Release Committee of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. CDC Nika has a pinnate leaf type, fair ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr.] resistance, medium maturity, large, plump seeds with a tan coloured seed coat and good yielding ability in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones of the Canadian prairies. Key words: Chickpea, Cicer arietinum L., cultivar description, ascochyta blight