Abstract:In the course of preparing the manuscript of Strobilanthes for the forthcoming Volume 19 of Flora of China, a broad concept of Strobilanthes is accepted. Eight new species are described and illustrated: Strobilanthes austrosinensis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. fengiana Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. taoana Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. wangiana Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. atroviridis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. rostrata Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. spiciformis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, and S. procumbens Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood. Three new combinations are necessary to be made: Strobilanthes primufolia (Nees) Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. cumingiana (Forst.) Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, and S. atropurpurea var. stenophylla (C. B. Clarke) Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood. Pollen morphology of S. austrosinensis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. atroviridis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood, S. spiciformis Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood and S. procumbens Y. F. Deng & J. R. I. Wood is illustrated.

Abstract:While preparing a treatment of Acanthaceae for the forthcoming Flora of China, Leptostachya caudatifolia H. S. Lo & D. Fang was found to show more similarities to Justicia L. than to Leptostachya Nees (e.g., its lower anther-theca spurred at a base and biaperturate pollen). A new combination, Justicia caudatifolia (H. S. Lo & D. Fang) Z. P. Hao, Y. F. Deng & T. F. Daniel, is proposed herein. Leptostachya wallichii Nees remains the sole species of the unispecific genus Leptostachya.

Abstract:Gastrodia R. Br., a newly recorded genus of Orchidaceae in Guangdong Province is reported herein, represented by G. peichatieniana S. S. Ying, which was only reported in Taiwan previous. The detailed morphological descriptions and photos of this plant are provided.

Abstract:The pollen morphology of six species and one variety of Peaderia L. were observed under SEM. The results showed that pollen grains of Peaderia were single, small or medium-sized, radially symmetric and tricolpate, with spheroidal or subprolate in equatorial view and three-lobed circular to obtuse triangular in the polar view, endoaperture absent. The exine ornamentation of pollen grains were perforate, microreticulate or reticulate, spinulescent or not. Pollen dimorphism was found in P. foetida and P. pertomentosa, in which P. pertomentosa was reported for the first time. It was consistent with the previous view that pollen dimorphism is not linked with style heterostyly. The evolutionary trend of exine ornamentation may be in order as: perforate, microreticulate or reticulate¬ →coarsely reticulate; rod-like luminal processes absent → rod-like luminal processes present. The pollen morphological characteristics of Peaderia belong to transition type in Rubiaceae.

Abstract:The changes in stomatal distribution, density and stomatal index of Canna generalis Bailey flower at different development stages were studied. The results showed that stomata distributed in upper and lower epidermis of petal, bract and calyx. Stomatal density and stomatal index on upper epidermis of petal, bract and calyx were smaller than those on lower surface. With the development of flower, the stomatal density and stomatal index on the petal, bract and calyx increased firstly and then decreased.

Abstract:The characteristics of five nutrient elements (K, Ca, Mg, N and P) in precipitation, throughfall and stemflow were studied in an monsoon broad-leaved evergreen forest at Dinghushan, Guangdong Province. Based on the precipitation allocation principles, the variation and input characteristics of these nutrients were calculated. The results showed that the contents of nutrient elements were in order as rainfall < throughfall < stemfall, in which the contents of K+ and total nitrogen (TN) were the highest, and those of total phosphorus (TP), HPO42- and total organic phosphorus (TOP) were the lowest. The biggest variation coefficient (Cv) of ion contents in precipitation was 1.282 for total organic nitrogen (TON), and the smallest was 0.502 for NO3-, while those in throughfall were 2.357 for TOP and 0.621 for TN, respectively. There were no significant relation between tree species and the contents of element (P>0.05). The annual inputs of nutrient elements from throughfall and stemflow into the soil were in the order as: TN>K+> Ca2+>Mg2+>TP. The annual input of Ca2+ from throughfall and stemflow were higher than that from litterfall decomposition. It concluded that rainfall was an important factor in transferring nutrient elements from forest canopy to soils.

Abstract:The effects of climate change on distributions of 5 species, such as Tsoongiodendron odorum, Liriodendron chinese, Kingdonia uniflora, Boschniakia rossica and Acanthopanax senticosus in China were analyzed using CART (classification and regression tree) model and climate change scenarios of A2 and B2. The results showed that the current distributions of these plants except of T. odorum would decrease under climate change, and the new or total distribution region of T. odorum would increase, while those of other plants decrease. And the reducetions of the current, new or total distribution region of B. rossica and A. senticosus are the highest, then were L. chinese and K. uniflora. T. odorum and L. chinese would distribute towards north of current distribution regions, while K. uniflora towards southwest, and B. rossica and A. senticosus would dissipate at the period of 2081~2100. Moreover, the changes in distribution of these plants inconsistent with those in annual mean temperature and annual precipitation. There were no significant relation (P>0.05) between the annual mean air temperature, precipitation in China and current distribution of T. odorum, also with new or total distribution region of K. uniflora, and did not between the distribution of B. rossica and annual precipitation in China (P>0.05). It indicated that the spatial distribution pattern of these species would change with climate changes.

Abstract:Sinosideroxylon wightianum communities in Dananshan Region in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China were investigated in 2006. The results showed that Sinosideroxylon wightianum was simple dominant species in communities, which usually grew at barren hill, slop field and hollow, with patch distribution. S. wightianum communitiesy could be divided into ten types; and S. wightianum was a characteristic species in evergreen broad-leaved forests. The population structure of S. wightianum community was simple, species distribution was uneven, and species diversity index were different among communities. S. wightianum population was dominanted by class II small trees with class I seedlings and III strong trees, which indicated that S. wightianum population would keep dominant in communities in a long time. Interspecies association between S. wightianum and other species, such as Toxicodendron vernicifluum, was week, indicating thatthe communities were at early succession stage.

Abstract:The niche characteristics of 13 main species in Cinnamomun micranthum forest, including niche breadth, niche similarity proportion and niche overlap, were studied by the quantitative investigation method in Wanmulin Nature Reserve of Fujian Province. The results showed that most dominant species in the C. micranthum forest had wide niche, in which the niche of C. micranthum population was the widest with absolute dominant in diameter class, it indicated C. micranthum had strong ecological adaptability in community. The niche similarity proportion among different species was at high level, of which the species with niche similarity proportion above 0.5 reached 44.9%. The niche overlaps between C. micranthum and other broad-niche-breadth species were high, most from 0.05 to 0.10. It suggested that C. micranthum could adapt habitat and formed mixed forest with other wide-niche species at present.

Abstract:Fruit cracking in six-year-old white flesh loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. ‘Ninghaibai’) was studied at fruit development stages, and the fruit soluble sugar contents, relative water contents of soil and water potential of fruits were measured. The prevention effects on fruit cracking were also investigated by using covering plastic film, cutting roots and fruit bagging. The results showed that fruit shape index tended to decrease with fruit growth. When approaching maturity, the water potential in fruit and the relative water content of soil increased while the soluble sugar content in fruit reached the highest. After simulated heavy rain, fruit water potential had positive correlation with fruit cracking (R=0.941). The loquat fruits accumulated permeable materials such as soluble sugars and absorbed water from soil when fruits were nearly mature, it made fruit water potential increase, and then caused the fruit cracking. The inhibition effects on fruit cracking were the best by combination of covering plastic film, cutting roots and fruit bagging, in which the covering plastic film and cutting roots had large contribution.

Abstract:Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized for Castanopsis fargesii Franch. (Fagaceae), a dominant species in typical broad-leaved evergreen forest of China. The development of microsatellite loci was conducted using the fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats protocol (FIASCO). Fifteen microsatellite primers (SSR) were used to examine the genetic diversity of a natural population of C. fargesii in Jiulianshan Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province. The number of alleles varied from four to eight, with a mean value of 6.7 alleles per locus. The mean observed heterozygosity (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) were 0.690 and 0.698, ranging from 0.250 to 1.000 and 0.293 to 0.867, respectively. The first estimate of paternity exclusion probability Pr (EX1) varied from 0.043 to 0.527 for individual loci and 0.9972 for the combined loci, when the offspring was sampled but the mother is not. The second estimate, Pr (EX2), ranged from 0.159 to 0.694 for individual loci and 0.9999 for the combined loci, when both the mother and the offspring were sampled. It indicated that these loci could provide a powerful tool for investigating genetic diversity and population genetic structure of C. fargesii.

Abstract:Several major nutrients contents, such as mineral elements, proteins, amino acids and vitamins，from fresh leaves and stems of Urtica fissa were analyzed, and the protein nutritive value was evaluated by using fuzzy identifyication mode and ratio coefficient of amino acid. The results showed that the contents of niacin, dietary fiber and the most mineral elements in U. fissa were higher than other vegetables except for sodium (Na) and selenium (Se). The protein content in U. fissa reach up to 6.2% (fresh weight). The essential amino acids (EAA) in U. fissa were complete, accounting for 41.69% in total amino acid. The close degree of protein in U. fissa is 0.8667, the score of ratio coefficient of amino acid is 62.53. The first limited amino acid is sulfur-containing amino acids, Methionine and Cysteine. The content of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in U. fissa did not exceed the standards of limited gauge of the vegetable. Therefore, it suggested that U. fissa can serve as a safe wild vegetable.

Abstract:Emblica polysaccharides (EPS) have biological activities on free radical scavenging, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor. The effect factors on yield of emblica polysaccharides from Phyllanthus emblica extracted by ultrasound were studied. The results showed that the factors included ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time, solid-liquid ratio, ultrasonic extraction temperature. The optimal extraction condition were ultrasonic power of 475 W with solid (g) to liquid (mL) ratio of 1: 20 at 80℃ for 70 min, with the yield of 95.86 mg g-1 DW. Ultraviolet spectrum and FT-IR (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis showed that EPS was a α type acidic heteropolysaccharide containing pyran and glycuronic acid. The structural modification of EPS by ultrasonic radiation was not observed.

Abstract:Four flavans, named as (+)(2R,3S) afzelechin (1), (-)(2R,3R) epiafzelechin (2), (-)(2R,3S)afzelechin-(4α-8)(2R,3S) afzelechin (3) and (-)(2R,3S) afzelechin-(4α-8) (2R,3R)epiafzelechin (4), were isolated from ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus microcarpa L. for the first time. These compounds were evaluated antiviral effects in vitro towards herpes simplex virus (HSV). Flavans 1 and 2 exhibited low toxicity to rabbit kidney primary cells, moderate antiviral activity against HSV-1 with IC50 values of 0.49 and 0.55 mg mL-1, and therapeutic indexes (TI) of 4.31 and 3.19, respectively. According to cytotoxity and cytopathic effect (CPE) assays, they can be recommended as reference markers for quality control of Folium Fici microcarpae. Other seven known compounds, such as (+)catechin (5), phaseic acid (6), benzoic acid (7), 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (8), phloroglucinol (9), daucosterol (10), and β-sitosterol (11), were also identified.

Abstract:The aqueous extract from the whole plant of Isodon lophanthoides var. graciliflora was separated and purified by means of chromatographic technology and eleven compounds were isolated. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as vitexin (1), pachypodol (2), chrysoplenetin (3), 9-hydroxy-5,7-megastigmadien-4-one (4), 3,9-dihydroxy-5,7-megastigmadien-4-one (5), loliolide (6), 4-acetyl-5-methyldihydrofuran-2-one (7), 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde (8), 5-methoxymethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (9), indole-3-aldehyde (10), and succinic acid monobutyl ester (11). All the compounds were obtained from Isodon lophanthoides for the first time.

Abstract:Eight compounds were isolated from seeds of Achyranthes bidentata Bl. On the basis of the spectral data, they were identified as N-trans-feruloyltyramine (1), glycerol 1-O-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoate (2), -ecdysterone (3), polypodine B (4), ergosta-7,22-diene-3,5,6-triol (5), oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (6), oleanolic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (7), and daucosterol (8). Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 7 were obtained from the plant at the first time.

Abstract:Six compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of Chinese eaglewood (Aquilaria sinensis). On the basis of spectroscopic data (NMR, MS, etc), they were identified as 3,3´-(3-hydroxypropane-1,2-diyl)diphenol (1), guaiacylacetone (2), 6-hydroxy-2-[2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)ethyl]chromone (3), 6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)chromone (4), 6-hydroxy-2-(2-phenethyl)chromone (5), and 5α,6β,7α,8β-tetrahydroxy-2-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)ethyl]- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (6). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound and compound 3 was isolated from Chinese eaglewood for the first time.

Abstract:The relationship between coastal forest ecosystem and wind damage was reviewed, including the factors of forest wind damage, wind damage effects on coastal forest ecosystem, evaluation method of wind damage and measures of management for decreasing wing damage. We should pay more attention to the relationship between coastal forest structure and function at different spatial scale, the effects on biotic/abiotic wind damage factors at local and regional scale, and wind risk assessment model.

Abstract:Karst area is a special terrain mainly consisting of limestone in south China. Water deficit with thin and discontinuous soil is its typical characteristics. The problem of desertification is attracting more attentions in Karst area. Soil severely erodes, bedrock appears massively, and productivity decreases in limestone districts, which are all caused by human’s unreasonable social economic activity. It is becoming urgent to carry out ecological restoration in limestone desertification region. As a degraded limestone ecosystem, some ecophysiological characteristics of restoration process are studied by the plant-ecophysiology-method in limestone region. It’s important significance to quest the succession mechanism of population adapting growing in Karst area. The advances in habitat fitness, photosynthesis-physiology, water-physiology, nutrient-physiology, mycorrhizal physiology, genetic physiology of limestone plants were summarized. Furthermore, some prospects on calcium fitness, carbon circle and genetic mechanism under drought in limestone area were discussed.