Pollen morphology of Rhododendron subgen. Tsutsusi and its systematic implications

Eighty-four pollen samples were obtained for 80 taxa, of which, 13 species and one variety are from sect. Brachycalyx Sweet, 58 species and two varieties from sect. Tsutsusi Sweet, and six species from subgen. Pentanthera （G. Don） Pojarkova, respectively. Pollen morphology of all samples was observed using LM and SEM. Pollen grains are revealed to be spheroidal and tetrahedral with tricolporate apertures. Pollen sizes of subgen. Tsutsusi （Sweet） Pojarkova range from 37.67 μm to 61.06μm, and the exine sculptures are more or less compactly granulated. Pollen sizes are significantly different between sect. Brachycalyx and sect. Tsutsusi of subgen. Tsutsusi. Rhododendron tashiroi Maxim. of sect. Tsusiopsis Sleumer shows a close affinity to sect. Brachycalyx. Pollen size and exine are consistent with general morphology in differentiating species in sect. Tsutsusi. Rhododendron huadingense B. Y. Ding ＆ Y. Y. Fang, once placed as a member of sect. Brachycalyx, should be considered as a species in subgen. Pentanthera.

The first mitochondrial genome for the butterfly family Riodinidae(Abisara fylloides) and its systematic implications

The Riodinidae is one of the lepidopteran butterfly families. This study describes the complete mitochondrial genome of the butterfly species Abisara fylloides, the first mitochondrial genome of the Riodinidae family. The results show that the entire mitochondrial genome of A. fylloides is 15301 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and a 423 bp A＋T-rich region. The gene content, orientation and order are identical to the majority of other lepidopteran insects. Phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted using the concatenated 13 protein-coding gene （PCG） sequences of 19 available butterfly species covering all the five butterfly families （Papilionidae, Nymphalidae, Peridae, Lycaenidae and Riodinidae）. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses highly supported the monophyly of Lycaenidae＋Riodinidae, which was standing as the sister of Nymphalidae. In addition, we propose that the riodinids be categorized into the family Lycaenidae as a subfamilial taxon.

The first mitochondrial genome for the butterfly family Riodinidae(Abisara fylloides)and its systematic implications

The Riodinidae is one of the lepidopteran butterfly families.This study describes the complete mitochondrial genome of the butterfly species Abisara fylloides,the first mitochondrial genome of the Riodinidae family.The results show that the entire mitochondrial genome of A.fylloides is 15301 bp in length,and contains 13 protein-coding genes,2 ribosomal RNA genes,22 transfer RNA genes and a 423 bp A+T-rich region.The gene content,orientation and order are identical to the majority of other lepidopteran insects.Phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted using the concatenated 13 protein-coding gene(PCG)sequences of 19 available butterfly species covering all the five butterfly families(Papilionidae,Nymphalidae,Peridae,Lycaenidae and Riodinidae).Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses highly supported the monophyly of Lycaenidae+Riodinidae,which was standing as the sister of Nymphalidae.In addition,we propose that the riodinids be categorized into the family Lycaenidae as a subfamilial taxon.

Pollen Morphology of Parnassia L. （Parnassiaceae） and Its Systematic Implications

: The pollen morphology of 28 species of Parnassia L. was investigated with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The shape of pollen grains in this genus varies from subspheroidal to prolate in equatorial view and is three-lobed circular in the polar view. Pollen grains are usually radially symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate or syntricolporate, with reticulate sculpture. The pollen characteristics among species are fairly similar to each other. Morphological information regarding the pollen grains shows that Parnassia is a natural genus. Based on exine ornamentation observed under SEM, three types of pollen grains were recognized: (i) type I, with foveolate-reticulate sculpture; (ii) type II, with a finely reticulate sculpture; and (iii) type III, with a coarsely reticulate sculpture. Most sections of this genus have one type of sculpture of pollen morphology, but Sect. Nectarotrilobos has three types of sculpture and Sect. Saxifragastrum has two types of sculpture. All three types of sculpture can be found in Southwest China, with species with the longest (Parnassia delavayi Franch.) and shortest (Parnassia faberi Oliv.) colpi, implying that Southwest China is the center of diversification of the genus.

A New Type of Embryo Sac in Cardiopteris and Its Systematic Implication

报道心翼果属 (CardiopterisWall.exRoyle)一种新的胚囊类型 :胚珠无珠被、直生、薄珠心。成熟胚囊中 ,卵器位于合点端 ,反足细胞位于珠孔端。这样的胚囊在所有进行过胚胎学研究的被子植物中系首次发现。合子和胚胎也位于合点端。心翼果属的这一新特征无疑是特异性的 。