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Southern Xizang harbors the highest diversity of plants in Xizang of China, and recently there have been many new species discovered in this region. Based on field surveys and review of literature and herbarial specimens, one new species (Begonia renqinbengensis D.K.Tian & W.G. Wang) and one new record (B. leptoptera Hara) of Begonia are diagnosed and reported in this paper. Also B. leptoptera is redescribed with illustrations. The conservation statuses of two species are assessed according to Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton is an outstanding herb with the homology of medicine and food. Its ripe fruits are traditionally used as an important tonic for kidneys and liver in China. Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton is rich in nutritional components and a variety of bioactive ingredients. A total of 206 compounds have been isolated and identified, they mainly include flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides, and triterpenoids. These compounds exert anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, liver protective, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton has been traditionally used to treat many complex diseases, including osteoporotic bone pain, rheumatic bone, cancer, related aging symptoms, and so on. In the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are more than 100 prescriptions containing L. lucidum W.T. Aiton. Among them, some classical preparations including Er Zhi Wan and Zhenqi fuzheng formula, are used in the treatment of various cancers with good therapeutic effects. Additionally, L. lucidum W.T. Aiton has also many excellent applications for functional food, ornamental plants, bioindicator of air pollution, algicidal agents, and feed additives. Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton has rich plant resources. However, the application potential of it has not been fully exploited. We hope that this paper provides a theoretical basis for the high-value and high-connotation development of L. lucidum W.T. Aiton in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moslae Herba (MH) can be used for both medicine and food and has a long history of medicine. MH has the effects of sweating and relieving the exterior, removing dampness and harmonizing, and is mainly used for colds caused by damp heat in summer. It is called "Xiayue Zhi Mahuang" in China. So far, 123 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from MH, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical compounds. Its chemical components have a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic sedation, antipyretic, immune regulation, insecticidal, and other effects. In addition, because of its aromatic odor and health care function, MH also has development and utilization value in food, chemical, and other fields. This paper reviewed the research progress of MH in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology and provided a possible direction for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses a special issue of Grass and Forage Science focused on grassland, forage, and turfgrass science in China. The issue highlights the developments in these areas in China and includes papers on topics such as genetics and grass breeding, forage production and utilization, grassland degradation, and turfgrasses. The article emphasizes the breadth of Chinese grassland science and notes an increase in the number of papers published from China in recent years. The authors express their gratitude to those who contributed to the special issue and anticipate continued growth in research from China in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Allelopathy Journal is the official publication of 'Allelopathy Books' that promotes allelopathy research and publish researches related to plant sciences and health sciences. This study aimed to present an insight about the researches published in this journal, to help the Authors, Readers and Editorial team to understand the journal in depth. We analyzed the scholarly publications published in the Allelopathy Journal, their Citations, focussing on other aspects such as Publication output, Citation analysis, Co-authorship patterns, Collaboration networks, Research productivity, Research topics and International collaboration. This study is useful to identify emerging trends and evaluate research impact. The data for the study was extracted from the Scopus Database for the period from 1996 to 2022. The results showed that the journal has published 1209 papers during this period, which received 9826 citations with an average of 8.13 citations per paper. F.Z. Wu was the most prolific author with 22 papers receiving 127 citations and Prof. S.S. Narwal, with second highest papers in the journal, received the highest number of citations (242). China was the most productive country with 425 papers in the journal, followed by India (243 papers). The Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institute in the journal and published 67 papers with 678 citations. A total of 4870 authors have appeared in 1209 papers with 0.91 degree of collaboration and a collaboration index of 4.03. Thematic maps indicated that the topics represented by keywords such as "Distribution", "Habitat", "Essential Oil", "Lettuce", "Morphology," have potential importance for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes of fatty acid compositions, volatile components, and microbial flora of bighead carp heads during fresh transportation were investigated. The brain, eye muscle, muscle near the incision (on the abdomen 5 cm away from the gills), and jaw muscle of bighead carp heads at ambient temperature (25°C) for 6 h and simulated fresh transportation (underwent ice storage and vibration) for 36 h and 72 h were evaluated. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids (38.98%) in four parts of bighead carp heads was the highest followed with saturated fatty acids (30.92%) band polyunsaturated fatty acids (24.50%), and their contents as well as the sensory quality were decreased significantly with the prolongation of fresh transportation time. There were significant differences in the composition and contents of volatile flavor compounds in the bighead carp heads during fresh transportation, including alcohols, aldehydes, esters, aromatic compounds, hydrocarbons, and other compounds, especially ketones and amines. In addition, the species richness of bighead carp heads decreased gradually with the extension of transportation time. The flora was mainly composed of Firmicutes and Proteus at the phylum level and Streptococcus and Lactococcus at the genus level. Conclusively, ketone and amine compounds in volatile substances as well as the dominant spoilage bacteria (Streptococcus) in the flora could be used as spoilage markers during the fresh transportation of bighead carp heads. Practical Application. Bighead carp head has gradually become a hot online product in China due to its rich nutrition and delicious taste. Fresh transportation is one of the most common methods for preserving fish to improve its nutrition, flavor, and taste. This paper is aimed at investigating the changes in quality, fatty acid content, volatile compounds, and microbial flora of bighead carp heads during fresh transportation. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the spoilage volatiles and bacteria for bighead carp heads during fresh transportation. It could provide a guiding and theoretical basis for the routine fresh-keeping transportation of bighead carp heads and offer a security assessment for their nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the botanical explorations in Eastern Himalaya region of Xizang in China during the period 2020 to 2021, seven orchid species, Bulbophyllum gamblei, B. trongsaense, Dendrolirium ferrugineum, Taeniophyllum javanicum, Nervilia macroglossa, Trachoma rhopalorrhachis and Uncifera lancifolia, are reported as new records for China. Trachoma Garay is a newly recorded genus in China. Detailed descriptions and photographic illustrations of each species are provided in this paper to facilitate identification. Additionally, B. xizangense has been revised as a synonym for B. linzhiense. Further, a new combination is made in accordance with current orchid taxonomy, Dendrolirium pachyphylla (≡Pinalia pachyphylla). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guihaia is the property of Guihaia Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

China has the largest straw production in the world. Comprehensive utilization of straw is restricted by its complex structure. Microbial degradation of straw is gradually attracted people’s attention, which is an important way to realize the effective utilization of straw resources. The paper reviewed the utilization status and biodegradation mechanism of straw, including the bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, genetic engineering technology utilized in microbial straw degradation, and influence of environmental factors on straw degradation. Furthermore, the application of metagenomics technology in analyzing the species composition, functional metabolism of microbial flora, and the mechanism of microbial flora degrading straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea may L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] intercropping is popular in many countries because of its high productivity. However, no studies have explored maize–soybean intercropping via bibliometric methods. Taking the Web of Science database, the visualization applications of CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to visually analyze the literature related to research in the field of maize–soybean intercropping, with the aim of studying keyword hotspots and evolving trends, and analyzing the future research directions. The results showed that the annual number of publications on maize–soybean intercropping showed rapid growth from 2010 to 2021. The top three publishing countries were China, the United States, and India, and the top three institutions were Sichuan Agricultural University, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, and China Agricultural University. Th three most popular journals were Field Crops Research, Agronomy Journal, and Indian Journal of Agronomy. Agronomy, multidisciplinary agriculture and plant science were the most popular research categories. A keyword analysis indicated that "maize" was the most popular study area. Crop root coupling processes, biological nitrogen fixation, efficient utilization of resources, carbon sequestration and emission reduction, microbial communities, and interspecific relationships are the current hot research topics. This study review and analyzed the current research hotspots and future research trends to provide an important reference for scientists to better respond to food security issues. Core Ideas: There has been a rapid increase in maize–soybean intercropping research.China, Chinese institutions, and Chinese scholars have conducted much of this research.Maize–soybean intercropping has shown an interdisciplinary distribution.Keywords showed the heterogeneity in maize–soybean intercropping publications across years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cretaceous continental strata developed in eastern Northeast China are rich in animal and plant fossils and have formed important minerals such as coal and oil shale. The only records of the earliest marine strata in Early Cretaceous are also preserved here besides Tibet' which is of great significance for the study on Cretaceous geography in China. Many new discoveries have been made in the Cretaceous stratigraphy of this area in recent years' some of which have filled the gaps of strata study in Northeast China. The paper also preliminarily discusses the co-evolution of Late Cretaceous flora and fauna represented by dinosaurs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cultivation facilitates the naturalization and subsequent invasion of non-native plant species through, for example, protection from predators or reducing environmental stochasticity. With the development of tourism, non-native plant species have been increasingly introduced into rural home gardens for landscape greening and amenity planting. However, few studies have examined non-native flora in rural home gardens, and in particular the importance of tourism in determining changes of garden non-native flora has not been scrutinized. In this study, we investigated non-native plant species in 135 home gardens across five rural tourism villages in tropical China. Attributes related to garden or household characteristics were also collected through interviews and questionnaires. A distance-based redundancy analysis was then performed to reveal the relationships between the non-native species composition and garden attributes. A total of 338 non-native plant species were recorded in the surveyed gardens. Among them, the majority (63%) were ornamentals, whereas 19% were for nutritional uses and 12% were spontaneous weeds. Gardening preference and distance to tourist attractions governed the non-native compositions, with gardens preferring cultural (ornamental) cultivation or gardens close to tourist attractions having more non-native species. These results highlight an increasing role of tourism in promoting non-native cultivation in rural gardens. Recommendations for species risk assessment, trade and supply regulation, and proper garden management are provided to help harness plant invasion along tourism development in rural China and other regions around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well documented that mountains tend to exhibit high biodiversity, how geological processes affect the assemblage of montane floras is a matter of ongoing research. Here, we explore landform-specific differences among montane floras based on a dataset comprising 17,576 angiosperm species representing 140 Chinese mountain floras, which we define as the collection of all angiosperm species growing on a specific mountain. Our results show that igneous bedrock (granitic and karst-granitic landforms) is correlated with higher species richness and phylogenetic overdispersion, while the opposite is true for sedimentary bedrock (karst, Danxia, and desert landforms), which is correlated with phylogenetic clustering. Furthermore, we show that landform type was the primary determinant of the assembly of evolutionarily older species within floras, while climate was a greater determinant for younger species. Our study indicates that landform type not only affects montane species richness, but also contributes to the composition of montane floras. To explain the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, we propose the 'floristic geo-lithology hypothesis', which highlights the role of bedrock and landform processes in montane floristic assembly and provides insights for future research on speciation, migration, and biodiversity in montane regions. An analysis of 140 floras from China reveals that high species diversity exists in granite and mixed landforms, while low species diversity is found in karst, Danxia, and desert landforms. Based on these findings, the authors provide new clues for understanding the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, highlighting the role of bedrock and landform processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Hypericum sampsonii Hance, also known as Yuanbao Cao in Chinese, is a traditional medicinal herb from the Guttiferae family and has been widely used in China to treat various conditions, including dysentery, enteritis, mastitis, scrofula, and contusion. Aim of the review: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity and safety of H. sampsonii and to highlight its potential for medical application and drug development. Materials and methods: We searched several databases, i.e., Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, CBM, CNKI, Google Scholar, etc., for relevant information on H. sampsonii. Additionally, we also consulted some books on Chinese medicine. Results: To date, 227 secondary metabolites have been isolated from H. sampsonii, including polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), benzophenones, xanthones, flavonoids, naphthodianthrones, anthraquinones and aromatic compounds. These metabolites exhibit various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects. PPAPs are considered the main active metabolites with rich biological activities. Despite being known as rich source of PPAPs, the full extent of H. sampsonii biological activities, including their potential as PDE4 inhibitors, remained unclear. Since, previous studies have mainly been based on structural identification of metabolites in H. sampsonii, and efficacy evaluations of these metabolites based on clinical applications of H. sampsonii lack sufficient data. However, current evidence suggest that PPAPs are the most likely material basis for efficacy. From the limited information available so far, there is no evidence of potential safety issues and the safety data are limited. Conclusion: Collectively, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety of H. sampsonii, a valuable medicinal plant in China with various pharmacological activities. Based on pharmacological studies, H. sampsonii shows potential for treating gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders as well as traumatic injuries, which aligns with traditional medicinal use due to the presence of PPAPs, benzophenones, xanthones, and flavonoids. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacological effects and elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms. In addition, pharmacological mechanisms and safety evaluation of PPAPs on animal models need to be clarified. Yet, further comprehensive studies are required to elucidate the phytochemical constituents, pharmacological mechanisms, structure-activity relationships, safety evaluation, and quality standards of this plant. Takentogether, this review highlights the potential of H. sampsonii for medical application and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mid‐Cretaceous was characterized by long‐term and stabilized high temperatures confirmed by numerous palaeoclimatic information from marine sedimentary archives. However, few terrestrial records have yet been employed to verify the terrestrial humidity under this long‐term hot climate. The Liupanshan Basin, located in central China during the Cretaceous contains thick Aptian‐Albian sediments. Here, we reconstructed a long‐term palaeovegetational record during late Aptian to Albian from the Huoshizhai Section and Sikouzi Section, Liupanshan Basin. Five palynological assemblages were defined from the bottom to top of these strata, and a total of 124 types of palynomorphs including 47 spore species and 77 gymnosperm pollen species were recognized in the palynological assemblages. Sporopollen analysis revealed that the spore‐pollen spectra of Huoshizhai Section were dominated by Perinopollenites and Bisaccate pollen. In Sikouzi section, the Classopollis content dominate in all samples (average 63.8%), with a few other pollen, including conifer bisaccates types, Perinopollenites, Jiaohepollis, Ephedripites, Cycadopites and a few spores. The sporopollen assemblage reflected that the flora of the central Asia continent gradually changed from Taxodiacean‐dominated to Cheirolepidiaceae‐dominated in the late Aptian and the Albian, which further indicates that the central Asia continent palaeoclimate gradually changed from a wet and cold climate to a long‐term dry and hot climate with small fluctuation. In addition, the Classopollis content also presented a slightly increased trend from late Aptian to late Albian, which probably indicated a gradually intensified hot and dry climate. The thermophilic floral changes and warmer/cooler ratio of the Sporomorph Ecogroup Model at the middle Madonghshan Formation also shows slightly decreased trends which correspond to the global short‐term cooling events at the Aptian‐Albian transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the frequency and distribution pattern of polyploid species in geographic parameters is of significance in understanding the mechanisms of polyploid speciation and evolutionary drivers of biodiversity. We here explored polyploid and paleopolyploid incidence frequency in a scale of 100 × 100 km grids in China. We found 33% of angiosperm species are polyploidy in China, and 23% of polyploid speciation. Western China and eastern China showed a significantly different polyploid and paleopolyploid frequency, with an evolutionary cradle of polyploid angiosperms in the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau. Herbaceous species exhibited higher polyploid frequency but lower paleopolyploid frequency than woody species, indicating the former experienced more rapid differentiation and speciation than the latter. Our results indicate that western China is an evolutionary cradle for polyploid angiosperms where harsh environment facilitates the establishment and survival of polyploids, while polyploid lineages tend to rediploidize to be diploids with sufficient time in suitable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our first record of the rare and scatteredly distributed Ixeridium sagittarioides for Guizhou, China, triggered a study to assess its systematic position. The species was placed in four different genera in the course of its taxonomic history and was recently treated with doubts as a member of Ixeridium in the Flora of China. Comparative morphological investigation and phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and five non-coding plastid DNA regions (petD region, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, rpl32-trnL(UAG) and 5´rps16-trnQ(UUG) spacers) provided evidence that the species is not a member of Ixeridium and the Crepidinae but has evolved by ancient hybridisation of members of the Lactuca alliance (Lactucinae). It is reinstated as Lactuca sagittarioides and a comprehensive morphological description is provided, based on material from its entire range of distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impatiens namchabarwensis was described as a new species in 2005 by Morgan et al. As already mentioned in the species description, I. namchabarwensis is morphologically similar to I. arguta and the small range of I. namchabarwensis in the eastern Himalaya is nested within the large, Himalayan range of I. arguta. Therefore, I. namchabarwensis has frequently been treated as synonym of I. arguta (e.g. in the Flora of China). We compared plant longevity, flower morphology and other functional floral traits and analyzed the differences between the two taxa. We found that I. namchabarwensis is a short‐lived perennial reaching maximally three years whereas I. arguta is a long‐lived perennial. Further, the floral traits of the two species differ significantly. These differences are also reflected in the main pollinator groups of the two species, which are hawk moths for I. namchabarwensis and bumblebees for I. arguta. Hence, we follow the argumentation of Morgan et al. and conclude that I. namchabarwensis and I. arguta are two distinct species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiosperms are a group of plants with the highest rate of evolution, the largest number of species, the widest distribution and the strongest adaptability. Needless to say, angiosperms are the most important group for the humans. The studies on the origin, evolution and systematics of angiosperms have been the major challenges in plant sciences. However, the origin and early history of angiosperms remains poorly understood and controversial among paleobotanists. Some paleobotanists insist that there were no angiosperms in the pre-Cretaceous age. However, this conclusion is facing increasing challenges from fossil evidence, especially Early Jurassic Nanjinganthus, which is based on over two hundred specimens of fossil flowers. Studying more fossil plants is the only reliable way to elucidate the origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Here, we document a new species of angiosperms, Qingganninginfructus formosa gen. et sp. nov, and provide the first detailed three-dimensional morphology of Qingganninginfructus gen. nov from the Middle Jurassic of Northwest China. A Micro-CT examination shows that the best-preserved fossil infructescence has eleven samaroid fruits, each with a single basal ovule. Since these fossils are distinct in morphology and organization from all organs of known gymnosperms and angiosperms (the latter are defined by their enclosed ovules), we interpret Qingganninginfructus as a new genus of angiosperms including a new species, Q. formosa gen. et sp. nov., and an unspecified species from the Middle Jurassic of Northwest China. The discovery of this new genus of angiosperms from the Middle Jurassic, in addition to the existing records, undermines the "no angiosperms until the Cretaceous" stereotype and updates the perspective on the origin and early history of angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Crataegus pinnatifida (C. pinnatifida), including C. pinnatifida Bge. and its variant C. pinnatifida Bge. var. major N, E. Br. has traditionally been used as a homologous plant for traditional medicine and food in ethnic medical systems in China. Crataegus pinnatifida , especially its fruit, has been used for more than 2000 years to treat indigestion, stagnation of meat, hyperlipidemia, blood stasis, heart tingling, sores, etc. This review aimed to provide a systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of C. pinnatifida. Key findings This plant contains flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, organic acids, saccharides and essential oils. Experimental studies showed that it has hypolipidemic, antimyocardial, anti-ischemia, antithrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic neuroprotective activity, etc. Importantly, it has good effects in treating diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Summary There is convincing evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies supporting the traditional uses of C. pinnatifida. However, multitarget network pharmacology and molecular docking technology should be used to study the interaction between the active ingredients and targets of C. pinnatifida. Furthermore, exploring the synergy of C. pinnatifida with other Chinese medicines to provide new understanding of complex diseases may be a promising strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We test (1) whether invasive angiosperm (flowering plant) species are a phylogenetically clustered subset of all naturalized angiosperm species within an angiosperm assemblage, (2) whether more harmful invasive species are more strongly, or less strongly, related to each other, (3) whether the result of the first test is consistent with those for geographic regions distributed in substantially different climatic conditions, and (4) whether patterns of phylogenetic relatedness for invasive species in regions across climatic gradients are consistent with those for overall naturalized species. Location: China. Time period: Current. Taxon: Angiosperms (flowering plants). Methods: We recognized 28 province‐level regions in China and collated naturalized and invasive species lists of angiosperms for each region. Two phylogenetic metrics (i.e., net relatedness index and nearest taxon index), which represent different depths of evolutionary history, were used to quantify phylogenetic relatedness of angiosperms in China and in each region. Values of the metrics of phylogenetic relatedness were related to temperature and precipitation. Results: At the national scale, invasive assemblage is a phylogenetically clustered subset of the naturalized species pool. More harmful invasive species are more strongly clustered. At the regional scale, both naturalized and invasive species are phylogenetically clustered subsets of the national naturalized species pool. Furthermore, invasive species in regional floras are also phylogenetically clustered subsets of their respective regional naturalized species pools. Main conclusions Invasive angiosperm species are a phylogenetically clustered subset of naturalized angiosperm species. More harmful invasive species are more strongly clustered with respect to their naturalized species pools, compared to less harmful invasive species. Our findings have significant implications to predicting and controlling invasive species based on phylogenetic relatedness among naturalized species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Devonian assemblages from South China have become an important source of data on the rise of land plants and are thus supplementary to a scenario historically based on fossils from the Laurussian region and Siberia. Less attention has been given to assemblages from Sichuan and their paleogeographic significance than to those from Yunnan and adjacent provinces in China. Methodology. Descriptions of plants, including lycopsids, with enations are based on coalified compression fossils lacking anatomy, and they complete our analyses of the Sichuan Lower Devonian assemblages. Compiled species lists for the entire assemblage are compared with those from coeval assemblages from South China using simple statistical methods (including Simpson's coefficient of similarity). Pivotal results. Studies confirm the presence of endemic lycophytes and emphasize the importance of detailed study of Drepanophycus spinaeformis before any conclusions about its global occurrence can be made. Conclusions. Statistical analysis of the whole flora confirms that the assemblage from Sichuan is distinct from that at Yunnan, but distinguishing two further subregions in South China requires descriptions of further taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)