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The flower described here as Valviloculus pleristaminis, a new genus and species of fossil angiosperms, was obtained from Myanmar amber deposits dating to the mid-Cretaceous period. The flower is staminate, with an ovoid, hollow floral cup. The perianth consists of 6 tepals, one of which was lost prior to preservation. Numerous helically arranged stamens are borne at the summit of the flower. The anthers are bilocular, with pollen sacs that dehisce by laterally hinged valves. The tip of the connective bears a cup-shaped appendage. The gynoecium is represented only by a cluster of vestigial styles centered among the stamens. The fossil is provisionally assigned to order Laurales, its closest affinities being with the families Monimiaceae and Atherospermataceae.

The fossil flower described here as Thymolepis toxandra is from amber deposits in Myanmar which have been dated as ca. 100 Ma. The peri-anth consists of 12 tepals of varying size and shape, arranged in decussate pairs at the summit of an obconic floral cup. The epidermis of some of the tepals is densely papillate-secretory. The flower is bisexual, the androecium consisting of 2 stamens whose anthers are bisporangiate, hippocrepiform, and densely hirsute. The gynoecium is visible only as a bilobed stigma or as the tips of two postgenitally fused styles, the re-mainder of the pistil(s) being hidden by the perianth and floral cup. It is suggested that the fossil may be an early representative of family Monimiaceae.

Premise of research. This is the first comparative study of inflorescence morphology through all seven families of the order Laurales (Atherospermataceae, Calycanthaceae, Gomortegaceae, Hernandiace...

Three flowers of a fossil angiosperm preserved in amber from Myanmar (Burma) are described as the new genus and species Dispariflora robertae. Although joined in a single cymose inflorescence, the flowers are variable in size and, in addition, they possess an unusual perianth in which 1 sepal is much enlarged and leaf-like, while the remaining 4 are smaller and unequal. The flowers each have 1 superior pistil with a peculiarly plumose and bristly ovary. The number of stamens is uncertain because most were lost before floral preservation, but scars on the receptacle suggest that at least 15 were present. The bithecal anthers open by longitudinal slits and basal glands may have been present on the filaments. Taken as a whole, the floral features that characterize Dispariflora suggest an affinity with members of Laurales, especially several Southern Hemisphere families allied with the Monimiaceae.

A single staminate flower preserved in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is described as Setitheca lativalva gen. et sp. nov. The fossil’s affinities appear to be with Monimiaceae and allied families of order Laurales. The perianth is composed of ca. 12 spirally arranged tepals of varying size and shape. A single whorl of 10 stamens is attached to the margin of a flat central disc. There is no gynoecium. In some of the stamens, the bilocular anthers are held upright, but in the others, the filaments are arched abaxially and the anthers are reflexed. Dehiscence is extrorse via 2 lateral, dorsally-hinged valves, as also occurs in some members of Hernandiaceae. The spherical pollen appears to be inaperturate. Such features as the unisexual flowers, valvate anthers, and a perianth of numerous, spirally arranged tepals are consistent with assignment of the fossil to this order of angiosperms.

A base de dados palinológicos foi implementada em 2007, constituindo-se em uma ferramenta bastante dinâmica e prática de consulta, permitindo um resultado mais rápido e eficaz nas pesquisas em Palinologia. A grande maioria dos grãos de pólen descritos morfologicamente e inseridos no Amazonian Pollen Database (APD) são provenientes de plantas coletadas na Reserva Ducke, identificadas e depositadas no Herbário do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA). Até o momento, as seguintes famílias foram estudadas: Apocynaceae (25 espécies), Asteraceae (11 espécies), Gentianaceae (7 espécies), Hernandiaceae (1 espécie), Lecythidaceae (5 espécies), Monimiaceae (1 espécie), Siparunaceae (5 espécies) e Solanaceae (1 espécie). Além destas, foram descritos os grãos de pólen de 10 espécies provenientes de plantas da várzea e do igapó. Os grãos de pólen retirados das anteras das exsicatas do Herbário INPA, foram preparados conforme o método de acetólise e o laminário resultante foi depositado no acervo da Palinoteca do INPA. The Amazonian Pollen Database contem um banco de imagens e de dados sobre a estrutura dos grãos de pólen, com descrições morfológicas detalhadas, como tamanho e forma do grão de pólen, medidas dos eixos polar e equatorial ou do diâmetro, número e tipo de aberturas, tipo de ornamentação da sexina, além de dados ecológicos da planta e registros de procedência do material. Os dados palinológicos e ecológicos das plantas foram inseridos no programa no idioma inglês e as imagens encontram-se em preto e branco e coloridas. Por meio da consulta aos dados de morfologia polínica inseridos na base de dados, é possível fazer análises comparativas com os grãos de pólen de amostras de pesquisas que contemplam distintas áreas da Palinologia.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY The history of the basal angiosperm family Monimiaceae is based largely on fossil wood and leaf and floral fossils of uncertain affinity. Fossilized leaves with a well-preserved cuticle and Hedycarya-like flowers, including one with in situ pollen tetrads and fruits from an early Miocene lacustrine diatomite deposit in southern New Zealand implies a long record for Hedycarya in New Zealand. The flowers contain pollen grains that are very similar to those of the modern New Zealand species Hedycarya arborea and the Australian H. angustifolia but are considerably smaller. METHODS We undertook comparative studies of the leaf, flower and fruit morphology of the newly discovered macrofossils and compared the in situ pollen grains from the flower with dispersed pollen grains from extant species. KEY RESULTS The leaves are referred to a new, extinct species, Hedycarya pluvisilva Bannister, Conran, Mildenh. & D.E.Lee, (Monimiaceae), and associated with fossilized Hedycarya-like flowers that include in situ pollen and an infructescence of three drupes from the same site. Phylogenetic analysis placed the fossil into Hedycarya, sister to H. angustifolia in a clade with H. arborea and Levieria acuminata. A new name, Planarpollenites fragilis Mildenh., is proposed for dispersed fossil pollen tetrads at the site and those associated with the flower. CONCLUSIONS The fossils are similar to those of modern Australian and New Zealand Hedycarya species, suggesting that the genus and related taxa have been significant components of the rainforests of Australia and the former Zealandian subcontinent for most of the Cenozoic.

Insecticidal properties of powdered boldo, Peumus boldus Molina, were evaluated against larvae of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Bioassays assessed development, feeding preferences, and mortality of neonate and third instars. For both species, most mortality (65 and 67.5%, respectively) was obtained with 8% boldo concentration incorporated into an artificial insect diet, and the LC50 and LC90 for fall armyworm were 6.8 and 25.9 g boldo kg-1 diet and 3.8 and 35.6 g boldo kg-1 diet for corn earworm. With increased concentration of boldo, larvae were shorter, weighed less, and had anatomical abnormalities, and fewer pupated. Concentrations of 4 and 8% boldo resulted in fewer adults of both species. In feeding preference tests, neonates selected the diet with the least concentration of boldo powder, and larvae fed less with higher concentrations. In tests for insect preference, the greatest concentrations of boldo resulted in the great...

The Monimiaceae is represented in the Neotropical region by six genera. Macropeplus Perkins is a Brazilian genus comprising four species restricted to high-montane Atlantic Forest areas, which have not been properly examined from the anatomical point of view. This study characterizes the anatomical structure and histochemical aspects of the leaves of Macropeplus dentatus and M. ligustrinus, and adds to our taxonomic knowledge ofthe genus. The individuals studied were collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park and in the Caraça Natural Park in southeastern Brazil. Among the characteristics common to the two species, hypostomatic leaves, dorsiventral structure, paracytic stomata, a subepidermal layer, collateral vascular system in the form of an arc in the petiole, semicraspedobrochidodromous venation, and the presence of prismatic crystals were registered. Intracellular metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, lipids and mucilage, were identified. The petiole shape, occurrence and distribution of secretory cells and brachysclereids, in association with other morphological features, were relevant to species identification.

Floral phyllotaxis of Laurales (Magnoliidae) is poorly and sometimes conflictingly documented, especially in the pluricarpellate families of the core Laurales (Gomortegaceae, Atherospermataceae, Siparunaceae, Monimiaceae). In this study four types of floral phyllotaxis were recovered: Fibonacci spiral, simple-whorled (decussate), complex-whorled, and irregular. Whorled and spiral phyllotaxis co‐occur in all families except Gomortegaceae and even vary within a species in some Mollinedioideae (Monimiaceae). Complex‐whorled floral phyllotaxis with two or more organs in a position where only one is expected and changes in merism are especially prominent in Atherospermataceae and Monimiaceae. The most elaborate complex‐whorled phyllotaxis pattern (leading to 8‐merous whorls) is present in flowers with a flat floral base. Presence of a hyperstigma is correlated with double positions in the perianth. Flowers with low organ number commonly have simple‐whorled phyllotaxis; flowers with high organ number have compl...

A new anatomically preserved, permineralised fossil flower/fruit taxon, Lovellea wintonensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from upper Albian sediments of the Winton Formation, western Queensland. The flower/fruit has a cup-shaped receptacle with perianth and androecium borne on the rim of the cup and multiple carpels with inferior ovaries embedded in the receptacle wall, above which the styles are free. The long, tapering styles and spirally thickened, unicellular hairs that arise from the inner epidermis of the receptacle are directed towards the mouth of the cup ringed by stamens. The androecium comprises two whorls or series of stalked stamens with bisporangiate, valvate, introrse anthers; pollen is disulcate with a retitectate exine. Each carpel has a dorsal slit and one laterally attached seed with a bitegmic seed coat; the parenchymatous carpel wall is differentiated into exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The seed coat consists of a 2-layered testa, the inner layer composed of transfer cells with inclusions of tetragonal-shaped crystals, and a cuticular tegmen. The organisation and morphology of floral parts of the fossils is consistent with a relationship with the Laurales. Although familial relationships are uncertain, the character mosaic of the fossil flowers/fruits is more similar to Gomortega (Gomortegaceae) and, to a lesser extent, Tambourissa (Monimiaceae s.str.) than to other members of the order. The late Albian occurrence of Lovellea wintonensis predates oldest reported fossils of the Gomortegaceae. Cladistic analysis based on morphology indicates Lovellea as the sister group of all remaining Laurales excluding Calycanthaceae and Idiospermum.

The leaf oils of the 19 Australian species of Endressia, Steganthera and Wilkiea within the family Monimiaceae have been examined by GC and GC/MS. All produced oils in poor yields that were dominated by sesquiterpenes. Endressia wardellii gave a leaf oil in which α-humulene (14–17%) and bicyclogermacrene (17–24%) were the main components. The leaf oil of Steganthera australiana was almost entirely sesquiterpenoid with no one single compound predominating. Steganthera cooperorum, from two disjunct population centers produced different oils indicating significant chemical divergence. In plants from Topaz and Wooroonooran National Park the major components identified were aromadendrene (6–10%), viridiflorene (7–8%), globulol (7–9%) and b-eudesmol (8–11%); dodecanal (2–4%) was also present. However, material from North Mary Logging Area and Daintree National Park produced an oil dominated by elemol (30–42%) and hedycaryol (approx. 8%). These compounds were accompanied by α-, β- and γ-eudesmol (10–14%...

The dichloromethane extracts of the leaves, stem bark, bark and the roots of the three species of the primitive endemic genus Hortonia, H. angustifolia, H. floribunda and H. ovalifolia, collected from nine geographical locations ranging from lower elevations (84-420 m) to higher (2000 m) showed comparable HPLC profiles and mosquito larvicidal and antifungal activities; protein analysis of the leaves of the three species of Hortonia showed identical peaks and bands. The two major metabolites (4S)-4-methyl-2-(11-dodecynyl)-2-butenolide (2) and (4S)-4-methyl-2-(11-dodecenyl)-2-butenolide (3), which were previously reported from all three plants, showed potent larvicidal activities. Compound 2 was excessively high in the extracts of the stem bark and the roots of all three species amounting to approximately 38 and 60%, respectively. A minor new butenolide (4), (4S)-4-methyl-2-((2R)-hydroxy-11-dodecenyl)-2-butenolide, with much reduced larvicidal activity and ishwarane (1), which showed antifungal activity, were also isolated from all three plants. Treatment of compound 2 with H(2)/Pd-C afforded the completely reduced compound 5, which showed no larvicidal activity, indicating that unsaturation in both 2 and 3 is necessary for their bioactivity. The foregoing evidence showed that there are major similarities between the three species of Hortonia.

We investigated the embryology of the ‘lower’ monimioids, i.e. Monimioideae (Monimia, Palmeria and Peumus) and Hortonioideae (Hortonia), which are poorly described embryologically. Our results show that, contrary to what has been reported in the literature, ‘lower’ monimioids show very little variation in their embryological characters. Comparisons with Mollinedioideae (a large derived subfamily in Monimiaceae) and other families in Laurales show that the ‘lower’ monimioids are relatively consistent in sharing predominantly isobilateral tetrads of microspores and megaspores, a non-specialized chalaza, and a mesotestal–endotestal seed coat (with tracheoidal cells of the meso- and endotesta). It is likely that, while the shared successive cytokinesis during meiosis of microspore mother cells supports the Monimiaceae–Hernandiaceae–Lauraceae clade obtained by molecular evidence, no synapomorphies exist to support a sister-group relationship of Monimiaceae with Hernandiaceae or Lauraceae. Instead, the lack of hypostase in ovules and/or young seeds, the lack of endosperm in mature seeds and the amoeboid tapetum in the anther are likely synapomorphies of Hernandiaceae and Lauraceae. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 228–241.

A new monotypic genus and a new species of Monimiaceae, Grazielanthus arkeocarpus from the Brazilian Atlantic coastal forest are described, illustrated and compared with morphologically related taxa. The new taxon occurs in the State of Rio de Janeiro in the central coastal plain and was collected in the Poco das Antas Biological Reserve, municipality of Silva Jardim (22°30′– 22°33′S; 42°14′– 42°19′W). The new taxon is represented by dioecious climbing shrubs of the sub-canopy that have urceolate, four-lobed flowers and a fleshy hypanthium that is closed until the fruit ripens. When ripe, the hypanthium ruptures irregularly and the fruitlets are exposed. The relationships between the new genus and other neotropical (Hennecartia J. Poiss. and Macrotorus Perkins) and paleotropical (Palmeria F. Muell.) genera are discussed.

The Hernandiaceae, a small family comprising five genera that are closely related to the Lauraceae and Monimiaceae, exhibit highly diverse morphological characters. Here, we present the first embryological study of Illigera and Sparattanthelium and, by comparing those data to those from Gyrocarpus and Hernandia, discuss the relationships in the Hernandiaceae and related families. Our embryological data indicate that the Hernandiaceae, which are characterized by a multiplicative outer integument, share several features (apomorphies) with the Lauraceae, including an amoeboid tapetum, a lack of hypostase, and exalbuminous seeds, suggesting a close relationship between them. Within the Hernandiaceae, Hernandia/Illigera (Hernandioideae) exhibit radially elongated tapetal cells in the anthers, monolayered pollen mother cells, anthers dehisced by laterally hinged valves, thick parietal tissue in the nucellus, a nucellar beak, a vascularized outer integument or testa, and a thick, persistent mesotesta. In compari...

Fruit structure (anatomy) was studied in 27 species of 15 genera of Monimiaceae s.s . Almost all have apocarpous gynoecia, with the carpels more or less surrounded by a floral cup. The fruitlets are presented on the opened floral cup, which, depending on its pre- and post-floral development, differentially contributes to the attractive part of the mature fruit. Morphologically similar fruits may differ conspicuously in anatomical structure. Based on anatomical characters two different fruit forms were found: drupe(let)s (with compact sclerenchymatic endocarp forming a stone: putamen) and berry(let)s (with parenchymatic endocarp, and mesocarp parenchyma containing isolated sclereid nests). Four types of drupelets differing by the endocarp structure were tentatively distinguished: (1) the Monimia - type has a many-cell-layered putamen of large isodiametric sclereids, interrupted on the ventral side by few radial rows of small sclereids; (2) the Hortonia -type has a few-cell-layered putamen of isodiametric, especially thick-walled sclereids - it may be composed of two lateral halves, i.e. with the sclerenchyma partially interrupted on the ventral and dorsal sides (but without rows of small sclereids); (3) the Mollinedia -type has a few-cell-layered putamen, with more or less radially elongate sclereids with wavy cell walls; and (4) the Hedycarya -type has a one-cell-layered puta- men of pronouncedly radially elongate sclereids with wavy cell walls. Drupelets of some taxa with a single-cell- layered endocarp with only weakly thickened cell walls may represent a transition from drupelets to berrylets. The fruit structure supports three major clades recognized earlier by morphological studies and by molecular phylo- genetic analyses: (1) Monimioideae ( Monimia -type drupelets), (2) Hortonieae of Mollinedioideae ( Hortonia -type drupelets), and (3) the remainder of Mollinedioideae ( Hedycarya - and Mollinedia -types) and berrylets. Fruit structure also supports the close relationship of Monimiaceae and Lauraceae. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 265-285. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: berry(let) - comparative carpology - drupe(let) - fruit evolution - pericarp anatomy - phylogeny - putamen.

Chemical similarities among ancient Angiosperms presumably played a role in the ecological and evolutionary diversification of the swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae). The abilities of neonate larvae of the Citrus swallowtail, Papilio (=Princeps) aegeus (from Queensland, Australia), to eat, survive and grow on leaves (a choice of young and old) of 34 plant species from families of ancient Angiosperms; 8 Rutaceae, 3 Magnoliaceae, 13 Lauraceae, 3 Monimiaceae, 1 Aristolochiaceae, 2 Apiaceae, 1 Sapotaceae, 1 Winteraceae and 2 Annonaceae were tested. It was apparent that there is genetic variation in populations of Rutaceae-specialised Australian P. aegeus for acceptance, consumption and larval growth, reflecting differential suitability of some native Australian Lauraceae species as food plants (as well as certain Winteraceae, Monimiaceae and non-Australian Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae and Annonaceae). No consumption or survival of P. aegeus was seen on Aristolochia elegans (Aristolochiaceae) or Pouteria australis (Sapotaceae) despite literature records alluding to this possibility. The Rutaceae specialist P. aegeus appears to have the fundamental detoxification capabilities for processing many existing species of the basal Angiosperm families, without having direct ancestors that historically had fed on them.

Lectotypes for the names of one Atherospermataceae and one Monimiaceae species from Argentina are here designated. Fil: Martínez Laborde, Juan Bautista. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; España. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas; España Fil: Ospina Gonzalez, Juan Camilo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina Fil: Zanotti, Christian Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina

A survey of recent and fossil zona-aperturate pollen grains within the angiosperms was undertaken. Zona-aperturate pollen (with complete ring-like apertures) has been evolved independently in several genera of basal angiosperm families (Nymphaeaceae, Eupomatiaceae, Annonaceae, Monimiaceae, Atherospermataceae) and monocots (Araceae, Iridaceae, Laxmanniaceae, Arecaceae, and Rapateaceae). The special case of the eudicot Limnanthes (Limnanthaceae) is discussed. New examples of recent and fossil fully zonate pollen are presented; a noteworthy new example are Scrophulariaceae, with Pedicularis; our fossil examples show affinities either to Nymphaeaceae, or Araceae, or Iridaceae, or cannot be related to an extant taxon. The zona-aperturate pollen grains differ in ornamentation and stratification mostly in the respect of the aperture areas, but sometimes also outside the aperture. The question of polarity is settled only for some taxa because of the frequent lack of tetrad observations. A ring-like aperture may divide the pollen grains in symmetric halves, or if running asymmetrically, divides the pollen grain in two more or less unequal halves; the presence of clearly unequal halves gives a strong argument to assume an equatorial ring in such cases where tetrad configurations were not available. The zona-aperturate condition may be a functional benefit in wet environments: while in dry pollen the apertural ring is completely closed, in wet or very moist realm it expands greatly, and the pollen tube can be formed quickly and everywhere in this area.

The steam distilled leaf oils of Hedycarya angustifolia and H. loxocarya have been investigated by GC and GC/MS. All samples of H. angustifolia examined gave oils in which the major compounds were elemol and α-, β- and γ-eudesmol. Within these samples, however, there were variations. In this species there were observed three chemical varieties: (a) one with no monoterpenes, (b) one with significant quantities of camphene present and (c) samples in which significant amounts of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon ishwarane were present in the oil. Hedycarya loxocarya gave a leaf oil similar to that given by variety (a) of H. angustifolia, in that the principal components were elemol and α-, β- and γ-eudesmol and virtually no monoterpenes. Solvent extraction of leaf material of both species showed that elemol was the principal component and if the extraction was carried out in the presence of base no eudesmols were detected.

The leaf oils of the Australian species of Palmeria (Monimaceae) were subjected to analysis by GC and GC/MS. From the results obtained it could be seen that the Palmeria species can be divided into four groups depending on the major components present in their leaf oils, viz. elemol, spathulenol, bicyclogermacrene and ishwarane. Only in one case, those samples from Mt Bellenden Ker, where elemol was the major component, was the oil composition linked to a specific locality.

Differences of flower colours and scents as well as fruit tastes from similar looking plants have been known from the everyday experience of mankind since ancient ages. Infraspecific chemical diversities (IsCh) were found based on chemical, biochemical and biosynthetic results since the beginning of the 20 century. Worldwide results provided evidence that direct procedures of clearing genetic similarities on chemistry of plants were efficient methods. The new research trend presented in this article provides a new opportunity for disclosing real DNA and biosynthetic causes of chemodifferentiation, opening great perspectives for the breeding of new, high-powered chemocultivars of medicinal and aromatic taxa. INTRODUCTION Differences of flower colours and scents as well as fruit tastes from similar looking plants were known from the everyday experience of glean humankind since ancient ages. Nevertheless a deliberate search started at the Middle Ages for decorative and spice plants with different sensory characteristics in gardens of cloisters and castles. Development of the botanical knowledge defined the term of species during of 17-18 centuries from Bauhin (1623) till Linneaus (1753) (Tetenyi, 1970). This term assigned plants’ sensory differences in colour, scent or taste to variations within the species. The next step was to correlate these perceptible differences with chemistry of plants based on new extraction methods developed in the early 19 century. These needed however a lot of plant material for the determination any compound, thus causing the belief about the chemical homogeneity of any species e.g., in pharmacopoeias. This idea was discarded only after more than a hundred years according to the Pharmacopoeia Europea 2000 stating: “Herbal drugs are defined by the botanical scientific name according to the binomial system (genus, species, variety and author)”. INFRASPECIFIC CHEMICAL DIFFERENTIATION First Epoch of Research on Chemodifferentiation In the meantime, investigation of plants’ constituents proceded: Moens, 1882 (in Tetenyi, 1970) asserted two chemical varieties in Cinchona ledgeriana, one with the alkaloid quinidine, while another with cinchonidine. Similar infraspecific chemical (IsCh) diversities had been identified beginning in the early 20 century. Most of data were connected to trees and shrubs, and only a few examined herbs. These were due to Australian researchers, Baker and Penfold, (Tetenyi, 1970) examining the chemical diversities in taxa of Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and Monimiaceae. Europeans mostly investigated species of Coniferophytina. It was an essential step when Stapf in 1906 (Tetenyi, 1970) classified chemically diverse units as “physiological races”. Further more French, German, Russian, Japanese and other scientists reported results on infraspecific diversities of essential oils at Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, etc. Two Hungarians, Pater and Irk, (Tetenyi, 1970) investigated Mentha spicata and Nepeta cataria. Pater established the research place for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) at the beginning of the 20 century in the Academy of Kolozsvar, and he Proc. Int. Conf. on MAP Eds. J. Bernath et al. Acta Hort. 576, ISHS 2002 16 engaged Irk to arrange a laboratory there. Afterwards, Irk was charged by authorities to organise the Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (RIMP) in 1915 at Budapest. Studies on infraspecific chemical diversities were also extended to plants’ taxa with physiologically active principles, other than essential oils (Table 1). It belongs here that the Hungarian researcher Horvath (Tetenyi, 1970) found some non-pungent plants in a population of Capsicum annuum at Kalocsa in 1928, and bred the first new cultivar with very small capsaicin content named as ‘excellent-sweet’ type of paprika. All these data furnished prove about the IsCh divergence from lichens through Gnetaceae to Magnoliophytina, thus the diversity is widespread in medicinal and aromatic plants. These data and breeding results of fodder crops, like yellow lupine with diminished alkaloid content (Tetenyi, 1970), or the less cyanogenetic matter’s level of trefoils (Tetenyi, 1970) and other biological scientific evidences led Soueges in 1938 to conclude, “The differentiation of species is fundamentally a chemical problem”. Second Epoch of Research up to the Present Dutch and FIP organizations were going to arrange a meeting in Wageningen at 1957, since investigations on IsCh diversity of MAPs attained many results in the previous two decades. The conference summarised proofs on this phenomenon in different aspects, however it became evident that the divergence could be detected most easily at essential oil plants. Penfold (Tetenyi, 1970) and his co-workers continued the research and stated essential oil differences at 20 tree species. Lauraceae taxa are added by Japanese investigations. Nevertheless proven IsCh diversities of trees were far outnumbered by aromatic herb species from Araceae, Apiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Reports on detection of IsCh diversities at families containing other physiologically active compounds are summarised in Table 2. Participants at the conference realised that they must specify this phenomenon of nature by exact terms. Three suggestions for a suitable nomenclature were also discussed. Lanjouw proposed to give the rank “forma,” while Mansfeld proposed the “iso-”, or “aequi-” prefixes for different categories. Tetenyi preferred the prefix ‘chemo-’ for any taxonomic rank of wild and cultivated infraspecific chemically diverse taxa. This last suggestion was soon accepted by many specialists, and is applied worldwide nowadays too (Table 3). Decades with extensive studies on IsCh diversity followed the conference, including investigations at RIMP, e.g., the thin layer chromatogram on differences of sinigrins in a mustard collection. The very first book summarised theoretical problematic and results on IsCh diversity at 750 medicinal and aromatic taxa of one hundred plant families from this institute (Tetenyi, 1970). Thus it was proven that chemodifferentation is a general aspect of plant phylogeny, and polychemism is ubiquitous for the whole vegetal kingdom. Revealing of many IsCh taxa continued at the RIMP during further decades, e.g., collecting wild occurrences of Tanacetum vulgare and proving its great diversity in essential oil constituents. On the other hand the team (Kiniczky et al., 1989) provided scope and limitations of quantitative as well as qualitative breeding of ergot. They started from a material with less than 25% ergocryptine of alkaloid content, and could breed a new strain attaining about 75% α-ergocryptine, and another one with about 50% βergocryptine of alkaloid content of sclerotia, over the course of seven years. Continuing with the worldwide research on IsCh diversity, it must be stated that results were exponentially multiplying during the next decades. Some recent successes were presented in the Table 4 proving the scientific activity from five continents selected from more than 50 states. We can predict that the investigation on chemodifferentiation of world’s flora remains and would be an important task for the specialists in the future. Role of Biosynthesis in Chemodifferentiation As it was mentioned above: Stapf, 1906 (in Tetenyi, 1970) has revealed the

En los últimos años el daño oxidativo se ha detectado en enfermedades como el cáncer, la diabetes y el Alzheimer, entre otras. Como una alternativa para la prevención y tratamiento de tales enfermedades, se ha propuesto el consumo de antioxidantes, especialmente de fuentes vegetales; sin embargo, se ha estudiado poco el efecto de las mezclas de compuestos de naturaleza antioxidante o de matrices que los contienen. En este trabajo se evaluó el potencial antioxidante de extractos y mezclas de Mollinedia lanceolata (Monimiaceae), Siparuna sessiliflora (Siparunaceae) y Croton leptostachyus (Euphorbiaceae). Se prepararon extractos etanólicos crudos de las tres plantas previamente caracterizados mediante procedimientos de fitoquímmica. Se hicieron pruebas antioxidantes indirectas con el radical 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidracilo (DPPH) y el catión del ácido 2,2’-azino-bis 3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-sulfónico (ABTS), se determinaron las concentraciones de inhibición media (CI50) usadas como base para la preparación de mezclas en una proporción de uno a uno con todos los extractos y se evaluó de nuevo su actividad antioxidante y antihemolítica, así como su índice de combinación con el programa de acceso libre CompuSyn. En los especímenes de estudio se hallaron polifenoles, taninos, flavonoides, terpenos, esteroides y alcaloides. El extracto más activo en la estabilización del radical DPPH fue el de C. leptostachyus (CI50 = 53,5 ± 1,1 mg/l) y en la del ABTS, el de M. lanceolata (CI50 = 128,8 ± 0,9 mg/l). Todas las mezclas actuaron de manera sinérgica para estabilizar el DPPH con índices de combinación (IC) mayores de uno, en tanto que en el caso del ABTS las mezclas fueron antagónicas (IC>1), excepto la de M. lanceolata y S. sessiliflora (IC1), except for M. lanceolata + S. sessiliflora (CI

Phytochemical investigation of the extracts of the leaves of Siparuna thecaphora (Poepp. et Endl.) A. DC. (Siparunaceae) allowed the isolation of one monoterpene glycoside, named trans-thujane-1α,7-diol 1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) along with rutin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Their structural characterisation was obtained on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments and HR-ESI-MS.

The wood flora from Williams Point, Livingston Island, contains 12 wood types of gymnosperm and angiosperm origin. Recent collections of material have increased the biodiversity of a postulated species-rich vegetation. The gymnosperm wood can be readily assigned to four form-genera: Araucarioxylon Kraus, Araucariopitys Jeffrey, Podocarpoxylon Gothan and Sahnioxylon Bose and Sah. This indicates a diversity of coniferous araucarian and podocarp trees alongside woods of uncertain affinity (Sahnioxylon; Bennettitales). Two angiosperm morphotypes are assigned to the organ genera Hedycaryoxylon Su¨ss (Monimiaceae) and Weinmannioxylon Petriella (Cunoniaceae). The remaining four taxa of angiosperm wood cannot be confidently placed in extant families as they exhibit features that suggest relationships with the Magnoliidae, Hamamelidae and Rosidae. This paper presents the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of the wood flora from Livingston Island and discusses the palaeoecology that prevailed at a latitude of about 60 degrees south during the Late Cretaceous. Newly described taxa are Araucarioxylon chapmanae sp. nov., Araucariopitys antarcticus sp. nov., Podocarpoxylon chapmanae sp. nov., P. verticalis sp. nov., P. communis sp. nov., Weinmannioxylon ackamoides sp. nov., Antarctoxylon livingstonensis gen. et sp. nov., A. multiseriatum gen. et sp. nov., A. heteroporosum gen. et sp. nov. and A. uniperforatum gen et sp. nov.

and Siparunaceae) are probably defined by a multi-celled ovule archesporium and a crushed mesotesta. Within Laurales, 16 embryological characters are found to be diversified, including the number of microsporangia (four or two), mode of anther dehiscence (by slits or valves), the number of archesporial cells in an ovule (one, two or more), and so on. Their respective evolutions were traced on a phylogenetic tree generated from molecular and morphological data, supporting that Calycanthaceae represent the earliest branch and are sister to a clade comprising six remaining families with a valvate anther dehiscence as already suggested. However, because of a lack of sufficient data from each family of Laurales, embryological characters often have alternative possibilities with respect to where they have evolved. More extensive and/or intensive studies of individual families are needed to clarify their exact evolutionary relationships.

The distribution of tapetal types in basal angiosperms is reviewed both from the literature and new observations in the context of recent phylogenetic analyses. Secretory tapeta predominate among land plants. The majority of basal angiosperms share a secretory tapetum with their anthophyte ancestors. Plasmodial and invasive tapeta are relatively rare in eudicots but have evolved several times among early‐branching angiosperms, especially in monocotyledons, in which they have evolved three or more times. The invasive tapetum has evolved at least four other times independently in basal angiosperms: in Nymphaeaceae, Annonaceae, Monimiaceae, and Winteraceae. Plasmodial tapeta are mostly found in monocotyledons but have evolved at least twice in basal angiosperms, in Annonaceae, and in Hernandiaceae/Lauraceae. This apparent plasticity for a relatively brief but critical time in angiosperm evolution may reflect the early evolution of highly specific pollination syndromes.

In the species-rich tropics, rapid assessment surveys have become a widely employed method for acquiring bioestimates of site value. Some of Papua New Guinea's most pristine habitats are currently being explored with such surveys. Five new species collected during these investigations are described here. The novelties are Psychotria kamialii sp. nov. (Rubiaceae), P. muellerdomboisii sp. nov., P. pseudomaschalodesme sp. nov., P. wiakabui sp. nov., and Solanum symonianum sp. nov. (Solanaceae). Taxonomic notes are also provided for Aglaia puberulanthera (Meliaceae), and Palmeria gracilis (Monimiaceae).

Approximately 23 species of thrips were recorded from flowers of 26 species of Australian subtropical rainforest trees, shrubs and vines (in 17 families) in the Manning Valley, coastal northern New South Wales. Pollination by thrips (thripophily) appears more widespread in rainforest communities than has been previously recognized. The pollination ecology of Wilkiea huegeliana (Monimiaceae) was studied in detail. Wilkiea huegeliana is a small, unisexual, annually flowering tree or shrub of rainforest and associated ecotones in eastern Australia, and is a larval food plant for the Regent Skipper butterfly Euschemon rafflesia rafflesia (Hesperiidae). At this latitude W. huegeliana is pollinated solely by a species of thrips, Thrips setipennis, but T. setipennis is not restricted to W. huegeliana and was recorded from flowers of 13 rainforest plant species. It appears to be the obligate pollinator also for Rapanea howittiana and R. variabilis (Myrsinaceae). Pollinator exclusion experiments were inconclusive ...

Die Santon-Flora der Altenburg bei Quedlinburg enthalt auser Gymnospermen auch zahlreiche Angiospermen-Blatter, besonders von Platanaceae und Monimiaceae. Die Farne der Lokalitat, ebenso wie die Gymnospermen, stammen teilweise bereits aus dem Jura. Die Angiospermen-Arten gehen teilweise in das Alttertiar (Palaozan, Eozan) uber. Einige von ihnen sind Relikte bis in die Gegenwart auf verschiedenen Kontinenten. Die beschriebenen Arten sind mehr oder weniger identisch mit denen der amerikanischen Oberkreide. In dem hier vorliegenden Material fanden sich keine Epidermisreste. Additional studies in the Upper Cretaceous Flora of Quedlinburg (Germany) and some further Cretaceous localities (geographical relations) The Santonian flora of the so called Altenburg near Quedlinburg, Saxonia-Anhalt, Germany, consists of some Gymnosperms and several Angiospermous leaves, most of them belonging to Platanaceae and Monimiaceae. Fern species of this locality as well as the Gymnosperms descend from the Jurassic partially. Some Angiosperm species proceed to Tertiary (Palaeocene, Eocene), sometimes becoming relicts in present time at several continents. The species of the present paper are more or less closely related with the species of the North American Upper Cretaceous. The plant remains of the present paper did not yield any epidermis.

Three new butanolides, (2E,3R,4R,9′Z)-2-(dodec-9′-en-11′-ynylidene)-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolide (1), (2E,3R,4R)-2-(dodeca-9′,11′-diynylidene)-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolide(2),(2E,3R,4R,9′E)-2-(dodeca-9′,11′-dienylidene)-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolide (3) and one new ring-opened butanolide, methyl (2Z,11Z,1′R,2′R)-2-(1′,2′-dihydroxypropyl) tetradeca-2,11-dien-13-ynoate (4) were isolated from the leaves of the three representative species of the endemic primitive genus Hortonia (Monimiaceae), namely H. angustifolia, H. floribunda and H. ovalifolia. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

The essential oils of three types of Siparuna guianensis collected at different places of the Amazon were analyzed by GC/MS. The main constituents found in the oil of the sample collected at Moju (PA) were epi-α-bisabolol (25.1%) and spathulenol (15.7%). The oil of the sample collected at Rio Branco (AC) was dominated by spathulenol (22.0%), selin-11-en-4α-ol (19.4%), β-eudesmol (10.0%) and elemol (10.0%). The major components found in the oil of the sample collected at Belem (PA) were germacrone (23.2%), germacrene D (10.9%), bicycliogermacrene (8.6%), germacrene B (8.0%) and atractylone (31.4%).

The leaf oil of Dryadodaphne sp. (Mt. Lewis B.P. Hyland RFK1496) contained δ-cadinene (10.7%), globulol (4.6%) and T-cadinol (3.7%) as major compounds. In the bark and wood, the major compounds were guaiol and bulnesol, with these compounds being approximately twice as prevalent in the bark as in wood. In Levieria acuminata, the principal component of the leaf oil was n-dodecanal (28%), with δ-cadinene (5.8%) and calamenene (5.7%) being the principal sesquiterpenes. Kibara rigidifolia produced a complex leaf oil rich in sesquiterpenes, which also contained (Z)-β-ocimene (3–12%) and (E)-β-ocimene (1.5%) as principal monoterpenes. The principal sesquiterpenes were bicyclogermacrene, germacrene-B, guaiol and spathulenol. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Embryology of Lauraceae, hitherto poorly known, was investigated on the basis of 35 species from 23 genera to contribute to a better understanding of familial and generic relationships. Data from the genera investigated and from the literature show that the genera of Lauraceae are very similar embryologically, but that differences do exist in a few characters among the genera. Based on comparisons with other families of Laurales, Lauraceae consistently had a pachychalazal ovule or seed with a ramified raphal vascular bundle at chalaza (an apomorphy) in common with Hernandiaceae. However, since several core lauralean families such as Amborellaceae, Monimiaceae, and Gomortegaceae are little known embryologically, these must be studied for critical comparison. Within Lauraceae,Cassythais clearly distinct from the rest of the family in having anab initiocellular type endosperm (a plesiomorphy, also reported inUmbellularia) instead of a nuclear type endosperm (an apomorphy) as in the rest of the family, in lacking the nucellar cap and in having the micropyle formed by both the inner and outer integument, facts supporting the traditional taxonomic placement ofCassythain its own subfamily and the remainder of the family in the other subfamily. Within the rest of the family, the amoeboid tapetum (an apomorphy) distinguishes 15 genera (Actinodaphne,Cinnamomum,Laurus, etc.) from the six genera with the glandular tapetum. In addition, a mature embryo sac protruding from the nucellus (an apomorphy) distinguishes five genera (Beilschmiedia,Caryodaphnopsis,Cryptocarya,Endiandra,Potameia) and one species ofOcotea(O. rubra) from the rest of the family. These results can properly be incorporated in a future suprageneric classification. The distinctness ofOcotearubrawithin the genus is also discussed.

Nucleotide sequence data from the chloroplast rbcL gene and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer of 58 species in 38 genera were used to infer the phylogenetic affinities of Monimiaceae to other Laurales, and to assess whether the family in the traditional wide sense is monophyletic. Besides Monimiaceae, the Laurales comprise Calycanthaceae, Gomortegaceae, Hernandiaceae, and Lauraceae. Magnoliaceae and Myristicaceae were used as outgroups. Based on recent molecular data, Amborellaceae and Chloranthaceae, which have sometimes been included in the order, do not belong in the Laurales, and indeed trnL-trnF sequences of Amborella (Amborellaceae) and Hedyosmum (Chloranthaceae) were too different to be unambiguously aligned with the remaining sequences. Parsimony analyses of the trnL-trnF and trnL-trnF-rbcL data groups the genera into five major clades, Calycanthaceae, Atherospermataceae, Gomortega , Siparunaceae, and a weakly supported Monimiaceae s.str.-Lauraceae-Hernandiaceae clade. RbcL data alone provide no resolution at the family level. Many aspects of traditional intra-familiar classification of Monimiaceae are supported except that the sole perfect-flowered member of the family, the monotypic Sri Lankan Hortonia , is not basal (13 of 15–22 genera sampled). Instead, there are two major clades in Monimiaceae. One comprises the functionally dioecious monospecific Peumus from Chile plus the morphologically and functionally dioecious small genera Monimia from the Mascarenes and Palmeria from eastern Australia and New Guinea. The other consists of Hortonia and all remaining genera. The atherospermatoids are supported in their traditional circumscription (14 species, 7 genera, of which 10 and 6 were sampled). The neotropical genus Siparuna , different from recent classifications that have stressed its isolation, is genetically and morphologically very close to the West African species Glossocalyx longicuspis . Both taxa have unisexual flowers of the same general morphology, and both have unitegmic ovules. From the current data it seems that monoecy is basal in Siparuna , but more complete sampling of species with a faster evolving genetic marker is needed for a fuller understanding of the evolution of monoecy and dioecy in this genus.

Carpel and ovule structure was comparatively studied in representatives of all eight families of the Laurales: Amborellaceae, Calycanthaceae, Chloranthaceae, Gomortegaceae,Hernandiaceae, Lauraceae, Monimiaceae, and Trimeniaceae. In all representatives the carpels are closed at anthesis. As in Magnoliales/winteroids, closure takes place in three different modes: (1) by postgenital fusion of the stylar (and ovarial) ventral slit (Calycanthaceae, Gomortegaceae, Lauraceae, Hernandiaceae); (2) by occlusion of the inner space by secretion (Amborellaceae, Chloranthaceae, Trimeniaceae, Mollinedioideae of Monimiaceae), all having extremely ascidiate carpels; (3) by a combination of (1) and (2), whereby the ventral slit in the style is postgenitally fused but a central canal remains open, which is filled by secretion (Monimiaceae except Mollinedioideae). The carpels have a single ovule in ventral median placentation; only Calycanthaceae have two lateral ovules, although the upper ovule degenerates. In contrast to Magnoliales/winteroids, several representatives have orthotropous or almost orthotropous ovules (Amborellaceae, Chloranthaceae, Gomortegaceae). Mature ovules vary in length between 425 μm (some Monimiaceae) and 1500 μm (some Calycanthaceae, Trimeniaceae). Although all ovules are crassinucellar, nucellus breadth varies between 60 μm (Chimonanthus, Calycanthaceae) and 500 μm (Hernandia, Hernandiaceae). In almost all representatives the single ovule (two in Calycanthaceae) tightly fills out the ovarial cavity. The micropyle is mostly formed by the inner integument. In a few cases there is no micropyle and the nucellar apex makes direct contact with the inner ovary surface or the funicle (Lauraceae p.p., Calycanthaceae p.p., Hernandiaceae p.p., Monimiaceae p.p.). The ovule is pachychalazal (or perichalazal) in Lauraceae, some Hernandiaceae, and Gomortegaceae. Both integuments are variously lobed or unlobed. The outer integument is semiannular or annular, and this may vary within a family (Calycanthaceae, Hernandiaceae, Monimiaceae); it is also exceedingly diverse in thickness (2–23 cell layers). Gynoecial traits support the association of Chloranthaceae, Trimeniaceae, and Amborellaceae, and also separately Gomortegaceae, Hernandiaceae, and Lauraceae. In addition, affinities of the first group with Schisandraceae, Illiciaceae and Austrobaileyaceae may also be supported.

The pollen morphology and ultrastructure of Austromatthaea elegans, Hedycarya angustifolia, H. loxocarya, Kibara rigidifolia, Leviera acuminata, Steganthera macooraia and Tetrasynandra laxiflora, are described. All are Australian members of the Monimiaceae sensu stricto of the order Laurales, subclass Magnoliidae. Except for Hedycarya angustifolia, which has pollen grains in permanent tetrads, all species have small, globose, apolar, inaperturate pollen. They can be identified under SEM by their surface ornamentation: Austromatthaea has fossulate sculpturing; Hedycarya angustifolia has tetrads with a warty configuration; H. loxocarya has echinate pollen; Kibara has spherical gemmae with nipple‐like projections; Leviera has stellate sculpturing; Steganthera has a verrucose surface with small spherical projections on each verruca, and Tetrasynandra is gemmate with one to several spiny projections on each gemma. The pollen grains of all genera of Australian Monimiaceae sensu stricto, some the results of prev...

Pollen morphology and ultrastructure of Laurelia novae-zelandiae A. Cunn., L. sempervirens (Ruiz et Pavon) Tulasne, Laureliopsis-philippiana (Looser) Schodde and Dryadodaphne trachyphloia Schodde are described. Laurelia, Laureliopsis and Dryadodaphne have medium-sized, isopolar, globose to globose-ellipsoidal pollen which is either dicolpate (Dryadodaphne, rarely in Laureliopsis) or meridionosulcate, with a median encircling aperture with two wider parts centered at the poles (Laurelia, most pollen of Laureliopsis). Exine is tectate-columellate with an uneven foot layer showing irregular discontinuities. A few tangentially-aligned lamellae show some resemblance to an endexine and in some sections there appears to be an intergradation between these lamellae and small tangentially flattened foot layer parts. The intine consists of an outer channelled zone, with radial (Laurelia sempervirens) or tangential (Dryadodaphne) alignment of channels and an inner intine of homogeneous appearance. The outer ...

SUMMARY Young, non–reproductive plants of Atherosperma moschatum Labill, were conditioned to a range of day lengths, night lengths and photosynthetic photon fluence rates (PPFRs). The plants conditioned to the shorter of the two day lengths grew more slowly. On protein specific bases, the leaves of these plants had greater PPFR–saturated CO2 exchange rates (CERs), steeper initial slopes to the CER–PPFR plots, and greater chlorophyll concentrations than did the leaves of the long day length plants. The rates of leaf respiration, and the rates of leaf carbon export and /or incorporation into structural leaf products (E+ I) were similar under the two day lengths. The plants conditioned to the shorter of the two night lengths grew more quickly. The leaves ot these plants had smaller PPFR–saturated CERs, shallower initial slopes to the CER–PPFR plots and smaller chlorophyll concentrations than did the leaves of the long night length plants, but greater rates of leaf respiration and E + I. In a separate experiment A. moschatum was shown to be vegetatively sensitive to night breaks of far–red irradiation. The plants conditioned to the higher of the two PPFRs grew more quickly. The leaves of these plants had greater PPFR–saturated CERs, greater rates of leaf respiration, and greater rates of E+I than did the leaves of the lower PPFR plants, but shallower initial slopes to the CER–PPFR plots, and smaller chlorophyll concentrations. Acclimation to photosynthetic period (day length/night length) can be as marked as that to PPFR, and is quite different in character.

RESUMO O presente estudo objetivou analisar a composição florística atual da regeneração natural, contrastando-a com levantamentos anteriores pertencentes a um monitoramento iniciado em 1992, em fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Montana, em Viçosa, MG. Os locais de estudo correspondem a dez sítios escolhidos em função das características fisiográficas declividade, exposição e posição topográfica do terreno. Foram estimados os índices de regeneração natural por espécie para cada classe de tamanho de planta (RNC) para obtenção do índice de regeneração natural total (RNT). Foram amostrados 3.516 indivíduos, pertencentes a 140 morfoespécies arbóreas, incluindo indivíduos de 10 cm a 3 m de altura e diâmetro a 1,3 m (DAP) menor que 5 cm. O maior número de indivíduos foi amostrado nas famílias Rubiaceae, Fabaceae Mimosoideae, Monimiaceae, Fabaceae Papilionoideae, mas as famílias mais ricas foram Fabaceae Caesalpinoideae, Fabaceae Papilionoideae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae e Rubiaceae. As espécies que apresentaram os maiores RNTs foram: Psychotria sessilis, Siparuna guianensis, Anadenanthera peregrina e Piptadenia gonoacantha. Este monitoramento sugere uma substituição contínua de espécies de estágios iniciais de sucessão por outras de estágios mais avançados, demonstrando a importância da proteção dos fragmentos florestais remanescentes para a manutenção ou aumento da biodiversidade da região. ABSTRACT The current study aimed to analyse the tree species natural regeneration floristic composition in a Mountain Seasonal Semideciduous Forest fragment in the domain of the Atlantic Forest, in southeastern Brazil (20°45’S, 42°55’W) in order to subsidize secondary natural forest management. Ten sites were selected based on their aspects, slopes and topographic positions. Natural regeneration indexes were estimated for each tree species per size classes to obtain the Total Natural Regeneration Index (TNR) for each species. It was sampled a total of 3,516 individuals of 140 tree species varying from 10 cm to 5 m height with diameter at the height of 1.3 m (DBH) smaller than 5 cm. The largest numbers of individuals were sampled in the families Rubiaceae, Fabaceae Mimosoideae, Monimiaceae, Fabaceae Papilionoideae, and the richest families were Fabaceae Caesalpinoideae, Fabaceae Papilionoideae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae. Psychotria sessilis, Siparuna guianensis, Anadenanthera peregrina and Piptadenia gonoacantha presented the largest TNR. The comparison of the actual regeneration study with that of prior evaluations suggests a continuous substitution of species from initial to more advanced stages. These results indicate that the protection of the remaining forest fragments is important to maintain or improve the biodiversity in this region.

Introduction The increasing number of fossil angiosperm reproductive structures described from Cretaceous strata (e.g. Friis et al., 2006) has provided a wealth of new data for understanding aspects of early flowering-plant evolution. In particular, flowers retrieved from many newly discovered mesofossil floras are often three-dimensionally preserved, which permits detailed morphological and systematic analyses. They have thereby provided information on the phylogenetic diversity and reproductive biology of Cretaceous angiosperms (e.g. Friis et al., 2006, 2010). However, an important feature of the angiosperm fossil record from the Cretaceous is that many fossils, particularly from the Early Cretaceous, cannot readily be accommodated in living taxa at the family or genus level, either because they are too poorly preserved to show the diagnostic features needed for secure systematic placement, or because they show a mosaic of features found in several living groups, indicating that they represent extinct lineages on internal branches of the angiosperm phylogenetic tree. The focus of this paper is on two early fossils of the second kind. While their relationships to extant Laurales are secure, they show features indicating that they fall outside the circumscription of extant families in the order. Studies of relationships among living angiosperms based on analyses of DNA sequences support the recognition of the Laurales as a monophyletic group of seven extant families (Calycanthaceae, Siparunaceae, Gomortegaceae, Atherospermataceae, Hernandiaceae, Monimiaceae, Lauraceae; Renner, 1999, 2005; Renner and Chanderbali, 2000). The Laurales are the sister group to Magnoliales and include between 2840 and 3340 species in about 92 genera (Renner, 2005). The Calycanthaceae are the well-supported sister group to the remainder of the order, the core Laurales (Fig 3.1), within which Atherospermataceae, Gomortegaceae and Siparunaceae also form a well-supported clade (e.g. Renner, 1999, 2005). Relationships among Lauraceae, Monimiaceae and Hernandiaceae are currently not settled securely (Renner and Chanderbali, 2000). Morphological data strongly support a sister relationship of Hernandiaceae and Lauraceae (e.g. Doyle and Endress, 2000; Endress and Doyle, 2009), as do some molecular analyses (e.g. Qiu et al., 1999, 2006). However, in other molecular analyses the pattern of relationships among these three families is not well resolved (e.g. Renner, 1999, 2005; Chanderbali et al., 2001; Soltis et al., 2007).