A. A. Kuznetsov

Spore morphology of the representatives of the subfamily Ceratopteridoideae (J. Sm.) R.M. Tryon from the family Pteridaceae E.D.M. Kirchn. (Pteridophyta)

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to perform a comparative study for four representatives of the subfamily Ceratopteridoideae (J. Sm.) R.M. Tryon from East Asia: Ceratopteris thalictroides Brongn., C. pteridoides (Hook.) Hieron., Acrostichum aureum Linn., and A. speciosum Willd. The analysis of the external morphology of the representatives of Ceratopteridoideae revealed a strong difference between Ceratopteris and Acrostichum . The external morphology of spores of Ceratopteris and Acrostichum exhibited the features characterizing the family Pteridaceae as a whole: tetrahedral spores with a three-ray laesure, from triangular-roundish to roundish, distinct exosporium with a pronounced surface ornamentation and absence of perisporium, the exosporium surface varying from smooth and rough to that covered with large tubercles and roller-like bulges. The external morphology of spores of Acrostichum is quite simple, although among other representatives of the family Pteridaceae, the spores of Ceratopteris have distinctive features: very large equatorial diameter (106–124 µm); spores are almost roundish; distinct cylindrical folds running parallel to the corners of the spore across its extensive distal surface.

Spore morphology of Vaginularia Fée species (Pteridaceae) from South-Eastern Asia A.

A comparative study of spores of two species of Vaginularia (Vittarioideae, Pteridaceae) from South-Eastern – Vaginularia paradoxa (Fee) Mett. ex Miq. and V. trichoidea Fee – was performed by the method of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Spores are tetrahedral, trilete; they are very similar to each other in smooth surface and relatively narrow laesura arms. Differences between species are in shape of spores in proximal position (triangular with narrowly-rounded corners and concave sides in V. paradoxa and triangular with broadly-rounded corners and slightly concave sides in V. trichoidea), in length of laesura arms relative to the radius of the spore (laesura arms are about 0.75 of spore radius in V. paradoxa, and riches corners of spore in V. trichoidea) and in size of spore (spore of V. paradoxa are about 1.5 times more in equatorial diameter and 1.7 times more in polar axis length).

Spore morphology of Haplopteris C. Presl species (Vittarioideae, Pteridaceae) from China

A comparative study of spores of four species of Haplopteris C. Presl, H. amboinensis (Fee) X.C. Zhang, H. forrestiana (Ching) E.H. Crane, H. linearifolia (Ching) X.C. Zhang, and H. mediosora (Hayata) X.C. Zhang, from China was performed using the method of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Spores of Haplopteris species are bilateral monolete ellipsoidal or ellipsoidal, but slightly narrowed in the middle. Perispore thin, easily breakable, smooth; exospore smooth, its surface is finely granulate or finely undulate (as seen at higher magnification). Haplopteris amboinensis have the largest spores (79.5×34.3×40.9 μм), H. mediosora – the smallest one 49.2×24.5×24.9 μм).

Secondary successions of grass vegetation on the right bank of the river Ob (Altai Territory)

Abstract The secondary succession of grass vegetation on the right bank of the river Ob (Altai territory) was investigated. The analysis has shown that the successions go in 3 hypothetical rows, depending on the humidity of ecotopes: ‘xerophytic’, ‘mesophytic’, ‘mesohydrophytic’. It is obvious that the rate of succession slows down in the conditions of more arid ecotopes. The dynamics of the aboveground phytomass are generally subject to this trend. The higher the succession rate, the quicker the phytomass develops.

Phytocoenotic biodiversity of the planned national nature park ‘Foothills of Altai’

Abstract The planned national nature park is situated in the northern part of the Altai foothills within the Belokurihinskiy granite massif. The flora includes 11 species of vascular plants listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation (2008) and the Altai Territory (2006). Two species are endemics of Altai-Sayan mountainous country: Silene turgida and Dentaria sibirica. More than half of the territory (52.8%) is covered with forests. The fir taiga with the abundance of relict forms is the most extensive in terms of the area. Thus, the territory of the nature park features the following vegetation types: forests (small-leaved forests and conifer forests), meadows (steppe meadows, real (present), lowland meadows), meadow steppes, brakes, rocky vegetation, water vegetation and anthropogenic vegetation.

Cryopetrophyte communities of the West Sayan Ridge

Abstract The paper presents research in eco-coenotic features of cryopetrophyte communities of the Osevoi Ridge in the Western Sayan Mts. All communities studied are in the association Saxifrago oppositifoliae–Rhodioletum quadrifidae. This association includes all communities with a predominance of alpine and arctalpine petrophytes, which are largely facultative and obligate calciphile plants. The coenoflora of the association Saxifrago oppositifoliae–Rhodioletum quadrifidae is represented by 54 species of higher vascular plants. The dominant species in its structure are those of Holarctic distribution and species generally confined to the Altai-Sayan mountain region, with Papaver pseudocanescens, Poa smirnowii, Sajanella monstrosa, Saussurea foliosa and Saxifraga melaleuca being endemics. In the structure of the belt-zonal groups, arctalpine and alpine species dominate. Among ecological groups, obligate and facultative petrophytes, generally cryophytes, are dominant. The predominance of some particular belt-zonal and ecological groups of species indicates greater specificity of the environmental conditions in which the communities were formed and are currently being formed.

Data on spore morphology of Cerosora microphylla (Anogramma microphylla) (Pteridaceae)

We used the method of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the representatives of the genus Anogramma from South-West Asia and the Himalayas. To confirm the presence of Cerosora microphylla (Hook.) R.M. Tryon in China (hence, the absence of Anogramma microphylla (Hook.) Diels), we revealed the features of external morphology of spores that are not inherent in representatives of the genus Anogramma : absence of an equatorial ridge, roundish-triangular shape of the spores in the proximal-polar and distal-polar positions; absence of roller-like bulges extending upward in the form of ridges along the contour of the distal side of the spore; roller-like folds extending upward in the form of ridges both on the proximal and distal sides of the spore. In addition, one feature revealed for C. microphylla – spherical tubercles between the proximal and distal roller-like folds located along the spore equator – indicates its high species-specificity.

Spore morphology of the north Asian members of Cystopteridaceae

Abstract Spores of Cystopteridaceae from northern Asia were examined using scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate the utility of spore morphology in the taxonomy of each genus, we examined spores of 14 species: seven species each of Gymnocarpium and Cystopteris. Among these are 12 species occurring in northern Asia and two species from other regions for comparative studies. The study focused particularly on perispore characters and spore size. Spores of all species examined are monolete, bean-shaped, with a range in spore size of 26–56 × 18–37 μm for Cystopteris and 25–48 × 16–34 μm for Gymnocarpium. The perispore is morphologically diverse within Cystopteris, but less so within Gymnocarpium. The perispore of the Cystopteris spores is characterised by folds and spines that are separate or form complex sculptural elements. Sacci, ridges and flanges, sometimes on the same spore, are characteristic of the perispore of Gymnocarpium. Spores have straight laesura over which the perispore forms a crest. The crest represents a high and flat fold, which is entire, foveolate or reticulate.

Chorological and taxonomic notes on Aquilegia ganboldii Kamelin & Gubanov (Ranunculaceae) previously considered to be a Mongolian endemic

Abstract The distribution of the enigmatic Mongolian Aquilegia ganboldii is confirmed for Russian South Siberia, North Korea and northeast China. It seems to be closely related to Aquilegia oxysepala var. oxysepala and Aquilegia buergeriana. A diagnostic key to A. ganboldii and related taxa is provided.