Anna Maria Pagni

Studi sulla flora e vegetazione del Monte Pisano (Toscana Nord-Occidentale). 1. Le piante della medicina popolare nel versante pisano

Riassunto Vengono riportati i risultati di uno studio sulla medicina popolare nei paesi del versante sud-occidentale del Monte Pisano. La fitoterapia risulta essere ancora in uso, specialmente presso le persone anziane; sono risultate infatti utilizzate 82 entita vegetali distribuite in 41 famiglie. La maggior parte di tali entita e ben conosciuta nei suoi componenti chimici e nel suo comportamento farmacologico. Per alcune di esse un approfondito studio fito-chimico e farmacologico sembra invece necessario ed auspicabile.

Glandular Hairs and Secretory Ducts of Matricaria chamomilla (Asteraceae): Morphology and Histochemistry

The aim of the present work is to characterize the glandular hairs and the secretory ducts of Matricaria chamomilla (Asteraceae) morphologically, anatomically and histochemically. The glandular hairs are multicellular and biseriate with two basal cells, two peduncle cells and a secretory head composed of six cells. The histochemical tests show that the glands are positive for lipids, essential oils, sesquiterpene lactones, and pectic—like substances. The secretory ducts show a lumen surrounded by a layer of specialized cells, with the exception in the root where the ducts do not show any secretory epithelium. The histochemical tests show that the ducts are always positive for lipids, while the tests for the presence of essential oils and sesquiterpene lactones are heterogeneous in the plant organs considered.

The “black nodules” of Hypericum perforatum L. subsp. perforatum : Morphological,anatomical, and histochemical studies during the course of ontogenesis

Hypericum perforatum L., traditionally used in folk medicine as a therapeutic plant, is today investigated for its antidepressant and antiretroviral activities. This species is characterized by the presence of different types of secretory structures: translucent glands or cavities, black nodules, and secretory canals. The aim of the present work is to characterize the black nodules on both the floral and vegetative parts, morphologically, anatomically, and histochemically. Nodules consist of a cluster of irregularly shaped cells surrounded by a single- or double-layered sheath. Histochemical tests show that the nodules are negative for the presence of lipids, essential oils, sesquiterpene lactones, steroids, and proteins and positive for pectic-like substances, tannins, and alkaloids. Our results show that the inflorescences are richest in nodules and are, there f ore, the best sites for the extraction of the secondary metabolites.

Morpho-functional adaptations in Cakile maritima Scop. subsp. maritima: comparation of two different morphological types.

Along the Italian maritime foredunes there are two different morphotypes of Cakile maritima Scop. subsp. maritima differing in leaf shape: one type is characterized by entire lamina, while the other one shows pinnatifi d leaves. Therefore, this study was performed to analyze leaf morpho-functional characters of both C. maritima morphotypes in order to highlight the peculiar adaptations to the ecological conditions of sand dune environments and to compare the two different morphological types. The morpho-functional traits analyzed are leaf roll, general morphology of epidermis, vesicular cells, salt crys- tals, stomatal apparatus, stomatal density (SD), hydathodes, mesophyll, idioblasts, specifi c leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC). The most interesting anatomical adaptations to sand dune habitats are thick epidermal cuticle; high stomatal density; epidermal vesicular cells involved in water storage, sunlight refl exion and together with hydathodes in salt elimination; high development of palisade and water storage parenchyma; bundle sheath typical of C 4 leaf anatomy. Differences in several leaf characters between the two morphotypes seem to suggest that pinnatifi d morphotype is more resistant to stress and environmental disturbance than the entire type. The analysis of C. maritima distribution in two different coastal traits affected by progradation or erosional processes confi rmed this hypothesis.

Leaf anatomical adaptations of Calystegia soldanella, Euphorbia paralias and Otanthus maritimus to the ecological conditions of coastal sand dune systems

Abstract The aim of the present work is to characterize leaf morpho-functional adaptations of three pioneer sand dune plants - Calystegia soldanella, Euphorbia paralias and Otanthus maritimus - that are distributed on the foredunes where environmental stresses are stronger.The most interesting morpho-anatomical adaptations of the three psammophytes to the ecological conditions of coastal sand dune systems seem to be leaf orientation, leaf roll, non-glandular and glandular trichomes, general morphology of epidermis, morphology and localization of stomata, hydathodes, aerenchyma and water-storage parenchyma. Some of these characters may be proposed as “hard traits” in Plant Functional Type studies.

Biological and phytochemical aspects of Valeriana officinalis

Abstract Two populations of Valeriana officinalis L. subsp. collina (Wallr.) Nyman show considerable differences in anatomy and chemistry and one of them contains an accessory B chromosome, which is not present in the other. In consideration of the metabolic and adaptive role of this type of chromosome the hypothesis is put forward that there is a connection between the presence of an accessory chromosome and the histological, anatomical and chemical physiognomy of a particular population. This connection would involve considerable practical implications in the field of pharmaceutics.

Secretory structures of Santolina ligustica Arrigoni (Asteraceae), an Italian endemic species

Santolina ligustica Arrigoni (Asteraceae) shows two different types of secretory structures: secretory ducts and glandular hairs. Ducts consist of a lumen varying in width surrounded by one or two layers of secretory cells. The size of the ducts varies in length and width, depending on the organ in which they are present. Hairs are multicellular and biseriate. They consist of two basal, two stalk, and six head cells. Ducts are located in the receptacle, interfloral and involucral bracts, in the stigma, in the leaves, stem, and root. They are absent in the corolla. Glandular hairs are present on the corolla, on the involucral and interfloral bracts, and in the stem and leaves. The histochemical analyses of the secretion of ducts and hairs show the presence of lipids, sesquiterpene lactones, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Although similar, the two secretions differ in the lipid composition: ducts produce both essential oils and resins, while hairs produce essential oils. Pectin-like substances and tannins seem to be produced by glandular hairs only.

Il sospensore embrionale nelle Cruciferae. I. Morfologia e struttura

Abstract Embryo suspensor in Cruciferae. I. Morphology and structure. — Embryo suspensors in seven species of Cruciferae (Alyssum argenteum All., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus, Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC., Eruca sativa Miller, Lepidium graminifolium L., Matthiola tricuspidata (L.) R. Br.) were morphologically investigated. These species have significant differences in their seeds, so that probable differences could be found in the structure of their ovules and therefore of their suspensors. Results indicate that it is impossible to generalize on the suspensor morphology and structure even in the same family. In Eruca sativa and Brassica nigra polyploidy and polyteny were found, suggesting a probably important metabolic function of their suspensors. In the other species polyteny was not present; a various degree of polyploidy could probably be assumed, suggesting a less active function of suspensors, maybe absorption and transport of nutritive material from the integument...

Ontogeny of secretory cavities in vegetative parts of Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae): an example of schizolysigenous development

Myrtus communis L. is an evergreen shrub, typical of the Mediterranean scrub. This species is characterized by the presence of secretory cavities, the vegetative parts of which have been investigated morphologically and anatomically. The ontogenesis of secretory cavities is schizolysigenous: a combination of schizogenous and lysigenous development. At maturity, glands are made up of a sheath of flattened cells, and secretory cells are completely degenerated.

Hypericum elodes L. (Clusiaceae): The secretory structures of the flower

The type, structure, distribution, and ontogenesis of secretory structures of Hypericum elodes flowers were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. This species, widespread in Western Europe but present in Italy in one site only (S. Rossore Estate, Pisa), is characterized by the presence of glandular emergences, stipitate glandular pockets, and secretory canals. Each glandular emergence consists of a multicellular peduncle and a multicellular secretory head. The head is a compact structure that looks like the well-known black nodules of H. perforatum. The stipitate glandular pockets consist of a short multicellular peduncle and a multicellular head with a cavity that collects an amber-colored secretion. Two types of secretory canals were identified: a type with a narrow lumen, and a type with a wide lumen. Histochemical analysis showed that secretion is similar in all secretory structures, and is rich in lipids, essential oils, alkaloids, and oleoresins.