Ivanilza Moreira de Andrade

Comparative morphology of populations of Monstera Adans. (Araceae) from natural forest fragments in Northeast Brazil using elliptic Fourier Analysis of leaf outlines

SummaryA comparative study of the leaf outline morphometrics of Monstera adansonii var. klotzschiana, M. adansonii var. laniata and M. praetermissa was carried out. The study focused on populations in isolated montane humid (brejo) forests of Ceará state in Northeast Brazil and compared them with populations from Amazonia and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Digitised outlines were prepared from a total of 1,695 field-collected leaf images from 20 populations, and elliptic Fourier analysis was used to generate matrices of coefficients, from which six shape variables (principal components) were extracted using Principal Components Analysis. Intra-population variability and inter-population differences were analysed with multivariate distance methods. Separate analyses were carried out for each of three leaf size classes (juvenile, submature, mature) because of the strong heteroblasty typical of this genus. Juvenile leaves were the least variable size class within populations of M. adansonii var. klotzschiana. The shape variables expressed very similar types of variation in all three size classes. The Ceará brejo populations of M. adansonii var. klotzschiana showed significant differences between mature leaf outlines in all pairwise comparisons; the Pacatuba population was the most distinct. The Ceará populations did not cluster together exclusively. In all three size classes, populations clustered together into their taxonomic groups, most clearly so in mature leaves. No correlation between morphological and geographic distance matrices was found, nor between morphological and molecular distance. The study showed that leaf outline shape is a practicable and useful quantitative trait for studying morphological variability at species, varietal and population levels.

Elliptic Fourier Analysis of leaf outline shape in forest fragment populations of Anthurium sinuatum and A. pentaphyllum (Araceae) from Northeast Brazil

SummaryA field-based comparative study of leaflet outline shape in five populations of Anthurium sinuatum Benth. ex Schott from Amazonia and humid brejo forests of Ceará, Northeast Brazil, and ten populations of A. pentaphyllum (Aubl.) G. Don var. pentaphyllum from Amazonia and the Brazilian Atlantic forest is reported. 1,120 leaflets from 561 individuals in 15 populations were sampled. Using images, leaflet outlines were captured by digitisation and subjected to Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA) to produce matrices of Fourier coefficients based on 40 harmonics; lateral and central leaflets were analysed separately. Twelve shape variables, extracted from the Fourier coefficient matrices, described the leaflet outlines of 531 individuals. Between-population relationships were estimated using cluster analysis, Canonical Variates Analysis and non-parametric MANOVA. Amazonian populations showed the greatest within-population variability. In A. sinuatum the Pacatuba population was the most distinct in Ceará and the Pará population (Amazonia) was not significantly different from those at Ibiapaba and Maranguape (both Ceará). In A. pentaphyllum 80% of population pairs were significantly different and three significantly different groups of populations were observed. Although the populations of A. pentaphyllum displayed considerable variation, the morphological patterns did not correlate with previously reported molecular ones. The two species were found to be slightly but significantly different on leaf outline data.

The Araceae in Ceará, Brazil: humid forest plants in a semi-arid region

Abstract The study consists of a taxonomic treatment of the Araceae of Ceara, a state lying within Brazil’s semi-arid region. The aroid flora shows greater similarity to those of central Brazil and Amazonia than to the Atlantic forest. Most species occur in humid forest fragments - the “florestas serranas”. Geophytes are also found in caatinga and dry forest ( Taccarum ulei ) and lithophytes on rock outcrops in dry forest ( Philodendron acutatum ). Floating aquatics occur in ponds and lakes throughout the state ( Pistia stratiotes , Lemna aequinoctialis, Lemna minuta, Spirodela intermedia, Wolffia columbiana, Wolffiella welwitschii ), and freshwater helophytes ( Montrichardia linifera ) along river margins. 28 taxa (species and varieties) in 19 genera are described and most are illustrated: Anthurium (three spp.), Caladium (one sp.), Dieffenbachia (one sp.), Dracontium (one sp.) , Lemna (two spp.), Monstera (two spp., one with two varieties), Montrichardia (one sp.), Philodendron (four spp.), Pistia (one sp.), Scaphispatha (one sp.), Spathicarpa (one sp.), Spathiphyllum (one sp.), Spirodela (one sp.), Syngonium (one sp.), Taccarum (one sp.), Wolffia (one sp.) , Wolffiella (one sp.) , Xanthosoma (two spp.), Zomicarpa (one sp.). New records for Ceara are Dieffenbachia aglaonematifolia, Dracontium nivosum , Monstera adansonii var. laniata , Philodendron sp. aff. ruthianum and the naturalized exotic Typhonium roxburghii . An identification key and data on geographic distribution and conservation status are provided. As Araceae no Ceara, Brasil: plantas de florestas umidas encravadas no semi-arido Resumo O trabalho apresenta estudo taxonomico das Araceae no Ceara, estado que se enquadra na regiao semi-arida brasileira. A similaridade de taxa e maior com Brasil Central e Amazonia do que com a Mata Atlântica. A maioria das especies ocorre nas florestas umidas serranas. Geofitas podem ser ainda encontradas em caatinga e floresta seca ( Taccarum ulei ) e litofitas em afloramentos rochosos ( Philodendron acutatum ). Aquaticas flutuantes ( Pistia stratiotes , Lemna aequinoctialis, Lemna minuta, Spirodela intermedia, Wolffia columbiana, Wolffiella welwitschii ) e helofitas ( Montrichardia linifera ) ocorrem em agua doce em todo o Estado. Sao descritos 28 taxa (especies e variedades) distribuidos em 19 generos, na sua maioria ilustrados: Anthurium (tres spp.), Caladium (uma sp.), Dieffenbachia (uma sp.), Dracontium (uma sp.) , Lemna (duas spp.), Monstera (duas spp., uma com duas variedades), Montrichardia (uma sp.), Philodendron (quatro spp.), Pistia (uma sp.), Scaphispatha (uma sp.), Spathicarpa (uma sp.), Spathiphyllum (uma sp.), Spirodela (uma sp.), Syngonium (uma sp.), Taccarum (uma sp.), Wolffia (uma sp.) , Wolffiella (uma sp.) , Xanthosoma (duas spp.), e Zomicarpa (uma sp.). Os taxa registrados pela primeira vez para o estado foram: Dieffenbachia aglaonematifolia, Dracontium nivosum , Monstera adansonii var. laniata, Philodendron sp. aff. ruthianum e uma especie exotica naturalizada, Typhonium roxburghii . Chave de identificacao e dados sobre distribuicao geografica e estado de conservacao sao fornecidos.

ISSR Primer Selection for Genetic Variability Analyses with Jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardlew., Rutaceae)

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardlew. (jaborandi) is native to the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. Intensive exploitation for the extraction of pilocarpine, a valuable alkaloid for the pharmaceutical industry, has killed off or brought about a loss of vigor of naturally occurring plant populations. As a result, the species is officially listed as an endangered species of the Brazilian flora. Genetic diversity is required for the adaptation of populations to environmental changes, and maintaining it is a central objective for biological conservation. ISSRs are dominant markers widely used in genetic diversity studies of endangered species, allowing for the identification of genotypes and cultivars, as well as helping in phylogenetic studies based on DNA fingerprinting. This study presents an ISSR primer selection for genetic structure analyses of natural populations and cultivated collections of P. microphyllus.

Seasonal change in main alkaloids of jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth), an economically important species from the Brazilian flora

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth (jaborandi, Rutaceae) is one of the most important Brazilian medicinal species owing to its content of pilocarpine (PIL), an alkaloid used for treating glaucoma and xerostomia. This species contains another alkaloid, epiisopiloturine (EPI), which has demonstrated effectiveness against schistosomiasis. The aim of this work was to assess seasonal changes of PIL and EPI in three populations of cultivated P. microphyllus from northeastern Brazil over one year, including the dry and rainy seasons. Alkaloid profiles were correlated to phenotypic and genetic patterns in the morphological and molecular characterizations. PIL was the primary alkaloid and its levels differed among populations in all months except September. The S01 population (green line) showed an especially high PIL content compared to populations S02 and S03 (traditional line), which had similar alkaloid contents. PIL content gradually decreased in the three populations in the rainy season.EPI content was significantly different between the green line (S01) and the traditional line (S02 and S03).S01 had a significantly lower EPI content in all months, demonstrating that it was not the best source for EPI extraction. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and morphological analyses clearly separated S01 from S02 and S03, in agreement with the alkaloid results. This study shows the first correlation between the chemical, morphological, and molecular markers of P. microphyllus and highlights the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary research approach aimed at supporting both industry and conservation of natural resources.

Panicoideae (Poaceae) de Ilha Grande, Piauí, Brasil

This study consists of a taxonomic treatment of the subfamily Panicoideae (Poaceae) in the municipality of Ilha Grande, Piaui State, Brazil, part of the Delta of the Rio Parnaiba. We recorded 17 species and 11 genera in tribe Paniceae, 14 of the species are new records for the state of Piaui. The largest genus is Paspalum with five species. Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. Beauv. is the only species endemic to Brazil and Paspalum vaginatum Sw. is notable for its use in stabilizing sand dunes. An identification key, descriptions of all species, illustrations and notes on distribution and habitat of the species are provided.

Ocorrência de Crenea maritima (Lythraceae) para o Delta do Parnaíba, Brasil

Resumo O genero Crenea e composto por duas especies, Crenea maritima e C. patentinervis, restrito as costas e estuarios do norte da America do Sul da Colombia ao Para, no Brasil. Estudos taxonomicos tratando exclusivamente de Crenea sao restritos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo divulgar a ocorrencia de Crenea maritima para o Delta do Rio Parnaiba (Piaui e Maranhao), assim como caracterizar sua morfologia, taxonomia e condicoes ecologicas. As ilustracoes foram baseadas nos principais caracteres diagnosticos das amostras coletadas. Palavras-chave: Crenea, macrofita aquatica, mangue, nova ocorrencia. Abstract The genus Crenea consists of two species, Crenea maritima and C. patentinervis, restricted to the coasts and estuaries of northern South America from Colombia to Para in Brazil. Taxonomic studies dealing exclusively Crenea are few. This study reports a new record for Crenea maritima in the Delta of the Rio Parnaiba (Piaui and Maranhao states, Brazil), as well as characterizing the morphology, taxonomy and ecology of this species. The illustrations was based on the main diagnostic characters of the species as observed in the collected samples. Key words: Crenea, aquatic macrophytes, mangrove, new record.