Kikyo Yamamoto

Host specificity and seed dispersal of Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in south-east Brazil

Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) is a Neotropical mistletoe which grows mainly on species of Vochysiaceae in Brazilian «cerrado» region. Its parasitizing pattern involves: (a) the height and the aspect of the crown of the host-plants; (b) the presence of sticky substance in the fruits of the parasite; and (c) the feeding behaviour and habitat selection of the dispersal agent, the swallowtanager Tersinia viridis viridis. The feeding behaviour of this bird on fruits of P. robustus facilitates seed release and seedling establishment; its foraging habit and habitat selection account for high concentrations of the parasites on their preferred host-plants

Effect of light and temperature on germination and early growth of Vochysia tucanorum Mart., Vochysiaceae, in cerrado and forest soil under different radiation levels

Vochysia tucanorum Mart. (Vochysiaceae) is a very widely distributed species in the cerrado and forests in Brazil, from the State of Bahia to Parana. Its seed germination was analysed under eight treatments using different conditions of light and temperature. Up to 73 days, at least ca. 93% of the seeds germinated in all treatments, except under alternating temperatures of 35°/10°C (62%). Light enhanced germination, except under constant temperature of 25°C when seeds are not photoblastic. At this temperature, the highest percentage of germination was found. Initial vegetative growth was analysed by comparing the effects of shading, by means of different percentages of full daylight (100%, 45%, 10.6%, 4.8%), and soils from cerrado and forest. During 123 days, no mortality was recorded and cotyledons persisted on the seedlings of all treatments. In general, the seedlings of V. tucanorum were found to be more or less indifferent to the soil from cerrado or forest and shading seems to promote height increment. However, total dry mass was larger under a radiation of 45% full daylight and smaller under extreme conditions (100% or 4.8% full daylight).

Taxonomic use of leaf anatomical characters in the genus Simarouba Aublet(Simaroubaceae)

Summary Studies of the taxonomic value of leaf anatomical features in the neotropical genus Simarouba A ublet ( Simaroubaceae ) revealed the occurrence of four types of leaf sclereids based on their shape, ramification and arrangement within the mesophyll. These leaf sclereid characteristics seem to be not influenced by environmental conditions and are useful to distinguish from one another the three morphologically very similar continental species, S. amara , S. glauca and S. versicolor , as do the three insular species, S. berteroana , S. tulae and S. laevis . Papillate trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface occur only in the continental species and are generally a good character to separate them from the insular species; however, they may be sometimes absent or reduced and scattered in S. amara , thus precluding its taxonomic use to separate papillate and non-papillate species groups. Overlapping values for the thickness of the adaxial leaf epidermis and of the sclereid cell wall among species were found, but extreme values for these characters may help the recognition of some species.

Geographical patterns of terrestrial herbs: a new component in planning the conservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (sensu lato) is constituted by Dense Ombrophilous Forest, Mixed Ombrophilous Forest and Seasonal Semideciduous Forest, in which tree species are distributed in gradients, whichever latitude, longitude, or altitude is considered. We investigated whether herb species living on the floor of these forests would have the same geographic distribution pattern. If tree and herb-layer species have coincident distribution patterns, the same conservation units can conserve both species sets; otherwise, specific conservation actions should be taken. We built a presence/absence matrix of 803 terrestrial native species in 80 surveys across the southern and southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We performed UPGMA, CA and RDA multivariate analyses in order to investigate the distribution patterns. The high degree of agreement among the analyses led us to assume that the geographic distribution of the herb-layer flora occurs as gradients among three main floristic groups: Tropical Ombrophilous forests (mostly lowland forests), Subtropical Ombrophilous forests (mostly montane and upper-montane forests in lower latitudes and sub-montane and lowland forests in higher latitudes, i.e., where temperature is lower), and Seasonal Semideciduous forests (with a marked dry season). Based on different patterns and processes between herbs and trees, and in order to encompass the highest flora diversity, we highlight the importance of creating more reserves in each one of the three main floristic groups of herb-layer species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Structure of the understory community in four stretches of Araucaria forest in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

We analyzed the structure of the understory community in the Atlantic Forest sensu lato, for which phytosociological descriptions of the understory are lacking. We delineated 50 plots of 10 × 20 m each at four sites within an Araucaria forest (a subtype of Atlantic Forest), located in the municipalities of Bananal, Campos do Jordao, Itabera and Barra do Chapeu, all of which are in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. To sample the resident species of the understory, we randomly selected five 1 × 1 m subplots within each plot, resulting in a total sampling area of 250 m2 at each site. We identified differences among the locations, mostly due to proportional differences in growth forms, in terms of species richness and the importance values within the community. Factors potentially influencing the understory structure include macroclimatic and microclimatic conditions, as well as forest fragmentation, the abundance of deciduous trees in the canopy, the surrounding vegetation and geographic location.

Distinctions Among Three Simarouba Species

Simarouba amara is frequently confused with two other continental species of the neotropical genus, S. glauca and S. versicolor. Cluster and Principal Component Analyses were applied to verify the distri- bution and variation of the main diagnostic characters proposed in early revisions: flower and anther size, sta- men appendage indument, leaflet surface, and venation features. Simarouba glatuca and S. versicolor were found to be morphologically closer to each other than to S. amara. Overlapping of characteristics in boundary popu- lations of the three species was found. Geographical and morphological data other than leaf features also proved useful for species identification.

Simaba docensis, a New Brazilian Species of Simaroubaceae

Simaba docensis, a new species of Simaroubaceae, is described and illustrated. Its geographical distribution seems to be restricted to semideciduous forest in the region of the Rio Doce basin, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Accordingly, it is likely to be a rare endemic and endangered species. It is very closely related to the only other Amazonian species of section Floribundae Engler, S. paraensis Ducke, from which it is basically distinguished by the number and shape of leaflets, leaf indument, and flower and fruit size. We describe here a new species of Simaba Aublet (Simaroubaceae), S. docensis. Its geographical distribution is apparently restricted to southeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the semideciduous forest of the Rio Doce basin. The closest species to S. docensis is S. paraensis Ducke. The South American genus Simaba has 25 species, divided into three sections: Tenuiflorae, Floribundae, and Grandiflorae (Engler, 1874; Cronquist, 1944). They are trees or shrubs with pinnately compound leaves. The main diagnostic characters used to distinguish the three sections of Simaba are listed in Table 1. Section Tenuiflorae is an Amazonian taxon, whereas the other two sections are mostly extra-Amazonian. Simaba paraensis is noteworthy because it is the only Amazonian species of section Floribundae. Furthermore, it can have small flowers, as found in section Tenuiflorae, and it has stamen appendages as occur in section Grandiflorae. However, S. paraensis has large paniculate inflorescences and other flower characters similar to those found in Floribundae, which places it in this section. The new species resembles S. paraensis in its general appearance and because it has androecium characteristics of the section Grandiflorae. However, S. docensis fits better the characteristics of section Floribundae than S. paraensis because of its larger flowers. Couepia monteclarensis Prance, another endemic species of the Rio Doce basin, is also taxonomically very close to two Amazonian congeneric species: C. sandwithii Prance and C. bernardii Prance (Prance, 1989). Other field collectors (J. A. Lombardi & K. Yamamoto, pers. comm. 1999) have noticed the occurrence of Amazonian species affinities in the semideciduous forest of the Rio Doce basin. The conservation and detailed studies of this forest can help us to understand the evolution and history of the South American forests. Simaba docensis Franceschinelli & K. Yamamoto, sp. nov. TYPE: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Marli6ria, Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, on peninsula at Lake Helv~cio, 24 Nov. 1975 (fl), Heringer & Eiten 15182 (holotype, MO; isotype, US). Figure 1. Ad sectionem Floribundae Engler referenda, S. paraensis Ducke androecio similis, sed foliis 7-10 jugatis, foliolis subtus puberulis vel pilosis, floribus majoribus 8-10 mm longis differt. Tree 10-30 m tall. Branches glabrous with gray bark, strongly grooved and furrowed longitudinally, with prominent transversal scars due to leaf and bud abscissions. Leaves with 6-21 leaflets, usually 7-10 jugate, at apex of the branches; rachis 7.520 cm long, cylindric, puberulous. Leaflets sessile or subsessile, opposite or subopposite, interjuga 21.5 cm long. Leaflet 2.5-5 x 1.1-1.7 cm, blade oblong to obovate or elliptic, chartaceous, apex usually acute, sometimes obtuse to rounded, with gland at the tip, lateral leaflet base usually oblique and terminally cuneate, puberulent beneath with prominent central vein, glabrescent and slightly wrinkled above with prominent and puberulent central vein; lateral veins not visible. Inflorescence paniculate, 8-22 cm long, with ferrugineous tomentose axes, secondary axes 1.5-11 cm long, usually forming a right angle with the primary axis, subtended by bracts narrowly oblong to obovate with gland on the tip, 2.0-5.0 cm long, flowers at NovoN 9: 345-348. 1999. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.16 on Wed, 25 May 2016 06:45:37 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Vochysiaceae no Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Resumo No Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, localizado a sudoeste do estado de Minas Gerais, foram encontradas 11 especies de quatro generos da familia Vochysiaceae: Vochysia, com cinco especies ( V. cinnamomea Pohl, V. elliptica Mart., V. sessilifolia Warm., V. thyrsoidea Pohl e V. tucanorum Mart.), Qualea com quatro especies ( Q. cordata Spreng., Q. grandiflora Mart., Q. multiflora Mart. e Q. parviflora Mart.) e Callisthene e Salvertia com uma especie cada, C. major Mart. e S. convallariodora A.St.-Hil. O presente artigo fornece chave de identificacao e descricoes das especies, dados de distribuicao geografica, comentarios taxonomicos e ilustracoes dos caracteres diagnosticos. Vochysiaceae from Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil Abstract In Serra da Canastra National Park, located in southwestern Minas Gerais state, we found 11 species belonging to four Vochysiaceae genera: Vochysia with five species ( V. cinnamomea Pohl, V. elliptica Mart., V. sessilifolia Warm., V. thyrsoidea Pohl and V. tucanorum Mart.), Qualea with four species ( Q. cordata Spreng., Q. grandiflora Mart., Q. multiflora Mart. and Q. parviflora Mart.), and Callisthene and Salvertia with one species each, C. major Mart. and S. convallariodora A.St.-Hil. This article provides a species identification key, species descriptions with geographic data, taxonomic remarks and illustration of diagnostic characters.

Vochysiaceae na região do Planalto de Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Vochysiaceae is represented in Brazil by ca. 160 species, distributed mainly the in Amazon Forest, Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado. The Diamantina Plateau is located between the north of Serra do Cipo and the south of Grao Mogol, in the Espinhaco Range central southern region. We have found 22 species of Vochysiaceae in the studied area, distributed among the genera Vochysia (13 spp.), Qualea (5 spp.), Callisthene (3 spp.), and Salvertia (1 sp.). We present identification keys and morphological descriptions of genera and species, as well as information about the geographical distribution, taxonomic and ecological remarks, and illustrations of diagnostic features.

Anatomia foliar de cinco espécies de Polygala de restinga e cerrado

The ecological plasticity observed in plants that inhabit different vegetation formations is often accompanied by morphological variations, the leaf being the vegetative organ with the greatest structural variation. In view of this concept, the leaf anatomy of five species of Polygala L. occurring in restinga (sandy coastal plain) and cerrado (savanna) areas in the state of Sao Paulo were analyzed in order to inventory their principal characters and describe their leaf structure, to thus compare them and assess the possibility of verifying structural patterns common to the ecological conditions of both vegetation formations. The species studied were: P. cyparissias A.St.-Hil. & Moq., P. laureola A.St.-Hil. & Moq., P. paniculata L. found in restinga, and P. angulata DC. and P. violacea Aubl. emend. Marques occurring in campo cerrado and cerradao margin areas, respectively. The middle region of the leaf blade and petiole proximal region of each leaf were processed following the usual techniques for scanning electron and light microscopy. The results show two structural patterns common to the species from the restinga and cerrado area formations: mesomorphic characteristics are observed in P. laureola, P. paniculata, and P. violacea, and xeromorphic in P. cyparissias and P. angulata.