Morphological and chemical analyses of Eriocauli Flos sold in Taiwan markets.

Eriocauli Flos (Gujingcao; EF), the dried capitulum with the peduncle of Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern. (Eriocaulaceae), is a Chinese herbal medicine for treating eye diseases and inflammation. However, several species of the Eriocaulon genus are used as substitutes in different areas. To examine the species of EF used in Taiwan and to establish the quality control platform, morphological and chemical analyses have been performed. Ten major compounds, including apigenin (7) and its 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 7-O-(6-O-E-coumaroyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6), hispidulin (8) and its 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 7-O-(6-O-E-coumaroyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), jaceosidin (9) and its 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), and toralactone (10) and its 9-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), were isolated and identified from commercially available EF. Morphological investigation showed that two kinds of EFs and most of the EFs sold in Taiwan herbal markets are capitulum without the peduncle. A simultaneous high performance liquid chromatography and ultra performance liquid chromatography analyses of multiple components (1-10) in commercially available EFs, collected from different areas of Taiwan, was conducted. Results showed wide variations in morphology and chemical profiles between capitulum with and without the peduncle. In comparison with an authentic E. buergerianum, we found not only the morphology but also the chemical profile was different from both collected samples. In terms of the morphological examination, the samples without peduncle are closer to the authentic one. To ensure the correct EF materia medica is used in Taiwan so as to guarantee their therapeutic efficacy in clinical practice, further monitoring is necessary.

Soil factors effects on life history attributes of Leiothrix spiralis and Leiothrix vivipara (Eriocaulaceae) on rupestrian grasslands in Southeastern Brazil / Efeitos de fatores do solo nos atributos de história de vida de Leiothrix spiralis e Leiothrix vivipara (Eriocaulaceae) nos campos rupestres no Sudeste do Brasil.

In this study, we hypothesized that the life history traits of Leiothrix spiralis and L. vivipara would be linked to soil factors of the rupestrian grasslands and that rosette size would be influenced by soil moisture. Soil analyses were performed from five populations of L. spiralis and four populations of L. vivipara. In each area, three replicates were employed in 19 areas of occurrence of Leiothrix species, and we quantified the life history attributes. The microhabitats of these species show low favorability regarding to soil factors. During the dry season, their rosettes decreased in diameter due the loss of its most outlying leaves. The absence of seedlings indicated the low fecundity of both species. However, both species showed rapid population growth by pseudovivipary. Both L. spiralis and L. vivipara exhibit a kind of parental care that was quantified by the presence of connections between parental-rosettes and ramets. The findings of the present study show that the life history traits are linked to soil factors.

Neste estudo, testamos a hipótese de que os traços da história de vida de Leiothrix spiralis e L.vivipara estariam ligados a fatores do solo dos campos rupestres, e que o tamanho de roseta seria influenciado pela umidade do solo. As análises de solo foram realizadas a partir de cinco populações de L. spiralis e quatro populações de L. vivipara. Em cada área, três repetições foram empregadas em 19 áreas de ocorrência das espécies de Leiothrix, e quantificamos os atributos de história de vida. Os microhabitats destas espécies apresentam baixa “favorabilidade” em relação aos fatores de solo. Durante a estação seca, as rosetas diminuíram de diâmetro devido à perda de suas folhas mais periféricas. A ausência de plântulas indicou a baixa fecundidade de ambas as espécies. No entanto, ambas as espécies apresentaram crescimento rápido da população por pseudoviviparidade. Tanto L. spiralis quanto L. vivipara exibem um tipo de cuidado parental que foi quantificada pela presença de conexões entre rosetas parentais e rametes. Os resultados do presente estudo mostram que os traços da história de vida estão ligados aos fatores do solo.

Soil factors effects on life history attributes of Leiothrix spiralis and Leiothrix vivipara (Eriocaulaceae) on rupestrian grasslands in Southeastern Brazil.

In this study, we hypothesized that the life history traits of Leiothrix spiralis and L. vivipara would be linked to soil factors of the rupestrian grasslands and that rosette size would be influenced by soil moisture. Soil analyses were performed from five populations of L. spiralis and four populations of L. vivipara. In each area, three replicates were employed in 19 areas of occurrence of Leiothrix species, and we quantified the life history attributes. The microhabitats of these species show low favorability regarding to soil factors. During the dry season, their rosettes decreased in diameter due the loss of its most outlying leaves. The absence of seedlings indicated the low fecundity of both species. However, both species showed rapid population growth by pseudovivipary. Both L. spiralis and L. vivipara exhibit a kind of parental care that was quantified by the presence of connections between parental-rosettes and ramets. The findings of the present study show that the life history traits are linked to soil factors.

Inflorescences in Eriocaulaceae: taxonomic relevance and practical implications.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflorescences are thought to be of enormous taxonomic relevance; however, at the same time they are regarded as being notoriously difficult. This is partly due to the conflicting needs of floristics and evolutionary botany, but partly also due to the complicated and confusing terminology introduced by W. Troll and his school. METHODS: The branching patterns of representatives of the genera Eriocaulon, Syngonanthus and Paepalanthus have been studied in the field and from preserved material by scanning electron microscopy. Branching patterns and formation sequences have been analysed and documented in longitudinal schemes and diagrams. Repetitive units of different levels are detected and related to the body plans of other species of the family. KEY RESULTS: The repetition of very few different branching patterns on different levels of complexity may lead to highly complex inflorescences. However, terms are needed only for patterns; levels may be numbered consecutively. While complex inflorescences are often described as additions or aggregations of units, there is some evidence that complex inflorescences are often the result of fractionation of inflorescence meristems. CONCLUSIONS: Precise descriptions of inflorescences useful for diagnostics and phylogenetics can be much simpler than they often are today. If complex inflorescences are the result of meristem fractionation, intermediate morphotypes cannot be expected. On the other hand, such intermediate morphotypes should occur if a complex inflorescence is formed following an aggregation pathway. Unless the repetitive patterns shown here are not correlated to complementary gene activities the inflorescences are not fully understood.

An invasive macrophyte alters sediment chemistry due to suppression of a native isoetid.

The submersed macrophyte Utricularia inflata (inflated bladderwort) is a recent invader of Adirondack Mountain lakes (NY, USA). A 15-week greenhouse experiment and a 7-week field experiment were conducted to test the hypothesis that this rootless species fundamentally changes sediment chemistry through its suppression of the native short-statured species, Eriocaulon aquaticum. E. aquaticum has an extensive root system that releases oxygen into the sediment. In greenhouse conditions, E. aquaticum raised the porewater redox potential of otherwise bare sediment from 25 to 324 mV, lowered the sediment porewater pH from 5.7 to 4.6, and depleted the dissolved inorganic carbon and ammonium concentrations in the sediment porewater by 68.4 and 96.0%, respectively (P<0.001 for all four parameters). A cover of U. inflata over E. aquaticum, however, greatly reduced the latter's effect on redox potential (P<0.001), dissolved solutes (P<0.001), and pH (P<0.05). E. aquaticum biomass increased during the greenhouse experiment in the absence of U. inflata, but decreased in its presence (P<0.001). Redox and growth rate results from the field experiment paralleled those from the greenhouse experiment. Our data suggest that U. inflata may change nutrient cycling in Adirondack lake ecosystems by reducing the growth of native isoetid macrophytes, such as E. aquaticum, and consequently altering key features of sediment chemistry.