Calcium oxalate druses were isolated from the stems and leaves of six Pereskioideae family members and investigated by infrared spectroscopy, showing that in all samples the biomineral was present in the form of whewellite, CaC2O4 x H2O. As Pereskia is thought to represent the "ancestral" condition of the leafless stem-succulent cacti, these results suggest that the biomineralization of calcium...

Abstract A collection of 46 pea ( Pisum sativum L.) accessions, mostly from Europe, were analysed for genetic diversity using the GenoPea 13.2 K SNP Array chip. Of these accessions 24 nomal-leaved and 22 semi-leafless. Principal components analysis (PCA) separated peas into two groups characterized by different leaf types, although some genotypes exceptions appeared in opposite group. Cluster c...

vegetative propagation of persian walnut encounters a major problem in iran growing conditions. this experiment was carried out to study the physiological effects of rootstock as regards herbaceousness or woodiness, and with respect to the presence of leaf on it or not on minigrafting success. throughout the study, 1.5-2.5 cm length persian walnut scions were minigrafted on herbaceous vs. softw...

This paper investigates the determination of flow resistance caused by stiff and flexible woody vegetation. A new procedure has been developed which allows the determination of friction factor f or Manning’s n using measurable characteristics of vegetation and flow. The procedure is capable of predicting flow resistance due to: (1) leafless bushes or trees and (2) leafy bushes or trees. The app...

Liparis aphylla G.A.Romero & Garay was previously known only from two herbarium specimens collected in 1945 and 1977 in Ecuador and Colombia, respectively. This little-known species is hereby reported for the first time for Peru. An updated description, line illustration, color photographs and distribution map of Liparis aphylla, as well as an identification key to the Peruvian species of Lipar...

The plastid genome (plastome) of heterotrophic plants like mycoheterotrophs and parasites shows massive gene losses in consequence to the relaxation of functional constraints on photosynthesis. To understand the patterns of this convergent plastome reduction syndrome in heterotrophic plants, we studied 12 closely related orchids of three different lifeforms from the tribe Neottieae (Orchidaceae...

We have analysed interferometric coherence variations in Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data at three central Amazon sites: Lake Balbina, Cabaliana and Solimões-Purús. Because radar pulse interactions with inundated vegetation typically follow a double-bounce travel path that returns energy to the antenna, coherence will vary with vegetation ty...

Mimicry refers to adaptive similarity between a mimic organism and a model. Mimicry in animals is rather common, whereas documented cases in plants are rare, and the associated benefits are seldom elucidated [1, 2]. We show the occurrence of leaf mimicry in a climbing plant endemic to a temperate rainforest. The woody vine Boquila trifoliolata mimics the leaves of its supporting trees in terms ...