Morfologia e anatomia de Paspalum L. (Poaceae, Poales) e suas implicações taxonômicas

Paspalum L. é um dos maiores gêneros de Poaceae Barnhart que abrange espécies com problemas de delimitação. Com o objetivo de contribuir para a taxonomia do grupo, foram realizados estudos morfológicos de diásporos e antécios, micromorfológicos de glumas, lemas e páleas, e anatômicos de raízes, rizomas, folhas, colmos, ráquis e pedicelos de espécies coletadas em formações campestres da América do Sul. Paspalum apresenta forma, número de nervuras e indumento distintivos nos diásporos. A germinação é marcada pela emergência da coleorriza, seguida pelo coleóptilo. O desenvolvimento pós-seminal é igual em espécies cespitosas decumbentes, cespitosas eretas, rizomatosas e estoloníferas, e esse padrão também é encontrado nas demais Poaceae. Anatomicamente, folhas e colmos (cerca de 30 espécies) de Paspalum apresentam tricomas e papilas na epiderme, forma da nervura central, da margem e das células buliformes, e presença de costelas e de canais de ar que podem diferenciar as espécies. A presença de canais de mucilagem no colmo é descrita pela primeira vez para Paspalum. Verificou-se que Paspalum barretoi e P. minus têm raízes e rizomas com estruturas semelhantes, mas têm folhas com nervura central de forma diferente, feixes vasculares de tamanho e distribuição distintos, presença ou ausência de canais de ar; e colmo com ou sem fístula, que delimitam as espécies. Os dez táxons do complexo Dilatata podem ser diferenciados por meio do número de nervuras da gluma, da distribuição de tricomas, da presença ou ausência de papilas na gluma e lema, da forma do antécio, do tipo e forma da margem da ala da pálea. Além disso, ráquis com espessamento ou não das paredes das células epidérmicas e corticais e número de feixes vasculares da ala, também contribuem para sua distinção. A estrutura anatômica do pedicelo foi descrita pela primeira vez para o gênero e apresenta potencial taxonômicoPaspalum L. is one of the largest genus of Poaceae Barnhart and comprise species with delimitation problems. Aiming to contribute for the taxonomy of the group were performed morphological studies of diaspores and anthecia, micromorphological studies of glumes, lemmas and paleas and anatomical studies of roots, rhizomes, leaves, culms, raquises and pedicels of species collected in South America grasslands. Paspalum presents distinctive shapes, number of nerves and indumentum in the diaspores. Germination is marked by the emergence of coleorhiza followed by the coleoptiles. The post-seminal development is similar in cespitose decumbent, cespitose erect, rhizomatous and stoloniferous species, and this pattern is also found in others Poaceae. Anatomically, leaves and culms (about 30 species) of Paspalum present trichomes and papillae on the epidermis, shape of the midrib and margin, bulliform cells, presence of ribs and air canals, which can distinguish the species. The presence of mucilage canals in the culm is first described to Paspalum. We verified that Paspalum barretoi and P. minus have roots and rhizomes with similar structures, but leaves with midrib of different shapes, vascular bundles of distinct size and distribution and the presence or absence of air canals; culms with fistula or without it, which delimit the species. The ten taxa of the Dilatata complex can be differentiate by the number of nerves of the glume, distribution of trichomes, presence or absence of papillae on the glume and lemma, anthecial shape, type and margin shape of the palea wing. Moreover, the rachis with or without thick-walled cells in the epidermis and cortex and number of vascular bundles of the wing also contribute to its distinction. The anatomical structure of the pedicel was the first describe to the genus and presents taxonomic potentia

Handicrafts from Jalapao (TO), Brazil, and their relationship to plant anatomy

EICHEMBERG, M. T. and V. L. SCATENA (Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Botanica, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil). J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 138:34-40. 2011.-Handicrafts from Jalapao (TO), Brazil, and their Relationship to Plant Anatomy. In the state of Tocantins, midwestern Brazil, communities from the region of Jalapao use scapes of "capim dourado" (golden grass - Syngonanthus nitens- Eriocaulaceae) and leaves of "buriti" (Mauritia flexuosa - Arecaceae) to make handicrafts (baskets and ornaments). The predominant biome of this area is cerrado (savanna), with a notable presence of buriti in the "veredas" (swampy forest-like vegetation), and of golden grass, which is one of the most common plants in humid grasslands. These traditional handicrafts represent a significant source of income for local communities. The whole scapes of Syngonanthus nitens are used due to their golden color, which is a reflection of such internal structures as thick walled cells and lignin in the epidermis and cortex. The strips called "seda" (silk) used to sew the scapes in the making of handicrafts come from young leaves of Mauritia,flexuosa. They are constituted by the adaxial epidermis and bundles of subepidermic fibers, both showing thick-walled cells. Since the cells of the bundles of sclerenchymatic fibers from the abaxial surface of buriti leaves present stegmata containing silica bodies, their mechanical properties are less adapted to the production of "silk", justifying the use of the leaf adaxial surface. Anatomical characteristics such as the thickening and composition of the cell walls of both species together with sociocultural factors, allow a better knowledge of the use of plant structures in the making of handicrafts

Urban ethnobotany: a case study in neighborhoods of different ages in Chapecó, Santa Catarina State

ABSTRACT The study of urban home gardens is still a current gap in knowledge in Brazilian ethnobotany researches, especially in the south of Brazil. This study was carried out to survey the species composition of plants in urban residential home gardens of two neighborhoods in the municipality of Chapecó (state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil): an older neighborhood created prior to the 1950s, and a younger neighborhood created in the decade 1970-1980. It was hypothesized that the home gardens in the older neighborhood would be larger and have greater species richness than those in the younger neighborhood. Data from 10 home gardens in each neighborhood were collected through semi-structured interviews. The plants cited by interviewees were classified as used for alimentary, medicinal and/or ornamental purposes. A total of 372 plant species (256 in the older neighborhood and 248 in the younger one) were recorded. The two neighborhoods differed in the size of their home gardens, but had similar species richness. The high species richness of plants cultivated for alimentary, medicinal and ornamental purposes in both Chapecó neighborhoods indicates that these spaces are an important resource for food, subsistence and well-being

Contributions of the old urban homegardens for food production and consumption in Rio Claro, Southeastern Brazil

Urban homegardens are green areas of households within the city limits and they have the potential to provide families with a cheap alternative for diet improvement, and to complement the income of the families who sell cultivated products. This research analyzes the contributions of old urban homegardens on food consumption and household economy. Data related to homegardens composition were collected by interviews and by collecting cultivated plants. Diets were assessed through a retrospective method (last 24 hours food recall) and administered every two months, during a year, to include seasonal variations. The diet of the sampled population was found to be dependent on certain foods, indicating a narrow food niche (Levins index = 25.9; Levins standardized index = 0.23). Variations in interviewees' diet are related to the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are partly supplied by homegardens. Spices and teas consumed were obtained from homegardens, revealing its importance in food consumption and health. Among the 98 species found in homegardens, only 38% appeared in the interviewees' diet, indicating an under-exploitation of these homegardens. Our study found that the main role of homegardens is to supply variation in the diet, contributing to the consumption of different types of products

Contributions of the old urban homegardens for food production and consumption in Rio Claro, Southeastern Brazil

Urban homegardens are green areas of households within the city limits and they have the potential to provide families with a cheap alternative for diet improvement, and to complement the income of the families who sell cultivated products. This research analyzes the contributions of old urban homegardens on food consumption and household economy. Data related to homegardens composition were collected by interviews and by collecting cultivated plants. Diets were assessed through a retrospective method (last 24 hours food recall) and administered every two months, during a year, to include seasonal variations. The diet of the sampled population was found to be dependent on certain foods, indicating a narrow food niche (Levins index = 25.9; Levins standardized index = 0.23). Variations in interviewees' diet are related to the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are partly supplied by homegardens. Spices and teas consumed were obtained from homegardens, revealing its importance in food consumption and health. Among the 98 species found in homegardens, only 38% appeared in the interviewees' diet, indicating an under-exploitation of these homegardens. Our study found that the main role of homegardens is to supply variation in the diet, contributing to the consumption of different types of products.Os quintais urbanos correspondem às áreas verdes domiciliares dentro dos limites urbanos e têm o potencial de fornecer às famílias uma alternativa barata para a melhoria da dieta e complementação da renda familiar, pela venda de itens produzidos nesse espaço. Este estudo analisa a contribuição dos quintais urbanos antigos na alimentação e na economia doméstica. Os dados sobre a composição dos quintais foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas e pela coleta de plantas presentes nos quintais. As dietas foram levantadas pelo método recordatório das últimas 24 horas, aplicado bimensalmente, durante um ano, para incluir variações sazonais. Verificou-se que a dieta da população amostrada é dependente de alguns alimentos, indicando um nicho alimentar estreito (índice de Levins = 25,9; Levins padronizado = 0,23). As variações nas dietas dos informantes estão relacionadas com o consumo de frutas e hortaliças, em parte fornecidas pelo quintal. Temperos e chás consumidos foram obtidos dos quintais, revelando sua importância para alimentação e saúde. Das 98 espécies alimentares encontradas nos quintais, apenas 38% apareceram na dieta dos entrevistados, indicando uma subexploração dos quintais. Em nosso estudo, a principal função relatada para os quintais foi proporcionar variações da dieta, contribuindo para o consumo de itens diversificados

Morphological effects of flooding on Styrax pohlii and the dynamics of physiological responses during flooding and post-flooding conditions

Styrax pohlii naturally occurs in flood-prone areas and its capacity to survive floods is intriguing. Here we checked whether flooded potted plants of this species develop adventitious roots with aerenchyma, how rapid phenoplastic reactions are and whether these reactions are reflected in photosynthetic performances and growth. Potted plants were flooded (water level at 3 cm above the soil surface) for 100 days, and subsequently recovered under soil field capacity conditions for 50 days. Another group of plants were maintained under control (nonflooded) conditions for 150 days. Biomass of organs, growth parameters, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured in flooded and control plants. Adventitious roots started emerging 15 days after flooding (DAF), but no aerenchyma was observed. Flooding conditions reduced growth and biomass, which was strongly related to reductions in CO2 assimilation rates (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) 25 DAF. Photochemical performances were not as affected by flooding conditions as gas exchange variables, which took 17-20 days to recover. Photosynthesis was not biochemically affected, as A/Ci curve components remained unchanged. S. pohlii plants rely on adventitious roots with narrow intercellular spaces to survive flooding conditions, and this species is physiologically capable of fast recovery from flooding periods. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq