中药抚芎的原植物及其与川芎、藁本的比较

The  vegetative  characters of  Ligusticum  chuanxiong  Hort.  cv.  Fuxiong are described in comparison with L. chuanxiong Hort. and L. sinense Oliv. The chromosome numbers and karyotypes of the three taxa were studied in root tip cells by Feulgen’s squash method. Their karyotypes are determined as follows: L. chuanxiong, K(2n)=22=16 m+ 4sm+2st (sat); L. chuanxiong cv. Fuxiong, K(2n)=33=24 m+6sm+3st (sat); L. sinen- se, K(2n)=22=12 m+6sm+2sm (sat)+2st (sat).      The karyotypic similarities are found between L. chuanxiong and its cultivariety, butthe former is a diploid while the latter probably is a homologous triploid.     

白芷的核型研究及其分类意义

The present paper deals mainly with the karyotype analysis of five materials in Angelica dahurica collected in Yanbian of Jilin, Anguo of Hebei, Yuxian of Henan, Hangzhou of Zhejiang and Suining of Sichuan.  They are under the names “Dongbeidahuo”, “Qibaizhi”, “Yubaizhi”, ”Hangbaizhi” and “Chuanbaizhi” respe- ctively.  Among then “Dongbeidahuo” is a wild plant, which occurs in  northeastern China, and the others are cultivated as important crude drugs in some provinces. “Qi- Baizhi” and “Yubaizhi” have been identified as conspecific with the wild Baizhi-“Do- Ngbeidahuo” (A. dahurica) according to the external morphological features, whereas the other cultivated ones, “Hangbaizhi” and “Chuanbaizhi”, treated as a variety (A. dahu- rica var. formosana).      The results of karyotype analysis are shown in Plate 1, 2, with the formula 2n=22 =12 m+2 mSAT+4sm+4st. The karyotypes described here are constantly characterized by satellites attached to the fourth pair of metacentric chromosomes and differ from the pu- blished reports on the other species of the genus.  It is reasonable to say that the five materials collectively named “Baizhi” are taxonomically closely related to each other and could be regarded as conspecific.  Since the second chromosome pair is submetacen- tric in “Dongbeidahuo”, it may be justifiable to separate the wild plant from the cul- tivated ones and treat them as two separate varieties.     

知母染色体核型的研究

  A karyotypical analysis of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bung. of the monotypic genus Anemarrhena Bung. (Liliaceae) was carried out for the first time. The number of chromo- somes in root-tip cell of the species was found to be 22, agreeing with that reported by Sato[12], although inconsistent in some other respects, such as position of  centromeres, length of chromosomes, and nucleoli, etc. (Table 1 ). According to the terminology defined by Levan et al.［8］, the karyotype formula is therefore 2n=22=2sm (SAT)+2sm+18m. Photomicrographs of the chromosome complements and idiogram of the karyotype are given   Fig. 1 and 2).       The karyotype of Anemarrhena asphodeloides shows explicitly to be asymmetrical, with three pairs of long chromosomes and eight pairs of short chromosomes. This specialized feature, when considered together with the rare occurrence of the basic chromosome number of 11 of the genus within the Tribe Asphodeleae of Liliaceae (see Table 1), suggests that the genus Anemarrhena is probably a rather specialized one, which has scarcely any intimate relationship with the other genera of the above tribe. The fact that this specialized karyotype is associated with certain trends of morphological specialization, such as flowers possessing three stamens only, gives support to the above suggestion. But, it is impossible to draw a more precise conclusion without a more thorough and comprehensive investigation of the species in question.     

蜘蛛抱蛋属(百合科)的细胞分类学研究(1)——四川七个种的核型

In the work mitotic chromosomes in root-tips of 7 species native to Sichuan Pro- vince were examined and their karyotypes were analysed based on 7-8 cells at mitotic meta- phase, using Levan et al.'s (1964) nomenclature. The list of species and origin of the materials used in this work are provided in the appendix.  The micrographs of mitotic metaphase of all the materials are shown in Plates 1 and 2; the idiograms in Fig. 1, 1-9, and the parameters of chromosomes are provided in Tables 1-9.  All the chromosome countings and karyotypes in this paper are reported for the first time.      Characteristics of the karyotypes may be summarized as follows:      1.  2n=38 are found in all the materials except A. sichuanensis, which has 3 cytotypes, i.e, 2n=38+5B, 2n=38+lB and 2n=38+OB (Plate 2, 1-2, Fig. 1, 5-6).      2.  The karyotypes are of two major types: the karyotype of A. flaviflora falls into 3C in Stebbins's (1958, 197l) classification of karyotypes and those of all the other species into 2C. The two types are also different from each other in the number of large and medium-sized chromosomes pairs and morphology of the first pair of chromosomes (compare Plate 2, 5, Fig. 1, 9 with the other micrographs and idiograms).A. flaviflora with the karyotype 3C also differs from the other species in a series of gross morphological characters: the species is of a yellow and campanulate corolla.      3.  The species with caespitose leaves (A. caespitosa and A. omeiensis) have essentially the same karyotype, which is rather different from those of the species with scattered leaves. There are two pairs of small sm chromosomes (arm ratio ≥1.90) in the former karyotype (Tables 1 and 3), but all the small chromosomes are m or sm with arm ratio <1.80 in the latter karyotypes.     

垂盆草和狭叶垂盆草的比较研究

  The Chinese medicine “Chuipencao” is studied.  But, as a matter of fact, this Chinese name represents two distinct forms, one with broad leaves and the other with narrow leaves.  As a result of a comprehensive study on gross morphology, pollen mor- phology, histological structure, isozymes, GC analysis of chemical constituents of the plants in question has shown that the narrow-leafed form is different from the broad- leafed form and therefore is considered as a new species, Sedum angustifolium Z. B.Hu et X. L. Huang sp. nov.     

我国西沙群岛海藻的研究I．殖丝藻属

The reproductive feature of the nemalionalean genus Liagora is characterized by the laterally situated carpogonial branch which is produced by the ordinarily assi- milative filament.  A study of L. farinosa Lamx. has revealed that the carpogonial branches of this species are not borne on the  ordinarily  assimilative  filaments  but restricted to a kind of short filaments (referring to as “fertile filaments”  in the present article) which are, in turn, initiated by the basal cells of the assimilative filaments.  The carpogonial branches are modified furcations of the fertile filaments. The fertile filaments may, however, grow and send out assimilative filaments concur- rently with the maturation of the carpogonial branches.  Therefore, the origin of the carpogonial branches is best shown in their younger developing stages but more or less obscure in age.      Boergesen, who examined Lamouroux's type, made a detailed study of L. farinosa from the Canary Islands.  The depictions given by Boergesen, Yamada (1938, f. 15), Tseng (1941, f. 6) and Umezaki (1961, f. lA) concisely illustrated the feature of the fertile filaments in this species, although all these workers had not envisaged the taxonomical significance of the peculiar position of the female organs.  In our opin- ion, the differentiation of cortical filaments into assimilative and reproductive as seen in L. farinosa (even though in a preliminary stage)  suggests that the progressive evolutionary changes have occurred in this species.  The unique situation of L. fari- nosa is, in fact, no parallel in any genus of the, family where female organs are directly produced (or transformed) by the assimilative filaments.       It thus appears there is no justification for retaining L. farinosa in the genus Liagora.  A new genus, Ganonema Fan et Wang gen. nov. is therefore proposedfor accommodating the species, G. farinosa (Lamx.) Fan et Wang comb. nov.     

芍药属的研究(1)——国产几个野生种核型的报道

In the present paper 8 species with 15 populations of the genus Paeonia L. (if P. papaveracea and P. japonica are recognised as species) were collected from Sichuan, Shaanxi and Hebei provinces (see the Appendix for detail of the materials).  The micrographs of their somatic metaphase (also Mii in the case of P.veitchii) are shown in Plates 1-4, the karyo- type formulae, ranges of chromosome length and classification of karyotypes according to Steb- bins (1971) are shown in Table 5: the idiograms in Figs. 1-2, and the parameters of chromo- somes in Table 1-4.  The essential points are mentioned as follows:        (1)   Chromosomes of the various species in the section Modan have so far been examined and they are all diploid, the two species in the section Onaepia are also diploid, and thus tetraploids exist only in the section Paeonia.        (2)  Chromosomes in the genus Paeonia are relatively stable except for the differentiation of ploidy.  The karyotypes (Table 1-4) show no differences among different taxa in Sect. Modan and the same can also be said about the taxa in Sect. Paeonia (Table 1).  Not only are the karyotypes very similar, but also among the members within  either section have the same parameters of chromosomes, and, differences, if occur, are not statistically significant. Between the two sections, however, the situation is different. The arm ratios of the first pairs of chromosomes in Sect. Modan are 1.53, 1.52 and 1.48 (Table 1), but those in Sect. Paeonia are 1.12-1.28 (Table 2-4), 95% confidence limits are 1.46-1.60 for the section Modan and 1.07-1.28 (1.21-1.35 only for PB85078) for the section Paeonia, not overlapping, which indi- cates that the two sections have differentiated in respect of the first pairs of chromosomes.        (3)The population PB85024, which belongs to the P. obovata complex, has a karyotype of 2B (stebbins, 1971), which is a new one in the genus Paeonia. This karyotype is a stable one, for several individuals in the population are uniform in this respect, which shows that Steb- bins’ (1971) generalization that all the species in Paeonia have 2A does not hold true.        (4)  Three populations of P. obovata complex studied in this work from Sichuan and Shaanxi are all tetraploids, and one from Hebei is a diploid.  From the present work and the previcus reports, the materials from Japan and Korea, no matter whether flowers are pink or white, are diploids, those from Heilongjiang Province (with both pink and white flowers) (Liu Ming-yuan, personal communication) and from Heibei Province (with pink flowers) in China are also diploids, the one from Sakhalin (pink flowers) is tetraploid, those from Priamur of the Soviet Union are a tetraploid (with white flowers) and a diploid (with pink flowers), and those from Shaanxi (the Qinling Range) and western Sichuan (with both pink and white flowers) are all tetraploids.  As far as we have now known, ploidy in this parti- cular complex is correlated with the geographical distribution: diploids are found in the cen- tral part, tetraploids occur in the northern limits, and in the south  letraploids are the only cytotype.      (5)  The materials of P. mairei from western Sichuan and Shaanxi (the Qinling Range) are found all to be tetraploids, which shows that two cytotypes, diploid and tetraploid, exist in this  species,  but the geographical distribution pattern of these two cytotypes is to be revealed in the future investigation.     

茶树品种分类的探讨

  It is generally accepted that tea plant (Thea sinensis L.) is originated in China, where has numerous varieties,  According to the literature, the selected work of tea plants may be traced as early as to the 3rd-5th century A.D.  The number of varie- ties discovered in recent years reached more than 300.  Besides, a large number of wild species were discovered. In all tea varieties, the crown canopy, leaf size and the date of sprouting were different.  It was proposed that according to the crown canopy, leaf size and the date of sprouting.   The  principle of the classification  of Chinese tea varieties may be 3 orders.  The first order named “group”, it contains macrophanerophyte group, microphanerophyte group, and frutex group.  The second order named “type”, it contains extreme large leaf size, large leaf size, medium leaf size and small leaf size.  The third order named “species”, it contains the early- sprouting species, medium-sprouting species and late-sprouting species.       

苍术属药用植物的研究

  Genus Atractylodes (Fam. Compositae) is the main  source of two important Chinese traditional drugs, “Baizhu”and “Cangzhu”,  both being long used as a stomachic.      After a general survey and taxonomical study, it has been found that “Baizhu” was only derived from A. macrocephala Koidz. (A. ovata auct. Fl. Orient. Asiat. non A. P. DC.), while “Cangzhu” were mainly from A. lancea (Thunb.) DC. and A. lancea DC. var. chinensis Kitam.      Comparison of the components in the rhizomes of Chinese Atractylodes  has been made by TLC and GLC.  The results have shown to be in accordance with their mor- phological features and pharmaceutical merits.      “Baizhu”, A. macrocephala, with its leave pinnately incised, is characterized by the presence of rich atractylon and absence or lack of atractylodin.  As for “Cangzhu”, A. lancea and A. lancea var. chinensis with their leave not incised or only lobed, are cha- racterized by high contents of atractylodin, β-eudesmol and hinesol, but poor in atrac- tylon.      The above conclusion may be of value to both the classification and utilization of this group of Chinese medicinal plants.       

中国特有的露蕊乌头亚属及铁破锣的染色体研究

The paper reports chromosomal number and chromosomal morphologies of annual Aconitum gymnandrum endemic to China and Beesia calthifolia for the first time.  Of the two spcies, chromosome number is same (X=8, 2n=16) and chromosome average lengths are 6.17μ , 10.73μ respectively.  The longest chromosome 1, the short chromosomes 3-5, 7 and the shortest chromosome 8 are metacentrical (m), the chro- mosomes 2, 6 are submetacentrical (sm), and the pairs 4, 5, 8 have satellites in the karyotype of A. gymnandrum.  In B. calthifolia, all of the chromosome 1-5 are the long m, the chromosomes 6, 8 are the short sm and the 7 is telocentrical (t). The pairs 3, 4, 6 have satellites.      According to the comparison of karyotypes of three subgenera—subgen. Para- conitum, subgen. Aconitum and subgen. Gymnaconitum in Aconitum, the evolution trend of chromosomes is further discussed.      Finally, the relationship between Aconitum and Beesia is also discussed in thispaper.     

鳞毛蕨属的生物系统学研究

At the outset the paper begins with a brief discussion of the geographical origin of the genus Dryopteris. With the cytological data so far available the author presumed that the No- rthern Hemisphere and possibly Eurasia is the geographical origin of the genus and that the Eastern Himalayas, China and Japan is the centre of speciation of the genus, and thence has spread to other continents along several routes. He is also of the opinion that the genus  tends to evolve the highest grade of polyploidy where it has existed longest. On the other hand, he pointed out that the production of polyploids may occur most frequently in response to pressures which a group meets in the course of its migration in space and time, with  the  majority  of diploids persisting as relics close to the original centre of diversification.       He then described the progress of the biosystematics of the European and North American Dryopteris, which has been undertaken through a close cooperation among botanists, cytologists and phytochemists of different nations. This team is also looking forward to a cooperation with the Chinese botanists in the study of East Asian species of Dryopteris, so that the relationships of Chinese species and those of other floras can be understood.       The term biosystematics had been invented to mean experimental studies of breeding sy- stems of the species concerned in order to ellucidate their evolutionary relationships.  It stems from the early researches of Professor Irene Manton whose classical book “Problems of Cytology and Evolution in the Pteridophyta” (1950) laid the foundation of Biosystematics. Manton was also the first to introduce the acetocarmine squash  method for staining  chromosomes  in  the spore-mother-cells at meiosis.       The lecture was illustrated with diagrams showing in detail the pairing behaviour of the chromosomes at the metaphase in meiosis and the formation of the polyploidies of different levels.       Besides cytological approach two other techniques have been also applied to the systematic studies of Dryopteris. The first is the comparison of sporoderms  using the scaning  electron microscope, revealing different ornamentations on the pericine. The second is the study of plant chemistry, in particular, that of the phloroglucinoles by thinlayer chromatography.       The remaining far greater part of the paper is devoted to analysing cytologically the Eu- ropean and North American species of Dryopteris in three groups, showing the lines of experi-mental work that has resulted in the understanding of their evolutional relationships.     

中国列当属的分类及与近缘属的关系

The morphological characters in the genus Orobanche were evaluated from the taxonomic point of view.  The author finds that the plants of this genus are relatively similar to each other in respect to characters of vegetative organs, fruits and seeds.  But the differences in the floral structures can be served as a basis for delimitating infrageneric taxa.   The seed coat of 18 species and pollen grains of  6 species were also examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). They seem to have little significance for distinguishing species.       The result supports G. Beck’s (1930) division of the genus Orobanche into 4 sections, of which 2 occur in China, based on the characters of the inflorescence, bracteoles and calyx. The author considers that some characters, such as anther hairy or not, upper lip of corolla entire or not, lower lip longer or shorter than the upper one, the state of corolla-tube inflec-  tion and the hair type of filaments and plants, are important in distinguishing Chinese species.  A key to the species of Orobanche in China is given.       This genus consists of about 100 species, and is mostly confined to Eurasia, with over 60  species found in Caucasus and Middle Asia of USSR, where may be the mordern  distribu-  tional  centre.        Orobanche L. in China is represented by 23 species, 3 varieties and l forma. As shown in  Table 1, most species (12 species) are found in Xinjiang, which clearly shows a close floristic  relationship between this region and Middle Asia of USSR.  6 species are endemic to China,  of which 4 are confined to the Hengduan Mountains  (Yangtze-Mekong-Salwin divide).        The relationships between this genus and related ones of Orobanchaceae are also discussed.  The author holds the following opinions: the genus Phelypaea Desf. should be considered as a   member of Orobanche L. Sect. Gymnocaulis G. Beck,  the monotypic genus,   Necranthus A.   Gilli endemic to Turkey, is allied with Orobanche L. Sect.  Orobanche, the monotypic genus,   Platypholis Maxim, endemic to Bonin Is. of Japan, is far from Orobanche L. in relation and   should be regarded as a separate genus.        The 11 OTU’s, including all the sections of Orobanche L. and 7 genera of Orobanchaceae,   and 15 morphological characters were used in the  numerical  taxonomic treatment  to  test  the   above-mentioned  suggestions.   After standardization of characters, the correlation matrices were   computerized.  The correlation matrices were made to test the various clustering methods.   At    last the UPGMA clustering method was chosen and its result is shown in a phenogram.  The   result of numerical analysis is basically in accordance with the suggestions.     

我国最早的植物学辞典——《全芳备祖》简介

 The “Quan Fang Bei Zu”, a first dictionary for Chinese plants, which contains 27 volumes in its first collection and 31 volumes in its second collection, was completed by Chen Jing-yi in 1253, the First Year of Bao You of Li Zong in Song Dynasty.  The first part of this encyclopaedia of plants is devoted to flowers.  The second part is of more varied nature, dealing with fruit trees, plants in general, herbs, trees, agriculture and sericulture, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.  These two collections cover 267 kinds of plants, each of which is described under two categories separately: The first category, “Si Shi Zu” in Chinese, meaning “facts of the plants” concerned, which again divided into 3 entries, i.e. the history, miscellaneous information and sundry bits of the plants. The second category, “Fu Yong Zu” in Chinese, meaning poetry, which divided into 10 meters, wherein the plants are described and eulogized in poetrical expressions.      Later on, the “Quan Fang Bei Zu” was used as a blueprint for some famous books in China, for example, the “Qun Fang Pu” and the “Guang Qun Fang Pu” all written and compiled after its model.  It is known today that in China there are only two extant hand writting copies of it, one in Beijing Library, the other in the Library of Yunnan University.  Both of them are listed as the best national books. Outside China, it is known that a third copy of is in the Congress Library in U.S.A.  As for the ori- ginal wood-carving copy printed during the period of the Song Dynasty, it is known so far that one copy is kept in the Library of Culture Ministry of Japan.  The Beijing Agriculture Publishing House has made a decision to photograph this carved copy in the Culture Ministry of Japan as one of the “Precious Series of China Agriculture Science”.  The book plays a very important role in the study of chinese botany, agri-culture science, medicine, history and literature.     

西藏豆科植物区系的形成与分化

 Xizang (Tibet) is rich in Leguminosae flora, comprising 41 genera and 254 species so far known, exclusive of the commonly cultivated taxa (including 11 genera and 16 species). There are 4 endemic genera (with 8 species), 10 temperate genera (with 175 species) and 19 tropical genera (with 46 species) as well as the representatives of those genera whose distribution centers are in East Asia-North  America, Mediterranean and Central Asia.       1.  There are altogether 4 endemic genera of Leguminosae in this region. Accord- ing to their morphological characters, systematic position and geographical distribution, it would appear that Salweenia and Piptanthus are Tertiary paleo-endemics, while Straceya and Cochlianths are neo-endemics. Salweenia and Piptanthus may be some of more primitive members in the subfamily Papilionasae and their allies are largely distributed in the southern Hemisphere.  The other two genera might have been derived from the northern temperate genus Hedysarum and the East Asian-North American genus Apios respectively, because of their morphological resemblance. They probably came into existanc during the uplifting of the Himalayas.       2. An analysis of temperate genera       There are twelve temperate genera of Leguminosae in the region, of which the more important elements in composition of flora, is Astragalus, Oxytropis and Cara- gana.       Astragalus  is a  cosmopolitan  genus comprising 2000 species, with its center distribution in Central Asia. 250 species, are from China so far known, in alpine zone of Southwest and Northwest, with 70 species extending farther to the Himalayas and Xizang Plateau.       Among them, there are 7 species (10%) common to Central Asia, 12 species (15.7%) to Southwest China and 40 species (60%) are endemic, it indicates that the differentia- tion of the species of the genus in the region is very active, especially in the subgenus Pogonophace with beards in stigma. 27 species amounting to 78.5% of the total species of the subgenus, are distributed in this region.  The species in the region mainly occur in alpine zone between altitude of 3500—300 m. above sea-level. They have developed into a member of representative of arid and cold alpine regions.      The endemic species of Astragalus in Xizang might be formed by specialization of the alien and native elements. It will be proved by a series of horizontal and vertical vicarism of endemic species.  For example, Astragalus bomiensis and A. englerianus are horizontal and vertical vicarism species, the former being distributed in southeast part of Xizang and the latter in Yunnan; also A. arnoldii and A. chomutovii, the former being an endemic on Xizang Plateau and latter in Central Asia.      The genus Oxytropis comprises 300 species which are mainly distributed in the north temperate zone. About 100 species are from China so far known, with 40 species extending to Himalayas and Xizang Plateau.  The distribution, formation and differ- entiation of the genus in this region are resembled to Astragalus.  These two genera are usually growing together, composing the main accompanying elements of alpine mea- dow and steppe.      Caragana is an endemic genus in Eurasian temperate zone and one of constructive elements of alpine bush-wood. About 100 species are from China, with 16 species in Xi- zang. According to the elements of composition, 4 species are common to Inner Mon- golia and Kausu, 4 species to Southwest of China, the others are endemic. This not only indicates that the species of Caragana in Xizang is closely related to those species of above mentioned regions, but the differentiation of the genus in the region is obviously effected by the uplifting of Himalayas, thus leading to the formations of endemic species reaching up to 50%.      3. An Analysis of Tropical Genera      There are 19 tropical genera in the region. They concentrate in southeast of Xizang and southern flank of the Himalayas. All of them but Indigofera and Desmodium are represented by a few species, especially the endemic species. Thus, it can be seen that they are less differentiated than the temperate genera.      However, the genus Desmodium which extends from tropical southeast and northeast Asia to Mexio is more active in differentiation than the other genera. According to Oha- Shi,s system about the genus in 1973, the species of Desmodium distributed in Sino-Hima- laya region mostly belong to the subgenus Dollinera and subgenus Podocarpium.  The subgenus Dollinera concentrates in both Sino-Himalaya region and Indo-China with 14 species, of which 7 species are endemic in Sino-Himalaya.  They are closely related to species of Indo-China, southern Yunnan and Assam and shows tha tthey have close con- nections in origin and that the former might be derived from the latter.      Another subgenus extending from subtropical to temperate zone is Podocarpium. Five out of the total eight species belonging to the subgenus are distributed in Sino- Himalaya and three of them are endemic.      An investigation on interspecific evolutionary relationship and geographic distribu- tion of the subgenus shows that the primary center of differentiation of Podocarpium is in the Sino-Himalaya region.      Finally, our survey shows that owing to the uplifting of the Himalayas which has brought about complicated geographic and climatic situations, the favorable conditions have been provided not only for the formation of the species but also for the genus in cer-tain degree.     

暖地杓兰——与碗兰属有密切关系的新种

Cypripedium subtropicum S.  C. Chen et K. Y. Lang is a phytogeography- cally significant new species with its habit, inflorescence and column very similar to those of Selenipedilum of tropical America.  It is found in Mêdog of southeastern Xi- zang, China.  Its slender leafy stem bears at the summit a many-flowered raceme, am- ounting to 1.5 m in height. Although its ovary is unilocular—this is the reason why we place it in Cypripedium, the column characters resemble those of Selenipedilum. For example, the staminode is rather small and its long stalk is very similar in texture and color to the filament of the fertile stamens. Obviously, it is a primitive new species re- lated to Selenipedilum based on the similarities mentioned above.       In the subfamily Cypripedioideae, as generally recognized, Selenipedilum is  the most primitive genus, from which or whose allies Cypripedium is derived.  Of phyto- geographical significance is the fact that Selenipedilum occurs in Central America and northern South America, while a cypripedium akin to it is discontinuously distributed in subtropical Asia.  This suggests that Selenipedilum or Selenipedilum-like  form be once continually distributed in North America and eastern Asia when the climate there was warmer, as it is in the subtropics today.  The floristic relationship between Central America and subtropical Asia appears to be closer than expected, as shown by the dis- tribution patterns of Tropidia, Erythrodes, etc.  Based on the occurrence of all six sec- tions and particularly the most primitive form in eastern Asia, Cypripedium seems to be of Asian, rather than Central American, origin.  Selenipedilum possesses some very primitive characters, such as trilocular ovary, vanilla-scented fruit, seed with sclerotic testa, simple column and more or less suffrutescent habit.  The latter is considered by Dahlgren & Clifford (1982) to be one of ancestral characters of monocotyledons, which is now very rare not only in Orchidaceae but also in all monocotyledons.  It is indeed necessary to make further investigations on Selenipedilum and also the new species pub-lished here, as well as a detailed comparison between them.     

鄂西神农架地区的植被和植物区系

 Shennungia is generally known as “The highest mountain in Central China”. It is situated at latitude 31°342'N., longitude 110°35'E. in western Hupeh.       The area explored is deeply cut in all sides by five V-shaped valleys, giving the landscape a steep topography.  Its summit is about 3105 meters above the sea level, and the relative altitude is from 1000-2000 meters.      The climate of the region is warm temperate.  The differences of humidity-warmth condition between the eastern and the western flanks are quite marked.      In western Hupeh and the adjacent area of Szechuan the rugged topography still preserves some tracts of natural forests at higher elevations.  Our vegetational survey is confined to localities above 1500 meters. The collection of plant samples of the flora is extended to the whole mountain from the foothill to the peak.  The present article deals with only a part of the results of our survey.      1.  The vertical vegetation belts of Mt. Shennungia and relationships with other regions:  The vegetation belts on the eastern and the western flanks of the mountain are shown in diagram 2 and 3.  The comparison of the vertical vegetation zones of the Mt. Shennungia with those of the Yülungshan in N. W. Yunnan and the eastern Himalaya to the west and with those of Hwangshan and Central Japan to the east is shown in table 4, It shows that the plant communities of the Mt. Shennungia are of temperate nature, and they are more closely related to those of Hwangshan in S. Anhwei and of Central Japan than to the eastern Himalaya.      2.  Floristic composition: The generic ranges of flowering plant are relatively distinct and stable. Various distributional patterns of genera are analysized.      1)  Statistics of the genera in various distributional patterns: The total number of genera of flowering plants in this region are 762, belonging to the following four categories. A) tropical genera 239 (31.3%), B)  temperate  genera  416 (54.7%),  C) endemic genera 47 (6%), and D) comsmopolitan genera 61 (8%).       2)  Endemic genera:  An examination of the composition of the flora in western Hupeh reveals that 47 endemic Chinese genera occur in this mountain of which 24 are monotypic genera, 20 oligotypic and 2 multitypic as shown in Table 4. The arborescent genera are nearly all deciduous. They are of temperate nature.       3)  Temperate genera:  There are 416  genera in  wastern Hupeh.  They  are subdivides into the following three groups according to their distributional patterns: A)  The north temperate genera: There are 159 genera belonging to 62 families in western Hupeh. B)  Eastern Asian genera:  There are 117 genera belonging to 69 families in western Hupeh.  Among them 22 are common to the western Szechuan, adjacent regions of Yunnan and the Eastern Himalaya.  The remaining 95 genera are commom to both eastern China and Japan. C) The Eastern Asian-eastern North- American genera:  Of the total 762 genera known in western Hupeh, 64 are disjunc- tively distributed in both eastern Asia and eastern North-America.       4)  The tropical genera: Of the 762 genera of the flowering plant of western Hupeh, 239 (31%) are of tropical nature.       Finally, our survey shows:  1. Many of the primitive temperate genera and ende- mic relicts concentrate in western Hupeh and the adjacent region of Szechuan indica- ting that it might be one of refuges of tertiary flora. Moreover, it might also be one of the most important regions of differentiation, development and distribution of tem- perature flora. 2.  The vegetation of this region is not only of temperate nature, but also of a transitional nature. 3.  According to an analysis of the flora and a compari- son of the vertical distribution of the vegetation of Yülungshan and Eastern Himalaya to the west with Hwangshan and Central Japan to the east, the floristic affinity of western Hupeh is more closely related to eastern China and Central Japan rather than to the Eastern Himalaya, and phytogeographically this region is intermediate between the Sino-Himalayan and the Sino-Japanese patterns.  However, the problem of phyto- geography of western Hupeh and the adjacent region of Szechuan is a complicated one requiring further study.