bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genus Sypharissa (Liliaceae)
Authors: Obermeyer A. Amelia
Published: July 2015

The genus Sypharissa Salisb. (Liliaceae) is resuscitated and four species belonging to this genus are validly published.
AMARYLLIDACEAE
Authors: Obermeyer A. A. , Dyer R. A.
Published: July 2015

A NEW COMBINATION  IN GETHYLLIS
LILIACEAE
Authors: Obermeyer A. Amelia
Published: July 2015

A NEW COMBINATION IN  THURANTHOS
LILIACEAE
Authors: Reyneke W. F.
Published: July 2015

THREE SUBSPECIES OF  EUCOMIS AUTUMNALIS*
VITACEAE
Authors: Retief Elizabeth
Published: July 2015

A NEW SPECIES OF RHOICISSUS FROM NATAL
A synecological account of the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. II. The phytosociology of the Ventersdorp Geological System
Authors: Bredenkamp G. J. , Theron G. K.
Published: July 2015

The vegetation of the Ventersdorp Geological System of the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is analysed and classified according to the Braun-Blanquet method. Descriptions of the plant communities include description of habitat features, the identification of differentiating species groups as well as the listing of prominent and less conspicuous species for the tree, shrub and herbaceous layers. The habitat features that are associated with differences in vegetation include altitude, aspect, slope, rockiness of soil surface, soil depth and soil texture.
Miscellaneous note
Authors: Boucher C.
Published: July 2015

NOTES ON THE USE OF THE TERM “RENOSTERVELD”
The genus Waltheria in southern Africa
Authors: Verdoorn I. C.
Published: July 2015

Waltheria indica L., the only species of Waltheria represented in southern Africa, is revised. This species, which occurs throughout the tropics and substropics of the world, is found abundantly in the northern Cape, Swaziland, northern Natal, Transvaal and northwards through South West Africa/Namibia and Botswana. Thoughout its wide distribution the species is uniform. A scrutiny o f herbarium specimens revealed that what appeared as a distinct species or subspecies was without doubt an abnormality, probably caused by insect injury.
Studies in the Leguminosae— Papilionoideae of southern Africa
Authors: Stirton C. H.
Published: July 2015

Six African species of Psoralea are transferred to Cullen Medik.: C. biflora (Harv.) C. H. Stirton, C. holubii (Burtt Davy) C. H. Stirton, C. drupacea (Bunge) C. H. Stirton, C. jaubertiana (Fenzl) C. H. Stirton, C. obtusifolia (DC.) C. H. Stirton and C. plicata (Del.) C. H. Stirton. Psoralea patersoniae Schonl.  based on an introduced garden plant is placed under synonomy of Cullen corylifolia (L.) Medik. The following new names are published: Lebeckia waltersii C. H. Stirton of subgenus Plecolobium C. H. Stirton;  Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C. H. Stirton of subgenus Bituminaria and B. acaulis (Stev.) C. H. Stirton of subgenus Christevenia Barneby ex C. H. Stirton; Rhynchosia arida C. H. Stirton; Eriosema gunniae C. H. Stirton, E. preptum C. H. Stirton and E. transvaalense C.H. Stirton. Eriosema capitatum E. Mey. is placed in synonomy with Psoralea tomentosa Thunb., but as P. tomentosa Thunb. is a later homonym of P. tomentosa Cav. it should be referred to P. sericea Poir.
The genus Dipogon</i. (Leguminosae—Papilionoideae)
Authors: Stirton C. H.
Published: July 2015

A taxonomic revision of the genus  Dipogon Liebm. is presented. Only one variable species,  D. lignosus (L.) Verde., is recognized.
An analysis of the African Acacia species: their distribution, possible origins and relationships
Authors: Ross J. H.
Published: July 2015

The three subgenera recognized within the genus Acacia are outlined and the global distribution of each is indicated. The differences between the subgenera and the degree of relationship and levels of specialization are discussed briefly. It is suggested that the ancestral members of the genus were climbers or lianes. Past geological events considered likely to have influenced the distribution of the  Acacia species in Africa are outlined. The number of  species recorded from each African country is tabulated and the distribution and concentration of species within the genus Acacia as a whole and within each subgenus in Africa are illustrated. The highest concentrations of species within each subgenus occur in tropical east and south-east Africa. The distribution o f species within some o f the individual African countries and possible affinities are discussed and attention is drawn to the main centres of endemism. The distribution of the African species is correlated with the major phytogeographical regions recognized on the continent. The relationships between the African and the American, Madagascan, Indian and Australian  Acacia species are discussed briefly.
AMARYLLIDACEAE
Authors: Obermeyer A. A.
Published: July 2015

A NEW SPECIES OF  STRUMARIA
CYPERACEAE: FICINIA LUCIDA: AN INTERSPECIFIC HYBRID BETWEEN F. CEDARBERGENSIS AND F. IXIOIDES SUBSP. GLABRA
Authors: Arnold T. H.
Published: July 2015

FICINIA LUCIDA: AN INTERSPECIFIC HYBRID BETWEEN  F. CEDARBERGENSIS AND F. IXIOIDES SUBSP.  GLABRA
CYPERACEAE
Authors: Voster P. J.
Published: July 2015

ON THE IDENTITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MARISCUS ANGULARIS, M. CHERSINUS, CYPERUS BULLATUS AND  C. CAPENSIS VAR.  POLYANTHEMUS
LILIACEAE
Authors: Hardy D. S. , Reid C.
Published: July 2015

A NEW VARIETY OF ALOE FROM THE VRYHEID DISTRICT
The phytogeography and ecology of Macrocoma (Orthotrichaceae, Musci) in Africa
Authors: Magill Robert E. , Vitt Dale H.
Published: July 2015

Of the 11 species presently recognized in the genus Macrocoma (Orthotrichaceae, Musci), four occur in Africa. These species are xeromorphic and occur in savannas, woodlands, and forests, roughly corresponding to the Afromontane Phytogeographic Region. Macrocoma tenue (Hook. Grev.) Vitt subsp.  tenue is widespread in southern Africa, north to Ethiopia and also occurs in Australasia. Three species are endemic, with M. pulchella (Hornsch.) Vitt found only in the Cape area; M. abyssinica (C. Mull.) Vitt occurring in eastern Africa, and M. lycopodioides (Schwaegr.) Vitt distributed sporadically in eastern and southern South Africa.
Survival, regeneration and leaf biomass changes in woody plants following spring burns in Burkea africana—Ochna pulchra Savanna*
Authors: Rutherford M. C.
Published: July 2015

Effects of two intensities of spring burn on various aspects of woody plants of a Burkea africana—Ochna pulchra Savanna after one growth season are given. Mortality of woody plants was very low with, for example, that of individuals of Ochna pulchra being between 1 and 5%. Some species where the above-ground parts were often burned away completely, as in  Grewia flavescens, no mortality of individuals occurred. Basal regeneration shoot mass was found to depend parabolically on plant height while the ratio of leaf to twig mass in basal shoot regeneration varied inversely with plant height in  Ochna pulchra. The ability of  Ochna pulchra plants to produce new basal shoots appeared to not only depend on size of the plant but also on the number of basal shoots present prior to the fire. In live Ochna pulchra plants basal regeneration shoot biomass per individual was found to increase exponentially with greater reduction in canopy leaf biomass. This relation was also affected by possible direct heat effects. Basal shoot regeneration mass was found to vary greatly with species and varied from 0,7 g/individual for  Dichapetalum cymosum to 285,6 g/individual for Euclea natalensis. There was a clear tendency for non-suffrutex shrub species to have greater mean basal regeneration shoot mass per plant than that of most tree species. There was a compensatory effect in  Ochna pulchra between number and size of basal regeneration shoots. Standing dead woody plant individuals (before the burn) were either felled by fire or apparently unaffected by fire and there was no selectivity by species. Results of the present study are generally supported by other work on the effects of fire in savanna and some other vegetation types.
Miscellaneous note
Authors: Edwards D.
Published: July 2015

A NOTE ON THE EXTENSION OF THE DEGREE REFERENCE SYSTEM FOR CITING BIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION RECORDS TO NORTH OF EQUATOR AND WEST OF GREENWICH MERIDIAN
Miscellaneous note
Authors: Campbell B. M. , Moll E. J.
Published: July 2015

DETERMINATION OF PLOT SIZE
The genus Melica L. (Poaceae) in southern Africa
Authors: Gibbs Russell G. E. , Ellis R. P.
Published: July 2015

Two species are recognized in this revision of the genus Melica. Both species belong to the subgenus Melica, and re the only representatives of the genus in Africa south of the Sahara. Five species formerly recognized have been educed to synonymy.
The subspecies of Pelargonium cucullatum (Geraniaceae)*
Authors: Volschenk B. , Van der Walt J. J. A. , Vorster P. J.
Published: July 2015

Pelargonium cucullatum (L.) L’Herit. is shown to consist of three infraspecific taxa, which are given subspecific ranking under the names  P. cucullatum subsp.  cucullatum, subsp. tabulare Volschenk and subsp. strigifolium Volschenk. It is also shown that P. angulosum (Mill.) L’Herit.  (Geranium angulosum Mill.) is synonymous with P. cucullatum subsp.  cucullatum, but that the name  P. angulosum has been misapplied for many years to subsp. strigifolium. The latter was formerly known as  P. acerifolium L’Herit., non  Geranium acerifolium Cav.
Taxonomic status of the endemic South African bamboo, Thamnocalamus tessellatus
Authors: Soderstrom Thomas R. , Ellis R. P.
Published: July 2015

Thamnocalamus tessellatus (Nees) Soderstrom Ellis, comb. nov. [= Arundinaria tessellata (Nees) Munro] is the only endemic South African bamboo and occurs from the eastern districts of the Cape, through Lesotho and Natal, to the eastern Orange Free State at elevations of about 1 500-2 500 m. The Mountain Bamboo, or‘Bergbamboes’ was first described by Nees in 1841 as a member of the genus Nastus because of the similarity, tohim, of the spikelets between it and N. borbonicus, but was later transferred to the all-encompassing genus of the time, Arundinaria, the type species of which is endemic to the south-eastern United States of America. Based onour present knowledge of bamboo genera, this South African species may be excluded from Nastus because the inflorescence is not a panicle but bracteate racemiform, the vegetative branches do not arise in a verticillate manner but are a series of subequal branches that are borne in a row above the nodal line and T. tessellatus has anandroecium of three stamens and not six as in Nastus. The Bergbamboes, with sympodial rhizomes and branchcomplement of several subequal branches, can also not be maintained in Arundinaria, for monopodial rhizomesand a single branch at the node are typical of this genus. The simple, ebracteate, and exserted inflorescence ofArundinaria is also quite distinct from that of the Bergbamboes. In order to place the South African bamboo more precisely we have made comparative studies of its leaf anatomy and epidermis, gross morphology, and analyses of its inflorescence and spikelets. The results of all thesestudies reveal a striking resemblance to members of the Sino-Himalayan genus, Thamnocalamus, to which we haveaccordingly transferred the species. The results are presented, together with an interpretation of the phylogeneticposition of the Bergbamboes and possible events that led to the disjunction of species in the genus.
MALPIGHIACEAE
Authors: Immelman K.
Published: July 2015

NAME CHANGES AND CHANGES OF RANK IN  TRIASPIS BURCH.
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Authors: Codd L. E.
Published: July 2015

NOTES ON THE GENUS  APTOSIMUM
THYMELAEACEAE
Authors: Peterson B.
Published: July 2015

NOTES ON  GNIDIA
Stomatal area as an anatomical criterion for the determination of chromosome number in the Eragrostis curvula complex
Authors: Spies J. J.
Published: July 2015

Twenty stomatal areas of each of 55 Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees plants were determined. An increase in polyploid level is shown to be moderately correlated with an increase in stomatal area. However, the extent of overlap in stomatal areas between different polyploid levels is too great to use this character for the determination of the polyploid level above the diploid level. All diploid  E. curvula plants have an area of less than 280 µ2,  whereas the tetraploid plants have areas greater than 320 µ2. It is therefore possible to identify diploid E. curvula plants on the basis of their stomatal area.
Destruction of the Phoenix/Hibiscus and Barringtonia racemosa Communities at Richards Bay, Natal, South Africa
Authors: Weisser P. J. , Ward C. J.
Published: July 2015

The destruction of the Phoenix!Hibiscus and Barringtonia racemosa Communities described by Venter in 1972 on the southern shores of Richards Bay is reported. The cause was the artificial openingof a new mouth about 5,5 km south of the original mouth, which increased tidal range and salinity. These swamp communities occupied a narrow band about 6 ha in area behind the Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Community. An estimated 95 % of the communities was affected and only on the landward border were some isolated remnants of species such as Acrostichum aureum, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Phoenix reclinata detected .Young stands of  Phragmites australis, seedlings of  Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Avicennia marina and epipelic algae are recoIonizing the affected area.
Studies in Otiophora Zucc. (Rubiaceae): 4. The taxonomic position of the genus
Authors: Puff Ch.
Published: July 2015

An evaluation of the characters of Otiophora provides conclusive evidence that the genus should be excluded from the Anthospermeae, the tribe in which it has traditionally been placed. Evidence from cytology, anatomy and morphology suggests a placement of the genus in the tribe Hedyotideae, in spite of some features pointing to a link with the Spermacoceae. It is, furthermore, pointed out that the tribes Spermacoceae and Hedyotideae are perhaps more closely related to each other than previously thought.
Taxonomie numerique du genre Eragrostis
Authors: Ohoto-Omana L. E.
Published: July 2015

The genus Eragrostis which, according to Roberty (1953), originated on the African continent, belongs to the tribe Eragrosteae, subfamily Eragrostoideae and family Gramineae. It is one of the most important genera o f the Gramineae, because o f the large number of species and their many uses. The purpose of this study is to try and provide a more natural classification of the species of Eragrostis, collected in Zaire, by using statistical methods. We have examined and compared 54 species with one another for a number of  'characters’: 17 characters of the vegetative structure,  28. of the* inflorescence, 20 microscopic characters of the leaf epidermis and 23 microscopic characters of the leaf anatomy. The methods used are divisive and agglomerative. We did not 'separate' quantitative and qualitative characters and gave the sUme priority rating to all characters. The three methods tested are: the Virtual Centres method; the similarity coefficient of Sorensen; and the coefficient  of Gower. The coefficient of Gower proved to be best suited to our data and gave satisfactory results.
The taxonomic position of C3 and C4 Alloteropsis semialata (Poaceae) in southern Africa
Authors: Gibbs Russell G. E.
Published: July 2015

Alloteropsis semialata (R. Br.) Hitchc. sensu Chippindall (1955) and Clayton (in press) is the only known grass species in which elements with both non-Kranz and Kranz leaf blade anatomy, and therefore with C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways are included. In the past, two taxa had been recognized, but the characters used to separate them were found to be unreliable, so they were united. However, study of voucher specimens for anatomical and physiological work has shown that C3 and C4 taxa may be separated on the basis of morphological characters that differ from those considered in the past. Therefore, two taxa are again recognized, this time at the rank of subspecies, and the name  Alloteropsis semialata subsp. eckloniana (Nees) Gibbs Russell  stat. nov. is published.
A karyotypic and anatomical study of an unidentified liliaceous plant
Authors: Spies J. J. , Hardy D. S.
Published: July 2015

An unidentified sterile liliaceous plant and three possible relatives were studied karyotypically and anatomically. All these plants have a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 14. The possibility of the sterile plant having arisen as a result of a mutation appears unlikely, when compared with the possibility of hybrid origin. Chromosome morphology rules out  Bulbine latifolia (L.f.) R. S. and Aloe arborescens Mill, as possible parents. The sterile plant and Aloe marlothii Berger have similar karyotypes and. therefore. A. marlothii may be one of the parents. A close relationship between the sterile plant and the genus Aloe is further confirmed by their similar epidermal structure.
Montane plant environments in the Fynbos Biome
Authors: Campbell B. M.
Published: July 2015

Environmental data collected at 507 plots on 22 transects, and soil analytical data from 81 of these plots, have been used to describe the plant environments of the mountains in the Fynbos Biome. Two major regional gradients are recognized: a west-east gradient and a coast-interior gradient. Of particular consequence for fynbos-environment studies is the increase in the proportion of fine soil particles from west to east. At least some aspects of soil fertility also increase towards the east. The edaphic changes are paralleled by climatic changes: chiefly a decrease in the severity of summer drought towards the east. On the coast-interior gradient a major non-climatic variable in the gradient is rock cover. High rock cover is a feature of the interior ranges. Soils with organic horizons or with E horizons are a feature on the coastal mountains, but are generally lacking on the interior mountains. The other environmental gradients recognized occur on individual transects and all include edaphic variables. The rockiness-soil depth gradient, on which an increase in rockiness is associated with a decrease in soil depth and usually a decrease in clay content, tends to occur in three situations. Firstly, it is associated with local topographic variation; the shallow, rocky soils being a feature of the steeper slopes. Secondly, it is associated with the aspect gradient; the hot, dry northern aspects having shallow, rocky, less developed soils. Thirdly, it tends to be associated with the altitude-rainfall gradient: shallower soils being found at higher altitudes. It is also at higher altitudes that higher rainfall is found. Variation in oxidizable carbon is chiefly accounted for by the altitude-rainfall gradient. Whereas at a biome-wide level, aspects of soil fertility are related to soil texture, it appears that on individual transects fertility is linked to amounts of plant remains in the soil and to rainfall. Apart from these gradients, which are found on the Table Mountain quartzites, other sources of environmental variation are due to the differences between geological types. The non-quartzitic soils are generally deeper and finer-textured. It is suggested that the nutrient-poor/nutrient-rich distinction must be used with care; at least in the mountains the distinction should not automatically be substituted for the quartzitic/non-quartzitic distinction.
A homogeneity index based on species diversity in Sour Bushveld
Authors: Westfall R. H. , Van Rooyen N. , Theron G. K.
Published: July 2015

The co-efficient of variation (CV) for the linear regressions of species-area curves, on a linear species number/log area scale, for the samples in a community, appears to indicate the homogeneity of the community. A CV of less than 15% appears to indicate homogeneous vegetation while a CV greater than 15% seems to be indicative of vegetation heterogeneity, as correlated with extremes in recorded environmental factors in Sour Bushveld.
Intimations on the Tertiary vegetation of southern Africa
Authors: Coetzee J. A.
Published: July 2015

Fossil pollen sequences from the Cape Peninsula and the Saldanha region indicate that sub tropical vegetation and climates existed in these regions during the Miocene. The pollen record from the Cape Peninsula may point to the extinction of some taxa by the terminal Miocene/Early Pliocene with the subsequent strong development of macchia. This major change can probably be related to the maximum build-up of the Antarctic ice-cap in the latest Miocene and the accompanying profound palaeoceanographic changes such as the major cooling of the Benguela current with its effect on the aridification of the Namib desert, and the global glacio-eustatic sea level drop.Parallel palynological and lithological studies in the Saldanha region show that prominent Miocene vegetation shifts were linked to profound local changes in the palaeoenvironment associated with the northward migration of the Miocene Berg River. Such studies are of paramount importance for the possible assessment of the causes of changes in the palaeoenvironment and should first be carried out at many more sites over a wide region. It is to some extent premature to draw firm conclusions as to the origin and migration of some taxa in southern Africa. The record of very primitive angiosperms such as the ClavatipolleniteslAscarina complex and Winteraceae is of considerable phytogeographic interest.
The Late Quaternary history of climate and vegetation in East and southern Africa
Authors: Van Zinderen Bakker Sr E. M.
Published: July 2015

In the vast region of East and southern Africa the alternating glacial and interglacial periods of the Quaternarv were characterized by considerable changes in temperature and precipitation. During the last glacial maximum the influence of the ITCZ was limited, while the circulation systems were strengthened. The ocean surface waters were cooler and the Benguela Current was activated. In the montane areas of East Africa and also in southern Africa the temperature dropped by about 6°C. During this hypothermal period, rainfall on the east African plateau and mountains diminished. Summer precipitation could still penetrate the eastern half of southern Africa from the Indian Ocean, while the western half was arid to semi-arid. Cyclonic winter rain migrated further north beyond the latitude of the Orange River. The consequences of these climatic changes during the last glacial maximum were that the woodlands of East Africa opened up. On the plateau of South Africa austro-afroalpine vegetation dominated. The south coastal plain was very windy and cold to temperate, while the Namib and Kalahari were respectively hyper-arid and semi-humid. During hyperthermals the vegetation pattern resembled present-day conditions more closely.
Histoire de la végétation et du climat de l’Afrique nord-tropicale au Quaternaire recent*
Authors: Maley J.
Published: July 2015

LATE QUATERNARY HISTORY OF VEGETATION AND CLIMATE OF TROPICAL NORTH AFRICAThe critical examination o f available pollen data from the vegetation of the Sahara allows one to conclude that this vegetation has gone through but few qualitative changes during the last twenty thousand years. In particular, one notices an extension in the Sahara of tropical Sahel taxa about the middle of Holocene. Quantitatively, some pollen and geological data converge to Show that the Saharian plains were extremely arid between about 20 000 and 15 000 years BP and that on the mountains the vegetation became very sparse. A new colonization began on the mountains about 15 000 years ago.The pollen study of Holocene sediments from the central part o f the Chad basin was done in the Tjéri station. The results of this study exhibit a major change near 7 000 years BP, characterized in the Sahel zone by a dramatic extension o f arboreal taxa until about 5 000 years BP, probably corresponding to northward extension of the sahel savanna. One important change took place also at the same time in the wet north tropical zone where, between about 7 000 and 4 000 years BP, there occurred an extension of taxa growing presently on the well-leached soils of interfluves.Such a change near 7 000 years BP also appears in the available stratigraphical, sedimentological and pedological data from tropical north Africa. One observes particularly that, between 15 000 and 7 000 years BP, the
The botanic garden in a changing world
Authors: Rycroft H. B.
Published: July 2015

The paper deals with the development of the National Botanic Gardens of South Africa at Kirstenbosch in the Cape. This garden made history by concentrating exclusively on the flora of its own country. A series of regional gardens have also been established to display and cultivate local floras. Internationally there has been a growing awareness of the necessity for conservation of natural resources. We have been in the forefront in conserving our vegetation, and in creating a ‘gene’ bank of indigenous plants. Large numbers of species are introduced into our gardens, where they are cultivated, studied, displayed, and their place in the flora determined. But this is only the beginning. Plants and vegetation must be evaluated within the total concept of the biological and physical milieu. Research, into the taxonomy and cultivation of horticulturally promising taxa is undertaken and should be intensified. Botanic gardens are people-orientated and the information on nature available must be disseminated. The next stage in the development of our botanic gardens is the development of an education section. The time has also come to consider the development of a parallel system of regional exotic botanic gardens to complement the present indigenous gardens. Such a development would be complementary to the original concept and not in competition. The South African flora will remain the most important subject in the N.B.G., but South Africans must also have the opportunity to learn about other floras.
Plants Africa gave to the World
Authors: Kunkel G.
Published: July 2015

Although the flora of Africa is rather poor in plant species when compared to the floras of Tropical America or South-east Asia, this vast continent is the home of a wide range of plants useful to Man. Many of these have become famous in cultivation around the world. Coffee now provides an important source of income for certain countries, and the Yams yield one of the world’s staple foods. The Oil Palm and Cola trees are widely cultivated in Africa itself and elsewhere. African Mahoganies and Ironwoods are much sought after timber trees of excellent quality. Numerous grasses and pulses are well-known for their food value, and some of the native Cucurbitaceae are appreciated additions to our vegetable diet. African plants have also made their contribution to horticulture, ranging from world-famous trees such as the African or Gabon Tulip tree and many of the South African species of Proteaceae to the multitude of East and South African succulents. The present paper provides a survey of the most important of these useful plants and will emphasize the need of further research for forestry and agricultural as well as horticultural purposes, especially as far as some still little-known but potentially important plants species are concerned.
Les organismes du Précambrien terminal du craton ouest africain
Authors: Eboureau E.
Published: July 2015

THE ORGANISMS OF THE TERMINAL PRECAMBRIAN OF THE WESTERN AFRICAN CRATON The terminal Precamhrian (Lipalian) of the western African Craton, in the Adrar of Mauritania, has provided, especially in the Guelb er Richát, many organisms with an archaic structure, often very simple. It concerns some coccoides, often grouped in more or less complex spheroides according to an evolutionary pattern that could be accurately established. The understanding of fossil forms from the Precambrian is, to a great extent, the result of an interpretation made of an included ‘black spot', which one adopted for the emissions of substance produced by these forms. Compared to the present species, the Precambrian organisms recall the coccoid Bacteria and the Cyanophyceae. These microorganisms are oolithes in origin and are by no means mineral, since they contain stain-sensitive glucides with Schiff’s reagent following the action of periodic acid. These forms, usually spherical, are classified amongst the Oncolithes. These organisms are also responsible for the massive calcareous or dolomitic reefs reaching considerable thickness and containing some known stromatolites in many parts of the world. Stromatolites are Conophyton. Collenia . . . They are spherical, lamellate or columnar. These reef formations of Africa reach a thickness of 3 000 m in the Adoudounian of Collenia of the Anti-Atlas, of 600 m in the Zemmour, of 150 m in the Adrar of Mauritania, of 100 m in the cliff of Hank in the north of the Taoudeni Basin.
Index botaniques et études pastorales á 1’IEMVT
Authors: Lebrun J. P. , Stork A. L.
Published: July 2015

BOTANICAL INDEXES AND PASTORAL STUDIES AT THE IEMVTProgress at the IEMVT, since the IX AETFAT Plenary Meeting, in the following projects dealing with flora and pastures in Africa, is reported on: 1, botanical indexes of distribution maps and of plant illustrations (vascular plants); 2, agrostological studies illustrated by maps o f pastures; 3, the actual state of the herbarium and 4, a list of botanical publications of the Institute since 1978. In another project, ‘Enumeration o f the flowering plants of tropical Africa', a draft text dealing with the families Annonaceae to Euphorbiaceae has been written.
Phytogeography of African Commelinaceae
Authors: Faden R. B.
Published: July 2015

Africa (including Madagascar) has nearly twice as many species of Commelinaceae as any other continent (approximately 270 species, or about 40% of the total in the family). Of the 17 genera which are native, seven (Anthericopsis, Coleotrype, Palisota, Polyspatha, Pseudoparis, Stanfieldiella and  Triceratella) are endemic, the highest percentage generic endemism of any continent. Within Africa gcneric diversity is slightly higher in western than in eastern tropical floras. Species richness, however, is greatest in eastern Africa, mainly due to a high diversity of species of Commelina and Aneilema. Africa shares more genera with Asia (nine) than with any other continent. Only one African genus, Buforrestia, is neither endemic nor shared with Asia. Its western African/northeastern South American distribution is unique in the family. Besides Buforrestia, only five other genera of Commelinaceae (out of a total of 50 in the family), occur in both the Old and New Worlds. These genera.  Aneilema, Commelina, Floscopa, Murdannia and  Pollia are all very widespread in the Old World, occurring in Australia and Asia in addition to Africa (both continental and Madagascar). Madagascar is relatively poor in species (31). but these include the endemic Madagascan genus Pseudoparis, the sole African species of Rhopalephora, and the largest number of species of the Afro-Malagasy endemic genus Coleotrype. The high rate of generic endemism of Commelinaceae in Africa probably indicates that Africa was one of the ancient centres of diversity for the family. The high species diversity is more likely due to relatively recent radiations by genera pre-adapted to survival in non-forest habitats. The occurrence of only a small number of genera on both sides of the Atlantic suggests that the Commelinaceae have been evolving independently in the eastern and western hemispheres for a long period.
A preliminary survey of primitive crops cultivated in the northern Transvaal of South Africa
Authors: Arnold T. H. , Musil K. J.
Published: July 2015

The different tribal economies of South Africa rely extensively on a number of primitive crop taxa which are cultivated as a primary food source. The most important of these include  Sorghum bicolor,  Pennisetum americanum, Citrullus lanatus, Lagenaria siceraria, Vigna unguiculata, Voandzeia subterranea and  Hibiscus esculentus. Morphological variation within these and a number of less important crops is discussed. The frequency with which each crop is grown and preference ratings allotted to them by individual tribal families are compared between the three major ethnic regions of the northern Transvaal. Factors which determine preferences are also discussed and suggestions made relating to germ plasm conservation.
Santé et valorisation des plantes médicinales en Cóte d’Ivoire
Authors: Ake Assi L.
Published: July 2015

HEALTH AND THE EVALUATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE IVORY COAST The Ivory Coast, like most tropical countries, has a rich flora with many species, some of which contain active principles used in the preparation of useful remedies for the treatment of disease. The art of curing disease is practisea in a very empirical way by healers all over the Ivory Coast. In intertropical Africa, generally speaking, traditional medicine accounts for about 80-90c/t of the medicinal needs of the population. It has the advantage of being near at hand and provides medical treatment at low cost. The study of medicinal plants will result in the production locally of medicines from indigenous raw materials, and the project, in addition to the exploitation of national resources, will create work opportunities. Concerning ethnobotany, investigations carried out among healers in some areas of the Ivory Coast, have enabled the registration of several medicinal recipes that have resulted in various reports and publications. Yet, slow progress with the registration of plants of use in human health restricts the possibilities of phytotherapy. Clearly, many plants remain to be studied and evaluated. Unfortunately, thoughtless and rapid destruction of natural areas in several parts of the country, makes the discovery and judicious exploitation of our plant resources increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to urge African governments to take draconian actions in order to save our endangered medical heritage.
Contribution a l’ethnobotanique des Warega (Maniema, Kivu, Zaire)
Authors: Kitembo M.
Published: July 2015

CONTRIBUTION TO THE ETHNOBOTANY OF THE WAREGA (MANIEMA, KIVU, ZAIRE) As a result of the particular social positions held by the grandfather and aunt of the author, very detailed information about the traditional uses of plants in Maniema could be collected. All the information obtained is supported by a herbarium reference collection deposited in the Herbarium of the University of Lubumbashi (LSHI), together with one or several vernacular names. The information can be grouped on the basis of four main types of utilization, namely plants used as food (seeds and oleaginous nuts, amylaceous fruits and flowers, leaves, berries.); medicinal plants (parasitic diseases,  gynaecology, obstetrics, etc.); plants for domestic use (tools, mats, textiles, dyes and other uses).
Uses of graminaceous plants as food by man in West Africa
Authors: Chuah M. S.
Published: July 2015

The family Gramineae, with over 7 000 species is the fifth largest family in the plant kingdom, and has over the years played a very important role in providing food for man in the form of cereals among which the most important and well-known examples are rice, wheat, maize and others. The principal graminaceous plants in man’s diet in West Africa are rice (Oryza spp.); maize (Zea mays L.) and a variety of species belonging to the sorghums and millets (species of Pennisetum, Digitaria and Eleusine). Plants collected in times of famine include species of  Echinochloa, Panicum, Paspalum etc.
Floristic and structural features of the coastal foreland vegetation south of the Berg River, western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Boucher C.
Published: July 2015

Floristic and structural features of the three main vegetation types found in the coastal foreland of the western Cape Province, south of the Berg River, are outlined. Coastal Renosterveld. which occupies 6% of its former extent, is the most threatened type, followed by Coastal Fynbos (14%) and West Coast Strandveld (41%). Coastal Renosterveld is closely related to Mountain Fynbos vegetation found on clay-rich soils together with West Coast Strandveld inclusions in specific habitats. Coastal Renosterveld is the product of recent regular disturbance by a short interval burning regime and overgrazing.
Ecological interpretation of plant communities by classification and ordination of quantitative soil characteristics
Authors: Bredenkamp G. J. , Theron G. K. , Van Vuuren D. R. J.
Published: July 2015

An agglomerative cluster analysis and a principal components analysis of habitat, based on 27 quantitative soil variables, are compared with a Braun-Blanquet classification of the vegetation of the Manyeleti Game Reserve in the eastern Transvaal. The results indicate that these techniques can be successfully used to obtain relatively homogeneous habitat classes, characterized by sets of environmental (soil) variables and not only single variables individually, and which are furthermore significantly correlated with the recognized plant communities of the area.
A broad-scale structural classification of vegetation for practical purposes
Authors: Edwards E.
Published: July 2015

An a priori system is presented for the broad structural classification of vegetation. The objectives are to provide a descriptive, consistent, easily applied system, with unambiguous, straight-forward terminology, which can be used in the field and with remote sensing and air photo techniques, and which can be used in conjuction with floristic and habitat terms to convey the essential physiognomy and structure of the vegetation. The attributes used are a primary set of four growth forms, a set of four projected crown cover classes, and a set of four height classes for each growth form. In addition, shrub substratum is used to define thicket and bushland. Special growth forms, substrata!, leaf and other attributes can be readily incorporated to extend the two-way table system where such detail is needed.
A contribution to the concept and the classification of the bioclimatic unit in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Phillips J. F. V
Published: July 2015

A bioclimatic unit is an integration of climatic factors (e.g. radiation, humidity complexes) and features modified by physiography and vegetation (biotic communities and associated habitats, i.e. wherever possible, ecosystems). Unit implies an entity irrespective of ecological status and dimensions: these are otherwise differentiated. It often must suffice to use vegetation communities, because information regarding biotic communities or ecosystems is unavailable. Increasingly, disturbance of ‘natural’ conditions makes it imperative to involve man in the classification, demarcation and policy for the development of bioclimatic units. Ignorance regarding the nature and distribution of a climax necessitates using pro- (pre- or post-) climaxes.This is based upon the differentiation in these criteria: climatic (radiation and humidity complexes); vegetation (physiognomy and ecological status) . . . and as these are further modified by physiography and edaphic features (physiognomic differentiation ranges from specific faciations of forest or thicket); wooded savanna (facies ofwoodland, shrubland); facies or faciations of grassland; climatic differentiation ranges from highly humid toarid . . . and further to subdesert and desert. Recommendations respecting policy and practice in pastoral, crop production and forestry development based on this concept have been used in various sectors of Africa. South East Asia and Latin America. Detailed experience has been gained in Natal and elsewhere. Several maps illustrate the application of the concept.
A case for a vegetation survey in a developing country based on Zimbabwe
Authors: Müller T.
Published: July 2015

The need for a vegetation survey in Zimbabwe, a developing country, is discussed. It is proposed that such a survey should produce a classification which is based on floristic criteria, and in which the vegetation types relate as nearly as possible to homogeneous environmental units. The practical application of such a classification is outlined with reference to the management of natural vegetation resources, land use planning and the preservation of species diversity.
An ecological bibliography for southern Africa
Authors: Engelbrecht A. J. , Edwards D. , Killick D. J. B.
Published: July 2015

An ecological bibliography for southern Africa up until 1975 is currently being compiled. References recorded by researchers at the Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria are being expanded and incorporated into a computer data base. All references are annotated with codes, key words, biomes and regions where applicable. The IBM/STAIRS programme package is used for retrieving references by means of authors and subject headings as well as sorting alphabetically.
Aspects of an experimental study on root aerenchyma development and the ecological implications thereof
Authors: Hardcastle J. , Schutte K. H.
Published: July 2015

Anaerobic conditions induced cortical aerenchyma in maize roots cultivated in water culture. Similar results were obtained by growing the plants in nitrate and phosphate deficient solutions but the cavitation was more severe when conditions were anaerobic. Low temperatures delayed the onset of these symptoms. Mineral deficiencies also regulated the formation of root hairs in water culture. In the field, the behaviour of the rooting systems in a group of Restionaceae with aerenchyma was interpreted from anatomical and developmental data.
Cytotaxonomic studies in African Asclepiadaceae
Authors: Albers F.
Published: July 2015

The family Asclepiadaceae of about 290 genera is a homogeneous complex with complicated flower-structure. Little cytological data are available on the approximately 3 000 species in the family. The best studied subtribe is the Ceropegiinae (sensu Schumann, 1895) including the Stapelieae (as presently recognized) with its dominantly succulent members. Exactly half of the species are known karyologically. The basic chromosome number in the family is x = 11 and in most of the genera polyploid taxa are also to be found. The small size of the chromosomes makes individual identification very difficult and they form a graded series with very slight morphological differences. C-banding permits identification of heterochromatic regions; they all take up near centromeric positions. Therefore, studies aimed at an analysis of relationships with the aid of chromosome morphology on a lower taxonomic level, will hardly be possible. In so far as morphological characters of the inflorescence are concerned, diploid species of the genus Caralluma seem to form a species centre in South Arabia/East Africa.
Some remarks on the taxonomy of the Plumerioideae (Apocynaceae)
Authors: Leeuwenberg A. J. M.
Published: July 2015

The family of the Apocynaceae is usually subdivided into two subfamilies, the Plumerioideae with the type genus Plumeria from tropical America, and the Apocynoideae, often named Echitoideae, with the type genus Apocynum from North America. These subfamilies show two characters which are more or less diagnostic for all members. However, since the taxonomists have built up the present scheme of the Apocynaceae, phytochemists have observed that many plants belonging to the Plumerioideae contain alkaloids, and that many representatives of the Apocynoideae contain glycosides. Some of the alkaloids, e.g. those of Catharanthus, Rauvolfia and Voacanga, and some of the glycosides, e.g. those of Funtumia and Strophanthus are of medicinal interest. In the present paper, the arrangement of the genera within the Plumerioideae is mainly that of Pichon (1949, 1950, 1953a, 1953b). He subdivided all tribes, except the Tabernaemontaneae, into subtribes, which is an excellent concept according to the present author. The latter, however, does not always agree with the delimitation of the genera. For instance, he does not accept the sinking of Acokanthera under Carissa, especially as the plants belonging to these genera show great differences in architecture (Hallé Oldeman 1970; Hallé, Oldeman Tomlinson, 1978), but he sinks several genera maintained by Pichon, e.g.  Ervatamia under Tabernaemontana (1976).
The endothecium — a neglected criterion in taxonomy and phylogeny?
Authors: Noel A. R. A.
Published: July 2015

A method has been devised for the screening of the endothecium in flowering plants, principally with a view to describing the cell wall thickening. A scheme of nomenclature and coding has been proposed, which permits a more detailed and unambiguous recording of endothecial variety than was hitherto possible. There is some evidence that this structural variation could have taxonomic and phylogenetic significance.
Analyse de la repartition géographique des Malphigiaceae d’apres les caractêres du pollen et de la pollinisation
Authors: Lobreau-Callen D.
Published: July 2015

ANALYSIS OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MALPHIGIACEAE USING POLLEN ANDPOLLINATION CHARACTERS A comparative study o f pollen and pollination in the family Malphigiaceae shows that the genera o f the Old World are derived from those in South America. They have existed on the continents involved since the Cretaceous. In South America there is coadaptation oetween the pollen characters and the pollinating insects present only on this continent and subsequently diversified after the enlargement o f the Atlantic in the Tertiary. Pollen characters o f the Malphigiaceae show affinities with those o f other families o f the Polygalales. Palynologically, Malphigiaceae approaches Euphorbiaceae on the one hand, and Leguminosae and Rutales-Sapindales on the other.
Intraspecifíc variability in Alloteropsis semialata (R. Br.) Hitchc.
Authors: Frean M. L. , Barrett D. R. , Ariovich D. , Wolfson M. , Cresswell C. F.
Published: July 2015

Intraspecific variability in Alloteropsis semialata (R. Br.) Hitchc. is shown ultrastructurally with particular regard to the structure of the bundle sheath and the development of the dimorphic chloroplasts in both the C3 and C4 forms of this species. A. semialata is known to possess two distinct anatomical forms — Kranz and non-Kranz — within one species and occurring within a single ecological niche. Kranz and non-Kranz anatomy is known to be correlated with C3 and C4 physiology respectively. Transverse sections of leaf portions taken at midsheath, at the ligule and at midlamina show plastids with different morphologies at different ontogenetic stages. Plastid form is related to the stage of development, the influence of light on the emerging leaf and the C3 or C4form of A. semialata. Stages from amyloplast to chloroplast are investigated with regard to fine structure. Leaf transverse sections are examined microscopically and formation of new bundles, chiefly in the lamina is traced. Differences in anatomy and distribution of vascular bundles are more evident in the lamina than in the colourless leaf sheath. Both C3 and C4 forms of A. semialata are found to show chloroplast dimorphism in vascular bundle sheath and mesophyll cells. This is shown to differ in the two forms. The specialized chloroplasts of the Kranz sheath are shown to develop in the inner or mestome sheath, and not in the parenchyma sheath as in some other members of the Kranz Panicoideae. Features of A. semialata,  such as the double bundle sheath, granal chloroplasts and large numbers of mitochondria in bundle sheath cells, in the C4 form, question the current classification of this grass as a malate former.
The ontogeny of the fruit and seed of Momordica balsamina
Authors: Van Rensburg H. J. , Robbertse P. J. , Small J. G. C. , Small J. G. C.
Published: July 2015

The ontogeny and morphology of the seed and fruit of Momordica balsamina L. are discussed in detail and compared with some of the relevant literature. Cucurbitaceous ovules are usually described as anatropous but, according to this study, at least those of some taxa should be regarded as circinotropous.