ABSTRACT Hydric fluctuations in the Pantanal comprise annual dry and wet seasons that modify local diversity and plant morphology and anatomy. Widespread in this wetland are the sympatric Pontederia azurea and P. crassipes, which, although primarily aquatic, can also develop in non-flooded environments. This study undertook a comparative investigation of the qualitative and quantitative phenotypic responses and strategies of these two species (regarding life-form and leaf morpho-anatomy) in moderately dry and aquatic environments in the Pantanal. Field observations, conventional methods in plant anatomy, and leaf biometry were performed, followed by statistical analyses. Phenotypic responses, such as the decreased size of lacunae, increased lignification of vessel elements, and storage of starch granules, are the most prominent responses associated with moderately dry environments. The ability of petioles to elongate and inflate seems to be closely related to specific morphological patterns of each species. In contrast, petiole length, leaf blade dimensions, size of lacunae, and lignification rates seem to be somewhat associated with water level fluctuations. Our results provide evidence of how plant structure can simultaneously reflect phylogeny and ecology, thus supporting further investigations into phenotypic plasticity.

ABSTRACT Seasonally-dry environments of the Neotropics, such as the South American Chaco, exert selective pressures on vegetation through a pronounced water deficit. We describe the underground system and leaf anatomy of three species of Asteraceae from the Brazilian portion of the Chaco (Pterocaulon purpurascens Malme, Wedelia trichostephia DC., and Pectis gardneri Baker), aiming to describe their structural and adaptive features using standard plant anatomy techniques. Pterocaulon purpurascens and W. trichostephia exhibited slightly thickened xylopodia, with gemmiferous character and self-grafted stem shoots; Pectis gardneri displayed a slightly-thickened tuberous root with storage substances. Longitudinal sequences of cells with highly thickened walls forming globular protrusions were found throughout the extension of the periderm of Pectis gardneri, while senescent trichomes were found in the periderm of W. trichostephia. Schyzogenous aerenchyma was found in P. purpurascens. Aquifer cells, composing vascular rays of secondary phloem and xylem, are reported for this species. Leaves of the three species are perennial and amphistomatic, with aquifer cells in a variety of tissues. Pectis gardneri exhibits a “Kranz-type” anatomy with lignified bristles with stomata. The features described for the species play important role in water uptake and/or storage, which prevent excessive water loss during environmental or physiological stress periods.

ABSTRACT We surveyed Brazilian forensic institutes in order to provide a baseline for botanical knowledge used in forensic applications. Our approach provides a better understanding of the law enforcement dynamics as a whole, and establishes perspectives and guidelines for implementing this discipline in Brazil, enhancing the elucidative power of Brazilian forensic institutes.

RESUMO Adelia membranifolia (Müll. Arg.) Pax & K. Hoffm. é uma árvore de pequeno porte, dioica, com distribuição restrita à América do Sul, sendo a única espécie do gênero Adelia L. (Euphorbiaceae) com ocorrência no Brasil, frequente e abundante na floresta ripária do rio da Prata, região sudoeste de Mato Grosso do Sul. Este estudo descreve os aspectos morfológicos dos frutos, das sementes e o desenvolvimento das fases juvenis de Adelia membranifolia e analisa o padrão de nervação foliar das plantas jovens visando contribuir com o conhecimento biológico e auxiliar na identificação da espécie em ambiente natural. O fruto é esquizocárpico, seco, de coloração amarelada, tricoco, mede em média 6,71 mm (± 0,51) de comprimento, 10,11 mm (± 0,78) de largura e pesa 0,42 g (± 0,12). A dispersão primária é autocórica e as sementes possuem forma globosa, coloração acinzentada, carúncula rudimentar, medem em média 3,90 mm (± 0,20) de comprimento e 3,76 mm (± 0,23) de largura. A taxa de germinação é de aproximadamente 90 % em câmara de germinação e 80 % em viveiro de mudas. A germinação é do tipo fanerocotiledonar epígea e o desenvolvimento das plântulas ocorre entre 5 a 15 dias. Os cotilédones e eofilos apresentam nervação do tipo pinada com padrão camptódromo broquidódromo.

ABSTRACT Adelia membranifolia (Müll. Arg.) Pax & K. Hoffm. is a small tree, dioecious, with distribution restricted to South America, being the only species of the genus Adelia L. (Euphorbiaceae) occurring in Brazil and is abundant in riparian forest of the Prata River, southwest region of Mato Grosso do Sul state. This study describes the morphological characteristics of fruits, seeds, seedlings and saplings of Adelia membranifolia and analyzes the pattern of venation cotyledons and eophylls to contribute to the biological knowledge of the species and assist in the identification of juvenile stages in the natural environment. The fruit is schizocarpic, dry, with three locules, yellowish, measured on average 6.71 mm (± 0.51) long, 10.11 mm (± 0.78) wide and weigh 0.42 g (± 0.12). The primary dispersion is autochoric and seeds are rounded, gray colored with a rudimentary caruncule, measuring on average 3.90 mm (± 0.20) long and 3.76 mm (± 0.23) wide. The germination rate is about 80 % in the germination chamber and 90 % in the greenhouse. The germination is epigeal type phanerocotylar and seedling development is between 5 to 15 days. The cotyledons and eophylls show venation pinnate with a type camptodromous brochidodromous.

This study characterizes and compares the stem and root anatomy of Echinopsis calochlora and E. rhodotricha (Cactaceae) occurring in the Central-Western Region of Brazil, in Mato Grosso do Sul State. Three individuals of each species were collected, fixed, stored and prepared following usual anatomy techniques, for subsequent observation in light and scanning electronic microscopy. Echinopsis calochlora revealed uniseriated epidermis, while E. rhodotricha had patches of bisseriated epidermis; all species showed thick cuticle, parallelocytic stomata at the epidermis level, and a well-developed hypodermis. Cortical and medullary bundles are present in the studied species, as well as mucilage cells in the cortex region. The secondary phloem is composed by sieve tube elements, companion cells, axial and radial parenchyma. Sclereids were found at the outer regions of phloem in the roots. The secondary xylem is non fibrous in the stems of E. calochlora, and fibrous in the stems of E. rhodotricha and in the roots of both species. Many of these characteristics are commonly found in Cactaceae, and represent important adaptations for survival in xeric environments.

Este estudio está enfocado a caracterizar y comparar la anatomía de tallos y raíces de Echinopsis calochlora y E. rhodotricha (Cactaceae) que habitan en la región centro-oeste de Brasil, en el Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Se recolectaron 3 individuos de cada especie, los cuales fueron fijados, almacenados y preparados siguiendo las técnicas comunes de anatomía, para observarlos en microscopía de luz y electrónica de barrido. Echinopsis calochlora mostró epidermis uniseriada, mientras que la de E. rhodotricha fue biseriada; todas las especies presentaron cutícula gruesa, estomas paralelocíticos a nivel de la epidermis y una hipodermis bien desarrollada. Se presentaron haces vasculares corticales y medulares en las especies estudiadas, así como células mucilaginosas en la región cortical. El floema secundario está compuesto de elementos de tubo criboso, células acompañantes y parénquima axial y radial. Se encontraron esclereidas en las regiones externas del floema en las raíces. El xilema secundario es no-fibroso en los tallos de E. calochlora y fibroso en los de E. rhodotricha y en las raíces de ambas especies. Muchas de estas características están presentes comúnmente en especies de Cactaceae, lo que representa adaptaciones importantes para la supervivencia en ambientes xéricos.

Resumo Neste estudo é descrita a composição florística e analisada a influência do pulso de inundação sobre a biomassa de quatro espécies de macrófitas aquáticas, Eichhomia azurea, E. crassipes, Pistia stratiotes e Salvinia auriculata, ao longo de um ciclo hidrológico, em uma lagoa de meandro no Pantanal Mato Grosso do Sul. Foram identificados 42 táxons, inseridos em 34 gêneros e 25 famílias botânicas. As maiores riquezas foram obtidas para as famílias Araceae, Onagraceae e Poaceae, com quatro espécies cada, 14 famílias apresentaram apenas uma espécie, e o gênero mais representativo foi Ludwigia, com quatro espécies. Das formas biológicas, a que foi representada pelo maior número de táxons foi a emergente, seguida da anfíbia e flutuante livre. As espécies analisadas apresentaram diferenças significativas ao longo do período sazonal nas duas regiões de amostragem (p < 0,05). Mesmo não apresentando padrão na variação temporal da biomassa de todas as espécies estudadas, houve relação da biomassa de E. azurea e E. crassipes à flutuação do nível da água da lagoa.

Abstract This study aims to describe the floristic composition and analyze the influence of flood pulse on the biomass of four species of aquatic macrophytes, Eichhomia azurea, E. crassipes, Pistia sti'atiotes and Salvinia auriculata, and during a hydrological cycle in a meander lake in the Brazilian Pantanal. We identified 42 taxa, 34 genera and 25 families. The richest families were Araceae, Onagraceae and Poaceae with four species each; 14 families had only one species. Ludwigia was the most representative genus (four species). The life forms that were represented by the greatest number of taxa were emergent, followed by amphibious and free-floating. Biomass of ali species showed signifícant differences during the study period in the two sampling regions (p < 0.05). Although not presenting a pattem in temporal biomass variation of ali species, the biomass of both E. azurea and E. crassipes was related to fluctuating water levels of the lake.

O presente estudo teve como objetivos descrever a riqueza e a diversidade em espécies e analisar os aspectos fitossociológicos de um trecho da mata ciliar do rio da Prata, localizado na Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida no município de Jardim, MS. Seis transectos de 150 m cada foram distribuídos aleatoriamente perpendiculares à margem do rio e subdivididos em 90 parcelas de 10 m×10 m. Em cada parcela foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com diâmetro à 1,30 m de altura do solo (DAP) > 3,18 cm, totalizando 661 indivíduos pertencentes a 33 famílias, 57 gêneros e 66 espécies. As famílias Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae e Rutaceae destacaramse pelo elevado número de espécies. Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand, Adelia membranifolia (Müll. Arg.) Chodat & Hassl., Dalbergia sp., Holocalyx balansae Micheli, Unonopsis lindmanii R.E. Fr., Guarea kunthiana A. Juss., Trichilia claussenii C. DC., Guarea guidonea (L.) Sleumer, Averrhoidium paraguaiense Radlk.e Astronium graveolens Jacq. foram as espécies de maior valor de importância. O índice de diversidade de Shannon (H') obtido foi 3,413 nats/indivíduo e a eqüabilidade (J') foi 0,815. A densidade e a área basal estimada foi 734,44 indivíduos/ha e 21,32 m²/ha respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho reforçam a necessidade de preservação da mata ciliar do rio da Prata e são de extrema importância para subsidiar projetos de manejo e recomposição nestas formações.

The present study describes species richness and diversity, and analyses phythossociologic aspects of a riparian forest at Rio da Prata, Jardim district, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The phytosociological study was carried out on six 150 m transects perpendicular to the river subdivided in 90 quadrats (10 m×10 m). All trees and shrubs with a minimum of 3,18 cm diameter at breast height were recorded, totalizing 661 individuals of 33 families, 57 genera and 66 species. The families with high number of species are Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Rutaceae. The species with the highest importance values are Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand, Adelia membranifolia (Müll. Arg.) Chodat & Hassl., Dalbergia sp., Holocalyx balansae Micheli, Unonopsis lindmanii R.E. Fr., Guarea kunthiana A. Juss., Trichilia claussenii C. DC., Guarea guidonea (L.) Sleumer, Averrhoidium paraguaiense Radlk. and Astronium graveolens Jacq. The Shannon diversity index is H'=3,413 nats/individual and eqüability is J=0,815. The density and basal area are respectively 734,44 ind./ha and 21,32 m²/ha. The results obtained in this study reinforce the protection of belt of riparian vegetation in the Rio da Prata, and will support management and restoration projects in these ecosystems.

A proposta deste trabalho é mostrar uma nova interpretação do meristema de espessamento primário em monocotiledôneas. Anatomia dos órgãos vegetativos das seguintes espécies foi examinada: Cephalostemon riedelianus (Rapataceae), Cyperus papyrus (Cyperaceae), Lagenocarpus rigidus, L. Junciformis (Cyperaceae), Echinodorus paniculatus (Alismataceae) and Zingiberofficinale (Zingiberaceae). A atividade meristemática da endoderme foi observada nas raizes de todas as espécies, no caule de Cyperus, Cephalostemum e Lagenocarpus rigidus, e no traço foliar de Cyperus e folha de Echinodorus. Considerando a continuidade dos tecidos através da raiz, caule e folha, as autoras concluem que no caule o periciclo permanece ativo durante a vida da planta, como um gerador de tecidos vasculares. O "Meristema de Espessamento Primário" é o periciclo em fase meristemática, juntamente com a endoderme e suas derivadas (ou apenas o periciclo). Próximo ao ápice caulinar, esses tecidos se assemelham a um único meristema, dando origem ao córtex interno e aos tecidos vasculares.

This paper proposes a new interpretation for primary thickening in monocotyledons. The anatomy of the vegetative organs of the following species was examined: Cephalostemon riedelianus (Rapataceae), Cyperus papyrus (Cyperaceae), Lagenocarpus rigidus, L. junciformis (Cyperaceae), Echinodorus paniculatus (Alismataceae) and Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae). The endodermis with meristematic activity was observed in the root of all the species, in the stem of Cyperus, Cephalostemum and Lagenocarpus rigidus, and in the leaf trace of Cyperus and leaf of Echinodorus. Considering the continuity of tissues through the root, stem and leaf, the authors conclude that in the stem the pericycle remains active throughout the life of the plant as the generator of the vascular tissue. The "Primary Thickening Meristem" is in fact the pericycle plus the endodermis and its derivatives (or only the pericycle). Close to the stem apex, the assemblage of seems to be a unique meristem, giving rise to the inner cortex and vascular tissues.