Studies On Systematics Of The Genera Echinacanthus Nees And Eranthemum L. From China And Vascular Anatomy Of The Flowers Of Acanthaceae From China

The vascular anatomy of the flowers of 6 species belonging to 3 genera of Acanthaceae from China was studied. The taxonomic study of the genera Echinacanthus Nees and Eranthemum L. from China were also investigated. The main results are as follows:Part 1:Vascular anatomy of the flowers of Chinese AcanthaceaeThe behaviour and the number of vascular traces in the flora organs play an important role in the classification of Acanthaceae. In the present study, the vascular anatomy of the flowers of 6 species belonging to 3 genera of Acanthaceae from China has been investigated with a view to evaluate the data in determining the taxonomic position and phylogeny of the taxa. Barleria L. and Strobilanthes Nees of Ruellioideae Bremek appear to be most primitive in the family for having the fifth staminal trace. Between them, Barleria L. is more primitive than Strobilanthes Nees because of the former possessing a derived type of axile placentation. Thunbergia Retz. of Thunbetgioideae Lindau having four staminal traces only, but possessing a derived type of axile placention, so its systematic position in Acanthaceae needs to be further studied.Part 2:Systematics of Echinacanthus NeesThere are four species in the genus Echinacanthus Nees, Echinacanthus attenuatus Nees and E. longipes H. S. Lo & D. Fang are perennial herbs, having panicle inflorescences composed by cymose, and their pollen grains are unprominent on the ridges. E. lofouensis (Levl.) J. R. I. Wood and E. longzhouensis H. S. Lo are shrubs, having simple cymose inflorescences, and their pollen grains are prominent on the ridges. E. attenuatus Nees is dstributed in Nepal and Bhutan; E. longipes H. S. Lo & D. Fang is distributed in China (Yunnan and Guangxi) and Vietnam; E. longzhouensis H. S. Lo is restricted in Longzhou of Guangxi;and E. lofouensis (Levl.) J. R. I. Wood is found in the border regions of Guangxi and Guizhou of China.Part 3:Systematics of Eranthemum L. in ChinaThree species(E. pulchellum Andrews., E. austrosinense H. S. Lo, E. tetragonum Wall.) and one variable specie (E. austrosinense H. S. Lo var.pubipetalum (S.Z.Huang ex H. P.Tsui) T. L. Li & Y. F. Deng) of Eranthemum L. from China are recognized. E. pulchellum Andrews., E. austrosinense H. S. Lo, and E. austrosinense H. S. Lo var. pubipetalum (S. Z. Huang ex H. P. Tsui) T. L. Li & Y. F. Deng have ovate or elliptoid ovate leaves. E. pubipetalum S. Z. Huang ex H. P. Tsui and E. austrosinense H. S. Lo depend upon indumentum of corolla and ovary, so E. pubipetalum S. Z. Huang ex H. P. Tsui is reduced to the variety of E. austrosinense H. S. Lo. E. splendens (T. Anders.) Hort. ex Siebert et Voss, an species restricted in Nepal and India, was reported in Xishuangbanna, Yunna Province of China, but no effective specimen was seen, so its record in China is doubtfully.