Leguminosae in an altitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Forest of Serra do Mar State Park, São Paulo, Brazil / Leguminosae em um gradiente altitudinal na Floresta Atlântica do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brasil

Studies on floristic and structural variations of forests in relation to altitude have contributed to the knowledge of patterns and causes of spatial distribution of plants in the Atlantic Forest. Geographical variables such as latitude, longitude and altitude result in different vegetation types, which limits newly established are not consensus. In the north coast of São Paulo state altitudes vary from the Restinga Forest, near the sea level, to the vegetation at the top of Cuscuzeiro Mountain at 1,279 m altitude. In order to evaluate the richness, taxonomic diversity, floristic similarity and the potential indicator of Leguminosae in the characterization of different vegetation types of Atlantic Forest on the northern coast of São Paulo, a matrix with the presence and absence of 142 species, in 15 different altitudinal belts was built. The greatest species richness was observed in the Restinga Forest (0-10 m), with 84 species, and in Montane Forest (500-1,200 m), with 69 species. The altitudinal belt with the highest number of tree species was 10-50 m, with 34 species. In the higher altitudes that number was significantly lower with six species of 1,100-1,200 m, and no species above this quota. The cluster analysis (Jaccard index) showed dissimilarity of the belts 0-10 m and 1,100-1,200 m in relation to the intermediate belts. The Lowland Forest and Submontane share the largest number of species (25). Some species characterize certain formations or have their preferred environment located at a specific elevation, as is the case of Abarema brachystachya and Inga subnuda (0-20 m), Inga lanceifolia, Inga mendoncaei and Ormosia minor (800-1,200 m). Distinguished for occupying all the phytophysiognomies: Abarema langsdorffii and Senna macranthera. Leguminosae, although well adapted to the first colonization and exploration of diverse environment, was poorly represented above 1,100 m altitude.

Estudos sobre variações florísticas e estruturais da floresta em relação è altitude têm contribuído para o conhecimento dos padrões e causas da distribuição espacial de plantas na Floresta Atlântica. Variáveis geográficas como latitude, longitude e altitude resultam em diferentes fitofisionomias, cujos limites recentemente estabelecidos não são um consenso. No litoral norte do estado de São Paulo as altitudes variam desde a Floresta de Restinga, próximo ao nível do mar, até a vegetação do topo do morro do Cuscuzeiro a 1.279 m de altitude. Para avaliar a riqueza, a diversidade taxonômica, similaridade florística e o potencial indicador de Leguminosae na caracterização das diferentes fitofisionomias da Floresta Ombrófila Densa no litoral norte de São Paulo foi construída uma matriz com a presença e ausência de 142 espécies em 15 diferentes faixas altitudinais. A maior riqueza de espécies foi observada na Floresta de Restinga (0-10 m), com 84 espécies, e na Floresta Montana (500-1.200 m), com 69 espécies. A faixa altitudinal com maior número de espécies arbóreas foi a de 10-50 m, com 34 espécies. Nas maiores altitudes esse número foi expressivamente menor, seis espécies de 1.100-1.200 m e nenhuma acima dessa cota. A análise de agrupamento (índice de Jaccard) revelou dissimilaridade das faixas 0-10 m e 1.100-1.200 m em relação ès faixas intermediárias. A Floresta de Terras baixas e a Submontana compartilham o maior número de espécies (25). Algumas espécies caracterizam certas formações ou têm o seu ambiente preferencial localizado em uma altitude específica, como é o caso de Abarema brachystachya e Inga subnuda (0-20 m), Inga lanceifolia, Inga mendoncaei e Ormosia minor (800-1.200 m). Destacam-se por ocupar todas as fitofisionomias: Abarema langsdorffii e Senna macranthera. Leguminosae, embora bem adaptada è primeira colonização e exploração de diversos ambientes, está pobremente representada acima de 1.100 m de altitude.

Leguminosae na Floresta Ombrófila Densa do Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brasil / Leguminosae in Ombrophilous Dense Forest of Picinguaba Nucleus, Serra do Mar State Park, São Paulo, Brazil

O presente estudo traz o inventário das espécies de Leguminosae que ocorrem em uma área de Floresta Ombrófila Densa do litoral norte do estado de São Paulo, em altitudes que variam desde a restinga, próximo do nível do mar, até a vegetação do topo do morro do Cuscuzeiro, entre 1000 e 1279 m altitude. O levantamento florístico envolveu coletas de plantas herbáceas, subarbustivas, arbustivas, arbóreas e lianas e foi realizado percorrendo trilhas nas diferentes fitofisionomias. A família Leguminosae está bem representada na Floresta Ombrófila Densa do Núcleo Picinguaba (108 espécies), o que fortalece a premissa de que suas espécies desempenham papel importante na composição e estrutura dessa floresta. Dezenove espécies encontradas são endêmicas da Floresta Atlântica. A Floresta Ombrófila Densa do Núcleo Picinguaba possui um número maior de táxons de Leguminosae do que apresentado em trabalhos anteriores, o que demonstra que a presença da família nas formações florestais do litoral norte de São Paulo é ainda mais significativa do que o anteriormente estimado. Além de uma lista de gêneros e espécies com suas respectivas chaves de identificação também são apresentadas ilustrações, informações sobre períodos de floração e frutificação, síndromes de dispersão e distribuição geográfica.

This study brings the inventory of the Leguminosae species which occur in an area of Ombrophilous Dense Forest from the north coast of the state of São Paulo, in altitudes that vary from the Restinga Forest, close to the sea level, to the vegetation at the top of the Cuscuzeiro Mountain, between 1,000 to 1,279 m of altitude. The floristic survey involved the collecting of herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, trees and lianas and was done going through ranges in the different phytophysiognomies. The Leguminosae family is well represented in the Ombrophilous Dense Forest of Picinguaba Nucleus (108 species), this reinforces the premise that their species play an important role in the composition and structure of this forest. Nineteen species are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. The Ombrophilous Dense Forest of Picinguaba Nucleus has a larger number of taxa of Leguminosae than presented in previous papers, which demonstrates that the presence this family in the forests of the north coast of São Paulo is even more significant than previously estimated. Besides a genera and species list with their corresponding keys to identification, illustrations, information on flowering and fruiting periods, dispersal syndromes geographical distribution are also presented.

Saponins from Swartzia langsdorffii: biological activities.

The presence of saponins and the molluscicidal activity of the roots, leaves, seeds and fruits of Swartzia langsdorffii Raddi (Leguminosae) against Biomphalaria glabrata adults and eggs were investigated. The roots, seeds and fruits were macerated in 95% ethanol. These extracts exerted a significant molluscicidal activity against B. glabrata, up to a dilution of 100 mg/l. Four mixtures (A2, B2, C and D) of triterpenoid oleanane type saponins were chromatographically isolated from the seed and fruit extracts. Two known saponins (1 and 2) were identified as beta-D-glucopyranosyl-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->3)- beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1->3)]-3beta-hydroxyolean-12-ene-28 -oate, and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1 ->3)]-3beta-hydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oate, respectively. These two saponins were present in all the mixtures, together with other triterpenoid oleane type saponins, which were shown to be less polar, by reversed-phase HPLC. The saponin identifications were based on spectral evidence, including H- H two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, and heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity experiments. The toxicity of S. langsdorffii saponins to non-target organisms was prescreened by the brine shrimp lethality test.

Saponins from Swartzia langsdorffii: biological activities

The presence of saponins and the molluscicidal activity of the roots, leaves, seeds and fruits of Swartzia langsdorffii Raddi (Leguminosae) against Biomphalaria glabrata adults and eggs were investigated. The roots, seeds and fruits were macerated in 95 percent ethanol. These extracts exerted a significant molluscicidal activity against B. glabrata, up to a dilution of 100 mg/l. Four mixtures (A2, B2, C and D) of triterpenoid oleanane type saponins were chromatographically isolated from the seed and fruit extracts. Two known saponins (1 and 2) were identified as beta-D-glucopyranosyl-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->3)- beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1->3)]-3beta-hydroxyolean-12-ene-28 -oate, and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->3)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1 ->3)]-3beta-hydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oate, respectively. These two saponins were present in all the mixtures, together with other triterpenoid oleane type saponins, which were shown to be less polar, by reversed-phase HPLC. The saponin identifications were based on spectral evidence, including H- H two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, and heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity experiments. The toxicity of S. langsdorffii saponins to non-target organisms was prescreened by the brine shrimp lethality test

Floral ontogeny of Lecointea, Zollernia, Exostyles, and Harleyodendron (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Swartzieae s.l).

Floral initiation and development were examined using scanning electron microscopy in Exostyles venusta, Harleyodendron unifoliolatum, Lecointea hatschbachii, and Zollernia ilicifolia. Common features include (1) unidirectional sepal initiation, (2) simultaneous petal initiation, (3) unidirectional initiation of each stamen whorl (except in the antesepalous whorl in Lecointea and Exostyles), (4) overlap in time of initiation of the two stamen whorls, and (5) initiation of the carpel concurrently with petals. Significant developmental features include (1) the first sepal median abaxial in all except Lecointea where it is non-median abaxial; (2) intraspecific variation in petal aestivation in Exostyles, Harleyodendron, and Lecointea; (3) initiation of antepetalous stamens before the antesepalous ones in Zollernia, Exostyles, and Lecointea; and (4) ovule initiation before the carpel margins are fused in Exostyles. The stamen sequence has not been found in any other legumes. The following late developmental events distinguish the four genera from each other: copious hairs hold the anthers together as a domelike structure at anthesis in Harleyodendron; zygomorphy in Zollernia results from differing petal reflexion; late hypanthium in Exostyles, Lecointea, and Holocalyx (no hypanthium in Harleyodendron or Zollernia); and reflexed sepal lobes in Exostyles, Harleyodendron, and Zollernia but not in Holocalyx and Lecointea. The genera studied here are ontogenetically more similar to taxa of Sophoreae than to other Swartzieae that have been investigated. None of the taxa studied here has a ring meristem, the structure that characterizes the remaining swartzioid taxa studied elsewhere.