ALBERT

Description: Gesellschaftliche Blindheit nennt der Ökonom und Umweltforscher Hans-Jochen Luhmann es, wenn die Öffentlichkeit die Augen verschließt: vor den Situationen großen Schadensausmaßes, den drohenden Gefahren und den Vorboten von Umwelt- und Gesundheitskatastrophen. Überzeugt, dass die Gesellschaft systematisch das Katastrophale an den unvermeidlichen Risiken vermeiden kann, hat er die Strukturen des Nichtwissenwollens untersucht, um daraus Strategien für die Vermeidung von zukünftigen Katastrophen zu entwickeln. "Wir haben es nicht gewusst!" - diese Blindheit der Gesellschaft hat Methode. Sie dingfest zu machen, sie in detaillierten Fallstudien aus den Bereichen Produkte, Technik, Banken/Unternehmen und Umwelt nachzuweisen, ist die Voraussetzung für ein Risiko-Management, das diese Bezeichnung verdient. Hans-Jochen Luhmann hat in "Die Blindheit der Gesellschaft" die Entdeckung von Umweltrisiken als Geschichte einer verzögerten Wahrnehmung gedeutet. Die Auflösung von gesellschaftlicher Blindheit - so seine These - kann nur dann gelingen, wenn ein neuer Standort bezogen wird. Ein Standort, der auf Erfahrung beruht, der das Verhalten in der Vergangenheit als Blindheit gegenüber dem Raubbau am Ganzen erscheinen lässt. Eine neue, gesellschaftliche, sphärenübergreifende "Sicherheitskultur" ist zu schaffen.

Description: Numerical experiments with idealized OGCM are carried out to investigate the oceanic eastern boundary problems. The experimental results indicate that the eastward flow due to the north–south gradient of the surface density returns to the interior region through the lower half of the mixed layer, and this return flow generates a density jump just above the thermocline. Formulation for the mixed layer depth distribution at the eastern boundary is also presented, which is derived only from the geostrophy and no-normal flow condition. This formulation agrees well with the numerical experiment, and can be an appropriate eastern boundary condition for theoretical ventilated thermocline model with no deficiency of the mass balance on the boundary. Furthermore, the effects of such eastern boundary structure on the subtropical thermocline are studied. On the shallow thermocline in the subtropics, eastern boundary ventilated region emerges, which is identified as a region of high potential vorticity. In the deep thermocline, which does not outcrop in the subtropics, a cross-gyre ventilation occurs. This cross-gyre ventilation is caused by the density structure along the eastern boundary.

Description: The paper presents first results from the upper 54 m of a 723.91 m ice core drilled on Academy of Sciences Ice Cap in 1999-2001, supplemented by data from shallow ice cores. The glacier's peculiarity is the infiltration and refreezing of melting water thereby changing original isotopic and chemical signals. Therefore, stratigraphical observations in these ice cores are more difficult than in those from central Greenland or Antarctica. However, the 1963 maximum of artificial radioactivity from atmospheric nuclear tests is clearly detectable in the deep ice core and the d180 profile of a 12.82 m shallow core shows annual variations. Consequently, an almost seasonal time resolution of paleoclirnate record could be expected at least for the upper part of the main core. The Chemobyl layer was detected by increased 137 Cs activity in depths between 11.81 m and 12.51 m related to the 2000 surface. The resulting mean annual net mass balance is 53 ± 2 g cm-2 a- 1. Data from dielectric profiling (DEP) of the main core show considerable peaks in conductivity; one of them was interpreted as volcano event. According to the resulting chronology this part of the core represents approximately the last 100 years.

Description: Respiration, ammonia excretion and decompression tolerance were studied in several species of lysianassoid amphipods captured at four stations in the deep Arabian Sea with an isolated trap maintaining them at in situ temperature. The amphipods were decompressed from their ambient to atmospheric pressure during recovery. Six amphipods, belonging to the species Eurythenes gryllus, Paralicella caperesca and Abyssorchomene abyssorum, survived decompression from depths between 1920 and 4420 m. The physiological condition of these specimens was good inferred by the fact that their swimming and resting behaviour appeared normal, they reacted to disturbance by light and vibration, and were able to ingest food to maintain full guts. Most of the amphipods (421 individuals), however, were recovered dead, which allows information about their decompression tolerance and their vertical migration ability to be deduced. Weight-specific respiration rates of the deep-sea amphipods that were fed prior to the experiments were not lower than in shallow-water amphipods living at similar temperatures. Differences in respiration rates between the specimens are discussed with regard to body size, species specificity and food supply. Weight-specific ammonia excretion rates were extremely high when compared with shallow-water relatives, indicating a capability for rapid digestion. This may be an adaptation to the unpredictable food supply in the deep sea as it enables the amphipod to empty its digestive tract quickly, thus making it available for additional food. Rapid digestion also enables the animals to regain mobility soon after feeding, permitting them to move to new food sources.

Description: Studies of hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers (HCHs) and selected triazine herbicides in solution and suspension were carried out in the Pomeranian Bight in 1995. The concentrations of HCHs and triazines were determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) or by GC in connection with quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC/MS). Particulate and dissolved material were separated by means of an in-situ filtration/extraction system. The seasonal variability and regional distribution of the various components were investigated in January, April, July and September 1995. Their distribution in the western Pomeranian Bight is described. The concentrations of individual hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers were in the range of 100–1 000 pg l–1 in solution and 20 to 60 pg l–1 in suspension. The levels of the triazines in solution showed pronounced differences between the individual components (atrazine (2–20 ng l–1), simazine (5–30 ng l–1), terbuthylazine (〈 5 ng l–1)), but they were one order of magnitude higher compared with the hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers. The concentration of triazines in suspension was low, often below the limit of detection (25 pg l–1).

Description: This study addresses the decomposition of diatoms in different permeable North Sea sand beds. During three cruises in 2001 to the southern German Bight, the regeneration of nutrients was assessed after the experimental deposition of organic matter corresponding to a typical spring diatom bloom in in situ and on-board chamber experiments. The diatom pulse was followed by a high regeneration of nutrients during the first day: 5–10% d−1 of the added nitrogen was converted to NH4+ and up to 0.67% d−1 of the added biogenic silica was dissolved to Si(OH)4. These results are used to interpret the response of pore water nutrient concentrations in permeable North Sea sands to seasonal nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in the water column. The rapid advective solute exchange in these permeable sediments reduces the accumulation of regenerated nutrients, and, thus pore water concentrations of Si(OH)4, PO43− and NH4+ decreased with increasing permeability. All sands were characterized by relatively high NO3− concentrations down to 10 cm sediment depth, indicating that the upper sediment layers are oxidized by advective flushing of the bed. Our results demonstrate that biogenic silica and organic matter are rapidly degraded in permeable coastal sands, revealing that these sediments are very active sites of nutrient recycling.

Description: The Western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the regions most affected by stratospheric ozone depletion and global climate warming, resulting in an increased UVB radiation and a fast glacier retreat. During the last 10 years intensive studies on the seaweed communities and the physiology of single species were conducted at Potter Cove. It was found that UVB radiation can decrease the diversity of the seaweed community by direct and indirect effects (exerting negative effects on the grazers). A higher sediment inflow into the water column due to the melting glaciers is decreasing the light availability for photosynthesis, changing the lower depth distribution of the seaweeds. Additional laboratory and field experiments on the physiological performance and recruitment success of seaweed spores showed a strong species specific susceptibility to UV and photosynthetically active radiation. Altogether the seaweed community at Potter Cove is strongly shaped by the changes of their abiotic environment.

Description: From temperature measurements down through the 3001 m deep borehole at the North Greenland Icecore Project (NorthGRIP) drill site, it is now clear that the ice at the base, 3080 m below the surface, is at the pressure-melting point. This is supported by the measurements on the ice core where the annual-layer thicknesses show there is bottom melting at the site and upstream from the borehole. Surface velocity measurements, internal radio-echo layers, borehole and ice-core data are used to constrain a time-dependent flow model simulating flow along the north-northwest-trending ice-ridge flow-line, leading to the NorthGRIP site. Also time-dependent melt rates along the flowline are calculated with a heat-flow model. The results show the geothermal heat flow varies from 50 to 200 mW m–2 along the 100km section of the modeled flowline. The melt rate at the NorthGRIP site is 0.75 cm a–1, but the deep ice in the NorthGRIP core originated 50 km upstream and has experienced melt rates as high as 1.1 cm a–1.

Description: In May 1999, drilling of a borehole through the entire ice strata (around 750 m) was initiated on the Akademiya Nauk glacier of Komsomolets Island, Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago. The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), St. Petersburg Mining Institute (SPMI) and Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI, Germany) take part in this venture. For undertaking drilling activities, a dismantling drilling complex was designed and manufactured at SPMI by request of AWI. It includes a drilling house, land drilling equipment and two sets of the electromechanical drill KEMS-127 that also allows drilling of subglacial mountain rocks. The core has a maximum length of 1.5 m and a diameter of 106 mm. Drilling started in spring of 1999 and 54 m was drilled. In April 2000, the borehole drilling was continued. Up to a depth of 109 m, a "dry" method was used. Then the borehole was filled with aviation kerosene TS-1. By the end of seasonal work (May 9, 2000), the borehole bottom reached a depth of 504.7 m. After the drilling was stopped, a complex of geophysical observations was carried out that included measurements of the borehole diameter, the axis deviation angle from the vertical, temperature at different depths and drilling fluid pressure. An analysis of the data obtained allows a conclusion about the reliability and stability of the drilling technology and equipment and developing recommendations to continue drilling that is planned to do during 2001 season.

Description: Sediment and water can potentially be altered, chemically, physically and biologically as they are sampled at the seafloor, brought to the surface, processed and analysed. As a result, in situ observations of relatively undisturbed systems have become the goal of a growing body of scientists. Our understanding of sediment biogeochemistry and exchange fluxes was revolutionized by the introduction of benthic chambers and in situ micro-electrode profilers that allow for the direct measurement of chemical fluxes between sediment and water at the sea floor and for porewater composition. Since then, rapid progress in the technology of in situ sensors and benthic chambers (such as the introduction of gel probes, voltammetric electrodes or one- and two-dimensional optodes) have yielded major breakthroughs in the scientific understanding of benthic biogeochemistry. This paper is a synthesis of discussions held during the workshop on sediment biogeochemistry at the “Benthic Dynamics: in situ surveillance of the sediment–water interface” international conference (Aberdeen, UK—March 25–29, 2002). We present a review of existing in situ technologies for the study of benthic biogeochemistry dynamics and related scientific applications. Limitations and possible improvement (e.g., technology coupling) of these technologies and future development of new sensors are discussed. There are countless important scientific and technical issues that lend themselves to investigation using in situ benthic biogeochemical assessment. While the increasing availability of these tools will lead research in yet unanticipated directions, a few emerging issues include greater insight into the controls on organic matter (OM) mineralization, better models for the understanding of benthic fluxes to reconcile microelectrode and larger-scale chamber measurements, insight into the impacts of redox changes on trace metal behavior, new insights into geochemical reaction pathways in surface sediments, and a better understanding of contaminant fate in nearshore sediments.

Description: Baited cameras and traps were deployed at four stations in the deep Arabian Sea to investigate the composition of the necrophagous fauna and to evaluate whether regional differences in trophic conditions are reflected by differing scavenger assemblages. The ophidiid fish Barathrites iris, the large lysianassoid amphipod Eurythenes gryllus, the aristeid prawn Plesiopenaeus armatus, and zoarcid fishes of the genus Pachycara were abundant at the bait at all stations. The ophidiid Holcomycteronus aequatorius, the liparid fish Paraliparis sp., and galatheid crabs of the genus Munidopsis occurred in considerable numbers at single sites. Trap catches further contained lysianassoid amphipods of the genera Paralicella, Abyssorchomene and Paracallisoma. In contrast to scavenger assemblages of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, macrourid fishes were virtually absent at the bait. E. gryllus and B. iris consumed the main proportion of the bait, while consumption was at most moderate in all other taxa. Feeding strategies of the respective taxa are inferred from their behavior at the bait and discussed with regard to the profit that can be drawn from food falls. Differences between stations were pronounced with respect to species dominating bait consumption. E. gryllus appeared in highest numbers at the bait in the productive northern and central Arabian Sea where a relatively high availability of food items is expected to sustain high population densities. High numbers of B. iris in the least productive southern part indicate their ability to persist under food-poor conditions and may correspond to a high dependency on food falls. E. gryllus and B. iris both occurred in smaller numbers in the particularly productive western Arabian Sea. This may reflect a reduced dependency on food falls, due to an access to alternative food sources, rather than small population densities. Smaller numbers of E. gryllus and B. iris resulted in slower bait consumption and gave Pachycara spp. the opportunity to contribute considerably to bait consumption. The relation between scavenger assemblages and trophic conditions is discussed with respect to results obtained under differing trophic regimes in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

Description: This paper presents a new non-invasive technique for measuring sediment O2 uptake that, in its concept, differs fundamentally from other methods used to date. In almost all natural aquatic environments, the vertical transport of O2 through the water column toward the sediment surface is facilitated by turbulent motion. The new technique relies on measuring 2 parameters simultaneously and at the same point in the water above the sediment: the fluctuating vertical velocity using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and the fluctuating O2 concentration using an O2 microelectrode. From these 2 parameters, which typically are measured 10 to 50 cm above the sediment surface for a period of 10 to 20 min and at a frequency of 15 to 25 Hz, the vertical flux of O2 toward the sediment surface is derived. Based on measurements performed under actual field conditions and comparisons with in situ flux-chamber measurements, we believe that this new technique is the optimal approach for determining O2 uptake by sediments. The technique is superior to conventional methods as measurements are done under true in situ conditions, i.e. without any disturbance of the sediment and under the natural hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, this technique can be used for bio-irrigated or highly permeable sediments, such as sands, where traditional methods often fail. While this paper only focuses on O2 uptake by sediments, the technique can also be applied to other solutes that can be measured at a sufficiently high temporal resolution.

Description: The three species Galium silvaticum L., Galium aristatum L. and Galium schultesii Vest show differences in morphology, cytology and geographical distribution. These differences are described and discussed. Crossing experiments between the three species were without results. No hybrid could be obtained. Galium silvaticum, Galium aristatum and Galium schultesii must be considered as separate species.

Description: Although a large number of Tortricoid species and several genera from the Indo-Malayan region have been described by earlier authors (Walker, Snellen, Walsingham, Meyrick, and a few others), no survey of the present group has ever been made. Edward Meyrick, the author of most of the new names, has never attempted a synopsis of the Olethreutinae. He made surveys of the Australian and New Zealand Tortricoidea (1911), but the results are too superficial for our modern standards. During a long sojourn, working and collecting in Java, I became greatly fascinated by that fauna. Having completed a number of preliminary studies of the subfamily Tortricinae (1939 et seq.), I turned next to the South Asiatic, especially Javanese, Olethreutinae. After a long delay due to World War II, their revision has been initiated by the study of the two then least known and most confused genera, Bactra Stephens and Lobesia Guenée (Diakonoff, 1950 et seq.).

Description: Some rain and savanna forests of western Suriname (Corantijn R., Winana Creek; Upper Marataka R.; Upper Nickerie R;) were studied and their composition was compared with that of forests of other parts of Suriname and Guyana. The savanna forests of western Suriname proved to be much related to Guyanan ( Walabaand Dakama-) savanna forests as described by Davis & Richards (1934) and Fanshawe (1952). On the other hand, there was less relationship as regards rain forests of western Suriname when compared with ones of Guyana and other parts of Suriname, except for the Demerara greenheart forest of the Upper Marataka R., which was closely related to the Demerara greenheart forests of Guyana as described by Davis & Richards (1934). In addition an upland rain forest was studied near Blanche Marie falls, Upper Nickerie R., which proved to be very much like that of the Stofbroekoe Mts., eastern Suriname, as described by Schils (1960). Species/area curves for some rain and savanna forests are given. The geographical distribution of some common western Surinam tree species was studied; of the seventeen species studied one was endemic for Suriname. An annotated list of all species of trees and palms occurring in the explored areas is provided.

Description: The bogs of S. E. Groningen are part of the great peat-marshes extending from S. E. Drente as far as N.W. Germany inclusive. So far as the territory of Westerwolde is concerned, people have begun digging off very early. According to the map by Krayenhoff in 1816 nearly the whole peat-marsh westward from the line Blijham—Termaarsch had already been reclaimed, only a few parts still being covered with the original peat-layer (cf. map, fig. 1). The digging off east of the above line commences at the beginning of the 19th century on the borderland of Groningen and Drente. Borings were performed in three places and the samples pollenanalytically and stratigraphically examined.

Description: Three sections with a total number of four species of the genus Phyllanthus have been examined. The pollen grains show a strong resemblance to each other and also the taxonomic arguments to differentiate between the three sections proved to be rather weak. Because of both palynological and taxonomic reasons the sections Ceramanthus Baillon, Cluytiopsis Mueller Arg. and Anisolobium Mueller Arg. have been united into one section; viz. section Ceramanthus Baillon s.l.

Description: E sectione Peltaea, Pavoniae speciosae H.B.K. proxima, sed forma folorium, indumento, involucri phyllis peltatis diversa. Suffrutex, caule minute stellato-piloso glabrescente, linea singula pilis simplicibus longioribus vestita in primo internodio ramulorum lateralium adaxiale notato. Folia breviter petiolata, petiolis tomentellis 2—4 mm longis, oblongo-elliptica, elliptica vel ellipticolanceolata, 3—5 cm longa, 1.25—1.5 cm lata trinervia basi acuta vel obtusa, superiora 5-nervia, basi subcordata, acutissima vel subacuminata, margine regulariter serrato-dentata, supra minute stellato-pilosa, oculo nudo glabra, infra dense sed minute stellatotomentella. Flores in axillis foliorum vel in apice ramulorum 2—3-glomeratis, bracteis ovato-triangularibus suffulti, plerumque subsessiles, interdum usque ad 4 mm pedicellati. Involucri phylla fere io linearia birta uniserialia, basi paullo connata, apice lamina foliacea peltata, id est supra basin affixa, anguste elliptica hirta, basi rotundata, apice acuta, appendiculata, 4 mm longa. Calyx cupuliformis, ultra medium incisus, 4—9 mm longus, lobis acutis hirtis, nervis trinis conspicuis, binis intermediis brevibus vel nullis. Petala 2.5—3 cm longa, teste collectore roseo-rubra, sicca rosea, basi atropurpurea. Stamina et styli more generis. Carpella 4 mm longa, mutica, dorso costa perpendiculari instructa, transverse nervosa, dense pubescentia.

Description: Dicranella riparia (H. Lindb.) Mårt. & Nyh. is reported for the first time from Greenland, where it was found on a fluvioglacial delta in the Angmagssalik District in plant communities belonging to the association Calamagrosto-Ditrichetum (all. Calamagrostion neglectae). This is the sixth locality known, and the first outside Fennoscandia.

Description: Culmi robusti, foliati. Folia lata, linearia, trinervia. Inflorescentia corymboso-paniculata, multispiculata. Spiculae (”spicae” multorum auctorum) parvae, multiflorae. Flores hermaphroditi (”spiculae androgynae” auctorum) perianthio utriculiformi, compresso, vix carinato, staminibus (”floribus masculinis monandris” auctorum) tribus, binis lateralibus tertio anteriore, ovario (”flore foemineo terminali nudo” auctorum) rostrato, basi angustato, haud stipitato, styli ramis ternis. Nux tri-costata, rugulosa. Generi Hypolytro L. C. Rich. proxima, a quo differt styli ramis tribus et nuce tri-costata. A Thoracostachyo et Paramapania, quibuscum stigmatum numero convenit, et structura florum et perianthio connato et nucis forma longe diversa, faciliter dignoscenda. Mapaniae potius affinis, sed ab omnibus speciebus huius generis inflorescentia a plerisque etiam perianthio connato discrepat.

Description: The genus Trymatococcus has been published in 1838 by Poeppig and Endlicher in Nova Genera ac Spec. Plant II. p. 30, and the genus was based on the species T. amazonicus. In 1876 Baillon added the species T. africanus to the genus. This gave a peculiar distribution for a genus with two species only: one in the Amazone region and one in West Africa. Later on several new species from Africa were described: three by Engler (T. kamerunianus, dorstenioides, and Conrauanus), one by De Wildeman (T. Gilletii) and one by Pellegrin (T. oligogyna). In 1922 (Archivos do Jardim Botanico Rio de Janeiro vol III. p. 22) Ducke described a second species from Amazonian Brazil (T. paraensis) and said in the notes to this new species that Lanessania turbinata Baill. should be transferred to the genus Trymatococcus and published a new combination (T. turbinatus Ducke). In 1925 (Archives IV. p. I) he emphasized his statements Trymatococcus and published a new combination (T. turbinatus as well as turbinatus and amazonicus have the stamens erect in the bud and not inflexed as was described in the former publications. He also emphasized that the place of Trymatococcus in the system has to be changed and the genus has to take the place taken up to this moment by Lanessania. Among the material of the Moraceae from Surinam which I am studying for the Flora of Surinam, I found also a Trymatococcus species. By the study of this genus I was struck by the peculiar geographic distribution of the genus, which fully supported my observations on the Euphorbiaceae (cf. Lanjouw, The Euphorbiaceae of Surinam pp. 70—84). For the preparation of a map of this distribution I studied the african species and after a careful examination I noted a number of important differences between the african species and the american ones. Part of these differences were never noticed before and no attention has ever been given to these facts. The first error in this case was made by Baillon. Most probably he had not seen T. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl. when he described his T. africanus. This is still more striking as he described in the same paper his genus Lanessania based on L. turbinata, which is a true Trymatococcus species. It is very curious that it was not possible for Baillonto observe his mistake because in his Histoire des Plantes (vol. VI. p. 199) he states „filamentis aestivatione inflexis vel nunc suberectis”. One can not understand why he did not observe that at least one of the species of Trymatococcus is the same as his genus Lanessania. After Baillon’s publication, we could say that we had got two type species, one american (Tr. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl.) and one african (Tr. africanus Baill.). Apparently Engler did not study exactly Tr. amazonicus Poepp. et Endl. when he described his new species though he states (Monogr. Afr. Pfl. fam. I. Morac. p. 28); ”Ein besonders auffallender Unterschied im Bau der Blüte und Frucht is nicht zu constatieren; bei der amerikanischen Art sind die männlichen Blüten dreimännig mit dreiteiliger Blütenhülle, bei den afrikanischen Arten sind sie zweimännig”. Likewise Ducke knew apparently only the american species when he pointed out the new place for this genus in the family. By these reasons only it is explained how confusion has crept into this genus. I have studied many specimens of Trymatococcus from the following herbaria: Berlin-Dahlem, British Museum (Natural History Museum), Kew, Leiden, Paris and Utrecht. I wish to express mv sincere thanks to the directors for their hospitality or fore sending the material on loan.

Description: The samples of the genus Calypogeia in the dutch institutional herbaria and private collections, those of C. arguta excluded, have been re-identified, according to the revision of the Swiss Calypogeias by Bischler (1957); distribution maps are given for all the taxa. More exact circumscriptions are given of several differentiating characters which were already established by previous authors. In C. fissa and C. sphagnicola the areolation of the leaves appeared to be a new differentiating character: in C. fissa the cells in the middle of the leaf show a great variation in length, whereas in C. sphagnicola the cell size is uniform. These differences are shown in histograms. C. muelleriana appeared to be restricted to the diluvial parts of the country, whereas C. fissa is common on both alluvium and diluvium; c. neesiana, C. sphagnicola and C. trichomanis are very rare, so that no clear geographical distribution can be given.

Description: This study deals with the taxa of the section Rubus of the genus Rubus L., so far as they are found in the Guelders district within the flora of the Netherlands. It concerns fifty species and some subspecies and varieties, mainly of the subsections Fruticosi Wimm. et Grab. and Discolores P. J. Müller. The similarity with the bramble-flora of northern Germany is obvious. A number of species, that occur in the latter region are absent however. Species of Central-European hills and mountains are as good as limited to the southern border of the Veluwe, which is mostly considered to belong to the Subcentreuropean district. South-European, often calciphilous species are absent. The nomenclature in the genus Rubus is very confused. There is an abundance of homonyms and synonyms. The number of misidentifications is rather large, meaning that a great deal of the literature is unreliable. The descriptions with many authors are absolutely insufficient, and type-specimens are often with difficulty or not at all to be traced. The difficulties arise from the fact that many taxa are not clearly separated. Some of them are well distinguishable, others are related by transitions. From a geographical point of view there is much difference as well. Some species have as their area almost the whole of Europe, others are limited to a very restricted area. In addition there is a difference in chromosome numbers (from diploids (2n = 14) to hexaploids (2n = 42). Most taxa are tetraploid. The abundance of forms within the section Rubus arises from a partly apomictic, partly amphimictic propagation. To set up some order in all those differences, the author has made the following distinctions: morphologically there are the different ranks of species and infraspecific taxa. Geographically distinctions have been made by means of a code of the capitals A to D inclusive: A indicates the taxa with the largest area, D the local taxa. Cytologically a code of Roman numerals has been given: I for diploids, II for polyploids. Beside the introductory theoretical part a short description of all taxa of the section above the specific rank has been given. All species and infraspecific taxa of this section, that are found to occur in the Guelders district have been described in detail, with mention of the type-specimen. Pictures have been added of the newly described taxa, and of some others as well. Maps of the distribution in the Netherlands of all the taxa have been inserted.

Description: This paper is an addendum to the author’s (1971) paper. At the time that the latter paper was finished, there were difficulties in taking photographs of the newly described male fructifications. Subsequently those difficulties have been solved, and the present paper contains the photographs of the male fructifications of the type specimens of Hastystrobus muirii v. Kon., Masculostrobus harrisii v. Kon., and Pityanthus scalbiensis v. Kon., and the photographs of the male fructifications, as described in the above-mentioned paper, of Ginkgo huttoni (Heer) Sternberg and Brachyphyllum crucis Kendall. All specimens are preserved in the Division of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Botanical Museum and Herbarium, State University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Most of the photographs were taken with the specimens illuminated obliquely in air, but some were taken with the specimens flooded with oil. This procedure is generally applied when the specimen requires enhancement of contrast, so that details are more evident than if the specimen was photographed dry.

Description: Since the completion of Radlkofer’s monumental work on the Sapindaceae in Engler’s series “Das Pflanzenreich” 50 years have now elapsed, almost 40 since its publication. It is still the basis of virtually all taxonomic studies in the family. Some of the gerontogean genera have since been the subject of revisional work (Leenhouts 1969, 1971), but for the neogean representatives there are only some regional treatments (e.g. Rambo 1952; Barkley 1957; Reitz 1962; Soukup 1969), apart from descriptions of new taxa scattered through the literature. When studying the taxa native to Suriname in connection with the preparation of a supplement to the family treatment published previously in the “Flora of Suriname” (Uittien 1937) it soon became apparent to me that the genus Talisia was particularly incompletely known when Uittien published his account of the family, actually not much more than an extract from Radlkofer’s work. The number of species known or to be expected from Suriname proved to have doubled; this is not due to inadequateness of Uittien’s work but to much more extensive collecting. Two of the species met with since could not be identified with any species dealt with by Radlkofer or described after his time: these are described as new below. In order to establish that they were truly undescribed the descriptions and, where possible, types and/or other authentic specimens of all species described after Radlkofer were checked. A list of these follows; it may serve as a kind of bibliographic supplement to Radlkofer’s monograph. The two species marked with an asterisk have been posthumously listed in the supplement to his work.

Description: Es handelt sich hier um ein grosses, zusammenhängendes Hochmoorgebiet, das sich nord-süd über 20 km, ost-west über 10 km ausdehnt. Im Süden und Westen ist es grösstenteils abgetorft. Die besonders im Zentrum und Osten noch erhaltenen Teile sind durch die intensive Trockenlegung meist verheidet; stellenweise, so in den „Engbertsdijkvenen”, wo grosse Flächen heute wenig entwässert sind, findet sich eine lebende Sphagnumdecke (Taf. III). (Lit. 5). Das Moor liegt auf pleistozänem Untergrunde (Fluvioglazial der Riss-Eiszeit und Niederterrasse der Würmeiszeit); im Osten und Westen stosst es an diluviale Rücken; im Nordwesten bildet die Niederterrasse der Vechte die Grenze. Im Südosten und Osten schliesst sich eine ausgedehnte Versumpfungszone an, während sich im Westen zwischen den Hügeln isolierte, ähnliche Bildungen vorfinden. Es handelt sich hier wahrscheinlich um ein Entwässerungsgebiet des Hochmoores. Ein prae-rissglazialer mit nördlichen Erratica bestreuter Rücken dringt vom Osten her, parallel dem Vechtetal, ungefähr bis in die Mitte, in das Moor vor. Für eine ausführliche Angabe der geologischen Verhältnisse verweisen wir auf die „Geologische Kaart van Nederland” vom „Rijks Geologische Dienst” (Blätter Almeloo I und II; Koevorden III und IV). Wir sammelten eine Anzahl Probenreihen. Die angeführten Analysen beziehen sich auf eine süd-nord gerichtete Profillinie im östlichen Teil des Gebietes (Paterswal 1 u. 2, Engbertsdijk, Bruine Haar) und ein Punktprofil im Nordwesten (Boerendijk), nahe dem Vechtetal.

Description: It is to be hoped, that the genus Pandanophyllum Hassk. never will revive, for it is based on a bad generic description and two nomina nuda, P. palustre Hassk. (Harassas tjaai) and P. humile Hassk., the first of which is supposed to indicate Mapania palustris (Steud.) Vill., while the other name has brought about much confusion, as it has been used for Hypolytrum humile (Steud.) Boeck. as well as for Mapania humilis (Miq., partly) Vill. The first validly published description of Pandanophyllum humile Hassk. nomen nudum in Cat. Pl. Hort. Bot. Bog. 1844, p. 297 has been given by Steudel in his Synopsis II (1855), p. 134 and is based upon a specimen collected in Java by Zollinger (n. 1511, Brit. Mus., Paris), belonging to the genus Hypolytrum. So this is the type-specimen of H. humile (Steud.) Boeck. in Linnaea XXXVII (1871—1873), p. 128. Bentham and Hooker, however, accepting the interpretation of Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. of Bengal XXXVIII, part 2 (1869), p. 82 and the revised opinion of Miquel in his Ill. Fl. Arch. Ind. (1871), p. 61, included both species in their section Pandanophyllum of Mapania (Gen. Pl. III, 1883, p. 1056). A quarter of a century later C. B. Clarke divided Benth. and Hooker’s section into two subgenera, viz. Pandanophyllum, including Mapania humilis Vill. and Halostemma (Wall.), including Mapania palustris (Steud.) Vill. Consequently our present section Pandanophyllum sensu Clarke probably excludes both species, which originally belonged to it. One might be inclined to rectify the mistake by changing the name of Halostemma into Pandanophyllum and coining a new name for the other subgenus, but the principal difficulty, caused by the ambiguity of Hasskarl’s generic description can not be solved in this manner. This description calls for a bifid style (perhaps referring to Hypolytrum humile Boeck.) and 3—5 spikelets (not appropriate to Mapania palustris Vill., highly improbable as to Mapania humilis Vill. and Hypolytrum humile Boeck.). The only way out of the difficulty is to reject the name Pandanophyllum as a nomen dubium in the sense of the rules of nomenclature (art. 63) and to rename the subgenus Pandanophyllum Benth. et Hook., sensu Clarke. I propose the name Pandanoscirpus.

Description: Dicranella staphylina Whitehouse, a species recently described from Great Britain, is now recorded from Belgium, Denmark and The Netherlands. A new combination, Anisothecium staphylinum (Whitehouse) Sipman, Rubers & Riemann, is proposed. A study of the costal anatomy revealed that A. staphylinum in this respect most resembles A. rufescens.

Description: The author studied the morphology of Blackstonia perfoliata s.l. and compared its variability with that of the other representatives of the genus. She also carried out ecological studies of “Blackstonia perfoliata ssp. serotina” on the Dutch island Voorne and compared her results with those in the literature relating to B. perfoliata in some adjacent regions, notably the Upper Rhine area. On morphological and ecological grounds B. perfoliata ssp. perfoliata and ssp. serotina are to be regarded as two distinct species, B. perfoliata and B. acuminata.

Description: In a forthcoming publication (Kramer, in prep.) floristic and taxonomic data of the pteridophyte flora of Suriname will be assembled, with keys and notes on their local distribution and ecological preference. The present paper deals with the geographical distribution of Suriname pteridophytes beyond the boundaries of Suriname (Fig. 2), a subject that lies beyond the scope of a local fern Flora. In the past, some (but relatively not very many) authors of fern Floras included a paragraph on the distribution of the taxa (Posthumus, 1928; Christensen, 1932; Backer & Posthumus, 1939). In some other fern Floras some space is devoted to ecology, but very little to geography (Holttum, 1954). In still others, considerations of a general kind on ecology and geography are altogether lacking (Vareschi, 1969). Lyell (1870), in his rather little-known book on the distribution of ferns, tried to bring together all the data known at his time; his work is now, of course, almost exclusively of historical significance.

Description: As Prof. Bremekamp has dealt with the genus Pleiocraterium from the taxonomic point of view, I intend to supplement his exposition here with some observations on the ecology of these remarkable additions to the Malaysian mountain flora. Some of these observations have been included already in a general report on the results of the Losir expedition published in Dutch. As a further illustration I am giving two photographs taken from one of the two Sumatran species in its natural habitat. Altitude. Both species were found on the highest parts of the mountains only, viz. Pl. gentianifolium just below the summit of Mt Goh Lembuh, and Pl. sumatranum between our camp at the base of the central Peak of Mt Losir at c. 3250 m. and the summit of the latter at 3460 m. These two mountains lie rather far apart: Mt Losir is the highest top of the Barisan Range proper, whereas Mt Goh Lembuh is a more isolated mountain, rising c. 50 km. NNE of Mt Losir and separated from the latter by a wide depression. The two mountains also differ geologically.

Description: The pollen analyse of a raised-bog on the High Vosges crest shows the vegetation regional development since 3200 years. A prehistoric civilization, the Gallo-roman period, the great migrations and the Carolingian period are reflected in the pollen diagram by N.A.P. minima and maxima. A discussion on curves fluctuations of the main A.P. follows.

Description: La forme est le phénomène de la vie le plus important. Aussi on pourrait croire que toute étude biologique devait commencer par la forme. En effet aucune fonction n’est imaginable indépendante de la forme, tandis qu’on peut étudier la forme indépendemment de la fonction, par exemple à des objets morts. Cependant depuis Sachs le botaniste moderne est tellement possédé par les conceptions matérialistes et mécaniques, qu’il veut aussi expliquer causalement les formes organiques en oubliant que, même si toutes les formes sont matérielles, cela ne veut pas nécessairement dire que les lois physiques et chimiques qui dominent la matière sont capables d’expliquer la forme, c.à.d. l’organisation des êtres vivants. A l’aide de briques on peut bâtir des bâtiments les plus divers, mais on peut aussi bien construire ces mêmes bâtiments de bois ou de pierre naturelle: le matériel employé n’explique pas le projet de l’architecte. Ce n’est qu’en le contemplant et en le comparant à d’autres qu’on arrive à mieux le comprendre (von Veh, p. 139). La forme („type” ou „idée” dans la conception platonique) est indépendante de la matière. Elle est ce qui reste. C’est par la forme que passe le courant de la cause et de l’effet, comme l’eau passe par un endroit clair d’une rivière (Carus). La forme présente un des problèmes les plus difficiles de la biologie. Le physiologue et le morphologue (deux extrêmes psychologiques) commencent pour ainsi dire aux deux extrémités de la nature, chacun à sa manière (Troll, Meyer), l’un avec sa méthode physique et chimique, l’autre avec sa méthode comparative. Au domaine du premier appartient tout ce qui est dynamique: le métabolisme et la croissance, au domaine du second ce qui est statique: la forme. Que la feuille est la partie principale de la plante, sur cela les physiologues et les morphologues sont d’accord. Le premier la considère comme un organe qui a pour fonctions principales la CO2-assimilation et l’évaporation. Depuis Goethe le second considère tous les appendices de la tige, aussi bien les sépales que les pétales ainsi que les organes sexuels comme des feuilles métamorphosées. Même, sous l’impression de la phyllotaxie des frères Bravais, Nees d’Esenbeck croyait que „la plante n’est rien d’autre qu’une unité de feuilles reliées entre-elles par un ordre défini”. C’est pourquoi on peut aisément considérer la morphologie de la feuille comme le problème central de toute la morphologie. Il est intéressant de se rendre compte comment dans le courant des temps on a essayé d’approcher ce problème de divers côtés. Cela pourrait apporter quelque lumière sur les différentes tendances de l’étude scientifique et sur les manières de penser qui sont caractéristiques pour les différentes périodes.

Description: Notwithstanding the large amount of work spent by several botanists on this family, taxonomy does not appear very satisfactory, and a general agreement on generic limits has not yet been reached. The result has been a perplexing number of generic and sectional names. The present author apologizes for his adding to the number of interpretations. This study of American Sapotaceae, primarily undertaken in connection with the Flora of Surinam, could not have been completed without the generous loan of specimens by the herbaria at Brussels [B], Berlin—Dahlem [D], Kew [K], and Leyden [L]. In 1934 the author paid a short visit to the herbaria at Brussels [B] and at Paris [P]. The collections of this family at Paris are of special interest owing to the fact that they contain the material studied by Baillon, Pierre and Dubard, and bear numerous notes and analytical drawings, especially by Pierre, attached to the sheets. A number of British Guiana Sapotaceae from the Kew Herbarium was received for determination shortly afterwards. The author feels greatly indebted to the directors of the above mentioned Herbaria for their kind help, and particularly to Prof. Dr. A. Pulle, Utrecht, under whose direction this study was undertaken.

Description: Cytological investigations within Galium palustre L. showed the occurrence of three cytotypes, a diploid with 2n=24 chromosomes, a tetraploid with 2n=48 and an octoploid with 2n=96. Comparative morphological investigations, together with transplantation and crossing experiments confirmed the complexity of the species. The cytotypes are here considered to be subspecies of Galium palustre L.