Tree barks as a natural trap for airborne spores and pollen grains from China

The present article deals with the use of tree barks as a natural trap for airborne spores and pollen grains in China. The study carried out at the southern part of Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences has yielded a variety of palynomorphs mostly belonging to tree taxa. New methodologies for extraction of palynomorphs from tree barks have been suggested. Bark samples were collected from three taxa, i.e., Paulownia fortunei Hemsl. （Scrophulariaceae）, Quercus dentata Thunb. （Fagaceae）, and Picea meyeri Rehder ＆ E.H. Wilson （Pinaceae） having different bark morphologies. P. fortunei with a comparatively soft and fissured bark is believed to have a greater potential for trapping airborne spores and pollen grains compared to the stiff and less fissured barks of Q. dentata and the scaly bark of P. meyeri. Old barks yield better data in terms of quantity and quality of trapped pollen and spores. The present study throws new light on the modern pollen rain, spore-pollen dispersal, and their deposition in and aroundBeijing Botanical Garden, and other different parts of China.     

北京：庆新春国兰洋兰争奇斗艳

由中国植物学会兰花分会(中国兰花学会)和中国野生植物保护协会主办的“2006第二届北京兰展”于1月25日上午9:30在北京植物园热带展览温室隆重开幕。秉承中国兰花学会首届北京兰展的特色之一,本届兰展国兰、洋兰群芳荟萃、争奇斗艳。据介绍,包括越州兰苑、十八兰坊以及北京兰友联系会的众多兰友多个单位的代表和个人携名品参展。各种叶艺兰、奇花纷纷登台斗艳。其他观赏兰花亦毫不逊色。中日合资华乐种苗有限公司自主培育的多个蝴蝶兰优秀品种傲立群芳,夺走全部新品种培育奖;来自台湾三益集团公司众多的兜兰、卡特兰佳品亦分别获得金奖、银奖和最佳栽培奖。植物园多年来收集和繁育的绚丽灿烂的各种热带兰,如:钻喙兰、贝母兰、罗斯兰、石斛兰等都是第一次展出,获得游客的一致好评。