Diodia

Abstract: In my revision of the Rubiaceae in Pulle’s Flora of Surinam two genera, viz. Pagamea and Perama, which are now usually included in this family, are relegated to an appendix. On account of its superior ovary Pagamea was formerly reckoned to the Loganiaceae, from where it was referred to the Rubiaceae by Baillon and K. Schumann, who were of opinion that its solitary ascending ovules, and the valvate aestivation of the corolla lobes assigned it a place among the Psychotrieae. I think however that they overestimated the value of these characters, which are of a rather general nature, and that Pagamea both in the structure of its inflorescence and in that of its flowers shows so little resemblance to the Psychotrieae that it is impossible to include it in this group. In my opinion its removal from the Loganiaceae was not justified.

Abstract: Se define el genero Diodia L. y se lo diferencia de los generos afines Borreria G. Mey., Galianthe Griseb., y Spermacoce L. Como resultado del estudio se reconocen como pertenecientes a este genero solo cinco especies americanas: D. virginiana L. (especie tipo del genero), D. kuntzei K. Schum., D. macrophylla K. Schum., D. saponariifolia (Cham. et Schltdl.) K Schum. y D. simplex Sw., las cuales son descriptas e ilustradas. De las restantes especies registradas en Diodia algunas han sido incluidas en Galianthe Griseb. subg. Ebelia (Rchb.) E. L. Cabral & Bacigalupo y otras en Borreria G. Mey. subg. Dasycephala (De.) Bacigalupo & E. L. Cabral. Resta otro grupo de especies registradas en Diodia , que incluye Diodia teres Walt. y especies afines, que queda excluido de Diodia y se encuentra actualmente en estudio.

Abstract: Pharmacognostic studies of Diodia scandens Sw (Rubiaceae) were carried out. Diodia scandens Sw is a straggling herb with a taproot, slender stem and compound leaves used for treatment of various diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, asthma, convulsion, epilepsy, oedema, gout, swelling and it is said to be anti-abortifacient, antidotes, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory in Nigeria and other countries. The phytochemical screening of the leaf extract revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and absence of flavonoids, phlobatannins, alkaloids and anthraquinones. Anatomical examination has revealed the occurrence of paracytic, anisocytic, diacytic and brachyparacytic on the abaxial surface ad only few paracytic on the adaxial surface. The stem showed druses of crystals. There are four different types of abnormal stomata which are vertical contiguous stomata, two stomata sharing one subsidiary cell, a stoma with unopened stomatal pore and a stomata with one guard cell. The surface of the epidermal anticlinical cell walls, guard cell area, stomata index, presence or absence of trichomes and venation characters can be used as a great diagnostic tool with a view of preparing a monograph.

Abstract: A preliminary survey of the flora of Hispaniola in the West Indies has revealed a number of novelties in the generaAcidoton, Bacopa, Calliandra, Cordia, Diodia, Frankenia, Gesneria,Ginoria, Jacaranda, Justicia, Marsdenia, Matelea, Piptocoma, Psidium, Samanea,Satureia, Scolosanthus, Tabebuia, Tetrazygia, Verbesina. Descriptions of the new species are given, along with several new combinations for plants of that Island as well as from Cuba.