The family Menispermaceae is moderately supported as a sister group of the families Ranunculaceae and Berberidaceae. There are approximately 70 genera and 450 species distributed in tropical or subtropical lowland regions, mostly dioecious climbing plants, rarely trees, shrubs, or herbs in this family [1] [2] . Members of this family Menispermaceae contain large amounts of alkaloids and terpenoids [2] , and they are therefore commonly used in traditional medicine [3] . Six genera and 13 taxa of this family have been identified in the Flora of Taiwan [4] .

The roots of climbers are generally buried in the soil, whereas the stems rise by various climbing mechanisms and are dependent on external supports [5] . Climbing is divided into two stages―the climbing stage and the autologous support stage. The climbing stage involves the growth and development of a special internal structure of the liana stem, which is either variant or anomalous [6] . The morphological variation of liana stems is mainly associated with the geometry of the phloem and xylem structure, and the irregular shapes are classified into several types [6] - [12] .

Most vascular plants have a single vascular cambium, which originates from an initial fusiform cell and an initial ray cell. The amount of secondary xylem produced towards the inside of the stem exceeds the amount of secondary phloem produced towards the outside of the stem, and all the secondary xylem and secondary phloem grow along the peripheral organs. Cambial variants are the most common features of the secondary growth mode of vascular plants, and they are more common in lianas than in trees or shrubs [9] [11] [13] . In the absence of leaves and flowers, cambial variation provides a unique means of classification, and hence it can be used to identify many families and genera [10] . In particular, members of the family Menispermaceae develop successive cambia with wide rays [1] [14] [15] .

The basic elements of a stem are the epidermis, periderm, cortex, and central column (vascular stele) [16] . The vascular stele consists of pith, vascular bundles, and the pericycle (phloem fibers). The vascular bundle is composed of the xylem, phloem, and fascicular cambium. A vascular bundle that contains phloem on only one side of the xylem, usually the abaxial side, is termed a collateral vascular bundle [17] [18] . Pericycles are found in the region of tissue between the primary vascular tissues and the cortex. The fascicular cambium typically produces secondary xylem and secondary phloem, whereas the interfascicular cambium produces only ray-like parenchyma tissues [18] .

However, data regarding the patterns and complex characteristics of stem transverse sections in this family in Taiwan are lacking. In the present study, we examined the climbing modes and stem transverse sections in sixteen different species belonging to the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan. Owing to very diverse cambial variants, the present study attempts to address by 1) carefully revising the various descriptors used and providing detailed photographs of features, 2) developing a key based on morphological characters of stem transverse section for identification of species in Taiwan. Our objective was to facilitate the identification of irregular cambial activity.

Members of the family Menispermaceae are extensively distributed in the low mountainous forests of Taiwan. In the present study, a newly recorded species, Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta (Figure 1), is very rare and is found only in Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County. Sinomenium acutum is widely distributed throughout China; however, in Taiwan, it is found only in Siyuan Wind Gap, Yilan County. Cyclea ochiaiana, Stephania merrillii, and Tinospora dentata are endemic to Taiwan, in which C. ochiaiana is found at middle altitudes, S. merrillii is found only on Lanyu Island and Green Island, T. dentata is found at low altitudes in southern Taiwan (Appendix 1). Morphological characteristics of stem transverse section in these 16 investigated species of Menispermaceae in Taiwan were mentioned in Table 2.

Plants in the genus Cocculus typically have successive cambia and/or xylem in plates. In the present study, Cocculus laurifolius was the only species with successive cambia (Figure 1(b) and Figure 1(c)); however, Cocculus orbiculatus had a combination of xylem in plates (Figure 1(d)) and dissected xylem (Figure 1(e)). The dissected xylem is an anomalous structure formed by the division of parenchyma cells, for example, in Bauhinia championii (Fabaceae) [7] [20] . In comparison with normal xylem, dissected xylem has a more cracked appearance. The original xylem is broken and scattered, because phloem dilatation and the proliferation of parenchyma cells gradually result in the formation of several fragments [9] . Dissected xylem is also termed “blocks” [10] or “multiple and lobed cambia” [6] (Table 1). A single plant may have more than one type of cambial variant; accordingly, in our present study, Cocculus orbiculatus showed two types of cambial variant (Figure 1(d) and Figure 1(e)).

Lianas have dimorphic vessels. Large vessels have a diameter of >100 μm, and small vessels have a diameter of <100 μm [21] . In shrubs, the vessel diameter does not exceed 100 μm. Larger vessels provide efficient water conduction but are prone to embolization. If xylem embolization occurs, smaller vessels are used for hydraulic conduction. This alternative function regarding vessel dimorphism simultaneously favors the efficiency and safety of water conduction [22] . With the exception of Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta and Cocculus laurifolius, the lianas and vines observed in the present study had large vessels; in Cocculus laurifolius, the vessel diameter was <50 μm. A few plants such Abuta grandifolia (Menispermaceae) are known to combine lianas and shrubs or trees in their life stage [21] . In A. grandifolia, the vessel diameter is three-fold higher at the liana stage

Note: cvb = collateral vascular bundles; parenchyma proliferation: 0 = absent, 1 = present; outwards change of ray width: 0 = no changed, 1 = increasing, i = immature.

than at the shrub stage. In comparison with trees and shrubs, lianas have much larger vessels and a lower vessel density; moreover, they combine soft and hard tissue characteristics, which ensure excellent water conduction, elasticity, and toughness. These traits are collectively termed lianescent properties [12] .

In the present study, Cocculus orbiculatus had the longest collateral vascular bundles (cvb, Figure 1(a)) (2.7 - 7.1 mm), longest rays (2.3 - 6.0 mm) and widest rays (0.1 - 1.2 mm) (Figure 1(d) and Figure 1(e)). Cyclea ochiaiana had the widest collateral vascular bundles (1.0 - 2.2 mm) (Figure 2(b)). Sinomenium acutum had the highest vessel density (63 - 78 per mm²) and the width of the rays did not increase towards the periphery (Figure 2(d)). Tinospora crispa had the lowest vessel density (7 - 16 per mm²) (Figure 3(d)) and the largest vessel diameter (6 - 295 μm).

In Cyclea gracillima, C. insularis, and C. ochiaiana, the transverse section of the stem was xylem in plates. In these three species, approximately 8 - 9 collateral vascular bundles (cvb) were present, and each collateral vascular bundle developed 1 - 3 split strips (Figure 1(f); Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b); arrows). A mature stem of Ungulipetalum filipendulum (Menispermaceae) was identified based on parenchyma proliferation [23] . The trait of 1 - 3 split strips is related to the proliferation of non-lignified parenchyma. This trait may be derived partly from the cambium of the stem, through a decrease in the size of the xylem and hence an increase in the size of the phloem, thereby leading to the formation of split strips.

The cambial variant of xylem in plates was referred to as a cambial production unit (CPU) (Figure 1(c)), which comprises pith, secondary xylem, fascicular cambium, secondary phloem (Figure 3(b)), primary phloem, and phloem fibers (Figure 3(b)) [24] . A large number of CPU units constitute a successive cambia. In Cissampelos and Cocculus, successive cambia develop, whereas in Tinospora, xylem in plates develops [24] . In Cocculus, the first CPU (Figure 1(c)) can only be produced when the stem diameter is ≤1.1 cm, and the second CPU (Figure 1(c)) is formed when the stem diameter is > 1.1 cm [24] . In the present study, the stem diameter in Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta was 3.0 mm , and therefore we were unable to observe a second CPU. In Cocculus orbiculatus, the maximum stem diameter was approximately 15.6 mm , and this was expected to enable the development of the second CPU; however, an anomalous structure of dissected xylem was formed instead of a second CPU. In Cocculus laurifolius, the stem diameter was within the range 8.3 - 14.8 mm, and this species produced second and third CPUs. In Tinospora, the stem diameter was >2.7 cm, but the stem transverse section was xylem in plates [24] . In the present study, the maximum stem diameters of Tinospora crispa, T. dentata, and T. sinensis were equivalent to 1.1 cm , 0.6 cm , and 1.0 cm , respectively, the stem transverse section was xylem in plates in deed. Taken together, our results imply that a stem diameter of >1.1 cm is not necessarily a prerequisite for the formation of a second CPU. Further research into cambial variants of genera in the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan are required to more fully examine this phenomenon.

In the 16 investigated species belonging to the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan, the climbing mode was tw ining and dextrorse stems. Twining and dextrorse stems constitutes the main climbing mode in tropical regions [25] , and it can be used to identify climbing plants. The front end of a twining stem can be rotated around the body of the host to initiate climbing, or it can become attached to the host in a process called circumnutation [26] . The twining and dextrorse stems climbing mode can be subdivided into sinistrorse and dextrorse [27] . For example, the family Caprifoliaceae has a sinistrorse climbing mode, whereas the families Lardizabalaceae and Aristolochiaceae have dextrorse climbing modes [5] .

With the exception of Cocculus laurifolius, all the species investigated in the present study had xylem in plates, and these plates were separated by very wide phloem rays. Wide phloem rays are derived from parenchyma cells that are arranged radially around the transverse section of the stem and are not connected to each other [17] . This trait favors the flexibility of liana stems and protects each side of the xylem vessels, thereby resulting in a continuously twisted stem [28] . Other families with wide rays include the Actinidiaceae, Araliaceae, Cactaceae, Dilleniaceae, Icacinaceae, Lardizabalaceae, Passifloraceae, Piperaceae, Schisandraceae, and Vitaceae [8] . The wide rays of the family Vitaceae are similar to those of the family Menispermaceae but can be distinguished according to the phloem shape; in the family Vitaceae, the phloem has a flame-like shape, whereas in the family Menispermaceae, the phloem has a cap-like shape.

Tinospora sinensis and T. crispa are used medicinally in Taiwan, and therefore they are termed bitter vines. T. sinensis is sometimes erroneously used to refer to T. crispa and vice versa. T. crispa populations are scattered and naturalized in central and southern Taiwan, at the edges of low-altitude forests. T. crispa has no reproductive organs, and therefore it reproduces primarily via stem asexual regeneration. The species T. crispa also shows blunt tubercles on the epidermis (Figure 3(d)). T. sinensis has not previously been found in the field in Taiwan; in the present study, only female flowers were observed.

In the present study, the highest number of collateral vascular bundles was found in Cocculus laurifolius (approximately 37 - 50), followed by Sinomenium acutum (approximately 20 - 22). In Cyclea gracillima, C. insularis, and C. ochiaiana, the widths of the 8 - 9 collateral vascular bundles were within the range 3.5 - 10 mm. In S. acutum the width of the collateral vascular bundles was within the range 0.3 - 0. 6 mm . In Stephania cephalantha S. japonica, S. longa, S. merrillii, and S. tetrandra, the number of collateral vascular bundles did not increase according to the stem diameter. Our results imply that the number of collateral vascular bundles is not related to the stem diameter. Hence, the characteristics and numbers of collateral vascular bundles can be used to identify species belonging to the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan. However, the species Stephania tetrandra shows conspicuous phellem layer (Figure 3(c)).

The information of families of lianas that form various specific anomalous structures and the terms used to explain the anatomical characteristics of stems (Table 1) are very important. However, these families were mainly distributed in the New World Division, and the list did not include families commonly occurring in Asia. Our present findings regarding the anomalous structures of families of lianas in Taiwan will facilitate the classification of cambial variants in liana ecology.

In the present study, we examined the climbing modes and anomalous structure of climber stems in 16 species belonging to the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan. Cocculus laurifolius is a shrub, Stephania cephalantha and S. longa are vines, and the rema ining 13 species are lianas. In all the investigated species, the climbing mode was tw ining and dextrorse stems. The anomalous structure of the stems in Cocculus orbiculatus comprised xylem in plates and dissected xylem which was involved parenchyma proliferation. In the genus Cyclea, each collateral vascular bundle had 1 - 3 split strips. Cocculus orbiculatus had the longest collateral vascular bundles and longest wide rays. Cyclea ochiaiana had the widest collateral vascular bundles and widest rays. Sinomenium acutum had the highest vessel density. Our findings highlight new anatomical characteristics, for example, the number of collateral vascular bundles and dissected xylem, for species identification in the family Menispermaceae in Taiwan.

We thank the staffs of PPI Herbariun, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology for providing the fresh stem specimens about the family Menispermaceae, and anonymous reviewers for providing comments that improved an earlier draft of this manuscript.

Sheng-Zehn Yang,Po-Hao Chen, (2016) Cambial Variants in the Family Menispermaceae in Taiwan. American Journal of Plant Sciences,07,841-854. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.76080

Angyalossy et al. (2015) divided cambial variants into two types, namely, those that originate from a single cambium and those that originate from multiple cambia.

Single cambial variants are subdivided into six types:

1) Irregular conformation. The cambium exhibits regular activity, and the amount of xylem produced towards the inside of the stem exceeds the amount of phloem produced towards the outside of the stem; however, varying proportions of xylem and phloem are produced around the girth of the stem.

2) Interxylary phloem. The cambium typically produces xylem towards the inside of the stem and phloem towards the outside of the stem, but sometimes produces phloem that grows towards the inside and outside of the stem. This type of variant does not contain cambium (included cambium).

3) Arcs phloem. In some parts of the stem, the cambium produces less xylem than phloem. This type of variant contains included cambium.

4) Furrowed xylem. The xylem is furrowed by arcs and/or wedges, and this trait is termed wedge phloem This type of variant is derived from the part of the cambium that contains a relatively small amount of xylem and a relatively large amount of phloem; it is characterized by a regular gap between the xylem and phloem and irregular arrangements of the xylem and phloem.

5) Axial vascular elements in segments. Axial elements of the xylem and phloem are present in segments alternating with very wide xylem and phloem rays; this trait is termed “xylem in plates”.

6) Dissected xylem. This type of variant is derived from the proliferation of non-lignified parenchyma.

Multiple cambial variants are subdivided into four types.

1) Successive cambia. New cambia arise successively through cell divisions in the external secondary vascular system. Each new cambium in the stem successively generates an inwardly pointing secondary xylem and an outwardly pointing secondary phloem. Cell divisions may involve i) pericyclic cell division, ii) cortex cell division, and iii) parenchyma cell division in the non-conducting phloem.

2) Compound stem. A compound stem is formed via multiple vascular cylinders in a single stem, which creates a cable-like structure. A compound stem may grow through primary or secondary growth; the latter involves the dedifferentiation of pericyclic parenchyma cells to form a new cambium, and this process produces external vascular cylinders without pith (Tamaio and Somner 2010).

3) Intraxylary phloem. This type of multiple cambial variant is derived from the formation of a cambium between the primary xylem and the pith.

4) External vascular cylinders. This type of multiple cambial variant is formed by i) neoformation of secondary vascular cylinders and ii) secondary growth of external primary vascular bundles.