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.

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.