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SummaryAnandite is a new barium iron silicate found in the magnetite ore zone of the Wilagedera iron ore body, in the North Western Province of Ceylon. The mineral is named after the late Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy, the first director of the Mineral Survey of Ceylon.Anandite is monoclinic, with a 5·412, b 9·434, c 19·953 Å, β 94° 52′, space group C2/c. D 3·94, hardness 3–4. Optically positive, b ‖ β, γ ∧ a 12°, β 1·855, γ > 1·88. Pleochroism: β green, γ brown. Chemical composition corresponds to the simplified formula (Ba,K) (Fe,Mg)a (Si,Al,Fe)4O10 (O,OH)2 with Z = 2. The data available indicate that the mineral has the trioctahedral structure of the brittle micas.

1997. Winter hard ening and glutathione status in the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) in response to tracf gases (CO2, O3) and nitrogen fertilization Bilberry plants (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) at a field site in northern Finland (65°N) were subjected to nitrogen fertilization [6.5 mmol m"' NH4NO3 x Ca(OH)2] at the beginning of 3 growing seasons in late May and to trace gas fumigation (CO2 and O3) for 5 months (May-September) in 1993-1995 in order to investigate frost resistance and glutathione concentrations during the winter hardening period, and to assess the correlation between these variables. Harvesting was performed twice in the autumn of both 1994 and 1995, and the two-year data for each harvest were pooled. The frost resistance of the bilberry stems increased by about 10°C during the hardening period between the two harvests. Nitrogen fertilization increased the frost resistance towards late autumn. The fumigation treatments had no marked effect on it. The combination of elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization induced a decrease in frost resistance. Increases in total glutathione concentrations and the proportion of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the stems were evident during hardening. Nitrogen fertilization positively affected the total glutathione concentration and the proportion of GSH at the beginning of the hardening period but the effect disappeared during the hardening process. Trace gas fumigation as such had no marked effect on glutathione concentration. Increases in glutathione concentrations during hardening did not correlate with frost resistance, possibly due to different timing of the appearence of the response to fertilization treatment, i.e., glutathione responded in the beginning of hardening while frost resistance at the end. The lack of correlation with frost resistance, and especially the different responses to nitrogen fertilization, may reflect the indirect role of glutathione in the development of winter hardening, as a transport and storage form of reduced nitrogen and sulphur. In conclusion, winter hardening and glutathione status in the bilberry seems to be sensitive to nitrogen fertilization, and not affected by elevated CO2 and O3.

The effects of herbivory were simulated on stands of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in a boreal Empetrum-Myrtillus type forest. Five harvesting intensities were used (0 ?o (A), 25 ?o (B), 50 ?o (C), 100 ~o (D) of the bilberry ramets or all the ramets of all species (E)). Density and biomass of the stands, and growth of the ramets were monitored for five growth seasons, from 1986 to 1990. After damage new ramets emerged rapidly from dormant buds at the base of removed ramets. Between 70 and 97 ~o of the density relative to the control level was regained by the final harvest. However, only between 11 and 64?o of the biomass relative to the control level was recovered. Clipping reduced the branch growth, both in the new ramets and in the new parts of the old, unclipped ramets. Severe treatments (D and E) decreased the growth more than did light harvesting (B and C). Survival and fecundity of the ramets were not affected. The result therefore suggested that the bilberry is not able to recover totally from severe herbivory damage between the years of peak rodent population that shows a 3-4 year cycle. Nevertheless, extreme grazing pressure is rare in boreal ecosystems as alternative food is available for herbivores, and predators also limit the herbivore population. Hence the bilberry exhibits moderate tolerance of the usual level of herbivory damage.

Free amino acids and related compounds together with total nitrogen, total protein and soluble small‐molecular nitrogen were analyzed quantitatively in monthly tissue samples from bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, from 15 May to 24 September 1985, in Oulu, northern Finland. Pronounced accumulation (at the millimolar level) of soluble low‐molecular‐weight nitrogen in the form of free amino acids was observed at the end of September. Arginine in particular accumulated in the rhizomes and older branches. Protein levels remained relatively constant. Mobilization of amino acids from winter storage into the growing tissues (buds) was evident in May.