Open AccessSeed and embryo morphology of Poecilanthe (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae, Brongniartieae)
Author(s) -
MEIRELES JOSÉ EDUARDO,
DE A. TOZZI ANA MARIA G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00881.x
Subject(s) - biology , epicotyl , botany , melastomataceae , fabaceae , perianth , monophyly , hypocotyl , stipule , mimosoideae , embryo , phylogenetics , pollen , clade , biochemistry , gene , stamen , microbiology and biotechnology
This work analyses and describes seed and embryo morphology of eight Poecilanthe species. Poecilanthe species can be divided in four groups based on seed and embryo characters: (1) P. amazonica ‐type has overgrown seeds, bears cataphylls on the epicotyl and has an inflexed hypocotyls‐root axis; (2) P. effusa ‐type has two types of trichomes on the epicotyl, which is longer than the hypocotyls‐root axis; (3) P. parvilora ‐type has a visible lens and the raphe runs around three‐quarters of the seed circumference; and P. grandiflora ‐type bears a one‐lipped rim aril. Poecilanthe presents a remarkable diversity both in seed and embryo, which reinforces the belief that the genus is not monophyletic. Moreover, our results support the three major clades recognized by a preliminary phylogeny. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 158 , 249–256.