Seed formation in two species of Adesmia (Fabaceae): co‐occurrence of micropylar and lateral endosperm haustoria in legumes and its taxonomic value

Seed ontogeny of Adesmia bicolor and Adesmia latifolia was analysed using light microscopy and standard histological techniques. Fertilization was porogamic. Linear proembryonal tetrads were observed in A. bicolor . The robust elongated suspensors possessed specialized basal cells. The nucellar epidermis became endothelial. The free‐nuclear endosperm produced a micropylar, filamentous and ephemeral haustorium and a lateral sac‐like haustorium at the funicular side. The cellular endosperm was initiated from the micropylar zone after the cordiform embryo stage. It mostly disintegrated in mature seeds. The sclerified bilayered testa was derived from the outer ovular integument. Different astrosclereid arrangements beyond the lens in both Adesmia species may be related to the different habitats of the two species. The occurrence of both micropylar and lateral nuclear endosperm haustoria has so far not been reported in Fabaceae and is the most distinctive embryological character of Adesmieae. The taxonomic value of the mostly uniform morphology of the suspensor in the Adesmia species studied could also be relevant. The nature of seed endothelia in many Fabaceae requires accurate redetermination prior to taxonomic use. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 158 , 602–612.