Functional and taxonomic significance of seed structure in Salix mucronata (Salicaceae) | Zendy

E. M. A. Steyn | Zendy; Gideon F. Smith | Zendy; A.E. van Wyk | Zendy

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Functional and taxonomic significance of seed structure in <i>Salix mucronata</i> (Salicaceae)

Author(s) -

E. M. A. Steyn,

Gideon F. Smith,

A.E. van Wyk

Publication year - 2004

Publication title -

bothalia

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457

H-Index - 20

eISSN - 2311-9284

pISSN - 0006-8241

DOI - 10.4102/abc.v34i1.413

Subject(s) - biology , botany , salicaceae , ovule , willow , biological dispersal , seed dispersal , aril , riparian zone , habitat , woody plant , pollen , ecology , demography , sociology , population

The polymorphic African willow, Salix mucronata Thunb., is a widely distributed African tree and a riparian rheophyte. Ovule-to-seed development is reported for Salix mucronata subsp. woodii (Seemen) Immelman. Contrary to some existing reports, the tuft of silky hairs enveloping the seed in Salix is derived from the funicle and not the placenta. The micromor- phological structure of the hilar aril and funicular-placental and arillate hairs is described and illustrated for the first time.Willow seeds are primarily wind-dispersed, but have additional characters, such as a hydrophobic seed coat and an unwet- table, hairy, hilar aril as specific adaptations for distribution by water, perhaps even chance dispersal by animal visitors to the riverine habitat. Seed adaptations linked to different dispersal strategies may account for seemingly marked differences in ovule/seed structure between Salicaceae S. str. and related, mainly zoochorous flacourtiaceous taxa. recently classified with the former in a more inclusively circumscribed Salicaeae s.l.