Premium
Root anatomy of palms IV. Arecoideae, part 1, general remarks and descriptions on the roots
Author(s) -
Seubert Elke
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
feddes repertorium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.24
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1522-239X
pISSN - 0014-8962
DOI - 10.1002/fedr.19981090114
Subject(s) - genus , subfamily , biology , root (linguistics) , affinities , character (mathematics) , botany , palm , zoology , mathematics , philosophy , linguistics , biochemistry , geometry , physics , quantum mechanics , gene
This survey of palm roots, initiated with the Coryphoideae, and followed by Calamoideae, Ceroxyloideae, Nypoideae with the only genus Nypa and Phytelephantoideae is now completed with the studies on the roots of Arecoideae. Representatives of 101 genera of the 123 genera accepted by UHL & DRANSFIELD 1987 have been available. Within the subfamily, there is considerable variation in root characters. In general, roots do not differ or but slightly between species of a single genus, but do so conspicuously between the genera, subtribes, and tribes. They therefore contribute both to distinguish genera and to recognize natural units of genera, and indicate affinities between higher categories. Archontophoenicinae, Arecinae, and Iguanurinae have much in common and are obviousely related. According to root anatomy, Cyrtostachys is clearly a member of Archontophoenicinae. Dypsidinae are considered transitional between Linospadicinae, Ptychospermatinae, and Archontophoenicinae; whereas Oncospermatinae show affinites to Iguanurinae, but share also characters with Butiinae. Butiinae fall into two groups; one approaching Attaleinae and Elaidinae, the other one mainly characterised by reduction of root features. The character state, found within Bactridinae sets them apart from the rest of Cocoeae, but show some affinities to Caryoteae; this may be due to parallelism. Podococceae are considered related with Reinhardtia (Malortieinae) and Iriarteae, the latter with several characters in common with Caryoteae. As the roots of Oraninae are reduced, and most features are wanting, it is doubtful if they are closer to Areceae or Podococceae. In any case, they have more in common with the Podococceae and Malortieinae than with the rest of Areceae. Euterpeinae and Roystoneae are similar in root anatomy, and thus considered closely related. Geonomeae have little in common with the rest of the subfamily, but approach Phytelephantoideae.