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DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERNS IN STEM PRIMARY XYLEM OF WOODY RANALES. I. SPECIES WITH UNILACUNAR NODES
Author(s) -
Benzing David H.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1967.tb10703.x
Subject(s) - phyllotaxis , biology , xylem , botany , phylogenetic tree , woody plant , evolutionary biology , biochemistry , shoot , meristem , gene
Patterns of protoxylem strands in vegetative stems of 11 species representing eight families of woody Ranales are illustrated and discussed. Primary vascular systems of many species examined tend to be pseudosiphonostelic. Protoxylem tissue, however, is discontinuous and consists of discrete strands which develop basipetally. The author assumes that data pertaining to the morphology of these protoxylem strand patterns can be significant in determining phylogenetic relationships among ranalean families and between these and higher angiosperms. The value of the primary vascular system in past taxonomic investigations is also considered. Results of this study indicate that the protoxylem strand patterns of 11 woody ranalean species are diverse even though the species are characterized by identical phyllotaxis and nodal structure.