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OBSERVATIONS OF SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT IN POLYGONUM BISTORTOIDES
Author(s) -
Allessio Mary L.
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.tb10764.x
Subject(s) - seedling , biology , apex (geometry) , achene , botany , polygonum , habit , ecology , psychology , psychotherapist
Observations of the development of Polygonum bistortoides Pursh from achenes collected in the Colorado alpine show an unusual seedling. Photosynthetic cotyledons are supported by coalesced petioles which form a hollow sheath. The first true leaf, which usually passes through the sheath and emerges between the cotyledons, gives the appearance of a typical dicotyledonous seedling. For the second and subsequent leaves there is not space in the cotyledonary sheath. The sheath splits near its base and leaves grow from the swollen base where the apical bud is located. Since the apex is at the soil surface, and the swelling, early evidence of the rhizomatous habit, begins to develop when the seedling is less than 2 weeks old, it is suggested that the seedling structure may aid in rapid establishment during the short alpine growing season.