Premium
SEED MORPHOLOGY OF MONOTROPA UNIFLORA L. (ERICACEAE)
Author(s) -
Olson A. Randall
Publication year - 1980
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.1537-2197.1980.tb07728.x
Subject(s) - biology , endosperm , ericaceae , botany , integumentary system , embryo , germination , haustorium , achene , suspensor , imbibition , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , zygote , ecology , embryogenesis , host (biology)
Mature seeds of Monotropa uniflora L., an achlorophyllous mycotrophic perennial, underwent imbibition and were processed for study using modern histological and histochemical techniques. The seeds ranged from 0.6‐0.8 mm in length and 0.12‐0.15 mm in width and exhibited integumentary winglike structures at either end. As in other members of the Ericaceae, seeds are unitegmic, tenuinucellate, albuminous, and form both micropylar and chalazal endosperm haustoria. A two‐celled reduced embryo was observed in all seeds, except one where the embryo was three‐celled. Protein granules in the thick walled endosperm were found to contain an aniline blue‐fluorescent material that may be a calloselike carbohydrate. The limited amount of seed food reserves and the retardation of embryo differentiation may reflect specialized germination requirements.