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A Note on the Evolution of the Stamens in the Laurales, with Emphasis on the Lauraceae
Author(s) -
Rohwer J. G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
botanica acta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 0932-8629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1994.tb00415.x
Subject(s) - lauraceae , stamen , appendage , pollen , biology , phylogenetic tree , position (finance) , evolutionary biology , botany , anatomy , genetics , gene , finance , economics
The number of pollen sacs per anther and their position have traditionally been among the most important systematic characters in the Lauraceae. Opinions differ, however, about the evolutionary direction in these characters. This paper is intended to draw attention to little known morphological features of the stamens, in particular to transitions between disporangiate and tetrasporangiate anthers. In addition, the phylogenetic derivation of the stamen appendages is discussed. It is hypothesized that branched androecial structures may be primitive within the Laurales, if not in the angiosperms as a whole.