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Funicular germination plugs in endocarps from an archaeological site in Chile
Author(s) -
Bondeson Wolmar E.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
nordic journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1756-1051
pISSN - 0107-055X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1051.1981.tb01164.x
Subject(s) - hilum (anatomy) , radicle , germination , biology , locule , pith , anatomy , frond , apex (geometry) , spark plug , botany , physics , pollen , stamen , thermodynamics
Archaeological material from the north of Chile, called “Antofagasta semillas” and consisting of small endocarps or stones was investigated with regard to the germination plugs present on the surface of the stones. The stones have 2–5 such plugs, grouped within a slightly depressed, elliptic area on one side of the ovoid, dorsiven–tral stone. Each plug closes the aperture of a one–seeded locule, which, except for its placental outer wall, is embedded in the sclerenchymatous endocarp that forms the stone. The radicle has its tip towards the hilum, which indicates its path of emergence. The germination plug is seated above the hilum and is formed by the enlarged apex of the funicle, the outermost cell layer of which is the extreme continuation of the outer epidermis of the testa. A break of the testa below the plug, caused by the push of the growing radicle, is seen as the crucial factor in the function of the funicular germination plug. The portions of endocarp tissue originally overlying the depressed area, comprising outer parts of the locule walls inclusive of the placentae, have been lost, obviously in consequence of failure to undergo sclerification.