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Foliar crystals in Saxifraga and segregate genera (Saxifragaceae)
Author(s) -
Gornall R. J.
Publication year - 1987
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.1756-1051.1987.tb00935.x
Subject(s) - saxifragaceae , biology , botany
In the genera Saxifraga, Saxifragodes, Saxifragella, Saxifragopsis and Zahlbrucknera foliar crystals were found to be present only in Saxifragodes and Saxifraga sections Micranthes and Irregulares . The crystals occur as stellate druses, except in Saxifraga nipponica and S. cortusifolia (section Irregulares ) where they occur as single needles. This finding indicates a close relationship between these two sections of Saxifraga . The monotypic Saxifragodes , from southern South America, does not appear to be related to Andean species of Saxifraga , which lack crystals, but rather to species of Saxifraga section Micranthes in North America. The taxonomic affinities of five species in section Micranthes that lack crystals are discussed.