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The structure and potential loasaceous affinities of Schismocarpus
Author(s) -
Hufford Larry D.
Publication year - 1989
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.1756-1051.1989.tb02118.x
Subject(s) - biology , affinities , pollen , inflorescence , trichome , morphology (biology) , botany , evolutionary biology , zoology , biochemistry
The affinity of Schismocarpus with Loasaceae has been questioned. Characteristic trichomic features are most often used for definition of Loasaceae, and Schismocarpus possesses a distinctly loasaceous syndrome of trichomes. Its inflorescence morphology is similar to that of Eucnide and Mentzelia , and it shares floral features with Eucnide. Although Schismocarpus possesses unique features (e.g., perennating “rootstock” and striate pollen) relative to Loasaceae, it is not aberrant considering the broad range of diversity that has been long accepted within the family. The apparently divergent floral morphology may be explained by its evolution of a “pollen flower” syndrome.