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Lid formation in the fruitlets of the genus Potamogeton
Author(s) -
Toma Cezary
Publication year - 2002
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.1756-1051.2002.tb01382.x
Subject(s) - biology , potamogeton , dehiscence , botany , genus , interspecific competition , germination , macrophyte , aquatic plant , ecology
The examination of lid development in drupes which represent four sections of the genus Potamogeton is presented. Lids are present in all the studied fruitlets. The lid is an atypical structure for drupes. There are interspecific differences in the shape of the mature dehiscence layers of the lids. The dehiscence layers develop centrifugally in the Potamogeton pericarps. The Potamogeton fruitlets open by the pressure developed from the germinating embryo. The splitting of the pericarp takes place through two regions of mechanically weak layers with small pectin rich walled cells. The fruitlet opening mechanisms in the different Potamogeton sections are similar.