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Studies on the reproductive biology and palynology of Chortolirion Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in southern Africa
Author(s) -
Smith Gideon F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1222923
Subject(s) - palynology , pollen , taxon , sensu , biology , genus , subfamily , botany , zoology , taxonomy (biology) , biochemistry , gene
Summary Smith, G. F.: Studies on the reproductive biology and palynology of Chortolirion Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in southern Africa. ‐ Taxon 40: 61–73. 1991. ‐ ISSN 0040‐0262. While conducting biosystematic investigations towards a revision of the smaller genera of the subfamily Alooideae of the Asphodelaceae in southern Africa to be published in the Flora of southern Africa , I became aware that Chortolirion bergerianum Dinter had not been dealt with in recent treatments of this genus. A comparative palynological and morphological study indicates that C. bergerianum and C. angolense (Baker) A. Berger sensu lato are conspecific. Pollen grains of these taxa are free, monosulcate, bilaterally symmetrical, medium in size and have a perforated tectum. The morphological investigation and in‐vitro and in‐vivo pollen germination studies also confirmed that Chortolirion Berger represents an assemblage of both reproductive and vegetative characters that makes it unique in the Alooideae. However, the differences on which five species were previously based in Chortolirion are nothing more than local variations of a variable and widespread taxon. C. bergerianum should be included in C. angolense , the only species of Chortolirion. The taxonomic history of C. bergerianum is also briefly discussed.