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Autofluorescent walls of connective bases in anthers of Barnadesioideae (Asteraceae) , and systematic implications
Author(s) -
Pesacreta Thomas C.,
Stuessy Tod F.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1224139
Subject(s) - biology , epidermis (zoology) , botany , connective tissue , stamen , anatomy , pollen , genetics
Summary Pesacreta, T. C. & Stuessy, T. F.: Autofluorescent walls of connective bases in anthers of Barnadesioideae (Asteraceae) , and systematic implications. – Taxon 45: 473‐485 1996 – ISSN 0040‐0262. Stamens from 20 species of the subfamily Barnadesioideae were examined with confocal scanning laser microscopy to determine some of the characteristics of the connective base epidermis. All species had autofluorescent cell walls. Wall autofluorescence was more intense in the abaxial connective epidermis than in the filament epidermis. In most species all autofluorescent cell walls were evenly thickened, but in several species of Barnadesia some either had spiral thickenings or were irregularly thickened, perhaps an adaptation for increased strength in longer filaments and anthers as part of a hummingbird pollination syndrome, a derived condition within the subfamily. In slightly less than half the species the connective base exhibited a more intense autofluorescence than any other region of the connective. The adaxial epidermis was autofluorescent in eight species. The occurrence of autofluorescent cells in both Calyceraceae and Barnadesioideae suggests this as a possible synapomorphy, but in the former the cells are tangentially elongate and irregular, rather than longitudinally elongate with rectangular outline.