Floral structure and organogenesis of the wax palm Ceroxylon ceriferum (Arecaceae; Ceroxyloideae)

• Premise of the study: Most palm systematists were surprised when molecular evidence pointed to a sister group relationship between the tribe Ceroxyleae and the phytelephantoid palms. The latter comprises three genera of morphological aberrant palms that have previously been considered a subfamily of their own. Here we present the results of a detailed study of the floral structure and development of the wax palm, Ceroxylon ceriferum, which aims at revealing derived traits shared by the sister tribes Ceroxyleae and Phytelepheae. • Methods: A series of floral stages were sampled from Ceroxylon ceriferum growing in the central coastal range of Venezuela. The samples were prepared for scanning electronic microscopy and serial anatomical sectioning. • Key results: The development of male and female flowers of Ceroxylon ceriferum was similar. The receptacle elongated early in the ontogeny. The perianth was differentiated into distinct sepals and petals and was characterized by a lack of postgenital fusion. The stamens were incepted centripetally in 2(–3) whorls. The outer whorl of three stamens was antesepalous. The inner whorl consisted of six stamens arranged in three antepetalous pairs. • Conclusions: The flowers of Ceroxylon ceriferum share a lack of postgenital fusion in the perianth with members of the tribe Phytelepheae. The elongation of the receptacle is reminiscent of the receptacle expansion in Phytelepheae. However, the multistaminate condition in C. ceriferum is less extreme than in the Phytelepheae, and the stamen initiation is centripetal as opposed to centrifugal in the latter.