Floral development and systematics of Cistaceae

The floral development of representatives of six genera of Cistaceae has been studied. Calyx development involves the formation of a ring primordium in several taxa. Androecium development in species with intermediate or higher stamen numbers starts with the formation of a ring meristem on which the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant systematics and evolution 1998-01, Vol.212 (1/2), p.107-134
Main Author: Nandi, O. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androecium
Calyx
Carpels
Gynoecium
Inflorescences
Meristems
Ontogeny
Petals
Stamens
Taxa
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Summary:The floral development of representatives of six genera of Cistaceae has been studied. Calyx development involves the formation of a ring primordium in several taxa. Androecium development in species with intermediate or higher stamen numbers starts with the formation of a ring meristem on which the stamens are initiated in a centrifugal direction. In many taxa five alternipetalous leading stamen primordia can be observed. In the apetalous (cleistogamous) flowers of Tuberaria inconspicua androecium development appears to be unordered; this is probably due to the lack of petals. In Lechea intermedia (also cleistogamous) the corolla is trimerous and three complex stamen primordia are produced, which give rise either to one or three stamens. Relationships within Cistaceae are discussed. Floral development in Cistaceae is compared with that in other Malvanae. Among the eight families of Malvanae from which information on floral development is available Cochlospermaceae and Bixaceae exhibit the greatest similarities to Cistaceae. In Cistaceae the leading stamen primordia are alternipetalous. In Bixa the same condition seems to be present. In Malvales s. str. most Tiliaceae also show earliest stamen initiation in alternipetalous sectors, whereas the stamens of the innermost alternipetalous position are retarded early or even suppressed in Sterculiaceae, Bombacaceae, and Malvaceae. Within Malvales s. str. the diversity of androecial developmental patterns seems to decrease in Bombacaceae and Malvaceae due to increasing synorganization in the mature androecium. The derivation of polyandry in Malvanae from diplo- or obdiplostemony is discussed by comparison with the sister clades of Malvanae as shown in recent rbcL studies (i.e. Sapindales, Rutales, the glucosinolate producing clade, and Myrtales).
ISSN:0378-2697
1615-6110
DOI:10.1007/BF00985224