Floral structure, anther development and pollen dispersal of Halophytum ameghinoi (Halophytaceae)

A developmental and anatomical study of the staminate flowers of Halophytum ameghinoi showed decussate tepal estivation; residual growth of the receptacle after stamen inception; monocotyledonous and basic types of anther wall development; secretory, binucleate tapetal cells; tetrahedral tetrads; an...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pozner, Raúl Ernesto, Cocucci, Andrea Aristides
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2006
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/29357
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/29357
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:MORPHOLOGY
POLEN DISPERSAL
STAMINATE FLOWER
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:A developmental and anatomical study of the staminate flowers of Halophytum ameghinoi showed decussate tepal estivation; residual growth of the receptacle after stamen inception; monocotyledonous and basic types of anther wall development; secretory, binucleate tapetal cells; tetrahedral tetrads; and binucleate pollen grains. A vacuolate stage in the archesporial cells, the structure of endothecial thickenings, and a mechanism of anther dehiscence by connective contraction are new autapomorphies for this family. Anemophily is confirmed (Plantago‐type syndrome), and field studies of pollen release showed a subtle mechanism involving rigid anther wall structure, versatile anther insertion, and abaxial subterminal pores. In air currents, while anthers flutter with pores directed upwind, pollen is extracted presumably by a cavitation effect of the hooded anther tip. In a phylogenetic context, anemophily of Halophytum is of isolated occurrence within Caryophyllales, and uniovulate ovaries in sister clades probably represent a prerequisite for evolution of anemophily.