Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on Seed Coat Patterns of Five Endangered Himalayan Species of Meconopsis (Papaveraceae)

• Published in: Annals of botany Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 323 - 326
• Main Author: Sulaiman, I.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science Ltd 01.09.1995; Oxford University Press; Academic Press
• Subjects: Altitude; Biological taxonomies; Endangered species; Evolutionary genetics; Himalayan poppy; Himalayan poppy, Meconopsis horridula, Meconopsis paniculata, Meconopsis simplicifolia, Meconopsis sinuata, Meconopsis villosa, endangered species, seed coat patterns, scanning electron microscopy; Magnification; Meconopsis horridula; Meconopsis paniculata; Meconopsis simplicifolia; Meconopsis sinuata; Meconopsis villosa; Perennials; Plants; Scanning electron microscopy; seed coat patterns; Seeds; Testa; Himalayan poppy, Meconopsis horridula, Meconopsis paniculata, Meconopsis simplicifolia, Meconopsis sinuata, Meconopsis villosa, endangered species, seed coat patterns, scanning electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0305-7364; 1095-8290
• DOI: 10.1006/anbo.1995.1102

Scanning electron microscopic studies of seed coat patterns were carried out on 16 populations of the endangered genus Meconopsis, the Himalayan poppy. Two different types of testa can be distinguished in the five species of Meconopsis (M. horridula, M. paniculata, M. simplicifolia, M. sinuata, M. villosa ) investigated: ( a) rugose, and ( b) reticulate. The results indicate the absence of intra- and inter-population variation in all five species of Meconopsis. However, seed coat patterns show a marked inter-specific difference suggesting that they are species-specific.