Floral development and phyllotactic variation in Ceratophyllum demersum (Ceratophyllaceae)

The floral development of staminate and pistillate flowers of Ceratophyllum demersum was observed, with particular focus on the phyllotactic variation in staminate flowers, using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). We discerned patterns of development of some important new morphological features,...

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Published inAmerican journal of botany Vol. 90; no. 8; pp. 1124 - 1130
Main Authors Iwamoto, Akitoshi, Shimizu, Akiko, Ohba, Hideaki
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Botanical Soc America 01.08.2003
Botanical Society of America
Botanical Society of America, Inc
Subjects
Angiosperms
Appendages
Botanical gardens
Bracts
Ceratophyllaceae
Ceratophyllum demersum
floral development
floral phyllotaxy
Flower stigma
Flowers
Flowers & plants
Freshwater
Japan
Nymphaeales
Phyllotaxis
Phylogeny
Plants
Stamens
Structure and Development
Japan
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Summary:The floral development of staminate and pistillate flowers of Ceratophyllum demersum was observed, with particular focus on the phyllotactic variation in staminate flowers, using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). We discerned patterns of development of some important new morphological features, e.g., the difference and discontinuity between the organ initiation in stamens and that in bracts (or tepals) and the initial presence of a mucilaginous appendage on each pistil. Female flowers are considered to be very specialized through reduction. In male flowers stamen initiation changes between early and late floral development. The four or five stamens in the outermost whorl initiate first on the abaxial and lateral sides of the floral apex and only later on the adaxial side (unidirectional). Later the inner stamens initiate spirally, and this is the main pattern in the stamen initiation. Members of each whorl differ among themselves in time of initiation and in ultimate size. The phyllotactic variation in staminate flowers of Ceratophyllum, suggested by previous studies, is derived from the variation in stamen number and the difference of stamen initiation between the early and later stages. The development in Ceratophyllum has some similarities to those of ANITA plants except for Nymphaeales.
Bibliography:The authors thank Dr. Rolf Rutishauser, Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich for precious advice on the manuscript, and Dr. Yasuro Kadono, Faculty of Science, Kobe University; Mr. Keisuke Okuda; and Mr. Mitsuru Usuba for supporting in collecting materials. Our thanks also go to Dr. David E. Boufford, Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, and Mr. Gregory Kenicer, Botanical Gardens, the University of Tokyo, for checking the English text and content.
Author for reprint requests (e‐mail
)
akitoshi@um.u‐tokyo.ac.jp
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ISSN:0002-9122
1537-2197
DOI:10.3732/ajb.90.8.1124