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Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Embryology of Macroptilium arenarium (Leguminosae)

M. Gotelli A B , B. Galati A and P. Hoc A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva en Plantas Superiores (79), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 4° piso, pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA Capital Federal, República Argentina.

B Corresponding author. Email: mgotelli@bg.fcen.uba.ar

Australian Journal of Botany 54(6) 531-542 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT05060
Submitted: 19 March 2005  Accepted: 2 February 2006   Published: 15 September 2006

Abstract

Macroptilium arenarium (Bacigalupo) S.I.Drewes & R.A.Palacios produces two floral morphs, aerial chasmogamous flowers and cleistogamous flowers in geophyte racemes. A comparative study of the sporogenesis, gametogenesis and the development of the related sporophytic structures in both floral morphs is reported. The anther is tetrasporangiate, its wall consists of epidermis, endothecium, one or two middle layers and an uninucleate secretory tapetum. The mature endothecium presents fibrilar thickenings that are more developed in cleistogamous flowers. Pollen grains are tricolporate, angulaperturate, and are shed at bicellular stage. The ovule is crassinucelate, bitegmic and anacampylotropous. Megaspore tetrads with linear arrangement have been observed in chasmogamous flowers, whereas only megaspore dyads have been found in cleistogamous flowers. In both floral morphs the chalazal megaspore develops into an embryo sac of Polygonum type. Apomixis is considered as a possible replacement for sexual reproduction in cleistogamous flowers.


Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Dr Susana Drewes for a critical reading of the manuscript, Dr María Teresa Amela García for assistance with the English language and CONICET and UBACyT X030 for providing the facilities for this research.


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