Development of the female gametophyte of Minuria cunninghamii (DC). Benth, Ccompositae)

Abstract

Minuria cunninghamii is widely distributed throughout the drier parts of Australia, and a comparative study was made of the female gametophyte development in two populations 300 miles apart in western New South Wales. In specimens collected 120 miles south of Menindee, the embryo sac was monosporic in origin and of the Polygonum type, whereas in those from Wanaaring it was usually bisporic and of the Allium type. No significant difference was found in mature embryo sacs from the two localities, although an unusual feature of both was the occurrence of vacuoles in the apices of the synergids.