ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 5707
Poster No. = 493


SEED MORPHOLOGY OF BURMANNIA L. (BURMANNIACEAE) IMPLICATION TO THE EVOLUTION OF SAPROPHYTISM


Hong Kong, Dianxiang Zhang, Richard M. K. Saunders, Dept. Of Ecology & Biodiversity, University of Hong Kong, China


Scanning electron microscopic studies were carried out on 35 species of Burmannia L. From the Old World. Four different types of seed were recognized in the species studied: (a) Subglobose seed with reticulate testa pattern, (b) Linear fusiform seed with striate pattern, with perforation along the fine, rounded ridges, (c) Linear fusiform seed with sharp, fine striate, and (d) Ellipsoid seed with thick striate pattern. The correlation among seed size, body size, ovary size, and degree of saprophytism in Burmannia are tested statistically. It is concluded that (1) the seed size is strongly correlated with the body size and ovary size in green-leave species, (2) the seed size is not correlated with the degree of saprophytism, and (3) the degree of saprophytism is strongly correlated with the body size and ovary size. The systematic and phylogenetic relationship within and out of the genus Burmannia revealed by the seed morphology were also briefly discussed.


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