XVI International Botanical Congess

The seed structure of 58 species, belonging to 13 genera (Hedychium, Caulokaempferia, Pyrgophyllum, Roscoea, Cautleya, Curcuma, Zingiber, Globba, Alpinia, Pommereschea, Plagiostachys, Amomum, Etlingera) representing 4 tribes were studied. Their basic structure consists of aril, seed coat, exosperm, endosperm and embryo. The seed coat can be divided into exotesta, mesotesta and endotesta. The endotestal cells arranged in one layer are of parenchyma and brick-shapped in Hedychieae, Zingibereae and Globbeae, while in Alpineae, those are sclereids with cuboid or cylindrical shape. Structure of micropylar region and chalazal region has been studied and their characters can be used as diagnosis.