Topic
Merosity
About: Merosity is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 15 publications have been published within this topic receiving 426 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: In this article, the development of both male and female flowers of Platanus × hispanica is studied, focusing on the perianth differentiation and the reproductive organs, including stamens, staminodes, and carpels.
Abstract: Developing and mature inflorescences and flowers of several representatives of Platanus were studied to clarify various aspects of floral structure and organization. Special attention was given to perianth differentiation. Extant Platanaceae are monoecious with unisexual flowers aggregated into compact, spherical inflorescence heads. Development of hairs in a basipetal direction subdivides the undifferentiated inflorescence surface into floral zones. Development of both male and female flowers of Platanus × hispanica begins with the initiation of a perianth whorl. Thereafter, the reproductive organs emerge on the floral apex: stamens in male flowers, staminodes and carpels in female flowers. The last organs to appear in both sexes are the small organs located between perianth and androecium. At anthesis, in both male and female flowers, organs of the first whorl are inconspicuous, scalelike, and only two to three cell layers thick. Alternating with these first thin organs is a whorl of short but fleshy or...
29 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that the position and inception of the stamens is valuable to understand relationships of taxa and four different evolutionary lines can be recognised for the androecium of the Ranunculiflorae.
Abstract: Four different evolutionary lines can be recognised for the androecium of the Ranunculiflorae: (1) a progressive reduction in the number of stamens and stamen whorls. (2) The transformation of the outermost stamens into nectar-leaves or petals. (3) Meristic changes of the flower. (4) Secondary increases in the number of stamens. It is shown that the position and inception of the stamens is valuable to understand relationships of taxa. Ranunculaceae occupy a basal position with the greatest androecial diversity and a reductive trend, linked with a shift from trimery to pentamery and the transformation of the outer stamen pairs into (nectariferous) petals. Berberidaceae and satellite families have androecia with an alternation of trimerous (dimerous) whorls and outer staminodial nectar-leaves. In Papaverales the trimerous flower with a polycyclic androecium often becomes dimerous and is progressively reduced. Secondary increases occur occasionally in Berberidaceae, Papaveraceae and perhaps Glaucidiaceae.
26 citations
TL;DR: The results show that the terminal structure in Gunnera is a flower rather than a pseudanthium, and propose vegetative and floral putative synapomorphies for the sister-group relationship between Gunneraceae and Myrothamnaceae.
22 citations
TL;DR: It is noteworthy that the number of stamens becomes stabilised in more derived Papilionoideae such as the large non-protein-amino-acid-accumulating clade (NPAAA clade) and indicates that the androecium has played an important role in the success of a major part of Leguminosae.
20 citations
TL;DR: Polymery is consistent with other floral characters, such as the nature of perianth, vasculature (axial and cortical systems) and merosity, and can be described by a number of character states, which are presented in a semophyletical scheme.
17 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |