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Tropical Biology Section

Kelly, Lawrence M. [1].

Functional aspects of the floral morphology of Central American Saurauia (Actinidiaceae).

Saurauia consists of ca. 290 species of small trees distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and America. Several of the South American species have been characterized as functionally dioecious (with one androdioecious species), but information on the sexuality of plants from other areas is lacking. Study of living and herbarium material of 15 Central American and Mexican species shows that nearly all populations consist of two distinct morphs, which occur in approximately equal proportions. Morphologically hermaphroditic plants bear bisexual flowers, which produce pollen and set fruit. Male plants have flowers that produce pollen and have sterile ovaries with obsolete styles. Other morphological features, such as flower size, stamen number and size, and pollen production do not appear to differ between the morphs. The species studied, therefore, are morphologically androdioecious, and assessment of pollen viability in “bisexual” flowers is necessary to determine whether the plants are functionally dioecious. More extensive studies are underway to morphologically characterize staminate and bisexual flowers, and to examine pollen viability of bisexual flowers.


1 - New York Botanical Garden, Cullman Program for Molecular Systematics Studies, 200th St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York, 10458-5126, USA

Keywords:
Saurauia
Actinidiaceae
androdioecy
functional dioecy.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 8-8
Location: Peruvian (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2004
Time: 10:30 AM
Abstract ID:321


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