THE MECHANICS OF THE GRASS FLOWER - THE EXTENSION OF THE STAMINAL FILAMENTS AND THE LODICULES OF MAIZE

In this paper on the flower mechanics of the grasses, the morphologica l and cytological processes leading to flower opening and anther exser tion are studied. At anthesis synchronous cell extension in both the l odicules and filaments open the flower and exsert the anthers, respect ively. In the lodicules all the cells extend, except the vascular tiss ues. In the filaments extension is limited to the epidermis and one or two subepidermal cell layers, whereas the more centrally located pare nchyma and the vascular tissues are disrupted. Ultrastructural aspects of the rapid vacuolations, necessary for these extensions, are studie d using comparisons between TEM and high-resolution SEM. (C) 1996 Anna ls of Botany Company.