FLORAL ASPECTS OF BARCLAYA (NYMPHAEACEAE) - POLLINATION, ONTOGENY ANDSTRUCTURE

Barclaya, endemic to Southeast Asia, includes four species: B. longifo lia WALLICH. B. motleyi HOOKER f., B. kunstleri (KING) RIDLEY, and B. rotundifolia HOTTA. The genus has been traditionally assigned monotypi c status in the family Barclayaceae or tribe Barclayeae primarily base d on the occurrence of a hypogynous calyx, originally interpreted as a n involucre in an otherwise epigynous flower, orthotropous ovules, lac k of an aril, and inaperturate pollen. Cladistic and molecular studies support the association of Barclaya with Euryale, Victoria, Nymphaea, Ondinea, and Nuphar in the family Nymphaeaceae. Floral structure reve als (1) vasculature and developmental support for the hypothesis that the hypogynous appendages are sepals, (2) that pollen is zonasulculate , (3) that floral ontogeny is similar to that previously described for epigynous members of the Nymphaeaceae s. str., and (4) anatomical and morphological similarities with other Nymphaeaceae s. str. The cleist ogamous and chasmogamous flowers are self-pollinating, the latter perh aps facilitated by flies in emergent flowers.