UNUSUAL STRUCTURAL VARIATION IN THE FRUIT OF DASISPERMUM-SUFFRUTICOSUM (APIACEAE) - A NEW RECORD OF HETEROMORPHIC FRUITS IN THE FAMILY

Dasispermum is a monotypic genus found on sand-dunes along much of the South African coast. D. suffruticasum is exceptionally polymorphic in the structure of the fruit, and major morphological differences are f ound between fruits from different plants, which are not obviously cor related with geographic and taxonomic patterns. The mericarps vary fro m homomorphic to heteromorphic, the latter being a relatively rare con dition in the Apiaceae and the occurrence of both types in the same sp ecies has not been reported before. In both the heteromorphic and homo morphic types, wing configuration is already evident in the flowering stage.