SEED-COAT CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED SOUTHERN AFRICAN SPECIES OF POLYGALA L (POLYGALACEAE)

Scanning electron microscope studies of the seeds of selected southern African Polygala species were made. The seed-coat sculpture is descri bed and illustrated with SEM photomicrographs. Although five species c ould be identified on the basis of seed surface sculpture, it proved d ifficult to identify most of the species on seed-coat structure alone. Some correlations were found between seed-coat sculpture and morpholo gically similar groups.