EMBRYOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIPS OF SURIANA-MARITIMA L (SURIANACEAE)

An intensive study of the embryology of Suriana maritima L. is made to provide the information for discussing relationships and systematic p osition of the genus which is uncertain yet. Notable embryological fea tures of Suriana include: ovular archesporium multi-celled; ovule unit egmic, campylotropous, and crassinucellate with a nucellar cap; obtura tor not formed; ovule and seed pachychalazal; chalazal haustorium of e ndosperm formed; mature seed exalbuminous. Comparisons with possibly r elated families suggest that Suriana is distinct from any of the famil ies discussed but best resembles Rutaceae (and Simaroubaceae). Until a study on Stylobasium and several other genera, which might be closer to Suriana, comes up in future, we tentatively support the placement o f Suriana as a monotypic family Surianaceae in Rutales sens. Takhtajan .