DROSERACEAE GERMINATION PATTERNS AND THEIR TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The Droseraceae exhibit a range of germination patterns which are of p ossible taxonomic usefulness at the sectional and higher levels. Three patterns were observed in the family: phancrocotylar (Drosera subgen. Drosera and Regia); cryptocotylar (subgen. Ergaleium and Rorella); an d a new category, hemi-cryptocotylar, where both cotyledon apices rema in in the seed coat, but the remainder emerges forming a photosyntheti c cotyledon loop (Dionaen, Drosophyllum and Drosera adelae). Subgenus Drosera, especially sect. Drosera, is heterogenous for germination and other features; with Drosera indica, sect. Lasiocephala and D. neocal edonica anomalous on current placements, and in need of further study. Conversely, the merger of sects Psyrophila and Stelogyne and subgen. Ptycnostigma with subgen. Drosera sect. Drosera is supported by their germination features. Further studies are needed to determine the sign ificance of environmental effects on the germination characteristics, although because the results of this study largely agree with recent m orphological and molecular studies, this suggests that germination cha racteristics are useful at the sectional level, potentially providing additional characters for phylogenetic investigations within the Drose raceae. (C) 1997 The Linnean Society of London.