Pd. Marin et al., SEED SCULPTURING OF SELECTED EUROPAEAN VICIA L. SPECIES (FABACEAE) AND THEIR TAXONOMICAL EVALUATION, Seed science and technology, 26(1), 1998, pp. 17-32
Seed sculpturing of 26 Vicia taxa, belonging to the sections Ervum, Cr
acca, Faba and Vicia, has been analysed using a scanning electron micr
oscope (SEM). The anticlinal seed testa transections of the Vicia sali
va, V. lathyroides and V. hirsuta have also been studied. The seed scu
lpturing of most Vicia species analysed showed a typical papillose pat
tern. In some species the seed ornamentation pattern is species specif
ic, whereas many analysed species exhibited a similar pattern. The val
ue of seed microsculpturing, as an additional taxonomic marker in the
infrageneric classification of the Vicia genus, is discussed.