DIALYPETALANTHUS FUSCESCENS KUHLM (DIALYPETALANTHACEAE) - THE PROBLEMATIC TAXONOMIC POSITION OF AN AMAZONIAN ENDEMIC

Citation
F. Piesschaert et al., DIALYPETALANTHUS FUSCESCENS KUHLM (DIALYPETALANTHACEAE) - THE PROBLEMATIC TAXONOMIC POSITION OF AN AMAZONIAN ENDEMIC, Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 84(2), 1997, pp. 201-223
Citations number
66
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences
ISSN journal
00266493
Volume
84
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
201 - 223
Database
ISI
SICI code
0026-6493(1997)84:2<201:DFK(-T>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
The neotropical rainforest tree Dialypetalanthus fuscescens Kuhlm. is the only species of the Dialypetalanthaceae. In-depth morphological an d anatomical documentation is presented, including newly recorded feat ures such as indeterminate inflorescences, anthers with calcium oxalat e packages, silica bodies in the wood, U-shaped placentas and dendriti c hairs, and corrections of erroneous literature observations, e.g., o n supposed stipular dimorphism. The genus is heterobathmic, combining advanced gynoecial characters with such primitive features as free pet als, dimery, stipules, and (here postulated) cantharophily. In the pas t, Dialypetalanthus was most frequently suggested to be related to Myr tales or Gentianales. However, because of the lack of bicollateral vas cular bundles, presence of well-developed stipules, paracytic stomata, obvious endosperm and unitegmic ovules, seed-coat structure, and gyno ecial origin of the disk, a close relationship with the Myrtales is un likely. An affinity with the Gentianales, the Rubiaceae in particular, is accepted instead. It is concluded that ontogenetic and micro- and macromolecular data are much needed for a further elucidation of the r elationships of Dialypetalanthus .