A systematic histological study of palm fruits. IV. Subtribe Oncospermatinae (Arecaceae)

Essig, F, L. Bussard & N. Hernandez (Institute for Systematic Botany, Depar tment of Biology-SCA 110, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fl, 33620-520 0, U.S.A.). A systematic histological study of palm fruits. IV. Subtribe On cospermatinae (Arecaceae). Brittonia 53: 466-471. 2001.-Pericarp histology in the Oncospermatinae reveals distinctive characters al the generic level but no unique characters at the subtribal level. Pericarp structure is dive rse but parallels the diversity found in other subtribes of the Areceae. Th e subtribe appears to be divisible into two distinct groups: one in which s clereids alone provide the primary protective barrier in the outer fruit an d one in which fibrous bundles, sometimes in combination with brachysclerei ds, form the outer barrier. This division of the subtribe supports similar conclusions derived from morphological data.