Floral Anatomy in Gesneriaceae. I. Cyrtandroideae

Abstract

The vascular anatomy of the flower of many cultivated species of this subfamily is surveyed, with emphasis on the nature of the vascular supply to the perianth parts, androecium, carpels, and nectariferous annular disk. Such a disk is absent in a number of taxa, and when present is not always vascularized. In three tribes the vascularized disk is supplied by a branch (disk trace) from each of five disk-stamen traces. In the Klugieae the disk is otherwise supplied, and this tribe stands apart in other respects. With certain exceptions (Klugieae, two species of Didymocarpeae), each of the two carpels is provided with a dorsal bundle, two ventral bundles, and two lateral bundles. The lateral bundles of adjacent carpels are always fused, and their ventral bundles are usually fused. The carpel ventrals and laterals arise from two ventrallateral mother strands, one on either side of the position of the loculus.