Fruit anatomy of Clianthus puniceus and Swainsona novae-zelandiae (Fabaceae—Galegeae)

Abstract

The anatomy of the fruit of Clianthus puniceus and Swainsona novae-zelandiae is described. Distinctive features of C. puniceus include a thick mesocarp with 30–36 layers of parenchymatous cells, a layer of fibres 4–12 cells high, and the fibres of an average length of 0.86 mm and oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fruit. S. novae-zelandiae has a thin mesocarp with 10–14 layers of parenchymatous cells, and two layers of fibres in which each layer is 1–2 cells high and the layers are crossed and oriented diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the fruit. The fibres are an average length of 0.51 mm. The dehiscence mechanisms differ, the fruit of S. novae-zelandiae having an abscission layer through the median vascular system and dehiscence promoted by differential shrinkage of the crossing fibres. The follicle of C. puniceus is likely to dehisce by differential shrinkage of different cell layers.