Abstract
Livistona rotundifolia (Lam.) Mart. (Arecaceae) is an ornamentally important species used for landscaping and commonly grown as a potted plant. However, seedling production is hindered by the lack of information available about the species germination process and it could be subsidized by seed and seedling anatomical and morphological studies. Therefore, this study aimed at describing L. rotundifolia diaspore morphology in addition to seedling morphology and anatomy. Germination is tubular remote and begins with the opening of a circular operculum in the fruit endocarp through which the cotyledonary petiole is emitted. The endosperm is consumed as cotyledonary petiole grows. Eophyll is covered by two leaf sheaths and the first L. rotundifolia leaves are simple and lanceolate, with longitudinal and parallel veins. The developing cotyledonary petiole presents root hairs and a typical stem structure. The cotyledonary petiole/root transition region shows secondary root emission, parenchyma cells, and groups of fiber bundles. Roots present a well-defined cortex with polyarc vascular cylinder. Cortex and vascular cylinder are not well-differentiated in the root apex. The results of this study will contribute to the overall biology of L. rotundifolia, as well as to seedling production and species identification, subsidizing regeneration and conservation studies.
Highlights
Palm trees belong to the Arecaceae family and are among the oldest trees in the planet (DRANSFIELD et al, 2008)
As stated by Dowe (2009), L. rotundifolia endosperm intrudes for twothirds to almost full width of the seed
Seed rigidness has been observed in Archontophoenix alexandrae and A. cunninghamii diaspores (CHARLO et al, 2006; LUZ et al, 2012) and could be related to high fiber amounts in the seed (VALLILO et al, 2004)
Summary
Palm trees belong to the Arecaceae family and are among the oldest trees in the planet (DRANSFIELD et al, 2008). In Brazil, palm trees present great potential as food source, for biodiesel production, in the cosmetics industry, and as ornamental plants (CLEMENT et al, 2005). L. rotundifolia (Lam.) Mart., known as footstool or queen palm, is a highly variable species native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philipines, but it is cultivated all over the world in tropical and subtropical countries (DOWE, 2009). It is an ornamentally important species used for landscaping and commonly grown as a tolerant indoor pot plant (SVINNINGEN et al, 2010)
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