Morpho-anatomical characters of the achene in certain species of sub-family Rosoideae (Rosaceae), a comparative study

Abstract

The morpho-anatomical characters of 18 species belonging to six genera of sub-family Rosoideae wereinvestigated. The anatomical characters of both the pericarp and testa were found to be impracticable for speciesdelimitation since they are consistent at the generic level. The same reason rendered the character evaluationinvaluable within the species of the same genus. Of the morphological characters the mode of the achenevasculature as well as its ramification varied in the different taxa. The basic number of the achene supply is onemedian and two lateral strands. The behaviour of the latter, whether distinct or fused, as well as the ramification ,or not, of a part or the whole of the vascular skeleton led to the suggestion of a key-like layout which shows thepathway of these character states as being primitive vs advanced.