Abstract
In this study, the seed micromorphologies of eight taxa of Anacamptis, Neotinea and Orchis growing around Edirne province (Turkey) were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Slides prepared with glycerin jelly were used for measurements under the light microscope and fine details of seed testae characteristics were observed with SEM. Seeds of the investigated orchid taxa are fusiform shaped and of different shades of brown. Their lengths and widths are different among the taxa and range between 0.263–0.640 mm and 0.118–0.208 mm, respectively. Testa surfaces of Orchis mascula subsp. mascula, Orchis purpurea subsp. purpurea and Orchis simia subsp. simia, are smooth while those of Anacamptis coriophora, Anacamptis laxiflora subsp. laxiflora, Anacamptis morio subsp. morio, Anacamptis papilionacea and Neotinea tridentata subsp. tridentata are reticulate. An identification key based on seed morphologies and sizes is suggested for the first time, including testae structures of orchids growing in Edirne province. The overall results of the study showed that morphological structures of orchid’s seeds could be used as diagnostic characters in identification.
Highlights
Orchidaceae are one of the most diversified and evolved families in the flowering plants (Cribb and Govaerts 2005)
The genus Orchis Tourn. ex L. and allied genera Anacamptis Rich. and Neotinea Rchb.f. are some of the most controversial groups belonging to the tribe Orchideae (Orchidaceae)
Afterwards, the molecular analyses published by Pridgeon et al (1997) and Bateman et al (1997) confirmed the polyphyletic status of Orchis s.l., and many species were placed into the expanded genera Anacamptis and Neotinea (Gamarra et al 2012), such as Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase subsp. morio, A. laxiflora (Lam.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase subsp. laxiflora, A. coriophora (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, A. papilionacea (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase and Neotinea tridentata (Scop.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, etc
Summary
Orchidaceae are one of the most diversified and evolved families in the flowering plants (Cribb and Govaerts 2005). Afterwards, the molecular analyses published by Pridgeon et al (1997) and Bateman et al (1997) confirmed the polyphyletic status of Orchis s.l., and many species were placed into the expanded genera Anacamptis and Neotinea (Gamarra et al 2012), such as Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase subsp. In the molecular phylogenetic analyses published by Bateman et al (1997) and Pridgeon et al (1997), some Orchis species were nested in Anacamptis and Neotinea.
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