Studies of Floral Morphology in the Ericales VI. The Diapensiaceae

Abstract

1. Organography and vascular anatomy of the flower and certain aspects of embryology are reported for eight members of the family Diapensiaceae: Diapensia lapponica, D. lapponica subsp. obovata, Galax aphylla, Pyxidanthera barbulata, P. brevifolia, Schizocodon soldanelloides, Shortia galacifolia, and S. uniflora. 2. The flowers are actinomorphic, essentially hypogynous, and pentamerous except for the tricarpellate pistil. There are five fertile stamens opposite the sepals, and, in all but Diapensia and Pyxidanthera, five staminodes opposite the petals. The stamens and, to a varying extent, the staminodes are epipetalous except in Galax in which the petals are almost completely free and the stamens and staminodes monadelphous. Differences occur in length, orientation and number of pollen sacs, plane of dehiscence, and occurrence of appendages. Placentation is basically axile but may approach parietal in the top of the ovary. Ovules are few to many. 3. The sepals receive three traces in most species, but in...