Abstract
The androecium of Papilionoideae generally consists of 10 stamens in two whorls, with alternating initials, i.e., a monosymmetric androecium. Recent studies show that the concept that regards staminal fusion as a synapomorphy in Papilionoideae has to be abandoned. Thus, reconsidering the importance of these androecial features is necessary, and new morphological characters are needed for a better understanding of legume evolution. In this context, the floral development in 31 species from 15 papilionoid tribes was analyzed by SEM, focusing on androecial symmetry. Together with the analysis of 33 herbarium specimens and the literature, androecial characters of 91 taxa of 27 tribes (of 30 total) are considered. The inner stamen whorl is initiated asymmetrically in 39 species of 11 tribes of Papilionoideae and in some taxa of Caesalpinioideae. The asymmetry is manifested in that the adaxial antepetalous stamen is formed to the left or right of the median plane. In contrast to this, in 52 species of 19 tribes...
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