Branch Axis Research Articles

Association Analysis and Structured Equation Modelling in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

India is one among the top countries producing groundnut in the world ranking. The breeding programmes of groundnut aim at developing early maturing and high yielding varieties. Correlation and Path analysis is a tool which provides information on magnitude and intensity of association among yield components and yield. The present study analyses effects of the yield components on yield in the segregating population of groundnut. The traits days to maturity, number of matured pods, kernel yield, hundred pod and kernel weight are positively correlated with pod yield while the vegetative traits height of main axis and number of branches are negatively correlated with pod yield. Path analysis revealed that days to accumulation of 25 flowers, days to maturity, number of matured pods, kernel yield, hundred pod and kernel weight exerted low to moderate direct effects on pod yield. Structural Equation Model (SEM) is a powerful statistical technique for Path analysis that allows for more complex models than multiple regressions with its single dependent variable. In groundnut segregating population, structural equation modelling splits the yield component into traits before harvest and after harvest. Though both the variables are correlated, the traits before harvest have higher influence on pod yield.

Idealized branch sections and hydrodynamic analysis characterize rainfall partitioning

AbstractWater flow on plant canopies determines the partitioning of intercepted rainfall between stemflow and throughflow, yet understanding of these flow processes remains minimally developed. Plant canopies may concentrate intercepted water into rivulets that flow beneath branches. If the rivulets remain attached to branches until they encounter the main tree trunk, they form stemflow. If the rivulets detach from branches, however, they form ‘pour points’, regions of concentrated throughfall. Here, rivulet flow below uniform cylinders was studied experimentally. Experimental observations were interpreted using hydrodynamic theory to predict the likelihood of a rivulet detaching based on a critical rivulet height (). Predictions of rivulet detachment were explored for a simplified case where water is introduced at known flow rates at a discrete point above a uniform, cylindrical ‘branch’. Where the branch was straight, the percentage of trials forming a rivulet, or the rivulet formation rate, increased with increasing branch inclination angle to the horizontal axis. Rivulet formation rates did not vary with flow rate. However, the volume of water collected at the end of the branch, analogous to stemflow, decreased with a higher flow rates due to the formation of flow instabilities. Rivulets forming on straight branches did not detach. Instead, the rivulet stream accelerated and reduced in height as it flowed along the cylinder. Rivulets formed on curved branches detached only when the branch axis after the curve approached the horizontal. Future theoretical and experimental studies can extend this work to improve understanding of more complex surfaces and branch architectures to mechanistically understand canopy interception.

Involvement of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and activation of insulin/IGF-like signaling (IIS)-target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling cascade in pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei exposed to acute low-salinity

Acute low-salinity induces multiple stress responses and significantly impact the health of aquatic animals. However, the molecular regulation network and metabolic adaptation of low salinity stress in aquatic organisms remain unclear. The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and insulin/IGF-like signaling (IIS)-target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling cascade are evolutionarily conserved regulators known to play crucial roles in response to various stressors. In this study, we used the euryhaline Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) as a model organism to investigate the involvement of IGFBP and IIS-TOR signaling cascade in acute low-salinity response. We found seven LvIGFBPs and evaluated 18s as one of most stable internal reference genes under acute low salinity stress. The expression of LvIGFBP4, LvSIBD1, and LvSIBD2 was significantly increased after 6-hours 5‰ salinity treatment. LvSIBD2 was specifically expressed on the surface of gill branch axis. Acute low-salinity significantly induced the phosphorylation of Akt and S6K in the gill but not in the muscle. We found acute low-salinity increased the levels of total essential amino acids, including leucine and arginine, while decreasing the total non-essential amino acid levels in the gill. Furthermore, glucose and key metabolites in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) were increased, indicating remodeling of energy metabolism occurred. These results demonstrate the involvement of IGFBP and IIS-TOR signaling cascade in acute low-salinity response and provide new insights into understanding the mechanism of osmoregulation in euryhaline crustacean species.

Influence of macroscopic interface curvature on dendritic patterns during directional solidification of bulk samples: Experimental and phase-field studies

The envelope of the solidification front naturally develops a macroscopic curvature in a multitude of solidification processes. However, its effect on dendritic microstructure formation remains poorly understood. Here we exploit a microgravity environment where convection is suppressed to investigate quantitatively the effect of curvature on dendritic array growth during directional solidification of a transparent succinonitrile – 0.46 wt% camphor alloy. In addition, we interpret the results using both theoretical analyses and phase-field simulations. In situ observations reveal that even a weak macroscopic interface curvature can have a major effect on both the array pattern evolution and grain structure. First, convex and concave interfaces lead to a continuous increase and decrease in time of the average primary spacing, respectively, which only attains a stationary value for a flat interface. We show that this results from the formation of drifting velocity gradients along the interface under the combined effect of the crystal misorientation and the interface curvature. Second, interface concavity is accompanied by “stray grains” of larger misorientation. These grains form at sample boundaries and overgrow pre-existing interior grains of smaller misorientation to the detriment of well-oriented crystal growth. In addition, they induce a change of array structure when the direction normal to the sample boundary is parallel to one of <100> axis of secondary branches. These results provide new insights for controlling and optimizing directionally solidified alloy microstructures.

Investigation on the basic principles of human-machine contact force, based on screw theory

In this paper, to introduce a spatial rigid body mechanics analytical method and start the analysis, the human-machine contact force is equivalent to a spatially rigid body: the mechanism and skin surfaces are equivalent to two different rigid planes, and the motion between the mechanism and skin surfaces is equivalent to virtual branches motion. By considering the elastic deformation of each virtual branch axis, an equivalent human-machine contact force model is established, along with the deformation coordination equation of each virtual branch. The analytical solution of the tension/compression and the expression of the internal force of each virtual branch are obtained by solving the pseudo inverse and weighted generalized inverse solutions of the human-machine contact force. The physical meaning of the internal force of each virtual branch is also denoted. In addition, this paper contains an experimental platform for testing human-machine contact force, in which the linear stiffness of each branch is evaluated, therefore simulating and verifying the theoretical model introduced above. The contact force model proposed in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the development of human-machine synergetic motion.

FLORAL BIOLOGY OF BER (ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA LAMK.) CULTIVARS UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS OF HARYANA

A field experiment was carried out at experimental orchard, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, RRS, Bawal (Rewari), Haryana to study the floral biology of ber. Nine cultivars of ber planted during 2007 (13 years old plants) at 7 m × 7 m in randomized block design were selected for evaluation. The plants were tagged in the month of April. These cultivars were observed to study the variability in floral biological parameters. The floral parameter such as flowering habit in the selected cultivars was recorded on the leaf axis of secondary branches. The ovary was observed superior to half-inferior among the cultivars. Anthesis occurred in forenoon in some cultivars whereas, in afternoon in others. Dehiscence time was observed from 1 to 3 hours in different cultivars. Date of initiation of flowering to end of flowering, flowering duration, time taken from flowering to fruit setting, time taken from fruit setting to fruit maturity varied as 16 August to 31 October, 49-62 days, 16-21 days and 128-151 days, respectively.

Experimental throughfall reduction has little effect on shoot and needle developmental patterns or leaf area dynamics in a young longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) plantation

Reduced precipitation and, consequently, low soil moisture are known to limit tree growth and function by affecting shoot and foliage development, as well as canopy-scale leaf area dynamics and litterfall. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) is considered one of the most drought-resistant forest species in the southeastern U.S. and could serve as a pathway to increase drought resistance of forests in the region. Still, reduced precipitation and low soil moisture impacts on longleaf canopy phenology and growth are not well understood. Over three years (2017–2019), we determined the effects of a 40% throughfall reduction (TR40) (relative to ambient throughfall treatment, TR0) on shoot and foliage phenology and growth in a young (12–14 yr. old) longleaf pine plantation. Each year, we repeatedly measured shoot and needle lengths on primary and secondary branch axes of multiple trees in each treatment plot. We fit growth curves for each tree and branch axis to estimate shoot and needle growth rate, growth start and cessation dates, growth duration (growth start - growth cessation), and final shoot and needle lengths. At the plot level, we documented temporal patterns of leaf area index (LAI) and litterfall to determine whether branch-scale phenological and growth responses to reduced water availability corresponded with temporal changes in LAI and litterfall. We observed significant and consistent differences in shoot and needle elongation patterns between primary and secondary branches. Timing of needle development varied among years and was generally later each successive year. However, shoot elongation patterns were relatively consistent across years. Although soil moisture was lower under throughfall reduction, shoot and needle growth patterns were not affected. LAI and litterfall patterns were also not affected by throughfall reduction. Our results indicate that reductions in rainfall amount (without changes in rainfall frequency or timing) may have little impact on shoot and needle phenology, canopy development, and litter production in established longleaf plantations.

Surface-tension-induced budding drives alveologenesis in human mammary gland organoids.

Organ development involves complex shape transformations driven by active mechanical stresses that sculpt the growing tissue 1,2. Epithelial gland morphogenesis is a prominent example where cylindrical branches transform into spherical alveoli during growth3-5. Here we show that this shape transformation is induced by a local change from anisotropic to isotropic tension within the epithelial cell layer of developing human mammary gland organoids. By combining laser ablation with optical force inference and theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that circumferential tension increases at the expense of axial tension through a reorientation of cells that correlates with the onset of persistent collective rotation around the branch axis. This enables the tissue to locally control the onset of a generalized Rayleigh-Plateau instability, leading to spherical tissue buds6. The interplay between cell motion, cell orientation and tissue tension is a generic principle that may turn out to drive shape transformations in other cell tissues.

Physiological and Transcriptomic Variability Indicative of Differences in Key Functions Within a Single Coral Colony

Polyps in different locations on individual stony coral colonies experience variation in numerous environmental conditions including flow and light, potentially leading to transcriptional and physiological differences across the colony. Here, we describe high-resolution tissue and skeleton measurements and differential gene expression from multiple locations within a single colony ofStylophora pistillata, aiming to relate these to environmental gradients across the coral colony. We observed broad transcriptional responses in both the host and photosymbiont in response to height above the substrate, cardinal direction, and, most strongly, location along the branch axis. Specifically, several key physiological processes in the host appear more active toward branch tips including several metabolic pathways, toxin production for prey capture or defense, and biomolecular mechanisms of biomineralization. Further, the increase in gene expression related to these processes toward branch tips is conserved betweenS. pistillataandAcroporaspp. The photosymbiont appears to respond transcriptionally to relative light intensity along the branch and due to cardinal direction. These differential responses were observed across the colony despite its genetic homogeneity and likely inter-polyp communication. While not a classical division of labor, each part of the colony appears to have distinct functional roles related to polyps’ differential exposure to environmental conditions.

Removal of the main inflorescence to induce reflowering of loquat

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is an evergreen fruit tree species of the Rosaceae, and its unique flowering time greatly hinders its production. To explore the artificial regulation of loquat flowering time, we removed the main inflorescence (by cutting it) to induce reflowering. For different loquat tree cultivars with different stages, the inflorescence was removed by cutting the main floral axis at two alternative positions: the upper or the lower position beneath the inflorescence, and it was found that the proportion of reflowering resulting from removing the upper position of the main floral axis of yellow-flesh loquat cultivars during the full-bloom stage was the highest. In addition, compared with those of the normal-growing panicles, the number of flower buds and branch axes of the reflowering panicles decreased significantly after cutting. Importantly, these newly produced inflorescences flowered 2–4 months later than normal-growing inflorescences did, effectively prolonging both the flowering and fruiting time. In addition, qRT-PCR results showed that EjFT1, EjFT2, EjAP1–1 and EjAP1–2 were highly expressed in the floral axis. These findings highlighted a new method for extending the production cycle of loquat and provided a reference for the flowering regulation of loquat and other economically important fruit tree species.

Attachment strength differs amongst life‐history stages of an intertidal, isomorphic red alga

SUMMARYComplex haploid‐diploid life cycles amongst marine organisms may be maintained by ecological differences in life‐history phases. For red algal species within the Gigartinaceae, such differences may be driven, in part, by different cell wall composition and resultant biomechanical strengths of haploid and diploid phases. A field experiment tested the attachment strengths of gametophytes and tetrasporophytes of the isomorphic red alga, Chondrus verrucosus (with comparisons of fertile and vegetative fronds, with and without natural tissue damage across three wave‐exposed sites). Seventy‐nine percent of all fronds broke at the stipe‐holdfast junction. There were significant differences in attachment strength (break force and break stress), but not gross morphology (frond length, number of branch axes, wet weight and cross‐sectional area of fronds that dislodged at the stipe‐holdfast junction) of life‐history phases, with tetrasporophytes exhibiting weaker tissue strength and attachment, and therefore greater susceptibility to dislodgement by waves. However, fertility and tissue damage did not consistently influence dislodgement in pull‐to‐break tests simulating the effects of single waves. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of greater susceptibility to dislodgement of tetrasporophytes (relative to gametophytes) warrant further investigation.

Cereal inflorescence: features of morphology, development and genetic regulation of morphogenesis

Cereals (Poaceae Barnh.) are the largest family of monocotyledonous flowering plants growing on all continents and constituting a significant part of Earth's many ecological communities. The Poaceae includes many important crops, such as rice, maize, wheat, barley, and rye. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cereal inflorescences are directly related to yield and are determined by the features of inflorescence development. This review considers modern concepts of the morphology, development and genetic mechanisms regulating the cereal inflorescence development. A common feature of cereal inflorescences is a spikelet, a reduced branch that bears florets with a similar structure and common scheme of development in all cereals. The length and the structure of the main axis, the presence and type of lateral branches cause a great variety of cereal inflorescences. Complex cereal inflorescences are formed from meristems of several types. The transition from the activity of one meristem to another is a multi-step process. The genes involved in the control of the cereal inflorescence development have been identified using mutants (mainly maize and rice) with altered inflorescence and floret morphology; most of these genes regulate the initiation and fate of meristems. The presence of some genetic mechanisms in cereals confirms the models previously discovered in dicotyledonous plants; on the other hand, there are cereal-specific developmental processes that are controlled by new modules of genetic regulation, in particular, associated with the formation of a branched inflorescence. An important aspect is the presence of quantitative variability of traits under the control of developmental genes, which is a prerequisite for the use of weak alleles contributing to the variability of plant growth and yield in breeding programs (for example, genes of the CLAVATA signaling pathway).

Macromitrium panduraefolium (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta), a New Species from New Caledonia, with a Key to the Aristate Macromitrium Species in the Pacific, Malesia and Australasia Regions.

After the discovery of two Macromitrium species with aristate leaves, new to science, in New Caledonia, another aristate species, M. panduraefolium, is described and commented on herein. It is distinguished from the formerly known species by its smaller size, leaves spirally coiled around the branch axis and branch leaf shape narrower at the middle. Its ecology and its status are discussed. In addition, the author provides a key to the aristate species known from the region including Malesia, Australasia, Pacific Islands and Melanesia.

Diversity in affinities of plants with lateral sporangia from the Lower Devonian of Sichuan Province, China

Five plant species, all with lateral sporangia aggregated into strobili terminating smooth stems, have been circumscribed from the Lower Devonian Pingyipu Group exposed in Jiangyou County, Sichuan, China. Four have involved reinvestigation of fossils described more than twenty years ago plus, in some instances, observations on more recently collected fossils, whilst the fifth, Adoketophyton pingyipuensis sp. nov., unusual in that the strobilus contains bracts, is based on new material. The fossils are preserved as coalified compressions and impressions and lack anatomy. Zosterophyllum ovatum was originally called Zosterophyllum myretonianum, but mainly differs from the type species in sporangial shape. The plant first named Zosterophyllum sichuanensis has been placed in a new genus Ornicephalum, because it possesses bivalved sporangia with markedly unequal valves. Two species of Amplectosporangium, whose terminal fertile complexes are unique because they comprise collections of dichotomously branching axes bearing rows of sessile or almost sessile sporangia, are distinguished by the amount of branching in the fertile complex and on sporangial shape. The one with simpler branching was originally placed in the North American genus Oricilla. The classification of the zosterophylls, relationships within the lycophytes and, in this study, particularly the affinities of Adoketophyton, here considered a barinophyte, require revision. Considering geographical relations, at species level all taxa are restricted to the locality. At generic level, Zosterophyllum is cosmopolitan, Adoketophyton is also recorded in Yunnan, whilst Amplectosporangium and Ornicephalum are restricted to Sichuan, providing further evidence for the preponderance of endemicity in Chinese Lower Devonian vegetation whilst reinforcing differences between the assemblages in the two Chinese provinces. The reasons for this remain conjectural.

Broad-sense heritability and inter-trait relationships in young macadamia architecture, flowering and yield

Macadamia in the orchard environment is relatively unaltered from its natural form, and there is considerable scope to change vegetative and reproductive architecture for improving yield and related traits through breeding. An understanding of genetic and environmental control mechanisms and the dynamics between vegetative and reproductive characteristics are useful to identify the most important traits for improvement. In breeding programs, considerations of the heritability of vegetative traits are usually limited to tree scale measurements such as canopy volume. Here we studied the broad-sense heritability (H) of characteristics that constitute the macadamia canopy and yield at multiple architectural scales, and also documented relationships between vegetative and reproductive traits. Cutting-grown clones of 15 macadamia genotypes were subsampled from a breeding trial planted in 2011 in South East Queensland, Australia. At the tree scale, canopy volume had very low H (0), suggesting a strong environmental influence. Detailed measurements of individual canopy components give insight to more complex interactions within the canopy. Some vegetative architectural characteristics, such as branch number, average internode length and growth unit (GU) length had medium H (0.31-0.39), and node number per GU had high H (0.57). Other canopy components such as length of primary branch axes and primary branch cross-sectional area (BCA) displayed very low heritability (0-0.05), and are likely to be mainly controlled by environmental conditions. H values were low for yield and nut counts (0.16-0.21), except nuts per raceme (0.43). Heritability was medium to high for other reproductive characteristics (0.34-0.70) that may indirectly relate to yield. Understanding the relationships within and between vegetative and yield traits at different architectural scales informs the choice of multiple useful traits, and will aid the breeding of future elite macadamia cultivars. Genetic correlations and principal component analysis provided an insight to genetic relationships between limb angle and nodes per GU; nodes per GU and GU length; GU length and yield traits; and raceme length and yield.

Tree differences in primary and secondary growth drive convergent scaling in leaf area to sapwood area across Europe

Trees scale leaf (AL ) and xylem (AX ) areas to couple leaf transpiration and carbon gain with xylem water transport. Some species are known to acclimate in AL :AX balance in response to climate conditions, but whether trees of different species acclimate in AL :AX in similar ways over their entire (continental) distributions is unknown. We analyzed the species and climate effects on the scaling of AL vs AX in branches of conifers (Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies) and broadleaved (Betula pendula, Populus tremula) sampled across a continental wide transect in Europe. Along the branch axis, AL and AX change in equal proportion (isometric scaling: b˜1) as for trees. Branches of similar length converged in the scaling of AL vs AX with an exponent of b=0.58 across European climates irrespective of species. Branches of slow-growing trees from Northern and Southern regions preferentially allocated into new leaf rather than xylem area, with older xylem rings contributing to maintaining total xylem conductivity. In conclusion, trees in contrasting climates adjust their functional balance between water transport and leaf transpiration by maintaining biomass allocation to leaves, and adjusting their growth rate and xylem production to maintain xylem conductance.

Morpho-histological characterization and direct shoot organogenesis in two types of explants from Bacopa monnieri on unsupplemented basal medium

In the present study, high frequency regeneration has been obtained via de novo direct shoot organogenesis from leaf and internode explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium without any phytohormone supplementation in Bacopa monnieri, an indigenous traditionally used medicinal herb. Leaves and internodes from different positions were excised from 4-weeks-old in vitro propagated B. monnieri plants and cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) sucrose and 0.75% (w/v) agar for 4 weeks. The induction of de novo shoot buds was observed at petiolar cut edges of leaf and both proximal and distal cut ends of internode explants within 10–15 days of culture. The first histological changes could be observed after 4–5 days, with meristematic activity of vascular bundles. Proliferation of epidermal cells gave rise to dome-shaped protuberances followed by shoot apical meristems formation and their vascular connections with explant tissues within 2 weeks of culture. However, a basipetal gradient of shoot regeneration from both types of explants collected along the branch axis was noticed after 4 weeks of culture. Leaf and internode explants near the basal region exhibited significantly higher number of shoot buds and micro shoots (8.8/leaf explant and 15/internode explant). Microshoots (7–12 micro shoots/leaf or internode explants) elongated (shoot length 8–9 cm) within 8 weeks on phytohormone free MS medium. Excised micro shoots rooted (100%) in hormone free MS medium within two weeks of culture. Rooted plants were then acclimatized and transferred to field with 95% survival. This protocol may be used for micropropagation, genetic transformation as well as a model system for evaluation of changes associated with acquisition of competence of differentiated cells in phytohormone free medium.

Interplay of growth rate and xylem plasticity for optimal coordination of carbon and hydraulic economies in Fraxinus ornus trees.

Efficient leaf water supply is fundamental for assimilation processes and tree growth. Renovating the architecture of the xylem transport system requires an increasing carbon investment while growing taller, and any deficiency of carbon availability may result in increasing hydraulic constraints to water flow. Therefore, plants need to coordinate carbon assimilation and biomass allocation to guarantee an efficient and safe long-distance transport system. We tested the hypothesis that reduced branch elongation rates together withcarbon-saving adjustments of xylem anatomy hydraulically compensate for the reduction in biomass allocation to xylem. We measured leaf biomass, hydraulic and anatomical properties of wood segments along the main axis of branches in 10 slow growing (SG) and 10 fast growing (FG) Fraxinus ornus L. trees. Branches of SG trees had five times slower branch elongation rate (7 vs 35 cm year-1), and produced a higher leaf biomass (P<0.0001) and thinner xylem rings with fewer but larger vessels (P<0.0001). On the contrary, we found no differences between SG and FG trees in terms of leaf-specific conductivity (P >0.05) and xylem safety (Ψ50 ≈ -3.2 MPa). Slower elongation rate coupled with thinner annual rings and larger vessels allows the reduction of carbon costs associated with growth, while maintaining similar leaf-specific conductivity and xylem safety.

Role of axis reversal from the short‐shoot to long‐shoot habit for crown maintenance in slow‐growing Betula maximowicziana trees

Branch growth and its spatial arrangement determine crown architecture, leaf display, and, thus, the productivity of trees. Branch axes elongate by the sequential production of shoots with differing morphology and function, such as short shoots and long shoots. This study investigated ontogenetic changes in axis growth in Betula maximowicziana and quantified the role of axis reversal between the short-shoot and long-shoot habits, particularly reversal from the short-shoot to the long-shoot habit. From 8 trees with varying levels of growth vigor, 716 branch axes forming the basic crown architecture were sampled. Past growth of the branch axes was reconstructed from leaf and bud scale scars and compared between slow-growing and vigorously growing trees. Branch axes reversed more frequently between the long- and short-shoot habits in slow-growing trees than in vigorously growing trees. Short-shoot-origin axes that reversed to the long-shoot habit lived for longer periods and grew larger than axes that remained in the short-shoot habit. Short-shoot-origin axes reversed as they grew away from branch apices, typically >6 yr after they had originated. Reversal of short-shoot-origin axes to the long-shoot habit is an endogenous growth process of trees with reduced vigor. Like epicormic branching, the reversal may contribute to the maintenance of productivity of large old trees by prolonging axis longevity and filling the inner part of the crown. This study presents an ontogenetic change in branch growth, which broadens our perspectives on the growth and survival of long-living trees.

Schenkeriphyllum glanduliferum, a new magnolialean angiosperm from the Early Cretaceous of Northern Gondwana and its relationships to fossil and modern Magnoliales

A fossil angiosperm from the Aptian Crato Formation (Brazil), Schenkeriphyllum glanduliferum n. gen. n. sp. is described and phylogenetically analyzed. The taxon consists of branching axes with attached simple sessile, sheathing, narrowly ovate glanduliferous leaves with ethereal oil cells and solitary axillary medium sized flowers. Several of the multiparted flowering structures are reasonably well preserved in differing stages of maturity. Broad obovate tepals, (stamens?), glanduliferous staminodes (more than 30?) and free carpels are arranged on a flat to slightly convex receptacle. The gynoecium consists of ca. 12 to 20 free carpels. Among recent Magnoliales only Magnoliaceae share many characters of the flowering structures with Schenkeriphyllum. A phylogenetic analysis confirms that Schenkeriphyllum represents most likely a sister taxon to Endressinia for which the diagnosis is slightly emended. Both fossil taxa may represent together a sister clade to extant Magnoliaceae.