Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seed morphology and variation in the genus Pachycereus (Cactaceae)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Plant Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seeds of 13 Pachycereus species and two Stenocereus species that have been suggested as closely related were examined with the scanning electron microscope. Quantitative features were evaluated using multivariate analysis in order to identify characters that distinguish them. Several species groups were recognized on the basis of 16 qualitative characters. All species studied are keeled. Stenocereus aragonii and S. eichlamii share with most Pachycereus species large size, glossy appearance, and a flat relief on periclinal cells in the lateral region. Pachycereus gatesii and P. schottii are unique in having the smallest seeds and a deeply impressed hilum-micropylar region. P. hollianus does not exhibit micro-relief on periclinal walls in the lateral region, and P. fulviceps has no expanded testa border. Multivariate analysis showed that four characters, length, breadth, hilum-micropylar region length, and angle, made the greatest contribution to distinguishing among species groups. More than 80% of P. fulviceps, P. hollianus, P. tepamo, P. weberi, and S. eichlamii seeds could be classified correctly using four seed features and the percentage was even higher using just two or three features for P. gatesii, P. grandis, P. militaris, P. pringlei, and P. schottii. Testa appearance, testa cell-pattern, and position relative to the rim of the hilum-micropylar region were found to be potentially informative and should be combined with other sources of data in future phylogenetic analyses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1A, B
Fig. 2A–H
Fig. 3A–F
Fig. 4A–H
Fig. 5A–H
Fig. 6
Fig. 7A–F

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson EF (1987) A revision of the genus Thelocactus B. & R. (Cactaceae). Bradleya 5:49–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson EF (2001) The cactus family. Timber, Portland

  • Arias S, Terrazas T, Cameron K (2003) Phylogenetic analysis of Pachycereus (Cactaceae, Pachycereeae) based on chloroplast and nuclear sequences. Syst Bot 28:547–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Arreola-Nava HJ, Terrazas T (2003) Especies de Stenocereus con areolas morenas: clave y descripciones. Acta Bot Mex 64:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthlott W, Hunt DR (1993) Cactaceae. In: Kubitzki K (ed) The families and genera of vascular plants. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 161–197

  • Barthlott W, Hunt DR (2000) Seed diversity in the Cactaceae subfamily Cactoideae. Succ Pl Res 5:1–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthlott W, Voit G (1979) Mikromorphologie der Samen-schale und Taxonomie der Cactaceae: Ein raster-elektronenmikroskoposcher Überblick. Plant Syst Evol 132:205–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Bravo-Hollis H (1978) Las cactáceas de México, 2nd edn, vol 1. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México

  • Britton NL, Rose JN (1920) The Cactaceae, vol. 2. Carnegie Institution, Washington, D.C.

  • Buxbaum F (1955) Morphology of cacti. Section III. Fruits and seeds. Abbey Garden, Pasadena

  • Buxbaum F (1961) Die Entwicklungslinien der Tribus Pachycereae—F. Buxb. Bot Stud 12:1–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Buxbaum F (1963) Gattung Pachycereus. In: Krainz H (ed) Die kakteen. Franckh’sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart

  • Doweld AB (1998) A phylogenetic outline of the system of classification of the tribe Cacteae (Cactaceae-Cactoideae). Succulents (Moscow) 1:15–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Elizondo JJ, Valdés J, Arias S, Hatch SL (1994) Micromorfología de las semillas de algunas especies de la tribu Cacteae (Cactaceae). Cact Succ Mex 39:59–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich H, Glaetzle HH (1983) Seed-morphology as an aid to classifying the genus Echinopsis Zucc. Bradleya 1:91–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Gama-López S, Arias S (1998) Una nueva especie de Pachycereus (Cactaceae) del occidente de México. Novon 8:359–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson AC, Spenser KC, Bajaj R, McLaughlin JL (1986) The ever-changing landscape of cactus systematics. Ann Mo Bot Gard 73:532–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Lüthy J (1995) Taxonomische Untersuchung der Gattung Mammillaria Haw. (Cactaceae). Frankenthal: Arbeitskreis für Mammillarienfreunde

  • Media Cybernetics (1997) Image-Pro Plus reference guide for windows. Silver Spring

  • Meregalli M, Neuhuber G, Caramiello R (2000) Seed morphology in the Gymnocalycium bossei group (Cactaceae): a useful tool for taxonomic studies. Allionia 37:217–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzing D, Thiede J (2001) Testa sculpture in the genus Frailea (Cactaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 137:65–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Núñez-Mariel C, Engleman EM, Márquez-Guzmán J (2001) Embriología de Pachycereus militaris (Audot) Hunt (Cactaceae). Bol Soc Bot Mex 68:5–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyffeler R (1998) The genus Uebelmannia Buining (Cactaceae: Cactoideae). Bot Jahrb Syst 120:145–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyffeler R, Eggli U (1997) Comparative stem anatomy and systematics of Eriosyce sensu lato (Cactaceae). Ann Bot 80:767–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1989) SAS user’s guide. Statistics. Cary

  • Sosa V, De Luna E (1998) Morphometrics and character state recognition for cladistic analysis in the Bletia complex (Orchidaceae). Plant Syst Evol 212:185–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuppy W (2002) Seed characters and the generic classification of the Opuntioideae (Cactaceae). Succ Pl Res 6:25–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor NP, Clark JY (1983) Seed-morphology and classification in Ferocactus subg. Ferocactus. Bradleya 1:3–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrazas T, Arias S (2002) Comparative stem anatomy in the subfamily Cactoideae. Bot Rev 68:444–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrazas T, Loza-Cornejo S (2002) Phylogenetic relationships of Pachycereeae: a cladistic analysis based on anatomical-morphological data. In: Fleming TH, Valiente-Banuet A (eds) Evolution, ecology, and conservation of the columnar cacti and their mutualisms. Arizona University Press, Arizona, pp 66–86

  • Zappi DC (1994) Pilosocereus (Cactaceae). The genus in Brazil. Succ Pl Res 3:1–160

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología grant 33064-V (T.T.) and scholarship 127274 (S.A.). We thank the herbaria ariz, chapa, cicy, mexu, ny, and us for allowing us to sample seeds. We are also indebted to H. Arreola-Nava, U. Guzmán, and A. Orduño, who provided some samples from collection in the wild, to Silvia Espinosa for technical assistance in SEM, to Lauro López-Mata for helpful comments on the statistics, to Héctor Hernández for darkroom assistance, and to two reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa en Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Estado de México 56230, Mexico

    Salvador Arias & Teresa Terrazas

  2. Jardín Botánico, I.B., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    Salvador Arias

Authors
  1. Salvador Arias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Teresa Terrazas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teresa Terrazas.

Appendix

Appendix

Species seed descriptions are given below.

  • Pachycereus fulviceps (S. Arias 863) (Figs. 2A, 4A, 5D). Seed broadly oval, large, 2.5–2.95×1.6–2.45 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border not expanded around hilum; cells uniform, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices undifferentiated; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.64–1.16 mm, oblique, 29–49°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. gatesii (S. Arias 1343a, b, 1344a, b) (Figs. 2B, 4B). Seed broadly oval, medium-sized 1.59–2.58×1–1.79 mm, black to black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border highly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat on lateral region; slightly convex on dorsal and apical ridges, convexities low domes; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.16–1 mm, oblique, 34–57°, deeply impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. gaumeri (S. Arias 1087, 1359, 1360, 1366; Escalante 1023; U. Guzmán-Cruz 995) (Figs. 4D, 5A). Seed broadly oval, very large, 2.22–3.72×1.8–2.69 mm, black to black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat on lateral region; slightly convex on peripheral ridges; convexities low domes; micro-relief rugose; HMR medium-sized, 0.8–1.54 mm, oblique, 26–54°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. grandis (S. Arias 1383a, b, c, d; U. Guzmán-Cruz 1119) (Figs. 2C, 4C). Seed oval, extremely large, 3.84–6.15×2.44–3.68 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries slightly raised on lateral region, but inconspicuous around peripheral regions, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium-sized, 0.17–2.27 mm, oblique, 28–61°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. hollianus (S. Arias 830, 1331, s.n.; L. Scheinvar s.n.; J.N. Rose 10148) (Figs. 2G, 5C). Seed broadly oval, large, 2.23–3.15×1.6–2.45 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, sometimes inconspicuous on lateral region, straight; interstices minutely pitted, common on all regions; relief flat on lateral region, slightly convex on peripheral ridges; convexities low domes; micro-relief none; HMR medium size, 0.9–1.69 mm, oblique, 44–73°, finely impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. lepidanthus (F. Eichlam 23a, b) (Figs. 2F, 4E, 5B). Seed broadly oval, large, 2.45–3.49×1.69–2.36 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.77–1.35 mm, oblique, 32–51°, finely impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. marginatus (S. Arias 1386; H. Bravo s.n. a, b; T. Terrazas 362a, b) (Fig. 3A). Seed broadly oval, extremely large, 3.25–5.45×2.15–4.52 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric and elongate-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, more common on peripheral region; relief flat on lateral region, slightly convex on peripheral ridges; convexities low domes; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium size, 0.93–2.24 mm, oblique, 21–56°, finely impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. militaris (S. Arias 1332, 1336, 1338, 1339) (Fig. 3B). Seed broadly oval, extremely large, 3.81–5.13×2.57–3.8 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted; uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium size, 0.79–1.75 mm, oblique, 16–49°, finely impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. pecten-aboriginum (S. Arias 986; T. Terrazas 415, 419a, b, 478) (Figs. 2D, 5G). Seed oval, extremely large, 3.35–4.78×2.24–3.44 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery slightly keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries inconspicuous, but slightly channelled around peripheral ridges, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium size, 1.34–2.27 mm, oblique, 31–48°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. pringlei (A. Orduño 3, 4; R. Felger 13337) (Fig. 3C). Seed broadly oval, very large, 2.69–3.84×1.86–2.94 mm, black, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region elongate-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries slightly raised, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.78–1.6 mm, oblique, 30–69°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. schottii (S. Arias 1319, 1341, 1345, 1347, 1349a) (chapa). Seed broadly oval, large, 1.8–2.43×1.14–1.94 mm, black to black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border highly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted; uncommon on lateral region, relief flat on lateral region; slightly convex on dorsal and apical ridges; convexities low domes; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.49–1.12 mm, oblique, 38–68°, deeply impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. tepamo (S. Arias 1333; S. Gama 107a, b; U. Guzmán-Cruz 906a, b) (Figs. 2H, 4F, 5E). Seed broadly oval, very large, 3.27–4.13×2.24–3.07 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region elongate-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries raised, and incomplete channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium-sized, 1.27–2.16 mm, oblique, 39–65°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • P. weberi (S. Gama 70, 100, 103; T. Terrazas 518, 519) (Figs. 2E, 5F). Seed oval, large, 2.44–3.55×1.58–2.37 mm, black, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric and elongate-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries slightly raised, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief flat; convexities none; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR small, 0.72–1.5 mm, oblique, 41–75°, finely impressed, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

  • Stenocereus aragonii (W.R. Maxon 7858) (Figs. 3E, 4G). Seed broadly oval, extremely large, 3.26–6.24×2.15–4.4 mm, black-brown to brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief par-convex on lateral region; convexities low domes; micro-relief none; HMR medium size, 1.18–2.53 mm, oblique, 28–60°, superficial, conjunct but separated by sclerified band, oval.

  • S. eichlamii (S. Arias 1329) (Figs. 3F, 4H, 5H). Seed broadly oval, very large, 3.52–4.2×2.27–3.04 mm, black-brown, glossy, periphery keeled; border slightly expanded around hilum; cells gradually smaller toward hilum, in lateral region isodiametric-polygonal, anticlinal boundaries channelled, straight; interstices minutely pitted, uncommon on lateral region; relief par-convex on lateral region; convexities low domes; micro-relief minutely rugose; HMR medium size, 1.22–1.78 mm, oblique, 24–56°, superficial, micropyle and hilum conjunct but separated by sclerified tissue, oval.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arias, S., Terrazas, T. Seed morphology and variation in the genus Pachycereus (Cactaceae). J Plant Res 117, 277–289 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-004-0156-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-004-0156-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation