Skip to main content
Log in

Ontogeny, anatomy and systematic significance of ovular structures in the `eucalypt group' (Eucalypteae, Myrtaceae)

  • Published:
Plant Systematics and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Development of ovular structures in the `eucalypt group' (Eucalyteae, Myrtaceae) was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Different modes of placental expansion account for the variation in initiation and arrangement of ovules and ovulodes. In Eucalyptus sensu stricto placental elongation proceeds proximally and the distally-positioned ovulodes develop from the first primordia initiated (congenital ovulodes). In Angophora, Corymbia, Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia and Stockwellia placental elongation is bi-directional and the ovulodes develop from last-initiated primordia (residual ovulodes). Bi-directional elongation and residual ovulodes are present in the outgroup taxon Lophostemon confertus and is presumably plesiomorphic. This suite of characters is potentially informative for resolving relationships for several key taxa: E. microcorys (subgenus Symphyomyrtus) has proximal placental expansion and congenital ovulodes, which is consistent with most Eucalyptus; E. curtisii (subgenus Gaubaea) has the plesiomophic condition and may be sister to all other species of Eucalyptus.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • S. T Blake (1977) ArticleTitleAllosycarpia ternata, a new genus and species of the Myrtaceae subfamily Leptospermoideae from northern Australia Austrobaileya 1 43–46

    Google Scholar 

  • D. J Boland M. I. H Brooker J. W Turnbull (1980) Eucalyptus Seed C.S.I.R.O Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • A Bohte A. N Drinnan (2005) ArticleTitleFloral development and systematic position of Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis (Myrtaceae) Pl. Syst. Evol 257 53–70 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00606-004-0161-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. I. H Brooker (2000) ArticleTitleA new classification of the genus Eucalyptus L'Hér Austral. Syst. Bot 13 79–148 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB98008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. G. M Carr D. J Carr (1962) ArticleTitleConvergence and progression in Eucalyptus and Symphyomyrtus Nature 196 969–972

    Google Scholar 

  • D. J Carr S. G. M Carr (1963) ArticleTitleThe taxonomic position of certain eucalypts Proc. Linn. Soc. Vic 77 207–216

    Google Scholar 

  • L. A Craven (1990) ArticleTitleOne new species each in Acmena and Eucalyptopsis and a new name in Lindsayomyrtus (all Myrtaceae) Austral. Syst. Bot 3 727–732 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB9900727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. J Carr S. G. M Carr B. P. M Hyland P. G Wilson P. Y Ladiges (2002) ArticleTitleStockwellia quadrifida (Myrtaceae), a new Australian genus and species in the eucalypt group Bot. J. Linn. Soc 139 415–421 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00062.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G. L Davis (1967) ArticleTitleFloral morphology and the devlopment of gametophytes in Eucalyptus melliodora A Cunn. Austral. J. Bot 16 19–35

    Google Scholar 

  • G. L Davis (1969) ArticleTitleFloral morphology and the devlopment of gametophytes in Eucalyptus stellulata Sieb Austral. J. Bot 17 177–90

    Google Scholar 

  • J. W Dawson (1970) ArticleTitlePacific capsular Myrtaceae I. Reproductive morphology Arillastrum gummiferum Panch. ex Baillon (New Caledonia) Blumea 18 431–440

    Google Scholar 

  • D. W Drake (1975) ArticleTitleSeed abortion in some species and interspecific hybrids of Eucalyptus Austral. J. Bot 23 991–995

    Google Scholar 

  • A. N Drinnan P. Y Ladiges (1991) ArticleTitleFloral development and systematic position of Eucalyptus curtisii (Myrtaceae) Austral. Syst. Bot 4 539–551 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB9910539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K. D Hill L. A. S Johnson (1995) ArticleTitleSystematic studies in the eucalypts 7. A revision of the bloodwoods, genus Corymbia (Myrtaceae) Telopea 6 173–505

    Google Scholar 

  • E Gauba L. D Pryor (1958) ArticleTitleSeed coat anatomy and taxonomy in Eucalyptus I Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W 83 20–32

    Google Scholar 

  • E Gauba L. D Pryor (1959) ArticleTitleSeed coat anatomy and taxonomy in Eucalyptus II Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W 84 278–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Grose R. J, Zimmer W. J (1958) A description of the seeds of 70 Victorian eucalypts. Forests Comm. Victoria Bull. 8.

  • P. Y Ladiges C. J Humphries (1983) ArticleTitleA cladistic study of Arillastrum, Angophora and Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) Bot. J. Linn. Soc 87 105–134

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Y Ladiges C. J Humphries M. I. H Brooker (1983) ArticleTitleCladistic relationships and biogeographic patterns in the peppermint group of Eucalyptus (Informal Subseries Amygdalininae, Subgenus Monocalyptus) and the description of a new species, E. willisii Austral. J. Bot 31 565–584

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Y Ladiges F Udovicic A. N Drinnan (1995) ArticleTitleEucalypt phylogeny – molecules and morphology Austral. Syst. Bot 8 483–497 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB9950483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Y Ladiges F Udovicic G Nelson (2003) ArticleTitleAustalian biogeographical connections and the phylogeny of large genera in the plant family Myrtaceae J. Biogeog 30 989–998

    Google Scholar 

  • N Prakash (1969a) ArticleTitleA contribution to the life history of Angophora floribunda (Sm.) Sweet (Myrtaceae) Austral. J. Bot 17 457–469

    Google Scholar 

  • N Prakash (1969b) ArticleTitleSome aspects of the life history of Callistemon citrinus (Curt.) Skeels Austral. J. Bot 17 107–117

    Google Scholar 

  • N Prakash (1969c) ArticleTitleThe embryology of Kunzea capitata Reichb Austral. J. Bot 17 97–106

    Google Scholar 

  • N Prakash (1969d) ArticleTitleSeed development in Leptospermum scoparium Forst Austral. J. Sci 31 331–333

    Google Scholar 

  • N Prakash (1969e) ArticleTitleReproductive development in two species of Darwinia Rudge (Myrtaceae) Austral. J. Bot 17 215–227

    Google Scholar 

  • L. D Pryor L. A. S Johnson (1971) A classification of the Eucalypts Australian National University Press Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • J Russell-Smith D. E Lucas J Brock D. M. J. S Bowman (1993) ArticleTitleAllosyncarpia dominated rainforest in monsoonal northern Australia J. Veg. Sci 4 67–82

    Google Scholar 

  • G Schmidt-Adam K. S Gould B. G Murray (1999) ArticleTitleFloral biology and breeding system of pohutukowa (Metrosideros excelsa, Myrtaceae) N. Z. J. Bot 37 687–702

    Google Scholar 

  • M Sedgley (1989) ArticleTitleOvule and seed development in Eucalyptus woodwardii Maiden (Symphyomyrtus) Bot. Gaz 150 271–280 Occurrence Handle10.1086/337772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. A Steane D Nicolle G. E Mc Kinnon R. E Vaillancourt B. M Potts (2002) ArticleTitleHigher-level relationships among the eucalypts are resolved by ITS-sequence data Austral. Syst. Bot 15 49–62 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SB00039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F Udovicic P. Y Ladiges (2000) ArticleTitleInformativeness of nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions and the phylogeny of the eucalypts and related genera (Myrtaceae) Kew Bull 55 633–645

    Google Scholar 

  • C. T White (1951) ArticleTitleSome noteworthy Myrtaceae from the Moluccas, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands J. Arn. Arbor 32 139–149

    Google Scholar 

  • S Whittock D. A Steane R. E Vaillancourt B. M Potts (2003) ArticleTitleMolecular evidence shows that the tropical boxes (Eucalyptus subgenus Minifructus) are over-ranked Trans. Royal Soc. S. Aust 127 27–32

    Google Scholar 

  • P. G Wilson M. M O' Brien P. A Gadek C. J Quinn (2001) ArticleTitleMyrtaceae revisited: a reassessment of infrafamilial groups Amer. J. Bot 88 2013–2025

    Google Scholar 

  • P.G Wilson M.M O'Brien M.M Heslewood C.J Quinn (2005) ArticleTitleRelationships within Myrtaceae sensu lato based on a matK phylogeny Pl. Syst. Evol 251 3–19 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00606-004-0162-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L Zucconi (1959) ArticleTitleOrganogenesi del fiore ed embriologia in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Denh Pubblicazioni del Centro di Sperimentazione Agricola e Forestale (Rome) 2 59–84

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Bohte.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bohte, A., Drinnan, A. Ontogeny, anatomy and systematic significance of ovular structures in the `eucalypt group' (Eucalypteae, Myrtaceae). Plant Syst. Evol. 255, 17–39 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-004-0291-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-004-0291-3

Keywords

Navigation