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Theligonum cynocrambe: Developmental morphology of a peculiar rubiaceous herb

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Abstract

The annual Mediterranean herbTheligonum cynocrambe shows a peculiar combination of morphological characters, e.g., switch from decussate to spiral phyllotaxis with 90–100° divergence, combined with a change from interpetiolar to lateral stipules, anemophily, lack of calyx, flowers often dimerous to trimerous, corolla fused in both male and female flowers, male flowers extra-axillary, with 2–19 stamens per flower, female flowers axillary, with inferior uniovulate ovary, basilateral style and perianth, nut-like fruits with elaiosome. In male flowers the androecium emerges as an (uneven) elliptical rim with a central depression. This common girdling primordium is divided up into several stamen primordia. In male flowers with low stamen number the stamen primordia may occupy the corners alternating with the corolla lobes. There are no epipetalous androecial primordia that secondarily divide into stamens. Male flowers occasionally show a hemispherical base that may be interpreted as remnant of the inferior ovary. In female flowers a ring primordium grows into a tube on which the petal lobes arise. The perianth and style become displaced adaxially by uneven growth of the inferior ovary. The ovary is basically bilocular. The lower region of the ovary is provided with a septum that is overtopped and hidden by the single curved ovule.Theligonum is referred to theRubiaceae-Rubioideae, with theAnthospermeae andPaederieae as most closely related tribes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Systematische Botanik, Universität Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008, Zürich, Switzerland

    Rolf Rutishauser & Ilse Mendoza-Heuer

  2. Plantkundig Instituut, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kardinal Mercier-Laan 92, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Louis P. Ronse Decraene & Erik Smets

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  1. Rolf Rutishauser
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  2. Louis P. Ronse Decraene
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  3. Erik Smets
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  4. Ilse Mendoza-Heuer
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Rutishauser, R., Decraene, L.P.R., Smets, E. et al. Theligonum cynocrambe: Developmental morphology of a peculiar rubiaceous herb. Pl Syst Evol 210, 1–24 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984724

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