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Inflorescence structure in species of Spartina Schreb. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae)

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Abstract

The typology developed by Troll was followed to describe inflorescence structures for 15 species of Spartina. In all species here studied, truncation of the terminal spikelet of the main axis and primary paracladium was observed. The truncation can also involve the short paracladia subzone so that the inflorescence is confined to just the long paracladia subzone. A great homogenization of paracladia and maximum ramification degree limited generally to the second order of branching are distinctive characteristics of the genus. Proximal paracladia with third-order branching were found in only three specimens, and in these exceptional cases, the homogenization is partial. Sometimes, in some species, a subzone of long and short paracladia can be distinguished. The absence of trophotagma paracladia in all the species studied was verified. The variation in the structure of the inflorescence among species is due to the differences in the number of short paracladia, long paracladia, total number of primary paracladia and also in the angle of divergence of the long paracladia from the main axis. The latter, in addition to variations in the intercalary growth of the internodes produces modifications in the general appearance of the inflorescences. The systematic and taxonomic value of the inflorescences in Spartina is discussed.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Dr. Janice Saunders for helping them in the translation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cátedra de Botánica Sistemática Agronómica, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Kreder 2805, S3080HOF, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Verónica Guadalupe Kern

  2. Cátedra de Morfología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Kreder 2805, S3080HOF, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Nicolás Javier Guarise & Abelardo Carlos Vegetti

Authors
  1. Verónica Guadalupe Kern
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  2. Nicolás Javier Guarise
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  3. Abelardo Carlos Vegetti
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Correspondence to Verónica Guadalupe Kern.

Appendix: Reference materials

Appendix: Reference materials

Spartina alterniflora Loisel.

Argentina. Province of Buenos Aires, Dpt. Bahía Blanca: Burkart 15804. Dep. Magdalena, Pipinas: Parodi 5019 (BAA) and León 1612 (BAA).

United States of America. Massachusetts State, Barnstable Co., Sandy Neck: Churchill 143 (BAA). Virginia State, Isle of Wight County, Smithfield, Cypress Creek: Fernald & Long 8957 (BAA).

France. Dpts. Finistère, Crozon, Quélern: Aymoind et al. 27690. (BAA).

Uruguay. Dpt. Montevideo: Gallinal 1214 (BAA) and Schröder 16491 (BAA).

S. anglica C. E. Hubb.

Denmark. Jutland region, Fanϕ, Sϕnderho: Pedersen 5762 (SI).

France. Dpt. Ile-et Vilaine: Auquier 5070 (BAA).

S. bakeri Merr.

United States of America. Florida State, Sanibel Island: Tracy 7216 (BAA), Swallen 5326 (US), Brumbach 5323 (US), Glynn County, Brunswick, Chase 7094 (US).

S. x caespitosa A. A. Eaton

United States of America. Maryland State, Chesapeake Beach: Hitchcock s.n. (SI).

S. ciliata Brongn.

Argentina. Province of Buenos Aires, Dpt. Coronel Dorrego: Mogilner 12 (SI). Dpt. General Madariaga, Villa Gesell, Boelcke s.n. (BAA14453), Boelcke & Nicora s.n. (BAA 2801). Dpt. Necochea, Grondona 2639 (SF).

S. cynosuroides (L.) Roth

United States of America. Maine State, Saint Francis: Williams s.n. (BAA). Maryland State, Wicomico Co.: Hill & Riefner 10860 (BAA).

Hitchcock s.n. (SI)

S. densiflora Brongn.

Argentina. Province of Buenos Aires, Parodi 221 (BAA).

Dpt. Tres Arroyos: Villamil 4555 (SF). Province of Río Negro, Dpt. San Antonio, San Antonio Oeste: Parodi 11354 (BAA).

S. foliosa Trin.

United States of America. California State, Alameda Co., Berkeley, San Francisco Bay: Beetle 2636 (SI). San Diego Co. Silvens 3458 (BAA).

S. gracilis Trin.

Canada. Province of Alberta, north of Wainwright: Moss 1550 (BAA)

United States of America. Montana State, Powder River Valley, 10 miles north of Broadus: Weber N-9610 (BAA). Nevada State, Sparks: Hitchcock s.n. (SI). Elko County: Tiehm 9280 (SI).

S. longispica Hauman & Parodi ex St.-Yves

Argentina. Province of Buenos Aires, Dpt. Chascomús, Boelcke et al 12681(BAA). Dpt. Magdalena, Pipinas: Parodi 5035 (BAA). Province of Chubut, Dpt. Biedma, Isla de los pájaros: Piccini- García 1181 (BAA)

Uruguay. Dpt. Maldonado, Arroyo Solís: Rosengurt B-6346 (BAA).

S. maritima (Curtis) Fernald

France. Dpt. Charente, La Tremblade: Ipse s.n. (BAA). Dpt. Gironde, Arcachon: Neyraut s.n. (BAA).

England. Norfolk, Burnham, Overy Staithe: Hubbard s.n. (SI).

S. patens (Aiton) Muhl.

United States of America. Louisiana State, Cameron Co.: Swallen 1881 (BAA). Maryland State, Drum Point: Buck s.n. (BAA). Texas State, Galveston Co.: Gould 7177 (BAA). Virginia State, Lynn Haven: Chase s.n. (SI). Parksley: Norton s.n. (BAA). Princess Anne Co.: Walker 1223 (BAA).

Portugal, Lusitania, Aldeia do Poio Pires, Quinta do Brejo: Fontes & Rainha C17 21600 (SI).

S. pectinata Link

United States of America: Arkansas State, Fayetteville: Hitchcock s.n (SI). Utah State, Cache Co.: Hatch 4828 (BAA).

Wisconsin State, Richland Co.: Nee 43740 (SI).

S. spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex Hitchc.

Argentina: Province of Santa Fe, Dpt. La Capital, Santo Tomé: Parodi 458 (BAA). Dpt. Las Colonias, Esperanza, Escuela Granja: Pensiero & Exner 6217 (SF). Tostado, road 98, 20 km Western side of road 11: Pensiero et Vegetti 2699 (SF).

Dpt. San Cristóbal, D’ Angelo s.n. (SF). Dpt. San Justo, Videla: Ragonese 2213 (SF).

United States of America: Texas State, 2.5 miles northern Yoakum, behind Old Sweet Home hill: Owens 149 (BAA)

S. x townsendii H. Groves & J. Groves

France: Dpt. Calvados, Deauville: Fournier s.n. (BAA). Dpt. Basses- Pyrénées, Hendaye: Neyraut s.n. (BAA)

England: Hampshire, Hythe, S. R.: Hubbard 286961 (SI). Hubbard 12153 (BAA).

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Kern, V.G., Guarise, N.J. & Vegetti, A.C. Inflorescence structure in species of Spartina Schreb. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae). Plant Syst Evol 273, 51–61 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0009-z

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