Floral development of two species of Stylidium (Stylidiaceae) and some remarks on the systematic position of the family Stylidiaceae

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Abstract
The early floral development of Stylidium adnatum and Stylidium graminifolium is characterized by an initial circular primordium whose areas in the transversal plane of the floral primordium show enhanced growth. The spiral inception of the five sepals starts before the differentiation of the initial circular primordium into two stamen primordia in transversal position (in relation to the floral diagram) and the corolla ring primordium below the stamen primordia. Then five petal primordia, which alternate with the sepals, arise on the corolla ring primordium (early sympetaly). Peculiar to the flowers of Stylidiaceae is the column that bears at its top both stigma and anthers. Probably this column should be interpreted as a receptacular tube. No distinct carpel primordia have been observed. The inferior ovary results from intercalary growth in the peripheral parts of the receptacle below the calyx, corolla, and stamen primordia. The residual floral apex gives rise to a transversal septum, by which the ovary becomes bilocular. None of the morphological, palynological, and embryological characters discussed contradicts a position of the Stylidiaceae near the Campanulales, and several of these characters support this position. Key words: Stylidiaceae, Campanulales, floral development, systematic position, floral biology.

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