Studies in the Alismataceae. IV. Developmental morphology of Ranalisma humile and comparisons with two members of the Butomaceae, Hydrocleis nymphoides and Butomus umbellatus

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Abstract
The development of the foliage leaf bearing axes in Ranalisma humile (Kunth.) Hutch. and Hydrocleis nymphoides Buch. is similar in that both show sympodial development, each branch of the sympodium terminating in an inflorescence; in Butomus umbellatus L. the inflorescence is lateral and the vegetative axis is monopodial.Inflorescences of Ranalisma can adopt a horizontally growing pseudostolon form in which floral meristems are formed but abort at an early stage; there is no basic difference between the organ complements of the pseudostolon and the erect inflorescence.Inflorescences of Hydrocleis and Ranalisma have similar developmental patterns. In both, the main axis terminates in a floral primordium while a large bud is developed in the axil of the first of two bracts below the flower. The lateral bud in Hydrocleis develops into a sympodial bud complex consisting of flowers, a vegetative bud, and an inflorescence branch which repeats the pattern of development; in Ranalisma the lateral bud gives rise only to a vegetative bud and an inflorescence branch. Ranalisma appears to possess a reduced form of the kind of inflorescence development found in Hydrocleis.The inflorescence of Butomus also terminates in a flower. It has three bracts, each subtending a set of multiple axillary buds. Each individual bud develops into a sympodially arranged set of flowers.Previously proposed isolation of Butomus from other Butomaceae and Alismataceae is further emphasized by developmental data. Ranalisma provides a connecting link between Alismataceae and the Butomaceae excluding Butomus (i.e. the Limnocharitaceae of some authors).

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