A survey of ontogeny pericarp features as contribution to the infratribal characterization of Myrteae (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

With the aim of correlating the pericarp structure with current phylogenies of Myrteae, this study describes the ontogeny in five species included in five out of the six South American clades of the tribe. In these taxa, the outer and inner ovarian epidermis gives rise to the exocarp and the endocarp, respectively, both with 1 layer. In the mesocarp, derived from the ovarian mesophyll, secretory cavities are arranged into a circle just below the exocarp and near the endocarp in Campomanesia adamantium; only below the exocarp in Eugenia pitanga and Myrcia multiflora; more internally in Myrciaria cuspidata, and below the exocarp and throughout the mesophyll in Myrceugenia alpigena. The promising traits for phylogenetic studies in the group include: direction of elongation of pericarp layers, regions that develop most in relation to the circle of larger vascular bundles, differentiation of spongy and sclerenchymatous tissues and position of secretory cavities.

Floral uniformity through evolutionary time in a species‐rich tree lineage

“…Reproductive isolation and speciation may be achieved by other means in Myrcia . Fruits in Myrcia are always fleshy berries and are also not highly variable in shape (Lucas et al ., ), but changes in epidermal and anatomical composition (Galan et al ., ) promote variation in colour and texture, subtly changing display and dispersal mode. These fruits are dispersed by a diversity of animals, mainly birds and mammals (Gressler et al ., ; Staggemeier et al ., ).…”