Anatomy of the Strelitzia reginae flower (Strelitziaceae)

Abstract

1986. Anatomy of the Sirelirzia reginae flower (Strelitziaceae). -Nord. J. Bot. 6 : 307-320. Copenhagen. ISSN Ol(37-055X.The Strelitzia reginae Ait. flower has many remarkable structural spezializations, the histology and cytology of which we have investigated. The chromoplasts of the sepals are conspicuously elongated and enclose numerous carotenoid tubules parallel to the long axis of the plastid. The petals have roundedpearshaped leucoplasts with a rhomboid protein crystal and aggregated plastoglobules. The blue colour is confined to the epidermal cells, which contain vacuoles with anthocyanin. Prominent papillar processes from the petal epidermis give rise to brilliance through refraction. Various reinforcements occur within the flower parts. The perianth leaves have permeating fibre ribs and thickened epidermal walls. The stigma and the free part of the style consist mainly of fibre cells (with protoplasm). The base of the style and the ovary are enclosed in the receptacle, the epidermal and hypodermal cells of which have thickened walls. -The ground tissue of the basal part of the receptacle appears aerenchymatous. There are also idioblasts containing raphides, druses, and tannin. The secretory cells of the stigma are long unicellular hairs outwards and columnar cells towards the canal between the three lobes. The stylar canal splits up into three individual arms, each leading to a locule. The epithelial cells are typical transfer cells. A composite secretion is deposited outside these cells. -The nectaries constitute three pockets between the carpels. Their secretory surface is greatly increased by folding of the epithelium and the presence of transfer cells.

Inflorescence and Floral Development in Orchidantha maxillarioides (Lowiaceae)

“…1994). This tissue has been variously interpreted as a fusion product of the style and receptacle, as a solid column of tissue, as a perianth tube, and as an extension of the ovary (Kronestedt and Walles 1986;Kunze 1986;Kirchoff 1992;Kress and Stone 1993;Kress et al 1994). A similar but much longer structure exists in the Lowiaceae.…”

“…Structures homologous to the prolongation of Orchidantha have been described in the Strelitziaceae (Kronestedt and Walles 1986;Kunze 1986;Kress and Stone 1993;Kress et al 1994), Musaceae (Fahn et al 1961;Fahn and Kotler 1972;Tilak and Pai 1974;Fahn and Benouaiche 1979;Kirchoff 1992), Heliconiaceae (Kirchoff 1992), and Costaceae (Newman and Kirchoff 1992). The prolongation of the Strelitziaceae is large, ca.…”

“…The structure of the nectaries in these two families is very different. Kronestedt and Walles (1986) describe the prolongation in S. reginae (Strelitziaceae) and interpret it as a composite structure consisting of receptacular tissue surrounding and fused to the style. They base their interpretation on the anatomical zonation of the ovary and prolongation.…”

“…The prolongation of the Strelitziaceae is large, ca. one to two times the length of the locular region of the ovary (Kronestedt and Walles 1986;Kress and Stone 1993, fig. lF;Kress et al 1994, fig.…”

“…As one of only eight families in the order, the Lowiaceae possess critical character states that influence the interpretation of characters used in phylogenetic reconstruction. For instance, the Strelitziaceae, Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Costaceae all posses columns of tissue that unite the locular region of the ovary with the perianth (Kronestedt and Walles 1986;Kirchoff 1992;Newman and Kirchoff 1992;Kress and Stone 1993; 'Author for correspondence and reprints. July 1994;revised manuscript received October 1994revised manuscript received October .…”