Studies on the seed-like fruits of sub-genus Sclarea of salvia of Labiatae in China

摘要

The macro-morphology and the ultrastructure ornamentation of seed-like fruits of four Sections, Sect. Drymosphace, Sect. Aethiopis, Sect. Plethiosphace and Sect. Notiosphace (comprising 14 species ) of the Sub-genus Sclarea of Salvia of Labiatae in China were systematically studied by using scanning electron microscope. Their characteristics were recorded as plain, stripes, reticulate, convex meshes to reticulate and convex meshes, and both reticulate and convex meshes appeared on dorsal and ventral surfaces of seed-like fruits of one species at the same time. The plain type was an original type; the stripes, reticulate and convex meshes were intermediate types; and both reticulate and convex meshes appeared on seed-like fruits of one species was regarded as an evolved type. They had intraspecific stabilities, but significant interspecific differences in both the macro-morphological features and the ultrastructure ornamentation, which provided evidences for their classification and identification. Fifty six photographs of the seed-like fruits of 14 species of the subgenus collected by scanning electron microscope have been attached.