Variation in Seed Micromorphology in Portulaca L. (Portulacaceae) in India

摘要

Portulacaceae Juss., a monogeneric family with 131 species, is distributed around the world and most of the species are adapted to arid conditions. Seed morphology is one of the diagnostic characters having taxonomic importance to delimit the taxa andunderstand interspecific inter-relationships. Seed micromorphology studies of 9 taxa belonging to Portulacaceae found in India, are presented in the present communication. Size, shape, colour, ornamentation and structure of individual seed surface cellof each of the species is provided. Taxonomic keys based on seed micromorphology are provided for identification of all the taxa of the genus found in India. Seed micromorphology is useful for understanding interspecific variation.