SPERMODERM PATTERN IN SEEDS OF RHODODENDRON IN SIKKIM HIMALAYA INDIA - II. SEM STUDIES

摘要

SEM studies on seed surface of 20 species of the genus Rhododendron, namely, R. aeruginosum, R. anthopogon, R. arboreum, R. baileyi, R. barbatum, R. camelliiflorum, R. campanulatum, R. cinnabarinum, R. decipiens, R. edgeworthii, R. falconeri, R. grande, R. hodgsonii, R. lanatum, R. pendulum, R. setosum, R. triflorum, R. vacciniodes, R. virgatum and R. wightii (Family Ericaceae) have revealed reticulate type ornamentation. The reticulations are composed of raised walls and depressed tangential walls.One might then logically ask if characters of individual seeds could offer further systematic guidance. To this end, we evaluated seed size, length to width ratio, length to endosperm ratio, shape, and cell patterns, in the above mentioned species. Our evaluation indicates a degree of consistency within each species that could be taxonomically significant.