Pseudopollen and food-hair diversity in Polystachya Hook. (Orchidaceae).

ABSTRACT: Labellar food-hairs in Polystachya Hook. exhibit considerable morphological diversity. The commonest type of trichome is uniseriate, two to four-celled, with a clavate or subclavate terminal cell. This type occurs amongst representatives of most sections examined. Other trichomes are bristle-like with tapering or fusiform terminal cells, whereas representatives of section Polystachya have uniseriate, moniliform trichomes that fragment with the formation of rounded or elliptical component cells. Most contain protein and, while some contain starch, lipid is invariably absent. The presence of particular types of labellar trichomes does not coincide with variations in vegetative morphology. Thus, current taxonomic treatment of the genus indicates that trichome types, with perhaps the sole exce

SUBMITTER: Davies KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4240386 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature