Studies on palms: Embryology ofPhoenix sylvestris Roxb.
T. S. Mahabalé, N. V. Biradar
Feb 1, 1968
Citations
12
Citations
Journal
Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences - Section B
Full text
Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: The embryo development ofPhoenix sylvestris Roxb. shows a Geum variation of the Asterad type, with a tendency towards forming two cotyledons early on, but only one becomes massive later.
Abstract
The paper gives an account of the embryology of the genusPhoenix Linn. being intensively studied in this Department.Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. has been investigated as a type. Male and female flowers, pollen grains, development of ovule, male and female gametophytes, endosperm and embryo development were worked out.The plants are dioeceous, 10–16 m. in height, with rough trunk due to persistent leaf bases. Both the inflorescences are spadix, each arising in the axil of a leaf in acropetal succession. There are 6–8 spadices at a time on a tree. The smooth and round pollen grains are shed in 2-celled condition. The ovules are anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. The endosperm is nuclear to begin with but becomes cellular later.The embryo develops according to theGeum variation of the Asterad type. It shows a definite tendency towards forming two cotyledons in early stages, but only one becomes massive later and attains maturity. The shoot apex is terminal. The micropyle shifts from terminal to lateral position. Besides this species,P. pusilla, P. robusta, P. acaulis andP. reclinata were also studied and they show the same pattern of embryo-sac and embryo development with certain variations.