３种獐牙菜属植物花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

獐牙菜属的红直獐牙菜、抱茎獐牙菜和四数獐牙菜３种植物花蜜腺都属花被蜜腺,其结构相似,均由分泌表皮和产蜜组织组成,为结构蜜腺,是花冠其部薄壁组织恢复分和能力形成的,分泌表皮无气孔器,原蜜汁由蜜腺周围的维管束提供,经产蜜组织加工后,由分泌表皮外薄的角质层泌出。四数獐牙菜花蜜腺裸露,凸起,而另２化蜜腺凹限为囊状、;红直獐牙菜为脱落蜜腺、而抱茎獐牙菜和四数獐牙菜为宿存蜜腺,其花蜜腺的性状基本印证了３种獐牙菜属植物的系统位置。     

獐牙菜亚族植物的系统发育分析

獐牙菜亚族(subtribe Swertiinae)是龙胆科(Gentianaceae)中分类处理较困难的一个亚族。为探讨该亚族各属之间和属内的系统关系,选取了该亚族86种及变种,采用ML和BI方法对样本的叶绿体基因mat K和rbc L片段进行分析,构建了该亚族的系统发育树,用马尔科夫蒙特卡洛算法(MCMC)的分子序列贝叶斯分析推算了该亚族的关键演化时间点。结果显示:①龙胆亚族和獐牙菜亚族各自为单系,且互为姐妹类群;②獐牙菜属、假龙胆属、肋柱花属和喉毛花属均不是单系群,各属的种在系统发育树上互有交叉,特别是獐牙菜属的多个种分别聚到不同的支上,与其它属是并系关系;③獐牙菜亚族49个种在约4 Ma开始形成;④分子数据支持何廷农分类系统对于獐牙菜亚属和多枝亚属的属间划分,部分支持多枝亚属下多枝组和宽丝组的划分;⑤异型花属、獐牙菜属、假龙胆属、喉毛花和肋柱花属的属间分类以及獐牙菜属肉根亚属密花组的系统位置仍需进一步讨论。     

“藏茵陈”的基原植物和药用亲缘学

详细比较藏药"藏茵陈"基原植物川西獐牙菜及其混淆品(代用品)抱茎獐牙菜、紫红獐牙菜、四数獐牙菜、红直獐牙菜、大籽獐牙菜、狭叶獐牙菜和椭圆叶花锚的外部形态特征及化学成分,澄清了这一类群在分类上的混乱,发现川西獐牙菜与紫红獐牙菜在习性,花部特征,种子形态和化学成分组成等方面相似性最高,印证了核基因ITS序列的结果。同时分析"藏茵陈"混淆的原因是多种来源和形态相似性造成的,讨论了"藏茵陈"鉴定的方法。通过对獐牙菜属系统关系的分析,提出紫红獐牙菜作为川西獐牙菜替代品的理论依据。     

青藏高原一新特有属——异型株属及其传粉模式

胚胎学和分子证据表明广义獐牙菜属的异形花组应该独立为一个新属.在重新检查该属唯一种在各居群的形态变化时,发现该物种具有异形植株和异形花;前一性状在以前的研究中被忽略了,同时还发现该物种主要是采用闭花受精结实,这一繁殖特点可能是对青藏高原极端环境生存适应的结果.这些特征明显不同于獐牙菜属的其余种和相关属.综合其它证据讨论了该种的系统位置,认为其与花锚属有最近的亲缘关系,这一物种独特的形态性状和系统位置支持其独立为属,并正式描述和发表这一新属——异型株属.但是必需指出的是,广义獐牙菜属排除这一物种后,分子证据表明其还是一个复系属.分类上处理这种由于快速物种多样化和性状趋同进化导致的复系属仍面临巨大的挑战,还有待今后更详细的研究.     

基于ITS和matK序列的獐牙菜亚族 (龙胆科龙胆族)分子系统学

为探讨獐牙菜亚族（subtribe Swertiinae）各属之间和一些属内的系统关系,本研究选取了该亚族14属68种1变种,采用最大简约法（maximum parsimony）和贝叶斯法（Bayesian inference）对样品核基因ITS和叶绿体基因matK的两个片段进行独立和联合分析。结果显示：Bartonia位于亚族的最基部;喉毛花属（Comastoma）、肋柱花属（Lomatogonium）和假龙胆属（Gentianella）都非单系,处于同一个较为进化的分支中;獐牙菜属折皱组（Swertia sect. Rugosa）和獐牙菜组（S. sect. Swertia）亲缘关系最近,宽丝组（S. sect. Platynema）和藏獐牙菜组（S. sect. Kingdon Wardia）亲缘关系最近;口药花属（Jaeschkea）与獐牙菜属多枝组（S. sect. Ophelia）的大籽獐牙菜（Smacrosperma）亲缘关系最近。同时讨论了獐牙菜亚族形态分类与分子数据不一致的原因。     

基于不同DNA序列对四数獐牙菜系统位置分析

以扁蕾属植物为外类群,基于trnL-trnF序列、rpl16序列以及 ITS序列,采用最大简约法对四数獐牙菜的系统位置进行了分析.结果显示:尽管在ITS系统发育树、trnL-trnF系统发育树和rpl16系统发育树中所用的种和数量有所不同,所得到的3种系统发育树的拓扑结构也不一致,但四数獐牙菜的系统位置在3种系统发育树中的结果基本一致.在trnL-trnF系统发育树中,四数獐牙菜与花锚属的H.elliptica、H.brevicornis和H.weddelliana形成了一个单系群;而在ITS和rpl16系统发育树中,四数獐牙菜与歧散獐牙菜先聚在一起,再与花锚属的植物聚为一支支持率较高的单系支.研究表明,四数獐牙菜与Anagalidium属的歧散獐牙菜的亲缘关系最近,其次是与花锚属的植物,而与獐牙菜属植物的亲缘关系较远.本实验系统发育的结果支持将四数獐牙菜从獐牙菜属中分出而归入Anagalidium属的观点.     

四数獐牙菜的胚胎学及其系统学意义

四数獐牙菜花药四室,药壁发育为双子叶型;绒毡层腺质型。小孢子母细胞减数分裂为同时型, 四分体的排列方式为四面体形;成熟花粉为3-细胞。子房2心皮,2心皮连接处强烈内凸,4列胚珠。薄 珠心,单珠被,直生胚珠。胚囊发育为蓼型。胚乳发育为核型。胚胎发育为茄型酸浆I变型。反足细胞 在胚囊成熟时期宿存。果实成熟时,种子只发育至球型胚阶段。承珠盘存在。与已研究的獐牙菜种类 的胚胎特征相比较,该种存在三个显著的特点：直生胚珠,心皮连接处强烈内凸,承珠盘存在。这三个特 征目前仅在龙胆族中的花锚属中发现。经过性状分析,它们均是演征,此三个共有演征表明四数獐牙菜 与花锚属是一单系群,它们的亲缘关系最近。这与Yun &; Kupfer(1995)的分子证据部分吻合,因为分 子系统树上的花锚单系支包括花锚、四数獐牙菜和北美的密花属(广义獐牙菜属中的密花组),而后者的 胚胎学特征未有任何报道。胚胎学研究暗示四数獐牙菜的分类学等级有待重新评价,广义的獐牙菜属 有可能不是一单系发生群。     

7种獐牙菜属植物花粉形态的研究

本文应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜,对龙胆科(Gentianaceae)獐牙菜属(Swertia L.)7种植物(獐牙菜Swertia bimaculata(S.et z.)HK.f.Thoms.、水灵芝S.davidii Franch.、江浙獐牙菜S.hickinii Burkill.、贵州獐牙菜S.kouitchensisFranch.、大籽獐牙菜S.macrosperma C.B.Clarke.、翼梗獐牙菜S.nervosa Wall.、紫红獐牙菜S.punicea Hemsl.)的花粉形态作了比较观察,找出了它们的鉴别特征,阐明了獐牙菜属植物花粉的外壁外层表面纹饰的三种类型为条纹—网状、网状和瘤状雕纹。     

獐牙菜属生药形态组织学的研究Ⅰ.

作者较系统地研究了国产獐牙菜属生药和形态组织学特征。对其进行了详细描述并给出了性状鉴别和显微鉴别的检索表、比较表以及组织特征图。首次测量了叶的栅表比、气孔指数与气孔数。研究结果为该类生药的准确鉴定、质量评价及资源的开发利用提供了详实的科学依据。本文首先报告其中的5种,即:獐牙菜Swertia bimaculata;西南獐牙菜S. cmcta;狭叶獐牙菜S. angustifolia;紫红獐牙菜S.punicea;以及显脉獐牙菜S. neruosa。     

7种獐牙菜属药用植物形态组织学研究

本文报道了水灵芝(Swertia davidii Franch)、双斑獐牙菜(S.bimaculata(S.et Z.)HK.f.Thoms)、江浙獐牙菜(S.hickinii Burk)、贵州獐牙菜(S.koui-tchensis Franch)、大籽獐牙菜(S.macrosperma C.B.Clarke)、翼梗獐牙菜(S.nervosa Wall)、紫红獐牙菜(S.punicea Hemsl.)等7种獐牙菜属药用植物的药材性状、根茎叶的显微构造和解离组织及粉末特征,为合理开发和利用这一药物资源提供了鉴别依据,也为獐牙菜属植物的形态组织学研究提供了有价值的资料。     

Floral nectary morphology and evolution in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae)

Intricate associations between floral morphology and pollinator foraging behaviour are common. In this context, the presence and form of floral nectaries can play a crucial role in driving floral evolution and diversity in flowering plants. However, the reconstruction of the ancestral state of nectary form is often hampered by a lack of anatomical studies and well‐resolved phylogenetic trees. Here, we studied 39 differentially pollinated Pedicularis spp., a genus with pronounced interspecific variation in colour, shape and size of the corolla. Anatomical and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed two nectary forms [bulged (N = 27) or elongated (N = 5)] or the absence of nectaries (N = 7). In a phylogenetic context, our data suggest that: (1) the bulged nectary should be the ancestral state; (2) nectaries were independently lost in some beaked species; and (3) elongated nectaries evolved independently in some clades of beakless species. Phylogenetic path analysis showed that nectary presence is indirectly correlated with beak length/pollinator behaviour through an intermediate factor, nectar production. No significant correlation was found between nectary type and nectar production, beak length or pollinator behaviour. Some beaked species had nectary structures, although they did not produce nectar. The nectary in beaked species may be a vestigial structure retained during a recent rapid radiation of Pedicularis, especially in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains of south‐western China. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178 , 592–607.     

Nectary morphology in South West Asian Fritillaria (Liliaceae)

Nectaries of 3 1 taxa belonging to 4 subgenera of the genus Fritillaria are investigated by scanning electron and light microscopy. In most of the material investigated nectary cells were smaller and narrower, and less irregular in shape than those of the neighbouring tissue of the tepals. Species belonging to subgenus Rhinopetalum clearly differ from all other species. Their nectaries are deeply impressed, and the slit-like nectary orifice is bordered by two lobes, at least in the lower part densely hairy. In F. gibbosa, E karelinii and F. ariana, the flowers are ± zygomorphic as the nectary on the upper tepal is more deeply depressed than the others, and the nectary lobes are rather broad and fringed. In E stenanthera and E bucharica, nectaries are equally impressed in all tepals and the nectary orifice is bordered by narrow, unfringed ridges. The unique structure of nectaries in all species of this subgenus supports its separation from Fritillaria into a separate genus (Rhinopetalum Fisch. ex Alexand.). In the other subgenera, the nectaries are less impressed, often ± flattish, and usually linear to lanceolate or ovate, except in subgenus Petzlium where they are ± circular. One complex in subgenus Fritillaria is markedly distinguished from the rest of the subgenus: in the F. crassifolia group, the nectaries consist of a long and linear raised ridge with a median furrow. F. crassifolia ssp. poluninii is raised to specific level, E poluninii (fix) Bakhshi Khaniki & K. Persson, stat. nov. It is concluded that data on nectary morphology support the latest classification of the genus Fritillaria into subgenera and informal groups.     

Nectary structure and nectar presentation in Aloe castanea and A. greatheadii var. davyana (Asphodelaceae)

This paper deals with the nectary structure and nectar presentation of two species belonging to different sections of the genus Aloe: A. castanea (Anguialoe) and A. greatheadii var. davyana (Pictae). The development of the nectary was studied by means of bright field and fluorescence light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in three flower stages (young, intermediate, old). Both species have septal nectaries. In A. castanea, a subsidiary tissue, not present in A. greatheadii var. davyana, was found beneath the nectary epithelium. This tissue accumulated starch that was hydrolyzed during secretion. Starch was slightly accumulated around the nectary in A. greatheadii var. davyana. The distribution of chlorophyll in the ovary was also different in the two species. These anatomical differences are not, however, correlated with greater nectar production in A. castanea. In this species, the nectary seems to degenerate after secretion, while in A. greatheadii var. davyana no sign of degeneration was observed. Differences in nectar presentation among the two species may account for different pollinators visiting their flowers.     

DISTRIBUTION OF DEFENSE NECTARIES IN IPOMOEA (CONVOLVULACEAE)

The structure and distribution of defense nectaries in the genus Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) were investigated. These nectaries do not reward pollinators and probably contribute to antiherbivore defense. Of 22 species sectioned, 15 had defense nectaries on the sepals. Of 12 other species observed, ten had sepal nectaries and two did not. Structurally, 14 of the species sectioned had crypt sepal nectaries and one had a basin nectary. Of the 14 species with crypt nectaries, two had invaginated spaces adding greatly to the internal area of these nectaries, and forming the most complex nectaries that have been reported. We term these labyrinthine crypt nectaries. All three types of nectaries are lined with secretory trichomes along the proximal surfaces of the crypts. Species with defense nectaries on the sepals tend to have petiolar defense nectaries as well, but the two locations may have different nectary types; e.g., basins on the petiole and crypts on the sepals. Since most reports of the function of these nectaries have shown antiherbivore defense by nectar feeders, the distributions of defense nectaries with respect to region and life history of the species were sought. Plants without sepal nectaries were found to have significantly smaller seeds than plants with sepal nectaries; they were also more frequently annuals. No significant relationship was found between region or breeding system and defense nectaries.     

Is nectar reabsorption restricted by the stalk cells of floral and extrafloral nectary trichomes?

Reabsorption is a phase of nectar dynamics that occurs concurrently with secretion; it has been described in floral nectaries that exude nectar through stomata or unicellular trichomes, but has not yet been recorded in extrafloral glands. Apparently, nectar reabsorption does not occur in multicellular secretory trichomes (MST) due to the presence of lipophilic impregnations – which resemble Casparian strips – in the anticlinal walls of the stalk cells. It has been assumed that these impregnations restrict solute movement within MST to occur unidirectionally and exclusively by the symplast, thereby preventing nectar reflux toward the underlying nectary tissues. We hypothesised that reabsorption is absent in nectaries possessing MST. The fluorochrome lucifer yellow (LYCH) was applied to standing nectar of two floral and extrafloral glands of distantly related species, and then emission spectra from nectary sections were systematically analysed using confocal microscopy. Passive uptake of LYCH via the stalk cells to the nectary tissues occurred in all MST examined. Moreover, we present evidence of nectar reabsorption in extrafloral nectaries, demonstrating that LYCH passed the stalk cells of MST, although it did not reach the deepest nectary tissues. Identical (control) experiments performed with neutral red (NR) demonstrated no uptake of this stain by actively secreting MST, whereas diffusion of NR did occur in plasmolysed MST of floral nectaries at the post‐secretory phase, indicating that nectar reabsorption by MST is governed by stalk cell physiology. Interestingly, non‐secretory trichomes failed to reabsorb nectar. The role of various nectary components is discussed in relation to the control of nectar reabsorption by secretory trichomes.     

Comparative anatomy and morphology of nectar-producing Melastomataceae

Background and Aims

Most neotropical Melastomataceae have bee-pollinated flowers with poricidal anthers. However, nectar rewards are known to be produced in about 80 species in eight genera from four different tribes. These nectar-producing species are pollinated by both vertebrates and invertebrates.

Methods

The floral morphology and anatomy of 14 species was studied in six genera of nectar-producing Melastomataceae (Blakea, Brachyotum, Charianthus, Huilaea, Meriania and Miconia). Anatomical methods included scanning electron microscopy, and serial sections of paraffin-embedded flowers.

Key Results

All vertebrate-pollinated melastome flowers have petals that do not open completely at anthesis, thus forming a pseudo-tubular corolla, while closely related species that are bee pollinated have rotate or reflexed corollas. In most species, nectar secretion is related to stomatal or epidermal nectaries and not filament slits as previously reported. Moreover, the nectar is probably supplied by large vascular bundles near the release area. Blakea and Huilaea have nectary stomata located upon the dorsal anther connective appendages. Brachyotum also has nectary stomata on the anther connectives, but these are distributed lengthwise along most of the connective. Meriania may release nectar through the anther connective, but has additional nectary stomata on the inner walls of the hypanthium. Miconia has nectary stomata on the ovary apex. Charianthus nectaries were not found, but there is circumstantial evidence that nectar release occurs through the epidermis at the apex of the ovary and the lower portions of the inner wall of the hypanthium.

Conclusions

Nectar release in Melastomataceae is apparently related to nectary stomata and not filament slits. The presence of nectary stomata on stamens and on ovary apices in different lineages suggests that the acquisition of nectaries is a derived condition. Nectary location also supports a derived condition, because location is strongly consistent within each genus, but differs between genera.Key words: Blakea, Brachyotum, Charianthus, Huilaea, Meriania, Melastomataceae, Miconia, nectaries, nectary stomata, pollination     

The evolution of floral nectaries in Disa (Orchidaceae: Disinae): recapitulation or diversifying innovation?

Background and Aims

The Orchidaceae have a history of recurring convergent evolution in floral function as nectar production has evolved repeatedly from an ancestral nectarless state. However, orchids exhibit considerable diversity in nectary type, position and morphology, indicating that this convergence arose from alternative adaptive solutions. Using the genus Disa, this study asks whether repeated evolution of floral nectaries involved recapitulation of the same nectary type or diversifying innovation. Epidermis morphology of closely related nectar-producing and nectarless species is also compared in order to identify histological changes that accompanied the gain or loss of nectar production.

Methods

The micromorphology of nectaries and positionally equivalent tissues in nectarless species was examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. This information was subjected to phylogenetic analyses to reconstruct nectary evolution and compare characteristics of nectar-producing and nectarless species.

Key Results

Two nectary types evolved in Disa. Nectar exudation by modified stomata in floral spurs evolved twice, whereas exudation by a secretory epidermis evolved six times in different perianth segments. The spur epidermis of nectarless species exhibited considerable micromorphological variation, including strongly textured surfaces and non-secreting stomata in some species. Epidermis morphology of nectar-producing species did not differ consistently from that of rewardless species at the magnifications used in this study, suggesting that transitions from rewardlessness to nectar production are not necessarily accompanied by visible morphological changes but only require sub-cellular modification.

Conclusions

Independent nectary evolution in Disa involved both repeated recapitulation of secretory epidermis, which is present in the sister genus Brownleea, and innovation of stomatal nectaries. These contrasting nectary types and positional diversity within types imply weak genetic, developmental or physiological constraints in ancestral, nectarless Disa. Such functional convergence generated by morphologically diverse solutions probably also underlies the extensive diversity of nectary types and positions in the Orchidaceae.     

The Origin,Dispersal and Formation of the Distribution Pattern of Swertia L. (Gentianaceae)

The genus Swertia is one of the large genera in Gentianaceae, including 154 species, 16 series and 11 sections. It is disjunctly distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and N. America, but entirely absent from Oceania and S. America. According to Takhtajan’s (1978) regionalization of the world flora, Swertia is found in 14 regions. Eastern Asiatic region with 86 species, of which 58 are local endemics, 13 series and 9 sections, ranks the first among all the regions. The highest concentration of the taxa and endemics in Eastern Asiatic region occurs in SW China-Himalayan area (Sikang-Yunnan P. , W. Sichuan, W. Yunnan-Guichou Plateau of China and NE. Burma, N. Burmense P. , E. Himalayan P. and Khasi-Manipur P. ). In this area there are 74 species (48 endemics), 12 series, and 9 sections; thus about half species of the world total, three quarters of series and 82% of sections occur in this small area. Besides, the taxa at different evolutionary stages in Swertia also survive here. It is an indication that SW. China-Himalayan area is a major distribution centre of the genus Swertia. In addition, Sudan-Zambezian Region in Africa, with 22 species, 4 series and 2 sections, is a second distribution centre. The primitive type of the genus Swertia is Sect. Rugosa which consists of 2 series and 23 species. It is highly centred in the mountains of SW. China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and SE. Xizang) where 2 series and 16 species occur. Among them 15 species of Ser. Rugosae were considered as the most primitive groups in this genus. From our study, the outgroup of Swertia is the genus Latouchea Frahch. , which is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. The two groups overlap in distribution in SW. China. According to the principle of common origin, the ancestor of two genera ap peared most probably in this overlapping area. It was inferred that SW. China Was the birth-place of the genus Swertia. Four sections of Swertia have different disjunct distribution patterns: Sect. Ophelia is of Tropic Asia, Africa and Madagascar disjunct distribution; sect. Swertia is of north temperate distribution; sect. Spinosisemina is in Tropical Asia (Trop. India to S. China and Philipines); sect. Platynema also is in Tropical Asia (Java, Sumatra, Himalayas to SW. China). These disjunct patterns indicate that the Swertia floras between the continents or between continent and islands have a connection with each other. From paleogeographical analysis, Swertia plants dispersed to Madagascar before the Late Cretaceous, to SE. Asian Islands in the Pleistocene, to North America in the Miocene. The distribution of Swertia in Madagascar might be later than that in Asia. Therefore the origin time of the genus Swertia was at least not later than the Late Cretaceous, and might be back to the Mid-Cretaceous. The genus Swertia first fully developed and differentiated, forming some taxa at different evolutionary stages (Rugosa, Swertia, Poephila, Ophelia and Platynema etc. ) in the original area, and these taxa quickly dispersed in certain directions during the Late Cretaceous-Middle Tertiary when the global climate was warm and no much change. There seem to be three main dispersal routes from the origin area to different continents; (1) The westward route i. e. from SW. China, along the Himalayas area to Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, and then southwestwards into Africa throuth Arabia. Four sections (Poephila, Macranthos, Kingdon-Wardia and Ophelia) took this dispersal route. Most species of sect. Ophelia dispersed along this route, but a few along southern route and north ern route. Sect. Ophelia greatly differentiated in Africa and the African endemic sectionSect. Montana was derived from it. The two sections form there a second distribution center of Swertia. (2) The southward route, i. e. towards S. India through the Himalayas, and towards SE. Asian islands through C. and S. China, Indo-China. Along this dispersal route sect. Platynema, Sect. Spinosisemina and a few species of Sect. Ophelia dispersed; (3) The northward rout, i. e. northwards across N. China, C. Asia to a high latitude of Euasia, and also through E. Asia into N. America. The following groups took this route: sect. Rugosa, sect. Swertia, sect. Frasera, sect. Heteranthos and sect. Ophelia ser. Dichotomae. Therefore, it seems that the genus Swertia originated in SW. China and then dispersed from there to N. and S. Asia, Africa, Europe and North America and formed the moderndistribution pattern of this genus.     

The systematic significance of floral morphology,nectaries, and nectar concentration in epiphytic cacti of tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)

A long-standing interest in cactus taxonomy has existed since the Linnaean generation, but an appreciation of the reproductive biology of cacti started early in the 1900s. Numerous studies indicate that plant reproductive traits provide valuable systematic information. Despite the extensive reproductive versatility and specializations in breeding systems coupled with the striking floral shapes, the reproductive biology of the Cactaceae has been investigated in approximately 10% of its species. Hence, the systematic value of architectural design and organization of internal floral parts has remained virtually unexplored in the family. This study represents the most extensive survey of flower and nectary morphology in the Cactaceae focusing on tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae (subfamily Cactoideae). Our objectives were (1) to conduct comparative morphological analyses of flowers and floral nectaries and (2) to compare nectar solute concentration in these two tribes consisting of holo- and semi-epiphytic species. Flower morphology, nectary types, and sugar concentration of nectar have strong taxonomic implications at the tribal, generic and specific levels. Foremost, three types of nectaries were found, namely chamber nectary (with the open and diffuse subtypes), furrow nectary (including the holder nectary subtype), and annular nectary. All Hylocereeae species possess chamber nectaries, in which the nectarial tissue has both trichomes and stomata. The Rhipsalideae are distinguished by two kinds of floral nectaries: furrow and annular, both nectary types with stomata only. The annular nectary type characterizes the genus Rhipsalis. Nectar concentration is another significant taxonomic indicator separating the Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae and establishing trends linked to nectar sugar concentration and amount of nectar production in relation to flower size. There is an inverse relationship between flower size and amount of nectar production in the smaller Rhipsalideae flowers, in which nectar concentration is more than two-fold higher despite the smaller volume of nectar produced when compared to the large Hylocereeae flowers. Variability of nectary morphology and nectar concentration was also evaluated as potential synapomorphic characters in recent phylogenies of these tribes. In conclusion, our data provide strong evidence of the systematic value of floral nectaries and nectar sugar concentration in the Cactaceae, particularly at different taxonomic levels in the Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae.