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AGAMOSPERMY AND THE LOSS OF DISTYLY IN ERYTHROXYLUM UNDULATUM (ERYTHROXYLACEAE) FROM NORTHERN VENEZUELA |
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| Authors: | Paul E Berry Hiroshi Tobe José A Gómez |
| Institution: | Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri, 63166
Kyoto University, Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kyoto 606, JAPAN Universidad Simón Bolívar, Departamento de Estudios Ambientales, Apartado, 89000 Caracas 1081, Venezuela |
| Abstract: | Erythroxylum undulatum is a gametophytic apomict that produces about 15% seed set independently of pollination. Embryo sac formation is aposporous, and the plants are largely pollen-sterile, which may be a result of polyploidy and hybrid origin. It appears to be derived from a distylous ancestor, as all other known species of Erythroxylum are distylous or secondarily dioecious, and all examined individuals of E. undulatum correspond to the normal long–styled morph. This is the first clearly documented case of agamospermy derived from distyly. |
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