THE GYNOECIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF ALLAMANDA (APOCYNACEAE)

Allamanda exhibits an unusual type of gynoecial development in which the two carpels are free at initiation, but fuse completely during development, resulting in a unilocular ovary with parietal placentation at maturity. Whereas the majority of the Apocynaceae are characterized by an advanced type of gynoecium that is secondarily apocarpous, in Allamanda gynoecial evolution has proceeded one step further to secondary syncarpy. This condition is not known to occur in any other genus in the Apocynaceae and provides further evidence of the isolated position of Allamanda within the family.