PERIANTH DEVELOPMENT OF POTAMOGETON RICHARDSONII

Interpretation of the Potamogeton flower is complicated by the attachment of the “perianth segment” to the stamen connective. Developmental studies show that the perianth segments are not outgrowths of the stamen connectives. They are initiated on the floral apex acropetally before the (superposed) primordia of the stamens. After the inception of the stamen primordia, growth occurs in the regions between the primordia of each perianth segment and stamen. Thereby the bases of the developing perianth segment and stamen become united, and in the adult flower eventually the perianth segment is inserted on the connective of the stamen. The primordium of the perianth segment develops from the 2 outer layers (tunica) of the floral apex, in contrast to the stamen primordium which originates from the 3 outer layers. The vascular bundles for each perianth segment–stamen region develop acropetally from 1 common bundle which bifurcates into 1 bundle for the perianth segment and 1 for the stamen. The bundle leading into the perianth segment branches in a more or less dichotomous manner. The veins form none or only 1 or 2 anastomoses at the base of the lamina, whereas the vein endings remain free. The interpretation of the perianth segments is discussed in terms of the classical and the gonophyll theory. Since both theories rest on an ambiguous methodological basis, interpretation is postponed until a new approach to comparative morphology has been worked out and until the floral development of other Helobiales has been studied.