Floral morphology of
Brasenia schreberi Gmel. and
Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray was observed chiefly from an anatomical point of view. The receptacle of
B. schreberi is rather flat and a vascular plexus is observable in the mature flower. The vasculature in this plexus is so complex taht
it is not easy to trace its structure in detail. by observation on small buds, it can be seen that the receptacular vasculature
consists of a girdling bundle in the basal area and usually nine receptacular strands from which traces to the petals and
stamens branch off. The vasculature in the receptacle is reconstructed and diagramatically shown as though split longitudinally
and spread out in one plane.
Floral vasculature inCabomba caroliniana is simpler, and is probably related to the smaller number of stamens and carpels. It also has a girdling bundle at the bottom
of receptacle and this vasculature is suggested to be derived by simplification from aBrasenia-type vasculature.
Evidence from floral anatomy suggests that these two genera are closely related. InNymphaea, a vascular plexus in the receptacle is also observed (Moseley, 1961; Ito 1983). The plexus ofBrasenia andNymphaea are not the same in their construction. Nevertheless, their fundamental floral vasculature is comparable and it is preferable
to place them in the same family or same order.
Key words
Brasenia
-
Cabomba
- Floral anatomy - Nymphaeaceae - Receptacular plexus