Abstract Detail

Developmental and Structural Section

Thadeo, Marcela [1], Stevenson, Dennis Wm. [2].

Vegetative and reprodutive morphology and anatomy of Zannichellia palustris L. (Zannichelliaceae) – useful characters for phylogenetic studies.

Zannichellia palustris is a species that mainly occurs in coastal brackish waters but is sometimes found in fresh water. It is widely distributed in the United States, Europe, and South America and was collected in fresh water in the Bronx River in The New York Botanical Garden. The anatomy of the stem, root, leaf, flower, and fruit were examined. This species exhibits the extreme morphological reduction found in most aquatic plants. The habit is diffuse, but the plants usually consist of a creeping, sympodially branched rhizome rooted at the nodes in the substrate and giving rise to more or less erect, much-branched leafy and flower-bearing shoots. The plants are monoecious, the male flower consists of a single stamen and the female flower is composed of three carpels on a common axis. Anatomically, the family is very reduced. Stems and roots are essentially protostelic. The leaf blade is usually distinguished by two well developed lacunae, one of each side of the midvein. Fibers and mechanical tissue are little developed. With this study, we intend to score approximately 200 characters states for Z. palustris in a larger phylogentic analysis of all monocots.

Broader Impacts:

1 - New York Botanical Garden, Science, 200th Street and Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458, USA
2 - The New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street & Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458, USA

Keywords:
Alismatales
Zannichellia palustris
Zannichelliaceae
monocots
anatomy
morphology
Aquatic plants.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 51
Location: 555B/Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Time: 8:30 AM
Number: 51003
Abstract ID:318