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Variation in seed morphology in the studied Hypericum species (SeM) explanations: A-H. hirsutum, b-H. humifusum, C-H. macula tum, D-H. montanum, e-H. perforatum, F-H. pulchrum, g-H. tetrapterum
Source publication
Eight Hypericum species are native to Poland: H. elegans Stephan ex Willd., H. hirsutum L., H. humifusum L., H. maculatum Crantz, H. montanum L., H. perforatum L., H. pulchrum L., and H. tetrapterum Fr. Only seeds of H. elegans were investigated in detail in Poland before, so here we present results of qualitative and quantitative analyses of seed...
Contexts in source publication
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... straight, cylindrical, ends rounded, without mucros (Fig. 3A). Seed length 870-930 μm, width 340- 415 μm. Under a stereo microscope, seed surface dull, in some places shiny, covered with irregular, sharply pointed papillae. Seed colour rusty-orange (Fig. 3A). in SeM images slightly different, seed surface wrinkled (Fig. 4A). observation under a greater magnification (1000×) shows that the wrinkles are sunken papillae. each epidermal cell is initially convex, but during seed coat drying the outer wall collapses. Since the seed surface is densely covered with papillae, it is difficult to determine the shape of epidermal cells of the testa, but in some parts ...
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... humifusum l. Seeds straight, cylindrical, rounded at both ends, with conspicuous mucros (Fig. 3b). Seed length 575- 698 μm, width 296-370 μm. Under a stereo microscope, surface shiny, dark brown (Fig. 3b). in SeM images, reticulate sculpture is visible (Fig. 4b). The testa epi- dermis is so delicate that the seed coat sculpture shows both epidermal cells and the outlines of subepidermal cells, with thickened radial walls. epidermal cells small, polygonal (usually pentagonal or hexagonal), isodiametric, with straight radial walls (Fig. 5b). The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis ...
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... cylindrical, with rounded ends, sometimes with minute, protruding mucros (Fig. 3C). Seed length 735-902 μm, width 328-351 μm. Un- der a stereo microscope, surface smooth, shiny. Seed colour from dark green or green-brown to brown (Fig. 3C). in SeM images, reticulate sculpture is visible. The pattern is formed by closely adhering epidermal cells (Fig. 4C), which are isodiametric, minute, rounded to elliptic, slightly elongated longitudinally (Fig. 5C). The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis is about ...
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... montanum l. Seeds straight, cylindrical, rounded at both ends, with hardly visible mucros (Fig. 3D). Seed length 725- 822 μm, width 322-379 μm. Under a stereo microscope, surface shiny, dark brown (Fig. 3D). in SeM images, reticulate sculpture is visible, formed by delicate epi- dermal cells (Fig. 4D), which are minute, polygonal (pentagonal or hexagonal), isodiametric, with straight radial walls. Cell walls of the testa epidermis do not seem to adhere at their angles (Fig. 5D). The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis is about ...
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... wider. both ends rounded, with protruding mucros (Fig. 3e). Seed length 914-1043 μm, width 319-479 μm. Under a stereo micro- scope, shiny surface with minute pits, which are darker than whole seeds (Fig. 3e). Seed colour highly variable, ranging from light brown or dark green to dark brown or black. in SeM images, reticulate sculpture is visible (Fig. 4e). Cells isodiametric, polygonal, irregular, wider transversely than longitudinally. outer cell walls of the testa epidermis form a delicate fold around each cell. As a result, the cells seem to be rounded at their angles, not adhering to one another (Fig. 5e). The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis is about ...
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... or sometimes slightly curved, cy- lindrical, rounded at both ends, with inconspicuous mucros (Fig. 3F). Seed length 968-1111 μm, width 386-442 μm. Under a stereo microscope, their surface shiny, with minute pits (Fig. 3F). Seed colour brown. in SeM images, seed coat sculpture unique, so far not reported in this genus, described here as cup-shaped (Fig. 4F): seed surface densely covered with minute cups. The structure results from collapse of outer cell walls of the testa epidermis. The outline of cell shape formed by radial walls is not visible (Fig. 5F), only the isodiametric, cup-shaped outer cell walls can be seen. The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis is about ...
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... tetrapterum Fr. (syn. Hypericum acutum Moench) Seeds straight, cylindrical, rounded at both ends, with protruding mucros (Fig. 3g). Seed length 670-800 μm, width 260-340 μm. Under a stereo microscope, surface shiny, dark brown (Fig. 3g). in SeM images, reticulate sculpture is visible, formed by delicate epidermal cells of the testa (Fig. 4g), which are minute, polygonal (usually pentagonal) isodiametric, with straight radial walls. The cell walls of the testa epidermis do not seem to adhere to one another at their angles (Fig. 5g). The mean number of epidermal cells along the seed axis is about ...
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Citations
... A particularly important feature is the sculpture of the seed coat and cell arrangement of its outer layer. However, only a relatively small number of Hypericum species have been studied so far in terms of seed morphology (Meseguer & Sanmartín 2012;Alonso et al. 2013;Szkudlarz & Celka 2016) and information about the anatomical structure of seeds in this genus has been also very limited (Szabes & Moro- zowa 1991;Matzk et al. 2001;Szkudlarz 2014). ...
... In Poland, all native Hypericum species were investigated in detail in terms of their seed morphology (Szkudlarz 2014;Szkudlarz & Celka 2016) and in case of H. elegans also anatomically (Szkudlarz 2014). A new species -H. ...
Hypericum majus (A. Gray) Britton is an alien species for Europe. It originates from North America and, in recent years, has been spreading in Europe. Presently, this species is found in Germany, France, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Belarus. In Poland, it was noted for the first time in 2017 in western part of the country. Thus far, no detailed morphology and anatomy of H. majus seeds based on light and electron microscopy studies has been presented. Considering the fact that seeds provide important taxonomical information and the discussed species has not been investigated in this respect, in this research, an attempt was made to broaden the present knowledge.
Investigations were conducted based on samples originating from three localities in Central Europe (Poland). The obtained results showed that H. majus seeds are very small – about 0.5 mm in length. In the SEM image, their surface is reticulate, typical of majority of species in this genus. Anatomical analysis showed that seed coat of matured seeds is very delicate, composed of two cell layers with strongly lignified walls.
... The seed coat was covered by abundant superficial sculptures. The anatomical and ontogenetic characteristics of seed microsculptures could be used for taxonomic identification of plant species (Schenk et al. 2013;Szkudlarz and Celka, 2016). According to previous morphological and ultrastructural studies of the seed coat (Fredes et al., 2016), the seed coat sculpture development in Z. fabago could be divided into the following stages: ...
Abstract: The ontogeny of seed coat and endosperm tissue in Zygophyllum fabago L. was studied to determine their developmental
importance using different histochemical and microscopic techniques. Our results revealed that the ovule of Z. fabago was of the
anatropous and bitegmic type. The inner epidermis cells were retained up to the end of seed development, whereas the other layers were
removed in the early stages. Moreover, the outer integument was changed into the seed coat sculptures during the seed development.
Concurrently, multiple cytoplasmic strings were formed at the seed coat cells. Fluorescence microscopic analysis indicated that callose
and polyphenols were laid down at these strings. In the late stages of the seed development, the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cells were
degenerated and the sculptures became obvious on the seed coat. The seed coat sculptures may play a role in the seed dispersal by wind.
During the early developmental stages, the endosperm was of the nuclear type and then changed into the cellular type. Cytochemical
tests indicated that in the later stages of seed development, the formation of starch grains and the thickening of cell walls occurred,
causing considerable reduction of cell cavities as well as hardening the tissue. The cell storage in the endosperm tissue was more lipidbased
than protein-based. Generally, due to the degeneration of the outer integument and the existence of the thin inner integument,
the endosperm cell wall seemed to be thickened to protect the embryo and to save carbohydrates. The obtained results shed more light
on the development of seed tissues in the family Zygophillaceae.
... The subsect. Fruit and seed traits play a significant role in the taxonomy of many species (Stace 1989;Szkudlarz 2009;Davitashvili & Karrer 2010;Szkudlarz & Celka 2016). The morphology and micromorphology of seeds are often utilised for taxonomic purposes also in Plantaginaceae and related families, like Scrophulariaceae or Orobanchaceae (e.g.: Elisens & Tomb 1983;Dong et al. 2015;Richardson Ahedor & Elisens 2015). ...
... Many authors highlighted the systematic value of the structural form of the seed coat due to its low phenetic variation of the species (e.g.: Barthlott 1981;Elisens & Tomb 1983;Martinez-Ortega & Rico 2001;Muñoz-Centeno et al. 2006, 2007Szkudlarz 2009;Szkudlarz & Celka 2016). The use of SEM made it possible to determine general types of seed coat sculpturing. ...
The study was conducted on five species of Veronica L. subsection Agrestes occurring in Central Europe: Veronica agrestis L., V. polita Fr., V. opaca Fr., V. persica Poir. and V. filiformis Sm. These species are very similar morphologically and are often misidentified. Last thorough studies of morphology and micromorphology of their seeds were conducted in 1960s. Based on 48 herbarium specimens, we examined SEM images of 422 seeds. We found that 22 of the 30 studied morphological traits differentiated five species at statistical level and V. agrestis and V. persica differed with the greatest number of features from other species. Our measurements of seed size were not fully congruent with previous studies, suggesting dependence of these features on external conditions. Seeds were usually cochlidiospermous and ovoid with a reticulate-verrucate seed coat, but these features were, at the same time, quite variable. The results of discriminant function confirmed that some characters of the seed size, shape and coat sculpture could be taxonomically useful in distinguishing species of Veronica subsect. Agrestes . In addition, we believe that similarity of the examined seeds may confirm unity of this group and the need of identifying a subsection.
The seed morphology of 40 taxa within the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae) from China, representing 9 sections of the genus, was examined using both Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of macro‐ and micro‐morphological features. Details articulating variation in seed size, color, shape, appendages, and seed coat ornamentation are described, illustrated, and compared, and their taxonomic importance is discussed. Seeds were generally brown in color and cylindric‐ellipsoid to prolonged cylindric in shape. Seed size displayed wide variation, ranging from 0.37–1.91 mm in length and 0.12–0.75 mm in width. Seed appendages were observed as a characteristic morphological feature. Seed surface ornamentation has high phenotypic plasticity, and four types (reticulate, foveolate, papillose, and ribbed) can be recognized. In general, seed color and shape have limited taxonomic significance. However, some other features represent informative characters that can be used efficiently in distinguishing the studied taxa at the section and/or species levels. The findings illustrate that considerable taxonomic knowledge can be obtained by investigating the seed features of Hypericum, and the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy can reveal inconspicuous morphological affinities among species and play a role in taxonomic and systematic studies of the genus Hypericum.
Research Highlights
Macro‐ and micro‐morphological features of seeds of 40 Hypericum taxa from China were examined using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy, providing the first broad study regarding seed morphology for Hypericum from China.
Details and variations of seed size, shape, color, surface ornamentation, and appendages are fully presented.
Seed features and their variation have important taxonomic significance at the section and/or species levels within Hypericum.
Здійснено дослідження паліноморфологічних особливостей шести видів роду Hypericum флори України H. аlpigenum, H. elegans, H. hirsutum, H. maculatum, H. montanum, H. perforatum. Всі досліджені види є цінними лікарськими рослинами, однак офіційно допускається використання сировини лише двох видів: H. perforatum та H. maculatum. Сировина інших видів також може збиратися з природних місцезростань, оскільки вони мають значне поширення в деяких регіонах України та морфологічно подібні до фармакопейних, їх домішка до сировини фармакопейних видів знижує її якість. Метою досліджень було здійснити порівняльний морфологічний аналіз пилкових зерен шести видів роду Hypericum флори України для з’ясування спільних і відмінних ознак, які дозволять ідентифікувати сировину цих видів. В результаті проведених паліноморфологічних досліджень встановлено, що пилкові зерна всіх шести видів роду Hypericum флори України дрібні, три-борозно-порові, еліпсоїдальні або сфероїдальні, в обрисах з полюса – трилопатеві, округло-трикутні, з екватора – еліптичні. В усіх досліджених видів борозни довгі, переважно з чіткими краями, загостреними кінцями та зернистою мембраною. Пори нечіткі. Ультраструктура екзини в досліджених видів роду Hypericum флори України дрібносітчаста (H. perforatum, H. alpigenum) та сітчаста (всі інші досліджені види). Морфометричні ознаки пилкових зерен досліджених видів: довжина полярної вісі, екваторіальний діаметр, ширина борозни, ширина мезокольпіума, діаметр апокольпіума, співвідношення довжини полярної вісі та екваторіального діаметру, ширини мезокольпіума та ширини апертур можна використовувати як додаткові діагностичні ознаки при ідентифікації видів роду Hypericum флори України.
‘Dust seeds’ with an undifferentiated (organless) embryo are known to be produced by mycoheterotrophic species (MH) in nine families of angiosperms. However, aside from the numerous studies on seed germination of orchids, relatively little is known about germination in MH families. In the Ericaceae, some degree of mycoheterotrophy (full, partial or initial) and dust seeds with an undifferentiated embryo occur in all species in the three tribes of Monotropoideae, the only subfamily of Ericaceae with this combination of characters. In most species, the seed is <0.90 mm in the greatest dimension, the endosperm is absent ( Pityopus ) or consists of few to many (30–40) cells, and the embryo is minute, consisting of as few as two cells in Monotropa . Germination in Monotropoideae is monopolar, with only the radicular pole of the embryo participating in germination. Thus, germination polarity differs from that of the dust seeds of orchids in which only the plumular pole of the embryo (protocorm) participates in germination. The dust seeds in Monotropoideae require the presence of fungi, either direct contact with a fungus or the presence of a diffusible substance therefrom, to germinate (symbiotic germination). Recently, representatives of the four genera of tribe Pyroleae have been successfully germinated asymbiotically in vitro . We present a broad overview of dust-size seeds in angiosperms and conclude that they should be subdivided into at least two major categories.
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Biodiversity: Research and Conservation , published at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), is open for the authors from the whole world and attracts a growing interest among researchers and readers. The data presented in this article show that this journal is read in a growing number of countries. It reaches readers mostly through its online version, but it is still published also in the traditional paper form, with the possibility of including colour photographs and figures.
