Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)
The seed morphology of three species belonging to the genus <i>Bromheadia</i> was analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy. The seeds of <i>B. cecieliae</i> and <i>B. truncata</i> were studied for the first time. Differences in the qualitative and qua...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/195 |
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| author | Emma Ortúñez Roberto Gamarra |
| author_facet | Emma Ortúñez Roberto Gamarra |
| author_sort | Emma Ortúñez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The seed morphology of three species belonging to the genus <i>Bromheadia</i> was analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy. The seeds of <i>B. cecieliae</i> and <i>B. truncata</i> were studied for the first time. Differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics between the terrestrial <i>B. finlaysoniana</i> and the epiphytes <i>B. cecieliae</i> and <i>B. truncata</i> were observed, which were in concordance with the life form. Due to the variability of the seed shapes, a new methodology is proposed to analyze the distance between the embryo and the testa cells, with the aim of demonstrating the presence of air space within the seed. The method is compared to previous formulae used to measure free air space. Furthermore, a new measurement, the angle in twisted testa cells of epiphytic orchids, is proposed, to evaluate the degree of torsion in medial cells. Although the wide distribution of <i>B. finlaysoniana</i> could be related to the great buoyancy of their seeds in contrast to the limited distribution of <i>B. cecieliae</i>, we consider that environmental factors are more influential than the buoyancy of seeds when understanding the distribution of these taxa. Future studies on seeds morphology in orchid genera with terrestrial and epiphytic taxa will provide new insights into this research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:55:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67ac3da2091f469bbf194213a5c53197 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:55:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-67ac3da2091f469bbf194213a5c531972023-11-16T20:04:24ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-02-0115219510.3390/d15020195Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)Emma Ortúñez0Roberto Gamarra1Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainThe seed morphology of three species belonging to the genus <i>Bromheadia</i> was analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy. The seeds of <i>B. cecieliae</i> and <i>B. truncata</i> were studied for the first time. Differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics between the terrestrial <i>B. finlaysoniana</i> and the epiphytes <i>B. cecieliae</i> and <i>B. truncata</i> were observed, which were in concordance with the life form. Due to the variability of the seed shapes, a new methodology is proposed to analyze the distance between the embryo and the testa cells, with the aim of demonstrating the presence of air space within the seed. The method is compared to previous formulae used to measure free air space. Furthermore, a new measurement, the angle in twisted testa cells of epiphytic orchids, is proposed, to evaluate the degree of torsion in medial cells. Although the wide distribution of <i>B. finlaysoniana</i> could be related to the great buoyancy of their seeds in contrast to the limited distribution of <i>B. cecieliae</i>, we consider that environmental factors are more influential than the buoyancy of seeds when understanding the distribution of these taxa. Future studies on seeds morphology in orchid genera with terrestrial and epiphytic taxa will provide new insights into this research.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/195testa cellsanticlinal wallsembryoterrestrialepiphyte |
| spellingShingle | Emma Ortúñez Roberto Gamarra Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) Diversity testa cells anticlinal walls embryo terrestrial epiphyte |
| title | Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) |
| title_full | Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) |
| title_short | Seed Morphology, Life Form and Distribution in Three <i>Bromheadia</i> Species (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) |
| title_sort | seed morphology life form and distribution in three i bromheadia i species epidendroideae orchidaceae |
| topic | testa cells anticlinal walls embryo terrestrial epiphyte |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/195 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emmaortunez seedmorphologylifeformanddistributioninthreeibromheadiaispeciesepidendroideaeorchidaceae AT robertogamarra seedmorphologylifeformanddistributioninthreeibromheadiaispeciesepidendroideaeorchidaceae |