Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae)
Barkeria scandens and B. whartoniana are endangered, endemic taxa from Mexico. They are epiphytes adapted to dry habitats. Since these plants are xerophytic, their flowers were investigated for structural adaptations to nectar secretion. The flowers of both species are structurally similar, and cont...
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/11874.pdf |
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| author | Małgorzata Stpiczyńska Magdalena Kamińska Kevin L. Davies |
| author_facet | Małgorzata Stpiczyńska Magdalena Kamińska Kevin L. Davies |
| author_sort | Małgorzata Stpiczyńska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Barkeria scandens and B. whartoniana are endangered, endemic taxa from Mexico. They are epiphytes adapted to dry habitats. Since these plants are xerophytic, their flowers were investigated for structural adaptations to nectar secretion. The flowers of both species are structurally similar, and contrary to most claims for the genus, have functional floral nectaries comprising a nectary chamber and a narrow tubular cuniculus. Nectar is present in both these structures, and contains sugars and lipid-like compounds. The nectary tissue is composed of a single-layered epidermis overlying 1–2 layers of subepidermal secretory parenchyma. The outer tangential wall of the epidermal cells is thick and multi-layered, whereas the cuticle, which often shows blistering, is lamellate and possesses micro-channels. Lipid-like material occurs both between the microfibrils of the cell wall and in the micro-channels. Robust secretory tissue, thick cell walls, and lipid-like nectar components limit nectar evaporation. Moreover, the rigidity of the nectary potentially makes it possible for red-flowered B. scandens to switch from entomophily to ornithophily. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bfa82095a400471a8bd87dbcc5f127ae2023-12-03T09:30:26ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-08-019e1187410.7717/peerj.11874Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae)Małgorzata Stpiczyńska0Magdalena Kamińska1Kevin L. Davies2Faculty of Biology, Botanic Garden, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Botany and Plant Physiology, University of Life Sciencies in Lublin, Lublin, PolandSchool of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United KingdomBarkeria scandens and B. whartoniana are endangered, endemic taxa from Mexico. They are epiphytes adapted to dry habitats. Since these plants are xerophytic, their flowers were investigated for structural adaptations to nectar secretion. The flowers of both species are structurally similar, and contrary to most claims for the genus, have functional floral nectaries comprising a nectary chamber and a narrow tubular cuniculus. Nectar is present in both these structures, and contains sugars and lipid-like compounds. The nectary tissue is composed of a single-layered epidermis overlying 1–2 layers of subepidermal secretory parenchyma. The outer tangential wall of the epidermal cells is thick and multi-layered, whereas the cuticle, which often shows blistering, is lamellate and possesses micro-channels. Lipid-like material occurs both between the microfibrils of the cell wall and in the micro-channels. Robust secretory tissue, thick cell walls, and lipid-like nectar components limit nectar evaporation. Moreover, the rigidity of the nectary potentially makes it possible for red-flowered B. scandens to switch from entomophily to ornithophily.https://peerj.com/articles/11874.pdfBarkeriaOrchidaceaeHistochemistryNectaryStructureNectar secretion |
| spellingShingle | Małgorzata Stpiczyńska Magdalena Kamińska Kevin L. Davies Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) PeerJ Barkeria Orchidaceae Histochemistry Nectary Structure Nectar secretion |
| title | Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) |
| title_full | Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) |
| title_fullStr | Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) |
| title_short | Nectar secretion in a dry habitat: structure of the nectary in two endangered Mexican species of Barkeria (Orchidaceae) |
| title_sort | nectar secretion in a dry habitat structure of the nectary in two endangered mexican species of barkeria orchidaceae |
| topic | Barkeria Orchidaceae Histochemistry Nectary Structure Nectar secretion |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/11874.pdf |
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