Studies in the order piperales. VI. A contribution to the study of floral anatomy of Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq.

Abstract

The floral anatomy of Pothomorphe umbellata is described. The bract trace and the floral trace arise conjoint. At the base of the flower the floral trace branches into three compound bundles which bifurcate into a total of six bundles. Two of these are obviously the stamen traces, another is the ventral (or placental) strand which supplies the ovular trace. The remaining three bundles have been interpreted as dorsal bundles of the carpels and hence the gynaeceum has been interpreted as tricarpellary. As the ovule receives its supply from one side and not from the base it is considered to be lateral rather than basal.