Studies in the order piperales. V. A contribution to the study of floral morphology of some species of Piper

Abstract

The vascular anatomy of the flower in general is uniform in all the species of Piper studied. A flower is always supplied by a single branch that gives out first a trace to the bract. The remaining vascular supply gives out traces to the stamens or staminodes when present and then supplies the gynaeceum. Only in some species like P. Tucumanum adnation of the stamen traces and in the female flowers of P. longum of the bract trace with the carpellary dorsals, has been observed. The gynaeceum supply splits up at its base into three dorsals and one ventral strand. Secondary laterals are observed only in three species. In P. longum the dorsals are seen fusing below the stigmas otherwise they directly supply them. Embryology in P. Gaudichaudianum has been studied and it is concluded that it follows Fritillaria-type as in other species of Piper.