An embryological approach to the taxonomic status of Vacciniaceae

Abstract

The structure and development of male and female gametophytes, endosperm and embryo are described for Vaccinium nummularia Hook.,V. retusum Hook. and V. serratum Weight. A comparison of embryological information presented here with that of other species given by previous workers shows general agreement in all the vacciniums. In view of the similarities between the vacciniums and the subfamilies of Ericaceae, the grouping of Vaccinioideae as a subfamily with the rest of Ericaceae, as against the erection of the family Vacciniaceae, is supported.