Nicandra physalodes (HUNZIKER, 1979)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.4605860 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6B72879E-FF93-FFC5-FD6C-FA7FA44CF92B |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Nicandra physalodes |
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Nicandra physalodes View in CoL
Calyx
The sepals are sagittate, overlapping only at their base, 20-22 mm long and 14-15 mm wide. Their epidermis is covered by various trichomes: eglandular, simple, pluricellular with a length-
ened cuticle at its apex ( Fig. 5A View Fig ), and glandular with a head formed by 4-5 cells ( Fig. 5B View Fig ).
Corolla
The color is blue at the border with a white throat. The corolla is 30-32 mm long and 20- 21 mm wide. On the external epidermis, trichomes similar to those of the calyx are observed. The anatomical features of the calyx and corolla are very similar to those described for E. maritimus .
Androecium
The androecium is formed by five equal length stamens ( Fig. 5C View Fig ). The filaments are geniculate and pubescent at the base ( Fig. 5C View Fig ), where eglandular, simple hairs are especially abundant, form- ing compact pads ( Fig. 5C View Fig ). The anthers are 5-6 mm long and bear eglandular, simple trichomes throughout their surface. In this case, the endothecium is composed for two or three strata of cells with fibrous thickenings and the stomium is formed by two or three layers of small isodiametric cells with light colored contents ( Fig. 5D,E View Fig ). When such cells disorganize, the stomium zone does not have crystalline sand ( Fig. 5E View Fig ). On the other hand, the pollen sacs are all fertile with a completely normal endothecium, tapetum and pollen grains ( Fig. 5D,E View Fig ).
Gynoecium
The stigma is capitate, formed by five prominent stigmatic areas ( Fig. 6A,C View Fig ). The receptive
surface has pluricellular papillae ( Fig. 6C,D View Fig ), which are intertwined and contribute to the formation of stigmatic channels ( Fig. 6 View Fig B-D). The style is glabrous and lacks stomata. The ovary is composed by five carpels ( Fig. 7E View Fig ) and contains seven locules due to the presence of false septa at the base of the ovary ( Fig. 7F View Fig ). The parenchymatic cells of the ovary show mixed-shaped crystals: druse crystals, crystalline sand and amorphous glasses. The nectary at the base of the ovary is a ring with five soft swellings ( Fig. 7 View Fig A- D,F). The secretory tissue possesses 18-22 layers of cells ( Fig. 7C,D,F View Fig ) and 40 ± 5 stomata distributed only around the base of the nectary ( Fig. 7B View Fig ). Five dorsal and many lateral vascular bundles that ascend to the external wall of the ovary irrigate the nectary.
Vascularization
The vascular pattern of Nicandra flowers is equivalent to that described for Exodeconus maritimus . However, some differences can be observed. Nicandra has a siphonostele that is not divided into discrete vascular bundles. The vascular bundles of sepals, petals and stamens branch off without leaving lacunae. The calyx is irrigated by 15 vascular bundles (five are main bundles and the others lateral ramifications). The corolla has 15 vascular bundles (five are main bundles and the others lateral ramifications). The carpellary vascular system arises from the divided stele. The ovary is irrigated by 10 ventral bundles and 5 dorsal bundles, irrigating the style and the 5 stigmatic areas respectively. These observations agree with MURRAY’ S (1945) data.
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