Morphological variation of fruits and infrutescences in Biscirtellcl L. (Cruciferae)
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Date
1992
Authors
Olowokudejo, J. D.
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Publisher
Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA
Abstract
The variation of fruits and infrutcscences in 51 taxa
of the genus Biscutellu is reported. The basic structure
of the fruit is similar in all species - a stalked strongly
compressed indehiscent didymous silicula which
breaks from the axis into two one-seeded loculi at
mnturity. The peculiar and distinctive nature of the
fruit constitutes the most important diagnostic feature
for separating the genus from other genera. There is
considerable variation in fruit size both within and
between some species, e.g. the smallest fruits are found
in B. microcurpu where they hardly exceed 2.5 mm
x 5.0 mni while in B. rnegacarpucu they could be as
big ;IS 11.0 mrn long and 18.5 mm wide. Prominent
among species with significant intra-specific variation
are B. lirsiranicu, B. setpercirens, B. glaciulis and
B. crrlentina. The apex of the fruit is notched to
varying extents except in B. uiiricirluttr where the
margins run continuously with the style and the apex
is therefore not notched. Style is persistent and
contributes to the distinctive appearance of the fruit
and the recognition of some species. Other variable
characters include the pedicel. margin. valve shape
and pubescence. The infrutescence varies from a
simple raceme to a much-branched panicle. The
flexuous branches of some taxa constitute an important
feature for their preliminary identification. Some
of these characters are of value in clarifying the
taxonomic relationships among some component
taxa.
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Citation
Olowokudejo, J. D. (1992). Morphological variation of fruits and infrutescences in Biscirtellcl L. (Cruciferae) Feddes Repertorium 103(5-6): 327-337