The Embryology, Reproductive Morphology, and Systematics of Lecythidaceae. 1994.(Mem.NYBGdn.,71). Illustr. 110 p. gr8vo. Paper bd.

These 20 genera are uniform in many embryological characters including:Basic type anther wall formation, glandular tepetum of anther, bitegmic-tenuinucellate ovule, multi-cell-layered inner and outerinteguments, Polygonum type embryo sac formation, straight microphyleformed by inner integument only, and vascularized outer integument.Embryological data suggest that the Lecythidaceae s.l. have greatersimilarities with the Theaceae, Ochnaceae, Scytopetalaceae, Ebenaceae,and Styraceae than with other dicotyledonous families. On the otherhand, good characters for resolving intrafamilial problems have notbeen discovered. Palynology of the Lecythidaceae s.l. provides clearcutdifferences useful in demonstrating the Planchonioideae as amonophyletic subfamily which is characterized by syncolpate pollen withsome specialized features, e.g., marginal ridges, marginal grooves, andpolar cushions. The pollen of the other three subfamilies are of thecommon tricolpor(oid)ate type without morphological autapomorphies andhence of little use in phylogenetic considerations.