Am. J. Bot.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Caris, P. L.
Right arrow Articles by Smets, E. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Caris, P. L.
Right arrow Articles by Smets, E. F.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Caris, P. L.
Right arrow Articles by Smets, E. F.
(American Journal of Botany. 2006;93:1-14.)
© 2006 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Anatomy and Morphology

Floral development in three species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae)1

Pieter L. Caris2, Koen P. Geuten, Steven B. Janssens and Erik F. Smets

Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

ABSTRACT

The floral morphological and developmental patterns in three species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae), namely I. columbaria, I. hawkeri, and I. niamniamensis, were studied to contribute to a better understanding of floral evolution in the genus. Strangely enough, the highly diverse floral morphology and ontogeny of this horticulturally important genus have never been studied thoroughly (e.g., using scanning electron microscopic techniques). We discuss the position and the developmental sequence of the different perianth members. We hypothesized that in the course of evolution, the anterolateral sepals become reduced and that a morphocline can be recognized going from species with five sepals, over species with rudimentary sepals that fuse postgenitally with the anterior petal, to species where congenital fusion between these sepals and the anterior petal has taken place. Ovules generally are in one or two vertical rows per locule, but there are several vertical rows per locule in I. columbaria. The outer parts of the septa disintegrate to enable the explosive dehiscence of the capsules.

Key Words: Balsaminaceae • Ericales • floral development • floral evolution • floral morphology • Impatiens • scanning electron microscopy




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
M. Hayashi, K. L. Feilich, and D. J. Ellerby
The mechanics of explosive seed dispersal in orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2009; 60(7): 2045 - 2053.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
Flowering Newsletter bibliography for 2006
J. Exp. Bot., April 20, 2007; (2007) erm028v2.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the Botanical Society of America, Inc.