Abstract

TAISMA, María Angélica. Morphometry of inflorescence units, flowers and polyads in species of the Tribe ingeae (mimosoideae). Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2007, vol.30, n.1, pp.227-247. ISSN 0084-5906.

A morphometric study was done for spikes and racemes (IA), globose capitate inflorescences (ICG) and umbeliform capitate inflorescences (ICU) for 19 species of the genera Albizia, Calliandra, Enterolobium, Inga, Pithecellobium, Zapoteca and Zygia,Tribe Ingeae (Mimosoideae). IA inflorescences showed hermaphrodite flowers and homomorphic polyads with 24-32 pollen grains. ICG inflorescences showed hermaphrodite flowers and a mixture of heteromorphic and homomorphic polyads with 16-24 pollen grains. ICU inflorescences were hermaphrodite or andromonoic and showed a majority of heteromorphic polyads with 7-16 pollen grains. Positive and significant regression coefficients were found between raquis dimensions and flower number per inflorescence, stamen number per flower, stamen number per inflorescence, pollen grains per flower, pollen grains per inflorescence, ovule number per ovary, ovule number per inflorescence, and P/O. An ANOVA test showed significant differences in morphometric variables related with raquis size, flower size, pollen and ovule production between IA, ICG and ICU. No prevalence of the andromonoecious condition was found for capitate inflorescences. Results suggest morphometric relationships between rachis size of Ingeae species and quantitative variables related to resource allocation to male and female inflorescence structures

Keywords : Inflorescences; Ingeae; Mimosoideae; Morphology; Morphometry.