Page 10 - Morphoanatomical investigations of cones and pollen in Cathaya argyrophylla Chung & Kuang (Pinaceae, Coniferales) under systematical and evolutional aspects

V. M. Dörken and H. Nimsch Feddes Repertorium 2014, 125, 25–38

Table 1. Comparative morphology of cones and pollen from Cathaya with the Pinus-Picea and the Larix-Pseudotsuga-
complex (CAT = Cathaya; LAR = Larix; PIC = Picea; PIN = Pinus; PSE = Pseudotsuga; X = feature present;
0 = feature absent).

taxon feature
CAT PIN PIC LAR PSE
seed-cone
X X 0 0 0 sylleptic flush of shoots and seed-cones
0 X X X X stalk surrounded by bud scales
X X 0 0 0 inserted axillar at the shoot axis
0 0 X X X inserted terminal at the shoot axis
X 0 0 X X stalk leaved
0 0 0 X X two micropylar arm unequally developed, with papillae
X X X 0 0 two micropylar arms equally developed, without papillae
? X X 0 0 pollination drop developed
X X X X X erect at anthesis
X X X 0 X downward at maturity
0 0 X X X maturing in the year of pollination
rd
nd
X X 0 0 0 maturing in the 2 or 3 year
0 0 0 X/0 X cone-scale visible externally at maturity
X X 0 0 0 cone-scale with glandular hairs
0 X 0 0 0 seed-scale strongly thickened
0 X 0 0 0 seed-scale with umbo
X X/0 X X X seed-wing developed
pollen-cone
0 X 0 0 0 sylleptic flush of shoots and pollen-cones
X X X X X stalk surrounded by bud scales
X X X 0 X inserted axillary at the shoot axis
0 0 0 X 0 inserted terminal at the shoot axis
X 0 0 X X stalk leaved
Pollen
X X X 0 0 bisaccate
X 0 0 0 0 surface microechinate
X 0 0 0 0 surface perforated

are developed at the stalk, bud scales are absent. Tran- feature of Cathaya, Picea, Pinus, Larix and Pseu-
sitions between preceding needle leaves and cone- dotsuga is the quite broad base of the seed-scale. A
scales lack. Due to the lack of bud scales these needle- distinctly pedicellate base of the cone-scale/seed-scale
leaves could not represent the inner bud-scales. The complex as in e.g. Abies or Cedrus is absent. In ripe
leafy stalk of the Cathaya seed-cone (Fig. 1B, C) is cones of Cathaya the seed-scales overtop the cone-
comparable to that of Larix and Pseudotsuga. In Pinus scales (Fig. 1E), as in Picea, Pinus and Larix. In Pseu-
and Picea, leafy stalks are absent. dotsuga, however, the cone-scales overtop the seed-
In Cathaya the number of cone-scale/seed-scale scales distinctly even at maturity. Contrasting to Ca-
complexes is significant lower than in most species of thaya, Picea, Larix and Pseudotsuga seed-scales in
Picea and Pinus, however, similar to the situation in Pinus are extremely thick and woody with a distinct
most species of Larix and Pseudotsuga (especially to umbo. Contrasting to all other Pinaceae the seed-cone
the Asian species of Pseudotsuga). In Cathaya and of Pinus is closed by a ventral bulge of the seed-scale.
some species of Pinus (e.g. Pinus pumila) several glan- The tip of the seed-scale shifts in the middle of the ex-
dular hairs are inserted at the margin of the cone-scales ternally visible part of the scale and forms the umbo. In
(Fig. 2B, C). Such glandular hairs are absent at cone- all Pinaceae each seed-scale develops two ovules, with
scales of Picea, Larix and Pseudotsuga. A common the micropyle towards the cone axis, (e.g. Debreczy &

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