Fruit Morphology of Trigonotis funingensis and Its Taxonomic Implications

Abstract:

The fruit morphology of genus Trigonotis is taxonomically important, which plays important role in the delimitation of its sections. The fruit morphology of T. funingensis, however, is still lacking. Therefore, its taxonomic placement at section level remains unknown. In a field exploration, the mature fruits of T. funingensis were collected in Napo County, Guangxi, China. The fruit morphology of T. funingensis was supplemented based on the detailed examination under dissecting microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Mature nutlet of this species is inverted subulate, trigonous-tetrahedral, and sessile, with three adaxial surfaces subequal in size and abaxial surface triangular. The nutlet morphology indicated that T. funingensis should belong to sect. Elongatae Ohwi.

Key words:Trigonotis;Boraginaceae;Nutlet;Morphology;Micro-morphology;Taxonomy