FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152842
Vinícius Coelho Kuster , Daniela Maria Wickert , Ana Paula de Souza , Nathalia Assis Coimbra , Denis Coelho de Oliveira
{"title":"Variation in leaf gall pigmentation in Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) and its associations with structural host traits","authors":"Vinícius Coelho Kuster , Daniela Maria Wickert , Ana Paula de Souza , Nathalia Assis Coimbra , Denis Coelho de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152842","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152842","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cassava (<em>Manihot esculenta</em>, Euphorbiaceae) hosts various gall-inducing organisms, such as <em>Iatrophobia brasiliensis</em> (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera), which induce both white‒green and purple-leaf galls. In this study, we aimed to understand the relationship between gall structure and histochemistry with the occurrence of purple coloration in galls. Therefore, nongalled leaves of the 3rd node (<em>n</em> = 5) and mature white–green and purple galls (<em>n</em> = 5 each) were collected. Fragments of the median region of leaves (petiole and leaf blade) and of the galls were evaluated fresh and/or included in Historesin. Starch, reducing sugars, lipids, proteins, phenolics and alkaloids were histochemically evaluated in the galls. The galls assume the same pigmentation from petioles (white‒green or purple) of each <em>M. esculenta</em> individual, which are the mandatory intraspecific traits that determine its variation. Both white–green and purple galls have a uniseriate epidermis, with a thin cuticle and visually rare stomata. The cortex is exclusively parenchymatic and comprises an outer and inner cortex. The vascular bundles are collateral. The purple galls have subepidermal layers containing larger cells that act as sites for pigment accumulation alongside the epidermis. The occurrence of reducing sugars in the outer cortex was exclusive to purple galls, same for proteins and alkaloids in vascular bundles for white–green galls. The purple phenomenon of <em>M. esculenta</em> galls appears to be related to intraspecific variations in the plant species, resulting from a metabolic continuum with the petiole. Anthocyanin production seems to be sustained by the influx of sugars into the outer cortex of purple galls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152842"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152862
Elizabeth K. McMurchie , Josephine A. Crock , Devin Molnau , Haldre S. Rogers , Dean C. Adams , Lynn G. Clark
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Foliage leaf and floral bract micromorphology vary by habitat and habit in Guadua (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae)” [Flora, Volume 330, September 2025, 152767]","authors":"Elizabeth K. McMurchie , Josephine A. Crock , Devin Molnau , Haldre S. Rogers , Dean C. Adams , Lynn G. Clark","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152862","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152862"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-29DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152848
Marina Ž. Jušković, Maja D. Jovanović, Jovana S. Stojanović, Bojan K. Zlatković
{"title":"Anatomical characterisation of Euphorbia L. taxa from Serbia: implications for taxonomy and identification","authors":"Marina Ž. Jušković, Maja D. Jovanović, Jovana S. Stojanović, Bojan K. Zlatković","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the anatomical variability of stem and leaf traits and their taxonomic significance in 11 <em>Euphorbia</em> species and subspecies from Serbia, six of which (<em>E. epithymoides, E. niciciana, E. serpentini, E. spinosa</em> subsp. <em>glabriflora, E. subhastata</em>, and <em>E. thessala</em>) are investigated for the first time. A total of 31 quantitative anatomical characters were measured and analysed using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Key differentiating traits included stem diameter, stem collenchyma thickness, cortex parenchyma thickness, xylem thickness, width of stomata on the adaxial side, and stomatal surface area on the abaxial side. The findings underscore the diagnostic value of quantitative anatomical traits for taxa identification. Additionally, qualitative traits - particularly epidermal features such as indumentum, cell wall patterns, and stomatal types - further aid in taxa differentiation. This study provides the first comprehensive anatomical analysis of stems and leaves for most of the taxa examined, enhancing the understanding of <em>Euphorbia</em> variability patterns. It supports more precise taxa delimitation within the genus and establishes a foundation for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152848"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152845
Isnaiane Maria de Azevedo de Sousa Lima , Angela Lucena Nascimento de Jesus , Cintia Amando , Nielson Dinivan da Silva Brito , Marcia Nunes de Melo Santos , Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal , Renata Akemi Shinozaki-Mendes , André Laurênio de Melo , André Luiz Alves de Lima
{"title":"Do stem functional traits determine the phenology of tree species in semiarid highland forest, Brazil?","authors":"Isnaiane Maria de Azevedo de Sousa Lima , Angela Lucena Nascimento de Jesus , Cintia Amando , Nielson Dinivan da Silva Brito , Marcia Nunes de Melo Santos , Maria Jesus Nogueira Rodal , Renata Akemi Shinozaki-Mendes , André Laurênio de Melo , André Luiz Alves de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The phenology of tree species in tropical forests is better understood when both environmental factors and functional traits of plants are analyzed. However, the relation between phenology and functional traits is still poorly explored, especially in forest ecosystems. This study analyzed the relation between phenology, wood density (WD) and wood water storage capacity (Qwsat) of 21 tree species from highland forest, montane wetland in the semiarid region of Brazil, as well as their relation with environmental factors. Most species are semideciduous (43 %) or evergreen (43 %), while only three (14 %) are deciduous. Many species (86 %) have shown WD between 0.52 and 0.62 g/cm³, with low Qwsat, while only three species (14 %) have presented lower wood density (0.38–0.48 g/cm³), with higher Qwsat in their stems (105–157 % of dry mass). Leaf budding was positively influenced by rainfall. Leaf fall was the phenophase affected by the greatest number of variables, showing negative relationships with both humidity and wood density. Additionally, evergreen species exhibited a 22.4 % lower leaf fall rate compared to the other groups. These results indicate that stem functional traits were not relevant to explain the phenology of plant species in this environment, but that budding and leaf fall have a great contribution to understanding the functioning and distribution of functional groups in an upland forests. These results reveal that, unlike the surrounding Caatinga vegetation, in the highland forest the stem functional traits were not good indicators of plant functioning, but leaf traits are of great relevance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152845"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-07DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152839
Joan Sebastian Aguilar-Peralta , Marcela Sofía Vaca-Sánchez , Yurixhi Maldonado-López , Mário M. Espírito-Santo , Ken Oyama , Maurício L. Faria , Magno Augusto Zazá Borges , Marcílio Fagundes , G. Wilson Fernandes , Jean Carlos Santos , Pablo Cuevas-Reyes
{"title":"Interplay of ant defense and leaf functional traits determine herbivory and fluctuating asymmetry during ontogeny of a myrmecophytic tropical plant","authors":"Joan Sebastian Aguilar-Peralta , Marcela Sofía Vaca-Sánchez , Yurixhi Maldonado-López , Mário M. Espírito-Santo , Ken Oyama , Maurício L. Faria , Magno Augusto Zazá Borges , Marcílio Fagundes , G. Wilson Fernandes , Jean Carlos Santos , Pablo Cuevas-Reyes","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tree ontogeny leads to changes in life history traits due to reproduction costs. Understanding the ecological mechanisms influencing biotic interactions is crucial, considering the relationship between functional traits in the leaf economic spectrum with herbivory along plant ontogeny. We investigated ontogenetic variation on leaf functional traits of ant-plant mutualistic interactions in the myrmecophyte Cordia alliodora and their consequences for leaf herbivory and fluctuating asymmetry. We sampled leaves of 25 juvenile and 25 mature trees to determine eight leaf functional traits, leaf herbivory and fluctuating asymmetry. We also determined domatia and ant number to evaluate ant-defense. All leaf functional traits differed from juvenile to mature trees, supporting change from an acquisitive to a conservative strategy in resource use along the continuum of leaf economic spectrum. Juvenile trees hosted more worker ants, while mature trees had higher herbivory and fluctuating asymmetry. Leaf herbivory was negatively influenced by ant defense, reinforcing the importance of ant-plant interactions, as well as positively related to defensive traits (leaf density and dry matter content) and fluctuating asymmetry, but negatively with the specific leaf area. Conservative traits were not linked to leaf herbivory. Instead, C. alliodora allocates higher resources to ant defense in juvenile trees. Fluctuating asymmetry was positively associated with leaf herbivory in juvenile and mature trees, remarking that fluctuating asymmetry is a valuable biomarker of plant-stressors. Predictions related to leaf herbivory and fluctuating asymmetry should consider complex biotic interactions, including myrmecophily, and life history trade-offs arising from defensive investment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152839"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-10-05DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152851
Elder Antônio Sousa Paiva , Igor Ballego-Campos , Marc Gibernau , Carlos Gabriel Pereira-Silva , Artur Campos Dália Maia
{"title":"Osmophores as key players in pollination of Caladium bicolor (Araceae): a structural approach","authors":"Elder Antônio Sousa Paiva , Igor Ballego-Campos , Marc Gibernau , Carlos Gabriel Pereira-Silva , Artur Campos Dália Maia","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>All known species of the Caladieae tribe are beetle-pollinated, with floral volatiles linked to thermogenesis playing a key role in attracting pollinators. In <em>Caladium bicolor</em>, the inflorescences emit a strong scent that attracts nocturnal cyclocephaline beetles, though the exact site of scent emission remains debated. This study identified the osmophore and examined tissues and subcellular structures involved in scent production. Preliminary observations indicated the staminate portion of the spadix as the scent source. Microscopic analyses revealed that the secretory region is composed of papillary epidermis and underlying secretory parenchyma. Stomata exhibited signs of exudate release. Starch reserves in the parenchyma decreased during peak thermogenesis and constitute the energy source for this process. The distal portion of the synandria exhibited cells with cytoplasm rich in mitochondria, plastids, and other organelles. In addition to being fundamental in the process of thermogenesis, mitochondria, in association with plastids, plays a key role in the biosynthesis of some components of the floral bouquet, primarily terpenes. The cell structure, combined with active exudate production and pronounced thermogenesis in the fertile staminate portion, strongly supports its role as the primary site of floral fragrance emission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152851"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152846
Gisely de Souza Santos, Jessica Ferreira de Lima, Ana Silvia Franco Pinheiro Moreira
{"title":"Effects of the velamen water saturation on the photosynthetic performance of Vanda hybrid (Orchidaceae), a species with conspicuous pneumathodes","authors":"Gisely de Souza Santos, Jessica Ferreira de Lima, Ana Silvia Franco Pinheiro Moreira","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anatomical and physiological characteristics in orchids efficiently optimize the acquisition and use of water, such as the velamen in the roots, and the expression of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). However, the water saturation of the velamen may generate hypoxic conditions, which the presence of pneumathodes may reduce. The present study aimed to analyze the tolerance of the epiphyte <em>Vanda</em> hybrid subjected to water saturation, determining whether the velamen water saturation leads to root oxidative stress with a systemic effect on plant metabolism, and discussing the role of pneumathodes in root aeration. Five individuals were used as controls, and five were subjected to root system submersion for 120 h (time intervals: 0, 24, 72, and 120 h after submersion). Fragments of leaves and roots were used to obtain the specific mass and the relative water content, and to quantify the diurnal organic acid changes, the contents of chloroplast pigments, and chlorophyll <em>a</em> fluorescence. Histochemical analyses were performed to detect oxidative stress in the roots. The initial submersion of the roots led to plant hydration and increased CAM expression and photochemical quantum yield by leaves. Pneumathodes remained white throughout the experiment, but the submerged roots exhibited higher oxidative stress than those of control plants after 120 h of submersion. In addition to the connection between the root cortex and the external environment, the air pockets formed by pneumathode cells and the O<sub>2</sub> product of photosynthetic metabolism can reduce or at least delay the effects generated by water saturation conditions at the root.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152846"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152831
Paula Alves e Silva , Ana Carolina Couto da Silva , Hugo Humberto de Araújo , Reinaldo Alves de Castro , Silvana da Costa Ferreira , Luiz Menini Neto , Jaqueline Dias-Pereira
{"title":"Leaf anatomy of five epiphytic Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae) species from the Cerrado of southeastern Brazil: adaptive strategies and taxonomic value","authors":"Paula Alves e Silva , Ana Carolina Couto da Silva , Hugo Humberto de Araújo , Reinaldo Alves de Castro , Silvana da Costa Ferreira , Luiz Menini Neto , Jaqueline Dias-Pereira","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The epiphytic habit is predominant in <em>Bulbophyllum</em>. Anatomical studies can elucidate the adaptive strategies of epiphytic species under extreme environmental conditions such as high temperatures and water scarcity. We aimed to: (i) characterize the leaf anatomy of five species of <em>Bulbophyllum: Bulbophyllum chloroglossum</em> Rchb.f. & Warm., <em>B. epiphytum</em> Barb.Rodr., <em>B. exaltatum</em> Lindl., <em>B. gladiatum</em> Lindl., and <em>B. plumosum</em> Barb.Rodr., to identify the adaptive responses to the epiphytic habit; (ii) investigate the presence of anatomical characters useful for the taxonomy of the group. Individuals of the studied species were collected at different heights on the phorophyte whenever possible. The leaves were processed for structural characterization by light microscopy, micromorphometry, and calculation of stomatal index. All species have unistratified epidermis with thick external periclinal walls and hypostomatic leaves with tetracytic stomata. The mesophyll contains hydrenchyma with sclereids and calcium oxalate crystals. The vascular bundles are collateral and surrounded by fibers. The individual of <em>B. chloroglossum</em> collected at the highest height on the phorophyte has a thicker leaf blade compared to the individual collected at a lower height. However, the individuals of <em>B. exaltatum</em> and <em>B. gladiatum</em> had a thicker leaf blade, even at a lower height. Significant differences in the stomatal index occur between <em>B. chloroglossum</em> and <em>B. plumosum</em>. All species of <em>Bulbophyllum</em> possess anatomical adaptive strategies, such as the thick outer periclinal wall of epidermal cells, hydrenchyma, hypostomatic leaf, and crystals along the leaf blade. We identified distinctive anatomical characters among the species, allowing the elaboration of an identification key.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152831"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152828
Tingting Xie, Hongzhuan Shi, Qiaosheng Guo, Tao Wang, Qingjun Zou, Min Wei, Chang Liu, Jianmin Huang, Yong Su, Chenlu Yang
{"title":"A medicinal plant highly stable for survival under climate change due to UV buffering–Chrysanthemum indicum L. future adaptation analysis","authors":"Tingting Xie, Hongzhuan Shi, Qiaosheng Guo, Tao Wang, Qingjun Zou, Min Wei, Chang Liu, Jianmin Huang, Yong Su, Chenlu Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clarifying the appropriate distribution range of species is a fundamental task in addressing the effects of climate change. Herbal medicine is an important part of China's traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, and among them, <em>Chrysanthemum indicum</em> L. (<em>C. indicum</em>) is a vital medicinal plant facing growing demand driven by climate change and economic influences. Consequently, it is crucial to properly assess how <em>C. indicum</em> responds to the continuously changing climate and explore its survival stability. In this study, the MaxEnt model was employed to simulate the shifts in suitable habitats for the species of <em>C. indicum</em> in China from the present to the 2100s under two scenarios, a low forcing scenario (SSP1–2.6) as well as a high forcing scenario (SSP5–8.5), on the basis of environmental factors including climate, soil, and topography, and quantified the potential changes in the suitable areas. The results demonstrated that under current climate conditions, the suitable areas for <em>C. indicum</em> are concentrated in the Yangtze River Basin and areas south of the Yangtze River in China, the most suitable habitat was identified in Hubei Province, and this distribution is projected to remain largely stable over an extended period in the future. Seasonal ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB2) was identified as the most influential environmental factor. In addition, the “UV-B buffer hypothesis” was proposed, suggesting that when UV-B radiation serves as a key limiting factor, species distribution can remain stable despite climate warming. Taken together, the findings offer insights into the production and future conservation planning of <em>C. indicum</em>, and provide a roadmap for the preservation of other UV-B-dependent species in a changing world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152828"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FloraPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2025.152850
Elder Antônio Sousa Paiva , Marc Gibernau , Carlos Gabriel Pereira-Silva , Artur Campos Dália Maia , Eduardo Gomes Gonçalves , Igor Ballego-Campos
{"title":"Floral nectaries in Spathicarpa hastifolia (Araceae: Spathicarpeae): insights from ultrastructure and biology of the secretory process","authors":"Elder Antônio Sousa Paiva , Marc Gibernau , Carlos Gabriel Pereira-Silva , Artur Campos Dália Maia , Eduardo Gomes Gonçalves , Igor Ballego-Campos","doi":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.flora.2025.152850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Neotropical tribe Spathicarpeae (Araceae) exhibits unique floral traits, among which staminodes seem to be crucial for reproductive biology in most of its genera. Given the existing gap in the literature on pollination ecology, along with the uncertainties regarding nectar secretion, we studied <em>Spathicarpa hastifolia</em> to describe staminode ultrastructure, investigate secretory processes, and characterize the composition of exudates sought by floral visitors. Flower buds and flowers in different anthesis phases were collected, fixed, and processed for light and electron microscopy. Flowers of <em>S. hastifolia</em> lack a perianth and comprise a gynoecium surrounded by staminodes. Staminodes exude a hyaline fluid during the pistillate and staminate phases of anthesis, attracting floral visitors like cockroaches, ants, and sap beetles. The staminodes are slightly globose, vascularized, and covered by a uniseriate epidermis with widespread stomata that are mostly open pores. The ground tissue is a starch-rich parenchyma whose starch content varies throughout the day due to synthesis and hydrolysis cycles. Chemical analyses showed that staminode exudates constitute sucrose-rich nectar. On the other hand, the fused stamens or synandria exude tiny drops of liquid from their tops, sometimes containing sugars, but in too low concentration to be qualified as nectar. The structure of the secretory cells of staminodes, both from the epidermis and parenchyma, was shown to be compatible with nectar synthesis. Mitochondria, plastids, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuoles prevail in these cells. Altogether, our results show that the staminodes of <em>S. hastifolia</em> are floral nectaries whose secretory activity extends throughout the entire period of anthesis and mediates interactions with potential pollinators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55156,"journal":{"name":"Flora","volume":"332 ","pages":"Article 152850"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}