Seed morphology and its systematic implications in Polygala L. (Polygalaceae).

摘要

Studies on seed morphology of 18 species of Polygala L. (Polygalaceae), using light and scanning electron microscopes, reveal that they exhibited marked diversity in size, colour, shape and surface sculpturing. The seeds are very unique and in general they are small, black to brown, carunculate, surface hairy and shape ranging from ovate to ellipsoid. The micro-morphological characters of seeds are highly useful in the identification of different species of the genus. An artificial key has been constructed for identification of the Polygala species based on seed morphological characters.