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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Stigma morphology inAylosterasubg.Mediolobivia(Cactaceae) and its importance for systematic investigation

Maurizio SajevaCristiana GiordanoAlessio PapiniStefano Mosti

subject

TaxonSettore BIO/03 - Botanica Ambientale E ApplicataBotanyAylostera Mediolobivia Cactaceae stigma morphology environmental scanning electron microscopySpecies identificationStigma (botany)Plant ScienceBiologySubgenusEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematics

description

The stigma of 31 taxa of Aylostera (Cactaceae) was studied using environmental scanning electron microscopy. Seven stigma types could be defined, based on the degree of fusion of the stigmatic lobes and, when these are completely separated (types I and II), their orientation. Four types (types IV, V, VI and VII) are present only in Aylostera subg. Mediolobivia, two of which (types IV and VII) are species-specific. Stigma morphology was found to be a good diagnostic character in Aylostera subg. Mediolobivia, allowing in some cases to distinguish species that had been confused previously. The stigmatic types here defined seem apt to characterize natural groups within the subgenus and are useful as an aid for species identification and the characterization of new taxa.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2013-09-01Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology
https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.829881