Ligule
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Title
Ligule
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Definition
A prolongation of the staminal ring from the abaxial side of a flower (Tsou & Mori, 2007) in zygomorphic-flowered species of Lecythidaceae.
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Notes
In the Lecythidaceae, ligule refers to the strap-like prolongation from the staminal ring (all zygomorphic-flowered species of Lecythidaceae except Cariniana). This strap-like structure usually arches over the summit of the ovary. In species that have been studied, the prolongation develops from the abaxial side of the flower (Tsou & Mori, 2007). The ligule may have stamens, staminodes, vestigial stamens, vestigial stamen nectaries and can be further subdivided into an appendage free part (see appendage-free ligule) and a hood (see androecial hood). Couroupita nicaraguarensis is the only species that has no hint of an appendix-free ligule. In addition, in some species of Lecythis sect. Pisonis the hood is separated from the staminal ring by a very narrow appendage free-ligule and even that may have a few staminodes or vestigial stamens scattered here and there. In the past, we have also used ligule to describe the extension from the staminal tube of species of Cariniana but now restrict the use of ligule to those species with a prolongation from the staminal ring. We now call the extension from the staminal tube of species of Cariniana a staminal tube extension. Ligule is also used to describe other structures in other flowering plants (see general glossary).
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Related Terms
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