Glossary Details – Lecythidaceae

Glossary Details:

Title: Heteromorphic (= heterantherous) stamens of a species of Swartzia. Photo by S. A. Mori.

Description: Heteromorphic stamens of a species of Swartzia from an unvouchered plant from Amazonas, Brazil. This is also called heteranthery and when there are only two variations in the morphology of a structure it can also be referred to as dimorphic. This species is apocarpic as evidenced by the separate styles, a rare occurence in legumes which in general have species with a single pistil.

Term:

Heteromorphic stamens

Definition:

Stamens of two distinct types; one type usually bears fertile pollen and the other type bears sterile or fodder pollen; e.g., (Lecythidaceae) and species of (Fabaceae).