Glossary Details – Lecythidaceae

Glossary Details:

Tenuinucellate and crassinucellate ovules. Drawing by C.-H. Tsou.

Unitemic and bitegmic ovules. Drawing by C.-H. Tsou.

Title: Placentation of Gustavia grandibracteata as seen in cross section. Photo by N. P. Smith.

Description: Cross section of an ovary of Gustavia grandibracteata based on Mori & Kallunki 5612 from the Canal Zone, Panama. Note that the ovules are anatropous and that the micropyle faces toward the placenta. In addition, the inner integument extrudes beyond the micropyle and, thus, forms the micropyle.

Term:

Ovules

Definition:

Structures that arise from placentae in the ovary locules. Among other cells, the egg and two polar nuclei are found in the ovule. After fertilization, the egg develops into an embryo and the polar nuclei develop into endosperm which, along with the seed coat, form the seed..

Notes:

The ovules of neotropical Lecythidaceae are anatropous, bitegmic, and tenuinucellate.