Anaromy in Velloziaceae: charactes, evolution and phylogeny / Anatomia em Velloziaceae: caracteres, evolução e filogenia

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

The classification for family, subfamilies and genera of the Velloziaceae is controversial and the existing phylogenies are poorly supported. Considering that anatomical features are widely used in the definition of new species, classification and cladistic analyses, this paper provides a better understanding of the root, stem and leaf anatomy of the Velloziaceae. Through transverse and longitudinal sections as well as xylem maceration of 25 species of Velloziaceae and three from outgroups (Bromeliaceae, Cyclanthaceae and Pandanaceae), a search of new morphological characters to be added in cladistic analyses was performed. The xylem analyses showed that all Velloziaceae have simple perforation plates in roots and a huge diversity of tracheary elements in stems including long tracheids to small vessel elements in a single species. Except for Acanthochlamys bracteata, all species present tracheids in stems, an important feature to plants that survive dry periods of several months because they can prevent cavitation. In leaves, except for Talbotia elegans that possesses only tracheids, all Velloziaceae have vessel elements with scalariform perforation plates. The analysis of tracheary elements provided four new characters. The anatomical studies produced another eight characters referring to the characteristics of the cortex of the root and stem, form of the transverse stem section, presence of a central, fibrous vascular bundle and stem vascular bundles. All of these new characters were added to morphological and combined analyses of Velloziaceae. The cladistic analysis showed that six of the 12 characters described here are synapomorphies for Velloziaceae, including Acanthochlamys bracteata, although two are homoplastic. Furthermore, one synapomorphy of the Nanuza- Vellozia clade and one of Vellozia s.s. emerged in the analysis. This phylogenetic hypothesis supports the inclusion of A. bracteata in Velloziaceae, the delimitation of Barbacenia and Vellozia as proposed by Mello-Silva, and the recognition of the subfamilies of Velloziaceae s.s. as described by Smith &Ayensu.

ASSUNTO(S)

anatomia caulinar stem anatomy anatomia radicular velloziaceae caracteres velloziaceae root anatomy filogenia xilema

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