Infrageneric Variability of Seed Coat Morphology in Some Members of Blyxa spp. Thou. (Hydrocharitaceae) from Eastern India and the Taxonomic Utility of Seed Characters

By : Debasis Bhunia

Page No: 464-481

Abstract
The present study examined micro-morphological characters of the seed coat of 4 endemic species of the genus Blyxa under a Light microscope and a scanning electron microscope from different aquatic zones of Eastern India. The characters are described and distinguished on basis of epidermal shape, exotesta, endotegmen, the sculpture of seed surface and endotegmen tuberculae. There were some differences between species in characteristics such as cell shape of seed coat, sculpture of seed surface and endotegmen tuberculae and these characteristics can serve as diagnostic ones for distinguishing species under the genus Blyxa in Hydrocharitaceae family. Seeds were very small in size in Blyxa japonica with 0.324 sq.mm (0.845 × 0.384mm) and large in B. aubertii with 0.908 sq.mm (1.220×0.745 mm). There were two types of seed coat surface distinguished, Type I: with three taxa, B. octandra, B. aubertii and B. echinosperma; showed seed coat sculpture with irregular longitudinal ridges or ribs; long spine and present apical-basal tails. Type II: with Blyxa japonica, the seed coat sculpture is reticulate with smooth surface.This micromorphology of the seed coat supports Hutchinson’s classification.

Author:
Debasis Bhunia : Department of Botany, Sree Chaitanya College, Habra, West Bengal, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2024.40.03.12