Morpho‐anatomical investigations of cones and pollen in Cathaya argyrophylla Chung & Kuang (Pinaceae, Coniferales) under systematical and evolutional aspects

Abstract The results of the morpho‐anatomical investigations show that seed‐ and pollen‐cones of Cathaya represent the typical bauplan for Pinaceae. Several features were found that suggest a closer relationship of Cathaya to Picea and Pinus on the one hand and also to Larix and Pseudotsuga on the other hand. However, the large pollen‐cones of Cathaya resemble in length and number of microsporangiophores those of Cedrus. Cathaya shows also features that are unique among recent Pinaceae like a sylleptic flush of shoots and seed‐cones. Also the absence of bud scales surrounding the seed‐cone and the special microstructure of the pollen grain surface are unique. These features suggest a rather isolate position for Cathaya among recent Pinaceae. Some anomalous microsporangiophores showing three instead of the typical two sporangia lead to the idea that the hyposporangiate microsporangiophores in Pinaceae might be structures derived from a former perisporangiate type as shown for Taxaceae. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)