2000•Botanical Journal of the Linnean SocietyRequires access
Book Reviews
John Edmondson
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Abstract
The spadix of Montrichardia arborescens contains unisexual flowers without a perianth. The pistillate flowers are located in the basal portion of the inflorescence, and the staminate flowers are located in the apical portion. There is a narrow zone between male flowers and female flowers consisting of atypical flowers. The portion of the atypical flowers facing the staminate zone exhibits staminate characters (stamens), and the portion facing the pistillate zone has an aborted gynoecium. The floral development of Montrichardia is compared with that of Philodendron and a new interpretation of the morphology of atypical flowers of Montrichardia is proposed. Ontogenetic evidence supports relationships with Philodendron rather than Cercestis.