Sherwin Carlquist, Pomona College; Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Wood Anatomy of Martniaceae and Pedaliaceae

DOI

10.5642/aliso.19871104.06

First Page

473

Last Page

483

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative features are reported for one species of Martynia (Martyniaceae) and for seven species of six genera of Pedaliaceae. The inclusion of woody annuals as well as of shrubs provides a broader picture ofPedaliaceae than hitherto available. The wood features of Martyniaceae and Pedaliaceae (listed in the Systematic Conclusions) are compatible with placement of these families in Scrophulariales (Bignoniales). Ifindividual features of the two families are compared with those of other families of the order, however, no one family can be cited as more closely related to Martyniaceae and Pedaliaceae than any other. Martyniaceae is not necessarily the family closest to Pedaliaceae, but its wood is like that of herbaceous Pedaliaceae and may reflect not merely scrophularialean affinity but the similarity of its herbaceousness to that of Pedaliaceae as well. Wide vessels in Martyniaceae and Pedaliaceae very likely relate to high transpiration rates in the summer-wet areas where many of them grow. Low vessel density and apotracheal parenchyma bands that may store water and be related to semisucculence in Sesamothamnus. Thin-walled imperforate tracheary elements and predominance of upright ray cells in Martyniaceae and Pedaliaceae bear a relationship with the herbaceous nature of taxa.

Recommended Citation

Carlquist, Sherwin (1987) "Wood Anatomy of Martniaceae and Pedaliaceae," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 11: Iss. 4, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol11/iss4/6