| Abstract Detail
Recent Topics Posters Mater, Harinder K. [1], Huish, Katherine H. [2], Michelangeli, Fabian A. [3]. Towards a Photographic Seed Atlas of the Tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae) . Miconieae is the largest tribe in the family Melastomataceae with over 1800 species. The 20 genera are delimited on floral characters that are usually variable, causing generic limits to be complex at best. Previous work suggests that seed morphology may be a better reflection of phylogenetic affinities. However, current data on seed anatomy has focused only in one clade or genus at a time (Charianthus, Leandra, Miconia, Pachyanthus, and Tococa). This has resulted in conflicting terminology and uneven sampling, which has been an impediment for their use as a source of characters for tribal systematics and taxonomy. Currently, we are gathering seed images for ca 700 species (~37%) in the tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae), with the ultimate goal of a photographic seed atlas for the tribe. The main aim of this photographic atlas is to make available images of Miconieae seeds, along with a more unified seed nomenclature and key, both of which are expected to allow better seed identification and characterization. The availability of a photographic atlas will also facilitate future descriptive and phylogenetic research, be a source of characters for a more natural classification of the tribe Miconieae. The preparation of the photographic atlas is also expected to benefit the research in other fields such as seed dispersal and bird diet studies. Seed images will be made available at http://sweetgum.nybg.org/melastomataceae.
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1 - City University of New York, The Graduate Center, 365 Fith Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
2 -
3 - The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, 200th St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA
Keywords:
Melastomataceae
Miconieae
Seed Morphology
Seed Atlas.
Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P1
Location: Event Tent/Cliff Lodge
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: P1RT001
Abstract ID:1220 |
