Fruit of Lepidaploa (Cass.) Cass. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae): anatomy and taxonomic implications

MARZINEK, JULIANA; FRANCA, RAFAEL DE OLIVEIRA; DEMATTEIS, MASSIMILIANO; MARQUES, DANILO

ACTA BOTANICA BRASILICA

SOC BOTANICA BRASIL

Año: 2018

0102-3306

Lepidaploa is a taxonomically complex genus of Vernonieae, which is difficult to delimit morphologically due tovegetative and reproductive characters that overlap with Chrysolaena and Lessingianthus. Anatomical studies ofcypselae are taxonomically useful for delimiting subtribes, genera and species of Asteraceae, and especially withinAstereae and Eupatorieae. Given the importance of cypselae to the taxonomy of tribes of Asteraceae, we searchedfor morphological patterns among the species of Lepidaploa. Using light microscopy, we analyzed fruits of 21 speciesof Lepidaploa to evaluate the taxonomic position of the genus and species of questionable placement in the group.Our results showed that the morphologies of the cypselae of species of Lepidaploa are homogeneous and similar toother species of Vernonieae. However, pappus vascularization and the number of mesocarp layers could be usefulfor differentiating the sister groups Chrysolaena, Lepidaploa and Lessingianthus, which present similar macro- andmicro-morphological, palynological and chromosomal characters. Also, the presence of glandular trichomes andidioblasts in the cypsela, and lignified cells in the carpopodium exocarp, can be used to separate closely related species.