Foliar anatomy and micromorphology of Southern South American Alstroemeriaceae: Alstroemerieae, and its systematic implications in Alstroemeria

SANSO A.M., AAGESEN L, XIFREDA C.C.

NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2014 vol. 32 p. 731 - 743

0107-055X

Alstroemerieae is an exclusively Central and South American tribe belonging to Alstroemeriaceae, which comprises two large genera, Alstroemeria and Bomarea. Alstroemeria has two areas of distribution, mediterranean Chile and central south-eastern Brazil. Most Bomarea species grow in forests and hedges in moist areas, however, some species are adapted to dry Andean valleys and high altitudes. Previous leaf data were obtained from a limitated group of species. To assess the value of the anatomical characters for the systematics and adaptations to different environments, we compared representative species from different geographical areas and habitats. Data regarding leaf anatomy and micromorphology were obtained from light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and were combined with macromorphology for 27 Alstroemerieae species. In accordance with earlier studies, our results show variation in relation to several leaf morpho-anatomical characters of the tribe Alstroemerieae. Based on these we define seven types. We furthermore analyzed the morpho-anatomical characters in a phylogenetic context. Morpho-anatomical characters are highly homoplastic within the family. However, leaf anatomy may support monophyly of Baker´s informal grouping of Alstroemeria´ Brazilian species with rigid leaves, however a more thorough study of Brazilian Alstroemeria species are needed to confirm this.