Colleters, osmophores, and nectaries in the species Ceropegia lenewtonii: a sapromyiophilous stapeliad (Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae)

ALISCIONI, SANDRA S.; GOTELLI, MARINA; GALATI, BEATRIZ; ZARLAVSKY, GABRIELA; TORRETTA, JUAN PABLO

PROTOPLASMA

SPRINGER WIEN

Año: 2023

0033-183X

Ceropegialenewtonii (Plowes) Bruyns (=Huernia keniensis), currently belonging to theHuernia section of the genus Ceropegia, is a stapeliad species distributed inAfrica and the Arabian Peninsula; but it is widely cultivated as ornamental in mostparts of the world. This species of stapeliad presents “carrion fowers”associated with a sapromyophilous pollination syndrome since the fowers emit anunpleasant odor. In this work, we describe the foral morphology and anatomy ofthe calyx, corolla, and corona of this species based on bright-feld andscanning electron microscope techniques. We detected the presence of diverse floralsecretor tissues, and based on diferent histochemical tests, the principalcomponent of the secreted substance was identifed. We interpret the functionsof the glands and compare with other related species of stapeliads. Our resultsindicate that fowers of C. lenewtonii present colleters in sepals, osmophoresin corolla, and primary and secondary nectaries in corona. All these foralglands have specifc functions that involve the processes of pollination andreproduction of this species, as well as protection and defense mechanisms.