Original Article | 2007, Vol.29, No.6, pp. 1457-1468
An evaluation of the sexual system of Garcinia atroviridis L. (Clusiaceae), based on reproductive features
Sasithorn Pangsuban, Noparat Bamroongrugsa, Kamnoon Kanchanapoom and Charassri Nualsr
pp. 1457 - 1468
Abstract
The sexual system of Garcinia atroviridis was evaluated regarding the basic structural specialization and reproductive characters under natural conditions. The species is gynodioecious with females (trees producing pistillate flowers), but hermaphrodites (trees producing perfect flowers) co-occurred in the study site. Significant morphological and anatomical variation was found between pure female and hermaphroditic flowers. Hermaphrodites have relatively long-filament flowers and produce abundant fertile pollen grains, whereas the females produce pollenless anthers. They also differ significantly in reproductive characters. Hermaphrodite flowers have more flowers per inflorescence than female flowers, but they gradually drop off before fruit setting. In contrast, female trees had relatively greater ovules per flower, larger fruits and more seeds per fruit than hermaphrodite trees. Moreover, average seed number from female trees was at least 1.7 times higher than that of the hermaphrodite trees. Interestingly, the fruit diameter of hermaphrodites was positively correlated to the number of seeds, whereas it was unrelated in females.
