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Using the blueberry cultivar \"Powderblue\" after pollination, fruits at different developmental stages were collected for study. The transverse and longitudinal diameters, individual fruit weight, and fruit water content were measured during their development. Employing tissue sectioning and microscopy techniques, we systematically studied the morphological features and anatomical structures of the fruits and seeds at various developmental stages, aiming to elucidate the cytological patterns during blueberry fruit development. The results of our study revealed that the \"Powderblue\" blueberry fruit growth and development followed a double \"S\" curve. Mature \"Powderblue\" blueberries were blue-black in color, elliptical in shape, with five locules, an inferior ovary, and an average fruit weight of 1.73 ± 0.17 g, and a moisture content of 78.865 ± 0.9%. Blueberry fruit flesh cells were densely arranged with no apparent intercellular spaces, and mesocarp cells accounted for 52.06 ± 7.4% of fruit cells. In the early fruit development stages, the fruit flesh cells were rapidly dividing, significantly increasing in number but without greatly affecting the fruit's morphological characteristics. During the later stages of fruit development, the expansion of the fruit flesh cells became prominent, resulting in a noticeable increase in the fruit's dimensions. Except for the epidermal cells, cells in all fruit tissues showed varying degrees of rupture as fruit development progressed, with the extent of cell rupture increasing, becoming increasingly apparent as the fruit gradually softened. Additionally, numerous brachysclereids (stone cells) appeared in the fruit flesh cells. Stone cells are mostly present individually in the fruit flesh tissue, while in the placental tissue, they often group together. The \"Powderblue\" blueberry seeds were light brown, 4.13 ± 0.42 mm long, 2.2 ± 0.14 mm wide, with each fruit containing 50–60 seeds. The \"Powderblue\" seeds mainly consisted of the seed coat, endosperm, and embryo. The embryo was located at the chalazal end in the center of the endosperm and was spatially separated. The endosperm, occupying the vast majority of the seed volume, comprised both the chalazal and outer endosperm, and the endosperm developed and matured before the embryo. As the seed developed, the seed coat was gradually lignified and consisted of palisade-like stone cells externally and epidermal layer cells internally.

A new species, Curcuma glandulosa P.P. Thwe, M.M. Aung & Nob. Tanaka, is described from Taunggyi, southern Shan State, Myanmar. The new species is assignable to Curcuma subgenus Ecomatae, characterized by its epigynous glands, anther spurs, and lack of a conspicuous coma of sterile bracts. Curcuma glandulosa is distinguished by its red leafy stems, white bracts with red stripes, L-shaped anther spurs with densely short glandular hairs throughout, and a prominent anther crest. The leaves develop after blooming.

Chrysolaena flexuosa (Sims.) H. Rob. is a South American species in the tribe Vernonieae, with potential ornamental value: it has attractive inflorescences, is suitable for pot cultivation, and its cypselae are useful for dried flower arrangements. Apart from studies on the growth dynamics of this species under cultivation, chromosome number, DNA content, ploidy level, size, pollen viability, and the characterization of phenotypic and genetic variability, it is noteworthy that other aspects regarding the floral architecture, reproductive mode, and gametophyte formation of C. flexuosa have not yet been studied. For this reason, our study encompasses a floral morphoanatomical survey and a comprehensive assessment of gametophyte development in the species. As a result of this study, we report new floral morphotypes, confirming that the morphological variability of the species might be greater than speculated. The morphoanatomy of the androecium and gynoecium and the male and female gametophyte developmental characteristics are uniform in all the populations studied despite the different ploidy levels. Chrysolaena flexuosa has five tetrasporangiate stamens of the dicotyledonous type of development; all the populations studied displayed a unilocular inferior ovary with a single anatropous, unitegumented, and tenuinucellar ovule. Given that all the embryo sacs observed were of the Polygonum-type development regardless of the ploidy level, we infer that the populations analyzed are fertile and undergo sexual reproduction. Our results not only contribute further research in the field of breeding systems and propagation of this species, but also promote the successful introduction of C. flexuosa to the plant ornamental market.

Exploratory field expeditions to the western slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes resulted in the discovery of a new species of Monopyle (Gesneriaceae). Monopyle glutinosa J.L.Clark & Keene, sp. nov. is described as a narrow endemic from lowland forests along the border of the Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas in the Province of Cotopaxi. The new species is unique for the presence of glutinous or sticky trichomes on the calyx lobes and outer surface of the inferior ovary. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation status is assigned as Critically Endangered (CR).

Key message Contrasting morphologies in Disocactus are the result of differential development of the vegetative and floral tissue where intercalary growth is involved, resulting in a complex structure, the floral axis. Species from the Cactaceae bear adaptations related with their growth in environments under hydric stress. These adaptations have translated into the reduction and modification of various structures such as leaves, stems, lateral branches, roots and the structuring of flowers in a so-called flower-shoot . While cacti flowers and fruits have a consistent structure with showy hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers that produce a fruit called cactidium , the developmental dynamics of vegetative and reproductive tissues comprising the reproductive unit have only been inferred through the analysis of pre-anthetic buds. Here we present a comparative analysis of two developmental series covering the early stages of flower formation and organ differentiation in Disocactus speciosus and Disocactus eichlamii, which have contrasting floral morphologies. We observe that within the areole, a shoot apical meristem commences to grow upward, producing lateral leaves with a spiral arrangement, rapidly transitioning to a floral meristem. The floral meristem produces tepal primordia and a staminal ring meristem from which numerous or few stamens develop in a centrifugal manner in D. speciosus and D. eichlamii , respectively. Also, the inferior ovary derives from the floral meristem flattening and an upward growth of the surrounding tissue of the underlying stem, producing the pericarpel. This structure is novel to cacti and lacks a clear anatomical delimitation with the carpel wall. Here, we present a first study that documents the early processes taking place during initial meristem determination related to pericarpel development and early floral organ formation in cacti until the establishment of mature floral organs.

Background: The origin and early evolution of angiosperms, by far the most important plant group for human beings, are questions demanding answers, mainly due to a lack of related fossils. The Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) is famous for its fossils of early angiosperms, and several Early Cretaceous angiosperms with apocarpous gynoecia have been documented. However, a hypanthium and an inferior ovary are lacking in these fossil angiosperms. Methods: The specimen was collected from the outcrop of the Yixian Formation in Dawangzhangzi in the suburb of Lingyuan, Liaoning, China. The specimen was photographed using a Nikon D200 digital camera, and its details were photographed using a Nikon SMZ1500 stereomicroscope and a MAIA3 TESCAN SEM. Results: A fossil angiosperm, Lingyuananthus inexpectus gen. et sp. nov, is reported from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Differing from those documented previously, Lingyuananthus has a hypanthium, an inferior ovary, and ovules inside its ovary. Such a character assemblage indicates its angiospermous affinity, although not expected by any existing leading angiosperm evolutionary theory. Conclusions: New fossil material with a unique character assemblage falls beyond the expectation of the currently widely accepted theories of angiosperm evolution. Together with independently documented fossils of early angiosperms, Lingyuananthus suggests that at least some early angiosperms’ flowers can be derived in a way that has been ignored previously.

IN ENGLISH Premise of the Study Cretaceous Cornales provide a crucial record of the early history of asterids. Most lineages of the order are well represented in the fossil record, but South African families of Curtisiaceae and Grubbiaceae remain poorly understood. Seventy‐three specimens of a fossil infructescence belonging to the genus Operculifructus Estrada‐Ruiz & Cevallos‐Ferriz emend. Hayes & Smith from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) El Gallo Formation, Baja California, Mexico bear previously undescribed characters that suggest a relationship to Grubbiaceae. Methods Microstructures of the fossils were examined through light microscopy and x‐ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) scanning. Modern Grubbia tomentosa (Thunb.) Harms fruits were scanned for comparison to the fossil material. Phylogenetic analyses using the 77 fruit characters of Atkinson () were performed to test relationships of the fossil to major lineages of the order. Several analyses applied topological constraints to the extant taxa, based on various genetically supported hypotheses of relationship within Cornales. Key Results Novel structures of Operculifructus newly observed here include (1) anatropous ovules, (2) drupaceous fruits, (3) an epigynous disc, (4) and a stylar canal in the center of the disc aligned with the micropylar protrusion of the seed. Phylogenetic analysis consistently resolves Operculifructus as sister to Grubbiaceae. Conclusions Operculifructus provides direct evidence for the occurrence of Grubbiaceae in the Late Cretaceous, much older than previous Eocene evidence. The phylogeny of Atkinson () indicates that the new phylogenetic position recovered for Operculifructus also establishes the presence of the most basal drupaceous cornalean fruits in North America by the Campanian. RESUMEN EN ESPAÑOL Hipótesis de la Investigación Cornales cretácicos representan un registro esencial en la historia de los astéridos. Casi todos los linajes del orden están bien representados en el registro fósil, pero las familias africanas sureñas Curtisiaceae y Grubbiaceae permanecen pobremente entendidas. Setenta y tres ejemplares de una infrutescencia fósil perteneciente al género Operculifructus Estrada‐Ruiz & Cevallos‐Ferriz emend. Hayes & Smith de la formación campaniana (Cretácico Tardío) El Gallo, Baja California, México, poseen caracteres no descritos previamente y sugieren una relación con Grubbiaceae. Metodología Microestructuras de los fósiles fueron examinadas con microscopio de luz y microtomografía computarizada (micro‐CT) de rayos X. Frutos actuales de Grubbia tomentosa (Thunb.) Harms fueron escaneados para su comparación con el material fósil. Se realizaron análisis filogenéticos usando los 77 caracteres de frutos de Atkinson () para probar las relaciones de los fósiles con los linajes principales del orden. En algunos análisis se aplicaron restricciones topológicas a los taxa actuales basándose en varias hipótesis, soportadas genéticamente, de las relaciones dentro de Cornales. Resultados Centrales (Cruciales) Las estructuras novedosas de Operculifructus, recientemente observadas aquí, incluyen (1) óvulos anátropos; (2) frutos drupáceos; (3) disco epígino; y (4) un canal estilar en el centro del disco alineado con la protuberancia micropilar de la semilla. Los análisis filogenéticos consistentemente dan como resultado que Operculifructus es hermano de Grubbiaceae. Conclusiones Operculifructus proporciona evidencia directa de la presencia de Grubbiaceae en el Cretácico Tardío, mucho antes que la previa evidencia en el Eoceno. La filogenia de Atkinson () indica que la nueva posición filogenética recuperada para Operculifructus también resalta la presencia de frutos drupáceos cornaleanos más basales en Norteamérica durante el Campaniano.

The dry one-seeded fruits (cypselae) of the Asteraceae are often crowned with a pappus, an appendage of hairs or scales that assists in dispersal. It is generally assumed, but little investigated, that the pappus represents the outer floral whorl where the sepals are usually located. We analysed pappus–sepal homology in dandelions using micromorphological and floral gene expression analyses. We show that the pappus initiates from a ring primordium at the base of the corolla, heterochronic to the petals. Pappus parts form from this ring, with those in the alternipetalaous position usually being ahead in growth, referring to sepal identity. Tof-APETALLA1 expression increased during floret development and was highest in mature pappus. Tof-PISTILLATA expression was high and confined to the floral tissues containing the petals and stamens, consistent with expectations for sepals. Apart from the pappus, the dispersal structure of dandelion consists of the upper part of the fruit, the beak, which originates from the inner floral whorl. Thus, our results support the homology of the pappus with the sepals, but show that it is highly derived. Together with our floral stage definitions and verified qPCR reference genes, they provide a basis for evolution and development studies in dandelions and possibly other Asteraceae.

In the Melastomataceae, flowers with superior ovaries usually develop into capsular fruits, while flowers with inferior or partially inferior ovaries develop into berries. The phylogenetic position and affinities of four enigmatic genera with inferior ovaries and capsular fruits, Allomaieta, Alloneuron, Cyphostyla, and Wurdastom, were investigated using three plastid loci (rbcL, ndhF, and rpl16) and morphological characters. These four genera have been placed at times in their own tribe, the Cyphostyleae, but they have also been placed in the Miconieae, and whether they form a group at all has also been the subject of debate. We find that these four genera form a well-supported group that can be diagnosed by the unique character combination of haplostemonous flowers (same number of anthers and petals), inferior ovaries, and capsular fruits. Most members of the tribe also have a calyptrate calyx, but the mode of dehiscing of the calyx varies across species. This character combination and the phylogenetic position of this clade within the family warrant the recognition of the tribe Cyphostyleae. The previously proposed synonymy of Cyphostyla under Allomaieta is maintained, and a key to the genera in the tribe and a list of all species, with nomenclatural and taxonomic information, are provided. Lectotypifications for two species are also included.

The general morphology, micromorphology, and anatomy of the flowers of Clivia miniata, Clivia nobilis, and Scadoxus multiflorus were studied using light microscopy. The studied species have large syntepalous and trimerous flowers, short floral tubes with adnate stamens, and inferior ovaries that develop baccate fruit. The gynoecium in the studied species consists of synascidiate, symplicate, and hemisymplicate zones. The style is composed of postgenitally fused carpels. The few ovules are located in a locule in the synascidiate and symplicate zones in C. miniata and C. nobilis, whereas in S. multiflorus, solitary ovules occupy the synascidiate zone in each locule. The septal nectaries are located in the hemisymplicate zone and occupy the uppermost 29% to 56% of the ovary height. Septal nectaries are of the nonlabyrinthine lilioid-type, covered with secretory tissue only in its lower portion. Nectary channels are apical or subapical and open near the style base. A common pattern of the venation of the floral parts was observed in all species: Tepal traces and stamen traces were fused in the ovary wall, the style was supplied by dorsal carpellary bundles, and ovules were supplied by ventral carpellary bundles entering the ovary from the bottom. The observed gynoecium inner structure provides adaptations for the development of fleshy fruit, with thickened parenchymous ovary wall, ovary base, and ovary roof, and numerous branched vascular bundles in the ovary wall around locules.