Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2011, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 437-446.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1259.2011.00437

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Micro-morphological Characteristics of Taraxacum F. H. Wigg. Seeds from Northeastern China and Taxonomic Significance

Jie Wu, Xin Zhao, Wei Ning*   

  1. Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education Province-Ministry Collaboration Project for Facility Horticulture, Ex-situ Conservation Garden and Identification Center of Potherb Germplasm in Northeast China, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161, China
  • Received:2010-11-09 Revised:2011-01-15 Online:2011-07-01 Published:2011-07-01
  • Contact: Wei Ning

Abstract: We studied the morphological and micro-morphological characteristics of achenes of 10 species of Taraxacum from northeastern China to provide evidence for classification. The achenes were observed by microscopy and electron-probe microanalysis. Cluster analysis revealed the basis of the size, shape, cone proportion, color and surface sculpture of achenes. The surface of achenes is spinulose in regular rows with white spots, but the size and density of spinulose differ. The results of cluster analysis are consistent with descriptions in the Flora of China. The morphological and micro-morphological features of achenes are described. The differences in achene morphological characteristics can be regarded as taxonomic evidence. The characteristic of cone proportion (B/A: cone length/achene length without cone length) is described and supplemented as a main point of taxonomy.

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