L'androcée synanthéré du Rechsteineria cardinalis (Gesnériacées). Une contribution au problème des fusions

Abstract

The syngenesious androecium of the Gesneriaceae results unquestionably from a postgenital union. Generally the stamens seem to remain entirely free from each other during the whole morphological differentiation process. In Rechsteineria cardinalis the contact between the anthers appears only after meiosis.In light microscopy the junction looks like an ordinary cohesion of the epidermis through the cuticles. Examination by electron microscopy reveals however a true discontinuity of the cuticles and also the complete absence of demarcation between the two united epidermises in the areas lacking cuticle. These two observations permit one to infer a real histological union or at least a metabolic reaction of the tissues united by synanthery.