Structure and Symmetry of Species of the Asplundia Group (Cyclanthaceae) Having Sympodial Vegetative Axes: Evodianthus funifer and Carludovica palmata

Abstract

In these species each renewal shoot of the sympodial stem consists of a portion not evicted from the stem axis and bearing 1 or more leaves and an evicted inflorescence consisting of peduncle, spathes, and spadix. In E. funifer, collected in Columbia, renewal shoots were of 1 general sort, but dimorphic renewal shoots occurred in E. funifer and C. palmata, both from Panama. Stems of each species bear adventitious roots which may branch, and roots of E. funifer bear dense tufts of persistent root hairs. The adult leaf is always divided into lamina, petiole and sheath and the sheaths of adult leaves are always open. In E. funifer the sheath bears pronounced stipules. In both species each adult leaf subtends a 1st order lateral bud that can be either an inflorescence bud (in C. palmata) or vegetative bud. Prophylls of 1st order buds are bicarinate scale leaves that are inserted above short hypopodia and may be ligulate (in E. funifer). Leaves borne distal to the prophyll on a nonevicted portion of renewal shoot are always juvenile leaves. C. palmata and E. funifer exhibit substantial mirror image symmetry.