Inflorescence and floral characters indicating C₃ and C₄ photosynthesis in some species of the genus <i>Cyperus</i> L. (Cyperaceae)

Abstract

Inflorescence and floral morphological characters in twelve species of Cyperus -a genus known to have C 3 and C 4 photosynthetic species -were investigated in order to check their usefulness in delimiting species into photosynthetic groups. Plant species were collected from different locations within Southwestern Nigeria. Qualitative characters were noted and recorded while some quantitative characters were measured with metric ruler to the nearest centimeter and others were counted. The results revealed that compound umbellate inflorescence, digitately arranged spikelets and short spikelets not over 1cm long are characters that separate C. difformis and C. haspan which are C 3 species, while the rest with simple umbellate inflorescence, spicate spikelets and spikelet length over 1cm are C 4 species. Cyperus dilatatus, a species without a previous record of photosynthetic grouping, is hereby grouped as a C 4 species since it shared characters with the rest C 4 species. From this study, a combination of characters was identified, which can possibly be used along with known data from other sources in the grouping of Cyperus species as either C 3 or C 4 species. Data on C. dilatatus also showed that it possibly belong to C 4 species. This is probably the first known report on photosynthetic grouping of this species.

Morphological Characterisation and Documentation of Freshwater Macrophytes in Pontian, Johor's Water

“…The frond length of C. haspan recorded in this study was average 354.00 ± 57.58 mm significantly higher than the frond length measured by Ayeni et al (2015) average 95.00 ± 0.90 mm. However, the number of contiguous fronds was recorded average 6.8 ± 2.10 significantly less than the value obtained by Ayeni et al (2015) which was average 22.00 ± 0.13. This observed the intraspecific variation in term of morphometrics between this study and the experiment conducted by Ayeni et al (2015).…”

“…However, the number of contiguous fronds was recorded average 6.8 ± 2.10 significantly less than the value obtained by Ayeni et al (2015) which was average 22.00 ± 0.13. This observed the intraspecific variation in term of morphometrics between this study and the experiment conducted by Ayeni et al (2015).…”

“…Next, there was a gap between the morphometric measurement of C. haspan in this study and the finding conducted by Ayeni et al (2015). The frond length of C. haspan recorded in this study was average 354.00 ± 57.58 mm significantly higher than the frond length measured by Ayeni et al (2015) average 95.00 ± 0.90 mm.…”

“…Next, there was a gap between the morphometric measurement of C. haspan in this study and the finding conducted by Ayeni et al (2015). The frond length of C. haspan recorded in this study was average 354.00 ± 57.58 mm significantly higher than the frond length measured by Ayeni et al (2015) average 95.00 ± 0.90 mm. However, the number of contiguous fronds was recorded average 6.8 ± 2.10 significantly less than the value obtained by Ayeni et al (2015) which was average 22.00 ± 0.13.…”