Morphoanatomy of nectaries of Chamaecrista (L.) Moench sections Chamaecrista , Caliciopsis and Xerocalyx (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

Abstract

Nectaries are specialized structures that secrete nectar. Several species of Chamaecrista possess nectaries on the petiole, which have been shown to vary widely in morphology and the chemical nature of their secretion. However, a comprehensive investigation of the nectaries of the clade formed by sect. Chamaecrista, Caliciopsis and Xerocalyx has yet to be performed. Our study aimed to confi rm whether or not the leaf glands of species of this clade are in fact nectaries, determine the chemical nature of their secretion and expand the morphoanatomical database on leaf nectaries in Chamaecrista with the intention of contributing to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus. Samples from herbarium and fi eld-collected material were subjected to standard methods for light and scanning electron microscopy. Four diff erent forms of nectaries were observed: urceolate, patelliform, verruciform and cupuliform. Th e nectaries were found to comprise a single-layered epidermis, nectary parenchyma, subnectary parenchyma and vascularization. Polysaccharides, lipids, phenolic compounds and proteins were detected in secretions. Although anatomical similarities were observed among the studied species, their morphology diff ered. Moreover, the glands are indeed nectaries and are similar to those observed in other species of the genus Chamaecrista. Th ese data hold potential taxonomic usefulness for the studied sections.

Extrafloral nectaries in Leguminosae: phylogenetic distribution, morphological diversity and evolution

“…[Note: Lersten and Curtis (1996, p. 29 On the petiole and along the rachis between leaflets; stalked or sessile. Irwin and Barneby (1982); de Souza Conceição et al (2009); Melo et al (2010aMelo et al ( , 2010b; Coutinho et al (2012); Coutinho and Meira (2015); Silva et al (2017); Gonzalez and Marazzi (2018); this study Barneby (1982); Marazzi et al (2006), Marazzi and Sanderson (2010); Marazzi et al (2013b); Gonzalez and Marazzi (2018); this study…”

Morpho–anatomical and ultrastructural analysis of extrafloral nectaries in Inga edulis (Vell.) Mart. (Leguminosae)

“…The identification of phenolic compounds in EFNs does not necessarily indicate that they are components of secretion. In fact, these compounds are unpalatable and toxic and are more likely to be involved with providing protection against phytophagous insects and herbivores (Roshchina and Roshchina 1993, Bixenmann et al 2013, Silva et al 2017, Demarco 2017.…”

“…This structure has been observed on Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne (Leguminosae) (Paiva and Machado 2006) and Chamaecrista (L.) (Leguminosae) (Silva et al 2017).…”

“…Secretory cells of Leguminosae EFNs presents dense cytoplasm, small vacuoles, a considerable number of mitochondria and well developed endoplasmic reticulum, as well as highly active Golgi complexes (Davis and Gunning 1992, Horner et al 2003, Paiva and Machado 2006, Paiva 2009, Ojeda et al 2014. Nectar secretion can occur through different routes, including modified stomata, trichomes, pores, ruptures or permeable regions of the cuticle, or through cell degradation (Paiva and Machado 2006, Melo et al 2010, Silva et al 2017.…”

Aspectos morfoanatômicos de Senegalia angico (Mart.) Seigler & Ebinger. (Leguminosae): uma abordagem taxonômica

“…Segundo Melo et al (2010), são relatadas 3.991 espécies de angiospermas que apresentam NEF e, destas, 1.049 pertencem à família Leguminosae. Aspectos estruturais dos NEF, como a morfoanatomia e a disposição dos feixes vasculares que os irrigam, auxiliam na segregação taxonômica em Leguminosae de forma confiável (FREY-WYSSLING, 1955;BHATTACHARYYA & MAHESHWARI, 1970;PASCAL et al, 2000;COUTINHO et al, 2012). Existem indicações de correlações taxonômicas entre certos tipos de tricomas e táxons específicos, em que o tipo de tricoma, glandular e não glandular, pode auxiliar na identificação específica (BOUGHTON, 1989).…”