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Fruit morphoanatomy of Astronium Jacq. and Myracrodruon Allemão (Anacardiaceae): taxonomic implications and development of the calycinal wings

  • Structural Botany - Original Article
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Abstract

Astronium and Myracrodruon are small genera of Anacardiaceae characterized by having fruits with calycinal wings, which play an important role in dispersion. Molecular phylogenetic studies have indicated that both genera form a monophyletic clade, but the taxonomic circumscription remains controversial, with several discussions either recognizing Myracrodruon as a genus or an infrageneric category of Astronium. In this study, the fruit anatomy of both genera was reevaluated to further develop the understanding of their circumscription and taxonomic position. To this end, the morphoanatomy of the ripe fruits of Myracrodruon balansae and seven species of Astronium was analyzed using standard techniques of light microscopy. In addition, the fruit ontogeny in both genera was evaluated for distinguishable differences and similarities among them. As a result of the emanating study, it can be concluded that fruits of Astronium and Myracrodruon, previously classified as pseudosamara and drupe, respectively, should both be called pseudosamara. Findings such as uniseriate exocarp, parenchymatic mesocarp with large secretory ducts, endocarp organized in discrete layers, and similar development of the calycinal wings support the inclusion of Myracrodruon as a section of Astronium.

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Acknowledgements

We thank CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Finance code 001), and CNPq (Conselho Científico de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for the scholarship of EAL for her doctoral degree. We also thank CNPq (proc. #420417/2016-8) and FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo–proc. #2014/18002-2; proc. #2019/10636-6) for funding research assistance. We also thank herbaria JBRJ (Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro) and MBM (Museu Botânico Municipal de Curitiba) for allowing us to access their materials. We are grateful to Dr. José Rubens Pirani for insightful discussions on taxonomy and systematic of Astronium.

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SMCG and DD supervised the project. EAL carried out the field work and produced all data. EAL and EDT made analysis of the data and prepared the draft of the manuscript. CLSL and DD edited for content and provided guidance on structure and style. All authors participated in the review and final improvement of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Elisabeth Dantas Tölke or Diego Demarco.

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Diego Demarco is the editor-in-chief and Elisabeth Tölke is associate editor of the Brazilian Journal of Botany, and we assure this article was entirely handled by an Associate Editor.

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de Lima, E.A., Tölke, E.D., da Silva-luz, C.L. et al. Fruit morphoanatomy of Astronium Jacq. and Myracrodruon Allemão (Anacardiaceae): taxonomic implications and development of the calycinal wings. Braz. J. Bot 45, 431–447 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-021-00732-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-021-00732-w

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