Floral architecture and floral organ shape are interrelated to some extent as can be seen in the diversity of extant angiosperm groups. The shape of fragmentary fossil material, such as single organs, may therefore give hints for the reconstruction of the architecture of a flower. This study is partly a review and partly provides original material and new points of view on organ-architecture interrelationships. Several topics are illustrated with examples: (1) autonomous and imprinted shape, exemplified by cuneate organs, especially stamens; (2) conditions for valvate anther dehiscence; (3) lability in number and shape of reduced organs that have decreased in size and lost their original function; (4) long hairs as filling material of irregular spaces; (5) architectural conditions for the presence of orthotropous ovules; (6) structural differences between exposed and covered organ parts in bud; and (7) sepal aestivation and petal elaboration.
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Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Vol. 95 • No. 1
March 2008
Vol. 95 • No. 1
March 2008
Autonomous shape
cuneate
floral architecture
imprinted shape
reduced organs