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Science 27 May 1977:
Vol. 196. no. 4293, pp. 977 - 978
DOI: 10.1126/science.196.4293.977-a
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Articles

A Compound Ovary with Open Carpels in Winteraceae (Magnoliales): Evolutionary Implications

JEAN-F. LEROY 1

1 Laboratoire de Phytomorphologie, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 75005 Paris, France and Laboratoire de Phanerogamie, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 16 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris

"Bubbia" perrieri, a primitive angiosperm collected once in 1909 in northwestern Madagascar, differs from all other members of its genus and family (Winteraceae) in its bicarpellate, unilocular ovary. Moreover, its inflorescences are terminal, and its development is partially sympodial. It therefore represents the survivor of a previously undetected evolutionary line that should be accorded at least subfamilial status. If so, Winteraceae might, more likely than previously, be considered as allied to Canellaceae, a group of primitive angiosperms that has an ovary of "Bubbia" perrieri type and is specialized in some other respects.

Submitted on October 26, 1976
Revised on January 4, 1977


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Early Tertiary Age of Pitchstone in the Northern Black Hills, South Dakota.
J. A. Redden, J. A. REDDEN, J. D. OBRADOVICH, C. W. NAESER, R. E. ZARTMAN, and J. J. NORTON (1983)
Science 220, 1153-1154
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Gynoecium Winteraceous Plants.
S. C. TUCKER and F. B. SAMPSON (1979)
Science 203, 920-921
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