COMPARATIVE FLORAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE BLACK MANGROVE GENUS AVICENNIA L. AND RELATED TAXA IN THE ACANTHACEAE

Phylogenetic relationships of Avicennia have been difficult to trace because of the presence of convergent characters related to the mangrove environment. Recent molecular data suggest a close relationship to Thunbergioideae, a subfamily within Acanthaceae (Lamiales), but morphological support for the new findings has been equivocal. Floral structure and development are comparatively studied here in three species of Avicennia, with special attention given to the ovary and the ovules, which are also studied in Thunbergioideae. The suggested sister group relationship of Avicennia and Thunbergioideae is supported by three synapomorphies: (1) collateral ovule arrangement, (2) vertical orientation of ovule curvature, and (3) an exposed nucellus that is contiguous with the ovary wall, at least during early stages of ovule development. We interpret the latter character as a neotenic feature that is retained in the anthetic ovules of Avicennia. We confirm that the apparently tetramerous flowers of Avicennia have a basically pentamerous floral ground plan. Additional floral characters shared between Avicennia and Thunbergioideae include left contort corolla aestivation, thickened filament bases with glandular hairs, presence of pollen sac placentoids, and various aspects of fruit morphology and embryology. However, these features are either symplesiomorphic or are not known well enough to allow for unequivocal conclusion on character evolution in Acanthaceae.