| Based on field investigation and population sampling,morphology of the fruits and seeds of 16 species of Berberis from China were studied,by using stereoscopic microscope,and their seed micromorphology were also observed under scanning electron microscope.In combination with statistical analysis,characteristics of fruits and seeds of the 16 species were studied qualitatively and quantitatively.The research results were shown as follows.1.The ripe fruits of the 12 evergreen shrub species were purplish black to black in color,while fruits of 4 deciduous shrub species were dark red to red.Seed numbers in fruits varied from 1 to 5,fruits of B.verruculosa contained the most seeds,mean±SD = 3.25 ±0.71,while fruits of B.iteophylla,B.liophylla,and B.sublevis all contained only 1 seed.The fruit length varied from 4.61 to 12.56 mm,with fruits of B.lijiangensis being the longest,mean ± SD = 11.02 ± 0.91 mm,while fruits of B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica being the shortest,mean ± SD = 5.46 ± 0.36 mm.The fruit width varied from 3.30 to 8.06 mm,the widest fruits in B.verruculosa,mean ± SD = 6.75 ± 0.65 mm;the narrowest in B.taliensis,mean ± SD = 4.10 ± 0.44 mm.The ratio of length to width of fruits varied from 0.75 to 2.69,the largest being B.taliensis,mean ± SD = 2.32 ± 0.17 mm,while the smallest in B.wilsonae,mean ± SD = 1.05 ± 0.17 mm.According to the average ratios of length to width of fruits,16 species of Berberis were divided into 3 grades:the ratios<1.5,including 3 species,B.pruinosa,B.wilsonae and B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica;the ratios between 1.5 and 2,consisting 8 species,B.baoxingensis,B.iteophylla,B.liophylla,B.paraspecta,B.replicata,B.sanguine,B.sublevis and B.verruculosa;the ratios>2,including 5 species,B.hemsleyana,B.lijiangensis,B.phanera,B.sabulicola and B.taliensis.Most fruits were oblong-elliptic to elliptic in shape,however,the fruits of B.wilsonae and B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica were subglobose in shape,2.Ripe seeds of the 12 evergreen shrub species were dark brown to brown in color,while seeds of 4 deciduous shrub species were brownish yellow to yellow.The seed length varied from 2.34 to 8.07 mm,with seeds of B.sabulicola being the longest,mean ± SD =5.90 ± 0.74 mm,while seeds of B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica being the shortest,mean ± SD=2.63 ± 0.12 mm.The seed width varied from 0.96 to 3.28 mm,seeds of B.sublevis were the widest,mean ± SD = 2.38 ± 0.47 mm;while seeds of B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica were the narrowest,mean ± SD = 1.16 ± 0.11 mm.The ratio of length to width of seeds varied from 1.29 to 3.14,with seeds of B.taliensis being the largest,mean ± SD = 2.52 ±0.28;while seeds of B.iteophylla being the smallest,mean ± SD = 1.67 ± 0.14.Based on the average ratios of length to width of seeds,the 16 species were divided into 3 categories:the ratios<2,including 8 species,B.baoxingensis,B.iteophylla,B.lijiangensis,B.pruinosa,B.sanguinea,B.sublevis and B.verruculosa;the ratios between 2 and 2.5,consisting of 7 species,B.hemsleyana,B.liophylla,B.paraspecta,B.phanera,B.sabulicola,B.wilsonae and B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica;the ratios>2.5,with only B.taliensis.The seeds were broadly obovate to narrowly obovate in shape.3.According to the sculpture of seed coats,16 species could be divided into 3 types,namely,rugulate type,including 3 species,B.baoxingensis,B.verruculosa and B.pruinosa;reticulate type,including 2 species,B.wilsonae and B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica;reticulate type,consisting of B.wilsonae and B.wilsonae var.guhtzunica;and areolate type,including the other 11 species.The sculpture of seed coats may provide useful evidences for differentiating species.4.The fruit colors of 7 species,the seed numbers inside fruits and the seed morphology of 10 species of Berberis from China were reported for the first time in present study.The seed micromorphological characteristics of the 16 species were reported for the first time,as well. |
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