Shoot ontogeny in Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash). II. Development of the inflorescence

Abstract

From initiation to fruit set, which occurs over three growing seasons, eight stages are recognized in the development of axillary inflorescences in the dioecious species Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima (Vahl) Fern, (green ash). In the first season, buds are initiated in the axils of foliage leaves. As the shoots expand in the following spring, the buds complete their development. Although similar at first, differences begin to emerge between vegetative and inflorescence buds in that the latter produce robust second-order meristems, the incipient paracladia, protruding close to the original apex. After about 3–4 weeks, when the initiation of such buds is complete, the terminal and subtending lateral meristems present on each axis develop into a three-membered cluster of floral buds. There was a mean of 214.3 ± 12.2 floral buds initiated per female inflorescence, and the number generally increased with the length of the associated shoot. A ridge, the incipient perianth, begins to form around the periphery of each rounded floral apex. Male and female floral buds are not distinguishable at this stage, but the inflorescence buds are distinctly different from vegetative buds. The male and female buds then diverge in their development in that an identation forms at the summit of the incipient gynoecium and male buds initiate two or three anthers. By autumn, the gynoecium is distinctly conical, with an orifice at its summit, and the anthers are lobed. There is lobing of the perianth ridge, but in the mature flower distinct organs traceable to such lobes could not readily be identified.