Floral ontogeny and an interpretation of the inferior ovary in Agave parryi

Abstract

A study of the histogenesis of the flower of Agave parryi was made using serial sections as well as three-dimensional views of dissected floral primordia. It is shown that floral ontogeny supports the appendicular interpretation of the inferior ovary of Agave parryi in that the flower parts do not arise from a smooth, ring-like meristem located at the tip of the pedicel but, rather, the flower parts arise as separate primordia. This study corroborates an investigation by Kaplan which shows that ontogeny can be used to support, rather than contradict, floral vasculature in interpreting the appendicular nature of the inferior ovary.