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<p>The reproductive structures of the family Piperaceae are a subject of debate, primarily because of the high variability in megagametophyte development and the modifications to previous characterizations of final arrangement of the embryo sacs. Information on the reproductive biology and pollination strategies of <i>Peperomia</i> remains limited. This study provides a detailed description of the developmental morphology and floral anatomy of <i>Peperomia bracteata</i> from Pedregal de San Angel, Mexico. We conducted a detailed developmental and anatomical study of <i>P. bracteata</i> inflorescences and flowers using light and scanning electron microscopy with conventional histological and histochemical techniques. Our findings revealed that the flowers are arranged spirally on spikes that mature basipetally. The flowers are perianthless and each is subtended by a bracteole. The androecium consists of two stamens with short, broad filaments, while the gynoecium features a single ovule within a globose ovary, broad style, and capitate stigma. Lipid-secreting osmophores were detected in both the ovary and the style. The embryo sac was tetrasporic and contained 16 nuclei, conforming to the Peperomia-type configuration. This study provides the first comprehensive description of floral morphoanatomy and gametophyte development in a Mexican <i>Peperomia</i> species. Our results provide valuable insights into the structural and embryological diversity of Piperaceae, highlighting the evolutionary relevance of female gametophyte variation and floral specialization in early-diverging angiosperms.</p>

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Developmental morphology of inflorescences and flowers of Peperomia bracteata A. W. Hill (Piperaceae)

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月1日

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  • Nadia Castro-Cárdenas,
  • Sonia Vázquez-Santana

摘要

The reproductive structures of the family Piperaceae are a subject of debate, primarily because of the high variability in megagametophyte development and the modifications to previous characterizations of final arrangement of the embryo sacs. Information on the reproductive biology and pollination strategies of Peperomia remains limited. This study provides a detailed description of the developmental morphology and floral anatomy of Peperomia bracteata from Pedregal de San Angel, Mexico. We conducted a detailed developmental and anatomical study of P. bracteata inflorescences and flowers using light and scanning electron microscopy with conventional histological and histochemical techniques. Our findings revealed that the flowers are arranged spirally on spikes that mature basipetally. The flowers are perianthless and each is subtended by a bracteole. The androecium consists of two stamens with short, broad filaments, while the gynoecium features a single ovule within a globose ovary, broad style, and capitate stigma. Lipid-secreting osmophores were detected in both the ovary and the style. The embryo sac was tetrasporic and contained 16 nuclei, conforming to the Peperomia-type configuration. This study provides the first comprehensive description of floral morphoanatomy and gametophyte development in a Mexican Peperomia species. Our results provide valuable insights into the structural and embryological diversity of Piperaceae, highlighting the evolutionary relevance of female gametophyte variation and floral specialization in early-diverging angiosperms.