The diversity of stamen structures and dehiscence patterns among Magnoliidae

Structure of stamens, particularly the patterns of anther dehiscence were studied over a wide range of families of the Magnoliidae with emphasis on the Magnoliales and Laurales as the most conservative orders of the angiosperms. Valvate dehiscence by proximal and distal stomial bifurcation was found (in addition to the already known Sarcandra and Polyalthia) for the first time in Degeneriaceae, Himantandraceae, Eupomatiaceae, in some additional Annonaceae, and in Peumus of the Monimioideae sensu lata. At least proximal bifurcations of the stomia occur in some Magnoliaceae and Ranunculaceae. An endothecial-like connective hypodermis was found (in addition to the already known Chloranthaceae and Magnoliaceae) in some Annonaceae, in Pseudowintera (Winteraceae), and in Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae). In the Annonaceae an endothecial-like connective hypodermis is partly correlated with valvate dehiscence by stomial bifurcations (as in many Hamamelididae). However, in many Magnoliidae stamens with this valvate pattern the anther is massive, especially in ‘laminar’ stamens, and the counterforce to the opening valves is therefore provided on the morphological and not on the histological level. Concomitant with valvate dehiscence by circular or elliptic flaps in the Laurales is often structural and functional dissocation of the two pollen sacs of a thcca, which is expressed by: (1) independent opening of each pollen sac, (2) lack of disruption of the interlocular zone of a theca, (3) frequent occurrence of asymmetry of the two pollen sacs of the theca, (4) frequent loss of one pollen sac per theca. In Berberidaceae with similar flaps asymmetry of the two pollen sacs of a theca is also common. These finds, together with the detection by paleobotanists of valvate anthers from the Lower Cretaceous, point to the probability that valvate anthers were more common in primitive angiosperms than previously thought.