Epimatium

The epimatium is the heavily modified fleshy seed scale that surrounds most of the ripe seed of most species of the stone slab family (Podocarpaceae). It enlarges during the development of the seed and the cone and in many species causes the micropyle (opening for fertilization of the ovule) at the end of the seed to rotate from the outside in the direction of the cone axis.

Heavily modified cone of Podocarpus totara with seeds covered by green epimatium and red podocarpium

The German botanist Robert Pilger introduced the term in 1903 for the genus Podocarpus . It is derived from the Greek epi for "about" and himation for "dress". Some authors call the seed coat of yew trees ( Taxus ), otherwise known as arilus , and the outer integument of sea ravages ( ephedra ) also Epimatium.

Individual evidence

↑ James E. Eckenwalder: Conifers of the World. The Complete Reference . Timber Press, Portland, OR / London 2009, ISBN 978-0-88192-974-4 , pp. 651 .
^ Gerhard Wagenitz : Dictionary of Botany. Morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, evolution. 2nd, expanded edition. Nikol, Hamburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-937872-94-0 , pp. 102-103.

Web links

Epimatium. In: Lexicon of Biology. Spektrum.de, accessed on October 4, 2014 .

[Eckenwalder-1] James E. Eckenwalder: Conifers of the World. The Complete Reference . Timber Press, Portland, OR / London 2009, ISBN 978-0-88192-974-4 , pp. 651 .

[Wagenitz-2] Gerhard Wagenitz : Dictionary of Botany. Morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, evolution. 2nd, expanded edition. Nikol, Hamburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-937872-94-0 , pp. 102-103.