Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The secretory glands of Asphodelus aestivus flower

  • Full Paper
  • Botany
  • Published:
Biologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Various secretory glands are observed on Asphodelus aestivus flower, a common geophyte of Mediterranean type ecosystem. The floral nectary has the form of individual slits between the gynecium carpels (septal nectary). The septal slits extend downwards to the ascidiate zone of the carpels. The nectar is secreted by the epidermal cells of the slits, which differentiate into epithelial cells. The latter contain numerous organelles, among which endoplasmic reticulum elements and golgi bodies predominate. Nectar secretion results in an expansion of the space between the septa. The nectar becomes discharged through small holes on the ovary wall. Six closely packed stamens surround the ovary and bear numerous papillae at their basis. These papillae are actually osmophores, i.e. secretory structures responsible for the manufacture, secretion and dispersion of terpenic scent. A mucilage gland (obturator) exists between the lateral ovule and the ovary septa, giving a positive reaction with Schiff’s reagent. This gland secretes a mucoproteinaceous product to nourish the pollen tube and to facilitate its penetration into the ovary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakker J.R. 1956. The histochemical recognition of phenols, especially tyrosine. Quart. J. Microsc. Sci. 97: 161–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronner R. 1975. Simultaneous demonstration of lipids and starch in plant tissues. Stain Technol. 50: 1–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung Y.A. 1996. Pollen-pistil interactions during pollen-tube growth. Trends in Plant Science. 1: 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciampolini F., Faleri C. & Cresti M. 1995. Structural and cytochemical analysis of the stigma and style in Tibouchina semidecandra Cogn. (Melastomataceae). Ann. Bot. 76: 421–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clifford S.C. & Sedgley M. 1993. Pistil structure of Banksia menziesii R. Br. (Proteaceae) in relation to fertility. Austral. J. Bot. 41: 481–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruden R.W. 1997. Pollen-ovule ratios: a conservative indicator of breeding systems in flowering plants. Evolution 31: 32–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daumann E. 1970. Das Blütennektarium der Monocotyledonen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung seiner systematischen und phylogenetischen Bedeutung. Feddes Repert. 80: 463–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz Lifante Z. 1996. Reproductive biology of Asphodelus aestivus (Asphodelaceae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 200: 177–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlen J. 1991. Why do plants produce surplus flowers? A reserveovary model. Am. Nat. 138: 918–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahn A. 1990. Plant Anatomy, 4th ed. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 587 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harder L.D. 1986. Effects of nectar concentration and flower depth on flower handling efficiency of bumblebees. Oecologia 69: 309–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrero M. 1992. From pollination to fertilization in fruit trees. Plant Growth Regul. 11: 27–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrero M. 2000. Changes in the Ovary Related to Pollen Tube Guidance. Ann. Bot. 85: 179–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knuth P. 1899. Handbuch der Blütenbiologie. Bd. II, 2. Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, p. 490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kugler H. 1977. Zur Bestäubung mediterraner Frühjahrsblüher. Flora 166: 43–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee T.D. 1988. Patterns of fruit and seed production, pp. 179–202. In: Lovett-Doust J. & Lovett-Doust L. (eds), Plant Reproductive Ecology, Oxford Univ. Press.

  • Loew E. & Kirschner O. 1911. Asphodelus L., pp.296–303. In Kirschner, O., Loew E. & Schroter C. (eds), Lebensgeschichte der Blütenpflanzen Mitteleuropas 1(3), Stuttgart, Ulmer.

  • Mace M.E. & Howell C.R. 1974. Histochemistry and identification of condensed tannin precursors in roots of cotton seedlings. Can. J. Bot. 52: 2423–2426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manetas Y. & Petropoulou Y. 2000. Nectar amount, pollinator visit duration and pollination success in the Mediterranean shrub Cistus creticus. Ann. Bot. 86: 815–820.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margaris N.S. 1984. Desertification in Greece. Progress in Biomet. 3: 120–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molisch H. 1923. Mikrochemie der Pflanze. Fischer, Jena, pp. 118–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naveh Z. 1973. The Ecology of fire in Israel. In: Proc. 13th Tall Timber Fire Ecology Conference. Tallahassee, Florida, pp. 139–170.

  • Nevalainen J.J., Laitio M. & Lindgren I. 1972. Periodic acidschiff (PAS) staining of Epon-embedded tissues for light microscopy. Acta Histochem. 42: 230–233.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilson S. 2000. Fragrance glands (osmophores) in the family Oleaceae, pp. 305–320. In: Nordenstam G., El-Ghazaly M. & Kassas (eds), Plant Systematics for the 21st Century, Portland Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantis J. & Margaris N.S. 1988. Can systems dominated by asphodels be considered as semi-deserts? Int. J. Biomet. 32: 87–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantis J., Sgardelis S.P. & Stamou G.P. 1994. Asphodelus aestivus, an example of sychronization with the climate periodicity. Int. J. Biomet. 32: 87–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawidis, T., Eleftheriou E.P. & Tsekos I. 1987. The floral nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. I. Development of the secretory hairs. Ann. Bot. 59: 643–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawidis T., Eleftheriou E.P. & Tsekos I. 1989. The floral nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. III. A morphometric and ultrastructural approach. Nord. J. Bot. 9: 63–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawidis T. 1991. A histochemical study of nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. J. Exp. Bot. 42: 1477–1487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawidis T. 1998. The subglandular tissue of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis nectaries. Flora 193: 327–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawidis T., Kalyba S. & Delivopoulos S. 2005. The root-tuber anatomy of Asphodelus aestivus. Flora, 200: 332–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson M.G. 1993. Septal nectary anatomy and phylogeny of the Haemodoraceae. Syst. Bot. 18: 593–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauffer W.F., Rutishauer R. & Endress K.P. 2002. Morphology and development of the female flowers in Genoma interrupta (Arecaceae). Am. J. Bot. 89: 220–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson A.G. 1981. Flower and fruit abortion: proximate causes and ultimate functions. Ann. Rev. Ecol. and Syst. 12: 253–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland S. 1986. Patterns of fruit-set: what controls fruit-flower ratios in plants? Evolution 40: 117–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiery J.P. 1967. Mise en evidence des polysaccharides sur coupes fines en microscopie electronique. J. Microsc. 6: 987–1018.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tilton V.R. & Horner J.H.T. 1980. Stigma, style and obturator of Ornithogalum caudatum (Liliaceae) and their function in the reproductive process. Am. J. Bot. 67: 1113–1131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilton V.R., Wilcox L.W., Paplmer R.G. & Albertsen M.C. 1984. Stigma, style, and obturator of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Leguminosae) and their function in the reproductive process. Am. J. Bot. 71: 676–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tutin T.G., Heywood V.H., Burges N.A., Moore D.M., Valentine D.H., Walters S.M. & Webb D.A. 1980. Flora Europaea. Vol. V. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel S. 1990. The role of scent glands in pollination: On the structure and function of osmophores. (Translation: Smithsonian Instit. Libraries Amerind Pub., New Delhi). Rotterdam, Balkema, 202 pp.

  • Vogel S. 1998. Remarkable nectaries: structure, ecology, organophyletic perspectives. Nectar ducts. Flora 193: 113–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel S. 2000. A survey of the function of the lethal kettle traps of Arisaema (Araceae), with records of pollinating fungus gnats from Nepal. Bot. J. Linnean Soc. 133: 61–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb M.C. & Williams E.G. 1988. The pollen tube pathway in the pistil of Lycopersicon peruvianum. Ann. Bot. 61: 415–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber M. & Frosch A. 1995. The development of the transmitting tract in the pistil of Hacquetia epipactis (Apiaceae). Internat. J. Plant Sci. 156: 615–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Thessaloniki, GR-54006, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Thomas Sawidis, Vasiliki Anastasiou & Artemios M. Bosabalidis

  2. Katedra Botaniki, Akademia Rolnicza, PL-20-950, Lublin, Poland

    Elzbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska

Authors
  1. Thomas Sawidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elzbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vasiliki Anastasiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Artemios M. Bosabalidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Sawidis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sawidis, T., Weryszko-Chmielewska, E., Anastasiou, V. et al. The secretory glands of Asphodelus aestivus flower. Biologia 63, 1118–1123 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-008-0151-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-008-0151-7

Key words

Search

Navigation