Table Of ContentAn
Illustrate)
^
Flowering Plant Morphology
ADRIAN D. BELL
With line drawings by
ALAN BRYAN
s><
Plant Form An Illustrated Guide to
Flowering Plant Morphology
Noranteaguyanensis
Apitchershaped leaf (bract62) isassociatedwitheach
flower; see Figs 88a, bforearlydevelopment.
An
Plant Form Illustrated Guide to
Flowering Plant Morphology
Adrian D. Bell
School ofBiological Sciences
University College ofNorth Wales
With line drawings by *m&m?m#m
Alan Bryan
S0050982
Oxford New York Tokyo
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
1991
.
Oxford UniversityPress, WaltonStreet,Oxford0X26DP
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©
AdrianD. BellandAlan Bryan, 1991
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British LibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
Bell,AdrianD.
Plantform:an illustratedguidetofloweringplantmorphology.
1. Floweringplants. Morphology
1. Title
582.13041
ISBN0-19-854279-8
ISBN0-19-854219-4pbk
LibraryofCongressCatalogingin PublicationData
Bell,AdrianD.
Plantform:an illustratedguidetofloweringplant
morphology/
Adrian D. Bell:—withlinedrawingsbyAlan—Bryan.
1. Angiosperms—Morphology.—2. Botany Morphol—ogy.
3. Angiospe—rms Morphology Atlases. 4. Botany
Morphology Atlases
1. Brijan,Alan. 11. Title.
QK641.B45 1990 582.13'044—dc20 90-34783
ISBN0-19-854279-8
ISBN0-19-854219-4 (pbk.)
PhotosetbyCotswoldTypesettingLtd,Gloucester
PrintedinSingaporeby Times PrintersLtd
'The study ofthe externalfeatures ofplants is in danger ofbeing too
much overshadowed by that ofthe internalfeatures. The student, when
placed before the bewildering variety offorms does not know where to
begin or what to do to acquire information about the plants'.
willis (1897)
'Horticulture is, undoubtedly, a great medium ofcivilization, and its
pursuit is highly commendable,for it is impossiblefor anyone to study,
evenfor a short period only, the structure,forms, and colours ofplants,
and benefits derivedfrom the vegetable creation, without an elevation of
thought, a refinement oftaste, and an increased love ofnature'.
B. S. WILLIAMS (1868)
fl have bought me a hawk and a hood, and bells and all, and lack
nothing but a book to keep it by'.
ben jonson (1598)
Coiyphautan
Thesinglemonopodialaxis (section250)finallyterminating
inaninflorescenceafter44yearsofgrowth. Modelof
Holttum (Fig.291c).
:
Flowering plants exhibit a fascinating array of knowhow, heavily biased towards floral
external structures which can be studied with the structure, and has at his disposal a profusion of
naked eye or at most a simple hand lens. This is terminology that is daunting to the beginner and
Preface the science ofplant morphology, the term being expert alike. A guide is thus required for the
used here in the sense that excludes plant benefit ofboth. This book is deliberately, I hope,
anatomy. Although an understanding ofthe form attractive, the better to woo the budding botanist
and external components ofa plant should be the and the curious amateur plantsman. It is divided
foundation ofany botanical investigation, it is into two parts. The first part illustrates and
customary to rush ahead, delving deep into the explains much ofthe purely descriptive
plant, and thus either ignoring or missing the terminology involved in plant morphology, whilst
very features that the plant presents to the the second part deals with an equally important
environment. The situation is very well-expressed but largely ignored aspect ofmorphology
by my namesake, Professor P. R. Bell (1985): 'In constructional organization. The plant is
recent years the spectacular advances in developing, its organs are developing, most
molecular biology have generated such flowering plants branch, the branching patterns
excitement that there has perhaps been a ofthe plant develop over time, and growth is
tendency for organisms to be overlooked. Biology dynamic. Cover ofthis aspect ofplant
must nevertheless remain "organismic", and the morphology, which is ofrelevance to the
researcherwho loses the concept oforganisms ecologist and the population biologist (Harper
seriously weakens his claim to be a biologist'. A 1980), culminates in an example drawn from the
blinkered attitude to plants probably commences contemporary morphological world, that ofthe
at school level and continues through university. dynamic architecture oftropical trees. The
Excellent texts ofplant morphology do exist, but author's fascination with plant morphology has
they tend to presume a foundation ofbotanical been fostered by a providential succession of
education that is no longer available. The ground mentors, A. D. Prince at school, N. Woodhead at
rules ofplant morphology are, by and large, college, and P. B. Tomlinson ever since. Their
forgotten (Kaplan 1973a). The^student ofbotany teachings have one principle: ifthe morphology
feels this defect but does not know how to resolve ofa plant surprises you, then this is more likely
it; the academic conceals his ignorance. It is to reflectyour ignorance rather than an
tempting to suggest that many an enthusiastic abnormality on the part ofthe plant. An
amateur horticulturist understands plants more unfortunate preoccupation with European plants
intimately in terms oftheir morphology than in the past led morphologists to be taken aback
does the average botanist. This criticism cannot by the exuberance ofthe world's vegetation,
be levelled, however, at the taxonomist who is especially that ofthe tropics. But this is where
armed with a great deal ofmorphological the range ofplant form can best be appreciated.
mm
For this reason the plants illustrated in this book 35 lens) together with extension tubes where Harvard University. These good people have been
originate in all continents, and many will be appropriate. Very frequently supplementary light able to point me in a better direction on a
unfamiliar to a reader confined to one was supplied by means ofa pair ofsynchronized number ofissues. Any errors that remain are my
geographical region. However, the same flash units mounted 15 cm to either side ofthe own; it is inevitable that some morphologists
morphological features and details of lens on a bar fixed to the camera body. somewhere will take me to task on points of
constructional organization are repeated time Kodachrome 64 ASA was used throughout. I detail, rash generalizations, or personal opinions.
and again in totally unrelated plants and the must thank many botanical gardens for allowing I have relied on other people's plant identification
reader will recognize familiar forms ifnot familiar access to specimens: The Royal Botanic Garden, in most instances and have followed the
names. Edinburgh; The Botanic and Genetic Gardens of nomenclature ofWillis (1973). Let me hide once
In a sense this book can be treated as an Oxford University; the Fairchild Tropical Garden, again behind the axiom ofmy teacher at
illustrated dictionary to be consulted as necessary Miami, USA; The Botanic Gardens ofMontpellier, university; 'It is the plant that is always right'.
and in any sequence. With this in mind, the text France; the private gardens ofM. Marnier
and illustrations are extensively cross-referenced Lapostolle, St. Jean Cap Ferrat, France; and the
and the index annotated. The seasoned Treborth Botanic Gardens ofthe University
morphologist may be surprised to find equal College ofNorth Wales, Bangor. Other
space (one double-paged spread) allocated to such photographic sorties have been made hither and
an insignificant feature as a stipel (58), and to thither and the author is grateful to those who
such a vast topic as floral morphology (146) or have helped him visit various countries in Europe
the morphology offruit and seed dispersal (160). and particularly south and central America. I am
Whole books have been devoted to these wider very grateful to a great many people who have
topics to which references are given, where helped me in different ways to complete this
appropriate, rather than the information being guide: Nerys Owen for typing and most efficiently
duplicated here. All the line drawings and converting recorded tapes into word processor
diagrams are the work ofAlan Bryan to whom I format without complaint andJosie Rodgers for
am clearly indebted. Alan's talent as an artist taming the index with a suitable computer
represents a happy combination ofnatural program; my colleagues at the School ofPlant
ability, an eye for detail, and a classical botanical Biology, Bangor, for their encouragement and in
training. Practically all the drawings and all the particular ProfessorJ. L. Harper for recognizing
photographs have been taken from living plants, that plant morphology is a key subject. A
the exceptions being a few dried woody number ofkind people have commented on drafts
specimens, and a very few that have been ofthe manuscript at various stages. I am
adapted from existing illustrations. All the indebted to Professor F. Halle ofthe Botanical
photographs were taken by the author (except 7 Institute, U.S.T.L. Montpellier, to ProfessorP.
as noted) using an old Pentax Spotmatic II Greig-Smith and Dr. and Mrs. N. Runham of
mm
camera with a 105 lens (or occasionally a Bangor, and to Professor P. B. Tomlinson of
