The First Stages of Liparis parviflora (Orchidaceae) Embryogenesis

Abstract

Embryogenesis of the plant Liparis parviflora, a representative of the tribe Malaxideae (Orchidaceae), was studied. The multivariance of the first cell divisions in embryos belonging to different species and genera of the Malaxideae tribe was considered. All the cells of the embryo proper were shown to originate from the apical (ca) cell of the two-celled proembryo. The basal (cb) cell of the embryo does not undergo division over the entire embryogenesis. The suspensor remains unicellular but changes its shape upon development by forming several elongated lobes and is eliminated at later stages of the globular embryo. Thus, the embryonic development of this species generally obeys the Dienia type that was earlier described. It should be noted that the lobe-shape suspensor, firstly found in L. parviflora, had never been reported in any representative of the Malaxideae tribe.