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Anatomy and development of the manioc flower

Flower development of the manioc (Manihot utilissima Pohl) is acropetal. The early phases of cellular differentiation of the floral appendages are similar. All organs develop by anticlinal divisions of the surface layer, accompanied by periclinal divisions in the second tunica layer, and also in the outermost layer of the corpus, followed by the formation of an apical meristem. The carpels and sepals also originate from marginal initials. The vascular anatomy is described. The pedicel has a complete vascular cylinder from which ten bundles branch out to constitute the sepal traces. Five of these bundles bifurcate alternately to form the lateral bundles of adjacent sepals. The stamen has one single trace and each carpel has three traces. Anatomically the ovary is formed by an outer epidermis provided with stomata, a medium parenchymatous layer in which the vascular bundles develop, an inner epidermis. At maturity each anther exhibits four pollen sacs surrounded bv a uniseriate epidermis and a specialized endothecium with secondary thickness.


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