New Techniques for Seed Shape Description in Silene Species

Seed shape in Silene species is often described by means of adjectives such as reniform, globose, and orbicular, but the application seed for classification requires quantification. A method description quantification consists comparison with geometric models. Geometric models based on mathematical equations were applied to characterize general morphology seeds 21 Silene. In addition previously four (M1 cardioid, M2 M4 are figures derived from it), we present new (model 5–8). Models 5 6 open cardioids that resemble M3, quite different flat models, M4. 7 8 those not covered 2 6. Morphological measures obtained describe dorsal view seeds. The analyses done views revealed a notable morphological diversity groups identified. correlation was found between roundness lateral views, some defined also characterized similarity particular usefulness tools taxonomy discussed.