Seeds and indehiscent fruit of Anarthriaceae and Australian Restionaceae: a gallery of micromorphology

The diaspores of Anarthriaceae and Australian Restionaceae are seeds or small nuts illustrated by scanning electron microscopy multifocus considered in relation to a previously published phylogeny based on plastid genes. Loculicidal trilocular capsular fruits the basal condition restiid clade, but indehiscent have evolved many times. In Australasian members, found (Hopkinsia); Restionaceae: Centrolepidoideae (Aphelia); Sporadanthoideae (Calorophus); Leptocarpoideae (Empodisma, Winifredia whole Leptocarpus Desmocladus clades). Seeds dehiscent show diversity surface ornamentation with distinctive patterns characterising genera such as Lyginia, Chordifex Loxocarya. Pericarps membranous subfam. clade range from hyaline much hard woody Alexgeorgea Hypolaena. parenchymatous most Catacolea. Indehiscent mostly shed tepals floral bracts attached or, Baloskion some Lepidobolus species, also subtending glume. Seed weights were not comprehensively sampled vary 0.08 mg Centrolepis >600 Alexgeorgea, 0.3–3 [dry weight]. smaller either perennials habitats more reliable rainfall ephemeral annuals that avoid drought their brief growing season, association between seed type habitat has been investigated. We see no convincing evidence link fossil taxon Restiocarpum Milfordia pollen occurs it Eocene–Oligocene sediments Queensland.