Flowering and sex expression in Acer L. : a biosystematic study

Abstract

A review and an analysis is given of flowering and sex expression in Acer. The process of sex differentiation was studied in physiological experiments and could be influenced by accelerated flowering and by removal of female.gif flower buds just after bud break. The paper further includes notes on the morphology, mainly of the reproductive organs, and a study of floral morphogenesis. A taxonomic study led to the division of Acer into 15 sections, partly subdivided into 2-3 series. Of these series, two, Ukurunduensia and Wardiana, are described for the first time. A key to the sections and series is added. The evolution of Acer, especially of its flowering and sex expression, and of its morphological characters, is discussed. Notes on sex expression in related genera are included