Abstract:

The study aims to identify the similarities and differences of seeds between 5 species of Ardisia (A.crenata, A.humilis, A.squamulosa, A.obtusa, A.densilepidotula), and provide reference for the species identification of Ardisia. Five species of Ardisia were used as experimental materials, the morphology, microscopic characteristics and embryo cells arrangement of seeds were identified by stereomicroscope and paraffin section technique. The results show that the A. crenata seed is brown smooth and the outer surface of the endosperm is smooth; the A.humilis seed has a testa with longitudinal texture dense and concave-convex sense, and an outer surface of endosperm which is inlaid with golden yellow powder; the testa of A.obtusa is lighter in color, more sparse longitudinal texture than A. humilis, concave-convex sense, and uneven on the outer surface of endosperm; a seed of A. squamulosa is smaller, a testa with prominence at the junction of the texture and an outer surface of endosperm which is waxy luster and inlaid with golden yellow powder; the A.densilepidotula seed has a red brown testa, with dense texture and thin film, the outer surface of the endosperm is slightly concave-convex and has brown stripes. There is little difference in seed traits between the 5 plants under appearance traits, micromorphology and paraffin section observation results show that there are differences in the morphological characteristics. The study can provide a basis for the further research of Ardisia.

Key words: Ardisia, seed, paraffin section, microcharacter identification, microscopic identification