Assessing significance of seed coat micromorphology in taxonomy of tribe Spiranthinae (Orchidaceae)
- 1Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk
- 2Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz
Abstract
Spiranthoid orchids, a diverse group with both wide ecological demand and high morphological variability, remain particularly challenging in terms of classification. Despite phylogenetic analyses indicating monophyly of the tribe Spiranthinae, inconsistencies between morphological and genetic data, as well as conflicts between nuclear and plastid markers, have hindered the establishment of clear taxonomic boundaries. Seed morphology, which has been successfully applied in plant systematics, remains understudied in this group. Here, we investigated seed morphology and surface ultrastructure in 67 species of spiranthoid orchids based on both quantitative biometric measurements and qualitative micromorphological characters (scanning electron microscopy), with trait variation evaluated using multivariate statistical analyses interpreted in a phylogenetic context. Seed morphology in spiranthoid orchids is highly variable and shows no consistent correlation with phylogeny, distribution, environment, or plant size. Only Myrosmodes nubigenum exhibits a clear distinctiveness, likely due to its isolated evolutionary position and high-Andean habitat. While seed traits can aid in diagnosing certain taxa, their utility for infra-tribal classification is limited. Broader studies integrating morphological, molecular, and ecological data are needed to clarify the evolutionary drivers of seed diversity in this group.
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BibTeX
@article{szlachetko2026assessing,
title = {{Assessing significance of seed coat micromorphology in taxonomy of tribe Spiranthinae (Orchidaceae)}},
author = {Dariusz L. Szlachetko and Marta Kolanowska and Magdalena Dudek and Sławomir Nowak and Agnieszka Rewicz},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-60060-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-60060-5},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessing significance of seed coat micromorphology in taxonomy of tribe Spiranthinae (Orchidaceae)
AU - Dariusz L. Szlachetko
AU - Marta Kolanowska
AU - Magdalena Dudek
AU - Sławomir Nowak
AU - Agnieszka Rewicz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-60060-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-60060-5
AB - Spiranthoid orchids, a diverse group with both wide ecological demand and high morphological variability, remain particularly challenging in terms of classification. Despite phylogenetic analyses indicating monophyly of the tribe Spiranthinae, inconsistencies between morphological and genetic data, as well as conflicts between nuclear and plastid markers, have hindered the establishment of clear taxonomic boundaries. Seed morphology, which has been successfully applied in plant systematics, remains understudied in this group. Here, we investigated seed morphology and surface ultrastructure in 67 species of spiranthoid orchids based on both quantitative biometric measurements and qualitative micromorphological characters (scanning electron microscopy), with trait variation evaluated using multivariate statistical analyses interpreted in a phylogenetic context. Seed morphology in spiranthoid orchids is highly variable and shows no consistent correlation with phylogeny, distribution, environment, or plant size. Only Myrosmodes nubigenum exhibits a clear distinctiveness, likely due to its isolated evolutionary position and high-Andean habitat. While seed traits can aid in diagnosing certain taxa, their utility for infra-tribal classification is limited. Broader studies integrating morphological, molecular, and ecological data are needed to clarify the evolutionary drivers of seed diversity in this group.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -